How to add LinkedIn to your CV

Where to put the link

Put your LinkedIn URL in the contact line at the top of the CV, next to your phone number, email and city. That is where recruiters and applicant tracking systems look for it. Do not put it only in a page header or footer: some ATS parsers skip those areas.

Write the link as plain text, without "https://www." – for example linkedin.com/in/anna-kowalska. It is shorter, reads cleanly in print and still works when clicked in a PDF.

Get a clean custom URL first

A default LinkedIn address ends in a string of letters and numbers, such as linkedin.com/in/anna-kowalska-3b7a91142. Before you put it on your CV, change it to something short, ideally your first and last name.

• Open your profile on LinkedIn and click "Edit public profile & URL" (on desktop it is in the right-hand column of your profile page).
• Under "Edit your custom URL", click the pencil icon.
• Type the new ending – e.g. anna-kowalska – and save. Only letters and numbers (and hyphens) are allowed.
• If your name is taken, add a middle initial, your profession or a city: anna-m-kowalska, anna-kowalska-hr.
• Check the public profile settings on the same page so recruiters who are not signed in can see your headline and experience.

Make the CV and the profile tell the same story

Recruiters compare the two. Small differences are normal – your CV is tailored to one job, your profile speaks to everyone – but contradictions raise questions.

• Job titles and employer names should match.
• Dates should match to the month. A three-month difference looks like you are hiding something.
• Key achievements and numbers on your CV should appear in the profile too, at least in the most recent roles.
• Your headline should describe the role you are aiming for, in words recruiters search for.
• Use a recent, professional profile photo even if your CV has none.

When to leave LinkedIn off

A link is only useful if the profile helps you. Leave it out, or update the profile first, if it is nearly empty, years out of date, shows a different career direction you no longer want to be associated with, or contradicts the CV.

In fields where LinkedIn matters less – some trades, logistics or care roles – a missing link will not count against you. In sales, marketing, HR, tech and most office roles, recruiters expect it.

Do you need a QR code or an icon?

Generally no. Most CVs are read on screen, where a text link is clickable. A QR code takes space that is better used for achievements, and an ATS cannot read it. A small LinkedIn icon next to the text link is fine visually, but never use the icon instead of the URL – the parser reads text, not pictures.

Other links worth adding

Add a portfolio for design, writing or marketing roles, GitHub for software and data roles, and a personal website only if it is current and professional. Keep it to two or three links in the contact line.

Your CV and LinkedIn profile from the same facts

RezuYes writes your CV and a full LinkedIn profile makeover from the same information, so they never contradict each other. You get a searchable headline, an About section, a description for every role, the skills to pin, job titles for "Open to work", a suggestion for your custom profile URL and a ready-to-publish post – plus a PDF that tells you exactly where in LinkedIn to paste each part.

Start from an old CV (PDF, Word or TXT), your current LinkedIn profile or a short form, and add the job ad. The preview is free with one free correction; you pay once, no subscription, to download the CV as a PDF and unlock the LinkedIn texts and 10 interview questions.

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