Did you know that you have the option to download your LinkedIn resume? LinkedIn has made it quite simple to generate a resume from your profile.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to download your LinkedIn resume.
To download your resume from LinkedIn, navigate to your profile, click on the “More” button (or “Resources” depending on your view), and select “Save to PDF”. This will generate a PDF version of your LinkedIn profile, which you can then download and save to your computer. This only works on a desktop browser, not in the LinkedIn mobile app. Keep in mind that the file LinkedIn generates is not built for applicant tracking systems, so run it through Jobscan’s resume scanner.
A step-by-step guide to downloading your LinkedIn resume
Follow these steps on a desktop browser to get your LinkedIn resume in under a minute:
- Sign in to LinkedIn on a desktop browser and go to your profile page.
- Click the “meatball menu (triple dot)” button below your profile photo.
- Select “Save to PDF” from the drop-down menu.
- Wait a few seconds while LinkedIn builds the file. A download prompt appears when it is ready.
- Choose where you want the PDF saved on your computer, then click “Save” or “Download.”
- Open the file to confirm it downloaded correctly. It is now ready to share, print, or upload back to LinkedIn.
LinkedIn always delivers this file as a PDF, and PDFs cannot be edited directly. To change the wording or the layout, you will need an editor like Adobe Acrobat or a resume builder. If you are on a phone, you can still do this by opening LinkedIn in your mobile browser and switching to the desktop site first. See the FAQs below for how.
Preparing your LinkedIn profile for resume download
Before you download your resume, optimize your LinkedIn profile. Ensure that your experiences, skills, and endorsements are up-to-date. An optimized LinkedIn resume helps you stand out among other professionals. It increases your chances of getting the attention of recruiters and potential employers.
Build an impressive LinkedIn profile
You need an impressive LinkedIn profile to show your value to potential employers. Create an eye-catching headline that shows your skills. Make sure it grabs the interest of possible employers or recruiters. Then, give a summary that displays your unique strengths. Show off your major accomplishments and career aims.
If possible, ask for LinkedIn recommendations to round out the profile. Knowing how to connect with others on LinkedIn can be an incredibly useful and underrated tool in your job search.
If for some reason you need to delete an existing LinkedIn account to start from scratch, or change your LinkedIn url, there are ways to do that as well.
Add relevant skills
Add important skills to your profile to make it stand out and attract the right job offers. LinkedIn lets you list many skills, so pick the ones that match your career field and job goals. Be specific and include both technical and people skills. Use a LinkedIn optimization tool like Jobscan’s to see which skills you should add to your profile based on the jobs you want to apply for. This helps recruiters and managers notice you more.
Get endorsements and recommendations
Getting endorsements and recommendations can make your profile more believable. Ask your connections to vouch for your skills. This shows that other professionals back you up. Reach out to past coworkers, bosses, or clients. Ask them to write recommendations about your strong points and successes. Getting these testimonies gives potential bosses a better idea of what you can do.
Use keywords in your profile
Keywords are important for making your LinkedIn resume more visible in searches. Consider resume keywords employers would search for. Focus on your headline, summary, job descriptions, and skills sections. Using keywords can boost your profile’s visibility in search results. This will improve the likelihood of getting noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.
Optimize your LinkedIn resume for ATS
Employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to search resumes for specific words. Add important keywords to your LinkedIn resume to get noticed and pass ATS checks. Look at job postings in your area and find common words. Use these words in your resume. This can make your resume more visible and help you get interviews.
With Jobscan, you can easily optimize your profile, then compare it to job descriptions that you’re applying for. It helps you update your LinkedIn profile quickly so you don’t miss out on the attention of recruiters.
Here’s an example of how Jobscan scores your LinkedIn profile so you know where to make improvements.
Make your LinkedIn resume stands out
Use these best practices to make your LinkedIn resume stand out from the competition:
- Build a professional and appealing profile, starting with a picture that portrays you.
- Craft a compelling LinkedIn headline that reflects your professional brand and expertise.
- Write a captivating LinkedIn summary that highlights your key achievements and career aspirations.
- Use bullet points and concise language to convey your skills and experiences.
- Include quantifiable achievements and results to showcase your impact in previous roles.
- Add multimedia elements, such as presentations or portfolios. This will provide evidence of your abilities.
- Seek endorsements and recommendations from colleagues, supervisors, or clients to enhance your credibility.
Review your LinkedIn resume before downloading
Before you download your resume, check it for any mistakes or mismatches. Read through each part. Make sure things like dates, certificates, and employers are correct.
Knowing how to download a resume from LinkedIn can simplify your job search process. LinkedIn offers a wealth of tools and features to help you craft a compelling resume that stands out. With some effort and the right strategies, you’ll be on your way to landing a job.
