A strong LinkedIn profile is the second most important professional document in your NZ job search toolkit — after your CV. Here is how to build one that works.

LinkedIn Profile Headline — The Most Critical Line

Your headline is what appears in search results when NZ recruiters look for candidates. Do not use your current job title — use your professional identity + key speciality + location. Example: "Senior Civil Engineer | Infrastructure & Transport | Auckland, NZ | Open to Opportunities." This is keyword-rich and immediately clear to a NZ recruiter.

Profile Photo

LinkedIn is the exception to the NZ no-photo rule. A professional headshot (shoulders and above, plain background, well-lit, recent) increases profile engagement by approximately 14 times compared to a profile without a photo. This is LinkedIn's own data.

About Section (LinkedIn Summary)

Write in first person. Three to four paragraphs: who you are professionally, what you bring, what you are looking for, and how to contact you. Include NZ-specific context. End with a call to action: "If you are looking for [role type] in [location/region], I would welcome a conversation."

Experience Section

Mirror your CV experience section but write in first person and add slightly more narrative. Include key achievements with numbers. LinkedIn allows long-form text — you can expand more than on a CV without worrying about page length.

Skills and Endorsements

Add up to 50 skills. Prioritise the skills most relevant to your target roles. Ask colleagues to endorse your top skills — endorsements increase your credibility to recruiters.

NZ LinkedIn tip: Set your location to your NZ city (Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, etc.) even if you are open to remote work. NZ recruiters filter by location and you will appear in far more relevant searches with a specific NZ city listed.

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