LinkedIn for Engineers: From Invisible to In-Demand

LinkedIn for Engineers: From Invisible to In-Demand

ByEvan Parker

LinkedIn: you either love it, hate it, or—if you’re like me—completely forget it exists for months at a time. Until, of course, you need a new role or want to see what the industry’s up to. But here’s the truth: if you’re an engineer and your LinkedIn profile is gathering digital dust, you’re missing out on opportunities that could literally land in your inbox. Let’s fix that, without the fluff or fake “thought leader” nonsense.

Why LinkedIn Still Matters for Engineers (Even Remote Ones)

Look, I get it—most engineers would rather debug legacy code than craft the “perfect” LinkedIn profile. But recruiting has changed. According to Hired’s 2023 State of Software Engineers, 78% of tech recruiters use LinkedIn as their primary source for talent. That means if your profile doesn’t show up—or worse, looks abandoned—you’re invisible to most of the market.

“I landed three remote interviews last year just because I updated my LinkedIn with a project demo link. No outreach. No ‘open to work’ banner. Just one Saturday afternoon of effort.”
– Me, after a caffeine-fueled profile refresh

Case Study: From Ghost to Spotlight in One Weekend

Last spring, I decided to actually treat my LinkedIn like an asset. I wanted to see if I could go from “completely invisible” to “getting messages from recruiters” without trying to become some influencer. Here’s exactly what I did—and what you can copy in less than a day.

Step 1: Headline Formulas That Get Clicked

The default “Software Engineer at Company” headline? Yawn. Instead, use this two-part formula:

  • What you do (role, stack, specialty) + Value/Impact (who you help, what you achieve)

Examples:

  • Backend Engineer | Scaling APIs to Millions of Users • Python, Go, AWS
  • Full-Stack Developer | Building Fast, Secure SaaS Platforms for Startups
  • Embedded Systems Engineer | Reducing Hardware Costs by 30% w/ C++ & Rust

Pick the stack/tools that matter in your roles, and be specific about outcomes if you can.

Step 2: About Section – Your 15-Second Pitch

Most engineers skip this or write a generic paragraph. Instead, try this template:

  • 1–2 sentences: Who you are + what you do + your “superpower.”
  • 1–2 sentences: Impact in numbers (projects shipped, systems scaled, bugs squashed, etc.).
  • 1 sentence: What you’re interested in next (technologies, types of teams, remote/on-site).
  • Optional: A bit of personality (hobbies, side projects, or fun fact).

Example:

Senior Backend Engineer obsessed with building resilient, scalable systems. In the past 5 years, I’ve helped three SaaS companies reduce downtime by 80% and cut AWS bills in half. Most at home in Python, Go, and Kubernetes. Looking for remote-first teams passionate about automation, pizza, and good API docs.

Step 3: Impact Bullets for Experience (Not Job Descriptions)

Your experience section shouldn’t read like your HR file. Use impact bullets instead of duties. Here’s how:

  • Action verb + what you did + result/impact (with numbers when possible)

Before: Responsible for maintaining company’s CI/CD pipelines.
After: Automated CI/CD pipelines, reducing deployment time from 45 to 8 minutes and increasing release frequency by 3x.

See the difference? That’s what recruiters and hiring managers scan for.

Step 4: Projects, Portfolio, and External Links

If you have open source, side projects, technical blogs, or a portfolio site, showcase them:

  • Add Projects under “Featured” or “Experience.”
  • Link to GitHub repos, demo videos, or published articles (even if it’s a Medium post or a README.md).
  • For each, give a 1–2 line summary of your contribution and results.

Tip: Even if your portfolio isn’t “fancy,” a well-written README and a live link beats nothing every time.

Step 5: Recommendations (Without the Awkwardness)

Yes, they help. No, you don’t need to feel weird. Here’s a script you can DM to a coworker, manager, or client:

“Hey [Name], I’m updating my LinkedIn to reflect some recent projects, and would really appreciate a quick recommendation highlighting our work on [Project/Task]. If you need a draft or bullet points, happy to send over! Let me know, and thanks in advance.”

Be specific—people are much more likely to write something meaningful (and fast) if you give them context.

Weekly 30-Minute LinkedIn Maintenance Plan

Here’s what I do—literally on a timer—every Friday:

Task Time (min) Details
Check and accept connections 5 Accept relevant requests, ignore spam, send a short “thanks!” if you want
Skim job alerts 5 Save interesting roles for later, ignore the rest
Update profile 5 Add any new skills, certs, or projects (even small ones)
Check messages 5 Reply or archive (don’t ghost recruiters—just be brief)
Share/comment on a post 5 Comment on something relevant to your field or share a link—no need to write essays
DM for recommendations 5 Ping 1–2 people for a mutual rec (once a month is plenty)

DM Etiquette: Don’t Be That Person

When reaching out (especially to recruiters or hiring managers):

  • Be specific. “Saw your opening for [Role]. Here’s why I think I’d be a fit (one sentence). Are you still hiring?”
  • Don’t pitch cold. If you want advice, be polite and brief. “I’m exploring [Company/Field], would appreciate any tips for engineers looking to break in.”
  • Follow up once. If unanswered, move on. No one likes being badgered.

Quick Reference: Engineer’s LinkedIn Optimization Checklist

  • Profile photo: Clear, recent, professional (doesn’t have to be suit-and-tie)
  • Headline: Formula (role + value/impact + stack/tools)
  • About: 4–5 lines, focused on results, not buzzwords
  • Experience: Impact bullets, not job descriptions
  • Projects: Link to code, demos, articles
  • Skills: List those relevant to your target roles (keep it honest!)
  • Recommendations: 2–4 solid ones, refreshed yearly
  • Weekly maintenance: 30 minutes on Fridays
  • DM etiquette: Be brief, specific, and respectful

Tools and Resources

Remember: You don’t need to become a LinkedIn influencer, post daily, or join 50 groups. Set up your profile to do the talking for you—then get back to building cool stuff.

Some links above may be affiliate links. Using them costs you nothing extra, but may help support this blog’s coffee and hosting bills. Thanks for reading and happy optimizing!

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