2025 LinkedIn Strategy for Executives: Get Visible, Get Found

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Not long ago, I had a conversation with a former COO. Let’s call him Robert.

Robert hadn’t written a resume in nearly two decades. He never needed to. His phone rang with opportunities. Recruiters chased him. Board members referred him. When it came to new roles, the path was always warm, never cold.

But this year was different.

His company merged. His title disappeared. And for the first time in his career, he had to go to market.

He looked at me across the screen and said what many executives think but don’t always say out loud:

“I haven’t touched LinkedIn in years. I’m not really sure how it works. Do I actually need it?”

My answer? Yes. More than ever.

LinkedIn is no longer just a platform for junior professionals or active job seekers. In 2025, it is your professional storefront. If you're not showing up strategically, you're not showing up at all.

Here’s what recruiters see in 7 seconds:

  • Your headline: Are you clearly positioned for your next role?

  • Your summary: Is it just a bio or a compelling leadership story?

  • Your experience: Are you listing tasks or showing impact with results?

Let’s make this real with some easy, practical steps you can take today. Even if you’re not "a LinkedIn person."

✅ Step 1: Fix your headline so it works for you, not against you

Your current headline might be just your last job title. But LinkedIn lets you say a lot more.

Bad: President at ABC Inc.
Better: President | Driving Growth for Mid-Market Manufacturers | P&L Leadership | M&A Integration

Your action: Think about the next role you want and build your headline around the value you bring to that space.

✅ Step 2: Rewrite your About section to sound like you, not a robot

This is not your bio. It’s not your resume in paragraph form. And it’s not a place for corporate buzzwords.

Instead, use your first two lines to hook the reader.
Answer these questions:

  • What do I solve?

  • Who have I helped?

  • What kind of impact do I deliver?

Your action: Start with a simple sentence.
For example:
"I’ve spent over 20 years helping complex businesses simplify operations, reduce waste, and grow with purpose."
Then add 3 or 4 short paragraphs with tangible results, leadership strengths, and a human tone.

✅ Step 3: Focus on results in your experience section

Executives often list job duties. But recruiters want to see how you moved the needle.

Instead of saying:
"Responsible for overseeing operations across North America"

Say this:
"Led operations across 3 countries, reduced delivery time by 18%, and increased customer retention by 23%"

Your action: Look at each role and ask yourself, What did I improve, grow, reduce, or lead? Then back it up with numbers if you can.

✅ Step 4: Update your profile picture and banner

First impressions matter. A great photo builds trust and approachability.

Your action: Choose a clear, professional photo where you look like yourself. Skip the cropped wedding shots. For your banner, use a clean image related to your industry, a speaking engagement photo, or even a skyline that reflects your base of operations.

✅ Step 5: Add just enough activity to stay visible

You don’t need to post every day. You don’t even need to post every week. But when you do show up, show up with value.

Your action:

  • Like and comment on 1 or 2 posts per week

  • Share a relevant article with a short takeaway

  • Comment on a former colleague’s new role. This keeps your profile active and visible in the right circles.

The truth is, Robert didn’t want to be “seen” on LinkedIn. He wanted to be found. By the right people. For the right opportunities.

And once we optimized his profile with intention, clarity, and results-driven content, the calls started coming in again. Not because he was loud online, but because he became findable, credible, and relevant.

If you’re an executive re-entering the job market after years of inbound opportunities, know this:

You don’t need to be flashy. You just need to be clear.

Your next opportunity may not come through your old network. It might come through someone who finds you on LinkedIn and sees, in seconds, that you are the right fit.

Make sure your profile is ready for that moment.

📩 Need help translating decades of leadership into a LinkedIn profile and resume that truly reflect your value?
At Distinct Résumé, I work one-on-one with executives to craft powerful, strategic career documents that open doors to the next opportunity.

Whether you're repositioning after years of being headhunted or stepping into the market for the first time in a while, I’m here to guide you with clarity, confidence, and expertise.

Let’s tell your story in a way that gets you seen — and hired.