Should You Post Your Resume on LinkedIn?

Having a LinkedIn Profile today is not the option it was in the early 2000s. To not have one in 2023 is declaring yourself out of touch. To not be active on it is a professional shortcoming. While it is unlikely that LinkedIn will ever replace document or file-based resumes in the foreseeable future, it may not be the best place to post your resume. And here’s why.

Gone are the pre-ATS days of the resume as a static, use-it-for-everything document. Applicant Tracking Software parses/”reads” your resume to compare it to the job posting such that the higher you rank the greater the likelihood of getting contacted for an interview. Hence, tweaking your resume to maximize your candidacy is imperative. But, if you post your resume on your LinkedIn profile you concede your option for high relevancy. Instead, you’re offering general qualifications without making a connection to your value fit for a specific opening. Customizing your resume is your career currency for landing an interview. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes so clothes should, too (though Brandy Melville’s line of clothing pitches mostly “one size fits all” which equates to a small).

In Dumb and Dumber Lloyd knew he couldn’t come across as desperate. So he told Harry, “I’m going to hang by the bar. Put out the vibe.” Recruiters looking to fill jobs use LinkedIn as a way to source candidates so you need a presence to spark interest and generate contacts. Being active on LinkedIn allows you to present yourself in the best light and and have new opportunities come to you by being more searchable and findable. 82% of jobs today are not publicly posted! Uploading a static resume prevents you from making a targeted impression. In fact, recruiters may make a snap judgement that you’re not a fit for the job they have to fill because you haven’t created a direct path to your value. Without focusing them on information they’d find most relevant, you sabotage your own candidacy.

No one who is job searching while currently holding a job should advertise that they’re actively looking by putting #OpenToWork around their LinkedIn Profile headshot. But, equally damaging can be to post your resume. Not only are recruiters checking out your Profile but so, too, may be fellow employees and clients. Taken one step further, colleagues may take exception to how you articulate or exaggerate your role, responsibilities, and achievements and possibly even your job title.

LinkedIn Privacy settings are wonderful at allowing you to control what information visitors to your Profile can see. Once you upload your resume you concede that control. At minimum, removing private information such as address and phone number from your resume before choosing to upload can be a good move. Uploading your resume also means that others can download, copy, and share your information without your knowledge. You might be putting yourself at risk for identity theft.

Not uploading your resume to your LinkedIn Profile may be a wise decision based on the fact that it might simply not be necessary. A well-crafted Profile contains enough information for a recruiter to learn enough about you to schedule an interview.

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