A strong LinkedIn profile is now essential for mid to senior-level professionals, especially in the UK not for profit sector. It helps you build visibility, grow your network, and show the depth of your experience and interests. If your profile lacks key details or feels unfinished, you risk missing out on the connections that could lead to your next role.
As a headhunter, LinkedIn is one of my primary tools and first points of reference when seeking candidates.
We understand that putting yourself out there at first may feel uncomfortable, but think of LinkedIn as an online networking event. It shouldn’t be about shouting your achievements but about making meaningful connections. Your profile is your public CV and a chance to tell the story of who you are and what you stand for. With time, you can craft a profile highlighting your passion for social good, making it easier for the right people to find you. Below are practical tips to help you polish your presence on LinkedIn.
Five tips to improve your LinkedIn profile for charity jobs
- Lay the foundations of a strong LinkedIn profile
- Use the right keywords to get found by recruiters
- Choose a professional photo
- Grow your LinkedIn network
- Stay active and visible with regular LinkedIn posts
1. Lay the foundations of a strong LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile reflects your career, values, and professional identity. It’s essential to build a complete, strong foundation. Here’s what to focus on:
- Professional photo: Upload a clear, friendly headshot. LinkedIn research shows that profiles with photos get 14× more views than those without. Make sure there is good lighting with an uncluttered background. This photo is your first impression, so make it count.
- Compelling headline: Don’t just list your current job title. Instead, focus on your areas of expertise, sector keywords, and the type of role you are interested in. For example, you could write: “Charity leader | Fundraising & Strategic Partnerships | Non-profit governance.” This approach helps you stand out and makes it easier for recruiters to find you.
- About (summary) section: This is your elevator pitch. Write in the first person and focus on what drives you: your mission, key achievements, and strengths. Include relevant keywords like “fundraising,” “governance,” or “volunteer management.” Don’t hesitate to mention causes that matter to you. A warm, professional tone will show who you are as a person and a leader.
- Experience and roles: List your main positions with bullet points. Emphasise your achievements and impact in each role (e.g., “Led a multi-million fundraising campaign” or “Increased volunteer engagement by X%”). For each job, link to the organisation’s LinkedIn page to add credibility and show the breadth of your professional network. If you have roles that are not directly related to your current career goals, mention them briefly.
- Volunteering, training, and interests are particularly valuable in the non-profit sector. Include any trustee roles, pro bono projects, or relevant certifications. As a recruiter, I actively seek candidates with board-level experience, so don’t skip this section!
- Skills and endorsements: List as many relevant skills as you can (the more, the better), but prioritise the top five you want to be known for. LinkedIn recommends these to appear first. Be strategic with your skills: listing five key skills can increase your chances of being contacted by recruiters 33 times more than those with just one. Don’t forget to encourage colleagues or fellow trustees to endorse you — this strengthens your credibility.
- Custom URL: Edit your public profile URL for a cleaner, more professional look (e.g., linkedin.com/in/YourName). It’s easier to share and looks more polished.
- Check your privacy settings: Make sure the right people can find you. Go to your LinkedIn settings and check your visibility options:
- Set your profile to public so recruiters and potential employers can view it.
- Let recruiters know you’re open to work by switching on the “Open to opportunities” feature (this won’t alert your current employer).
- Choose which sections (e.g. photo, headline) are visible outside your network.
2. Use the right keywords to get found by recruiters
LinkedIn is as much a search engine as a networking platform, and recruiters frequently search by sector-specific keywords. To increase your chances of being found:
- Incorporate keywords throughout: Use sector-relevant terms across your headline, summary, and experience sections. For example, if you specialise in “grant management,” include that exact phrase in your summary and skills.
- Be industry-specific: Include sector terms like “charity trustee,” “social enterprise,” “mental health campaigning,” or any qualifications you have, such as “CIPD” or “CIPFA.” Don’t forget to add location-based keywords like “London” or “South East England.”
- Revist occasionally: You will undoubtedly evolve as a professional, so ensure you update your profile with new keywords. Keep track of trends in your sector and adjust your profile accordingly. Regular updates help keep your profile relevant.
3. Choose a professional photo
Your profile photo is part of your personal brand and is important in how others perceive you.
- Face-forward and recent: Use a clear, professional photo taken in the last 2–3 years. Ensure it accurately represents you as you are now.
- Good quality: Avoid blurry or pixelated photos. A simple smartphone camera in natural daylight can work wonders.
- Friendly and approachable: A smile or neutral expression will help you appear more approachable. Avoid overly casual or distracting backgrounds.
4. Grow your LinkedIn network
Your connections on LinkedIn will be key to your visibility, and this can support your career advancement. A focused, strategic networking approach can greatly expand your opportunities:
- Connect strategically: Start by connecting with people you already know: colleagues, former bosses, mentors, or even fellow volunteers. Once you’ve established these connections, ask for warm introductions to others in your field.
- Personalise connection requests: Always add a personalised note when sending connection requests. Mention how you met or why you’d like to connect. This small touch will make your request stand out and create a positive first impression.
- Stay in touch: Now that they’ve accepted your connection request, follow up with a friendly thank you message or a brief comment about their work. Over time, multiple touchpoints with someone’s postings will deepen the relationship.
- Join relevant groups and follow organisations: Participate in groups related to your specialism and engage in discussions. Connecting with others in these groups can lead to valuable opportunities. Additionally, follow organisations you admire to stay updated on their news and job postings.
- Grow your network continuously: Make a habit of adding new, relevant contacts. Connecting with recruiters or consultants specialising in the charity sector can significantly increase your visibility.
- Ask for recommendations: Reach out to a manager, trustee, or colleague who can speak to your strengths. A few short, authentic testimonials on your profile can build trust and give useful context to your experience.
5. Stay active and visible with regular LinkedIn posts
Being active on LinkedIn helps you stay visible and engaged within your network:
- Post regularly: Try sharing relevant content at least once a week. This could be your thoughts on an event you attended, a link to a thought-provoking article, or a photo from a volunteering experience. Keep your posts concise, but feel free to include links or bold headings if necessary.
- Be helpful, not pushy: Posting aims to share knowledge, not sell yourself. Share things that will help others in your network, such as industry insights or lessons learned from your work.
- Comment thoughtfully: Engaging with others’ posts increases your visibility. Thoughtful comments can attract attention and initiate meaningful conversations. For example, if someone shares a fundraising idea, comment with your own experience, such as, “We tried something similar at my charity and saw great results.”
- Respond to interactions: If someone comments on your post, reply and continue the conversation. If you think a comment is unproductive, step back and reassess.
Overcoming your hesitation
It’s ok to feel uneasy about self-promotion, but here are a few ways to ease those feelings:
- Focus on others: You don’t always have to talk about your own achievements. Share industry news, celebrate the successes of others, or discuss causes that matter to you. An approach like this will help you build rapport while raising your profile.
- Be authentic: Stay true to yourself. We naturally are drawn to authenticity, so don’t feel pressured to sound overly polished or too formal. Share your journey and lessons learned.
- Start small: If writing a full post feels overwhelming, start by commenting on others’ posts or asking a question. With time, you’ll become more comfortable.
- Bite-size goals: Break the process into more manageable steps, perhaps aiming to update your headline this week or connect with one new person each day.
- Remember why LinkedIn is the leading professional networking platform. It’s a place where your story can resonate with others. Share your passion for your work and the causes you care about.
Your next steps: Make that plan
To get cracking, here’s a quick to-do list to keep you stay on track:
- Update your photo and headline: Choose a new picture and create a keyword-rich headline.
- Refresh your About section: Update your summary to focus on your impact and include sector keywords.
- List five skills: Select key skills relevant to the roles you’re interested in, and ask two people to endorse you.
- Connect with three people: Send personalised connection requests to three people in your network and follow relevant organisations.
- Engage daily: Spend 5–10 minutes daily engaging on LinkedIn: like posts, comment on one, and share helpful articles.
These small actions will build momentum. Before long, your LinkedIn profile will truly reflect your expertise, values, and passion for social good.
Good luck, and happy networking!
James Hunt is our Head of Not for Profit Appointments, a senior executive search recruitment specialist supporting the not for profit and membership sectors since 2005. With a love for finding passionate and talented people, matchmaking leaders, experts and teams in executive appointments. Click on the links below to start an informal chat about your career or recruitment needs.