When you’re ready to start applying, remember that the LinkedIn Saved Jobs feature conveniently provides a “save” button. It’s right beside the “apply” button. It means you can save positions of interest to come back to later.
Downloading your LinkedIn resume: Is it worth it?
Downloading your resume from LinkedIn can feel like an easy hack. What can be just as easy and much more effective is to download the resume and then use an online tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner.
This free tool helps you optimize your resume for any job, highlighting the key experience and skills recruiters need to see.
How does it work? Companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to search and filter resumes by keywords. The Jobscan resume scanner helps you optimize your resume keywords for each job listing so that your application gets found by recruiters.
Once you have downloaded your LinkedIn resume, upload that file straight into the resume scanner. Then, you will copy and paste the job listing text into the scanner. Click “Scan” and receive your score and get tailored advice to enhance your relevant experience, skills, and writing.
Then edit and rescan until you hit a match rate of 75% or higher.
Jobscan’s resume scanner works by comparing your resume to the job description and telling you exactly which keywords are the most important.
- ATS-specific tips: Recommends tip using the job’s company name, helping you fine-tune your resume for better ATS performance.
- Contact information: Checks your contact details for clarity, accuracy, and modern formatting to ensure recruiters can easily reach you.
- Summary: Checks that your summary aligns with the job description and highlights relevant qualifications.
- Section headings: Reviews your section headings to ensure they are ATS-friendly and will avoid parsing errors.
- Job title match: Scans your resume for exact job titles from the job description, improving your chances of being found in ATS searches.
- Date formatting: Checks date formats to ensure the ATS can correctly calculate your years of experience.
- Education match: Reviews your education details to confirm they are properly listed and formatted for modern hiring standards.
- File type: Analyzes your resume’s file type to confirm it’s compatible with ATS systems, preventing processing issues.
And yes, you can always use LinkedIn’s Easy Apply feature, but this means you cannot customize your LinkedIn profile for every job application. Plus, lots of people will apply which means it’s difficult to stand out from the crowd. It’s just another reason why using the resume scanner is well worth it.
Example of a LinkedIn resume
Below is an example of a resume downloaded from LinkedIn. As you can see, it’s well structured and includes the name, summary, skills, and more. There’s even a colored sidebar that LinkedIn adds to it.
The downloaded PDF may have different formatting than your original resume. Review and make any necessary adjustments before sharing it with potential employers.
Remember that a PDF of your LinkedIn profile can’t replace an optimized resume.
Challenges of downloading a resume from LinkedIn
LinkedIn lets you download your profile as a resume. But, some issues can limit its effectiveness for job seekers. These limits often need extra tools or tweaks. They ensure the downloaded resume is professional and tailored to specific job apps. Below are the key challenges to be aware of:
- The LinkedIn mobile app cannot do this. You can still download from a phone, but only by opening LinkedIn in a mobile browser and requesting the desktop site first.
- Limited customization options for layout and design.
- Users without LinkedIn Premium cannot select which sections appear in the downloaded resume.
- A PDF can’t be edited on the document.
- Editing tools like Adobe Acrobat may incur more costs.
- The resume must match the LinkedIn profile. Incomplete or outdated profiles lead to poor resumes.
- Resumes may lack keywords or formatting necessary to pass Applicant Tracking Systems.
If the downloaded PDF falls short, Jobscan’s LinkedIn resume builder imports your profile and turns it into a clean, ATS-friendly resume you can edit and tailor for each application.
FAQs
Yes. LinkedIn can turn your profile into a PDF in three clicks: go to your profile, click “Resources” (or “More” on some profiles), and select “Save to PDF.” The catch is that LinkedIn formats this file for humans, not for applicant tracking systems, so it usually needs work before you apply.
Usually not. LinkedIn’s PDF uses a colored sidebar and a two-column layout, and some applicant tracking systems read columns out of order or skip sidebar content entirely. It also pulls whatever is on your profile, which is rarely tailored to the specific job you are applying for. Run the file through Jobscan’s resume scanner to see what an ATS actually reads from it, or use the LinkedIn resume builder to rebuild it in an ATS-safe format.
It gives you a shareable copy of your professional history without starting a resume from scratch. It is a useful starting point, not a finished resume: you still need to tailor it to each job and fix the formatting before you apply.
Go to your profile on a desktop browser, click “Resources” (or “More”), and select “Save to PDF.” LinkedIn generates the file and your browser downloads it. The full walkthrough is earlier in this article.
When LinkedIn says “resume download,” you get a copy of your resume in a downloadable format. This lets you save it as a file on your computer or device. By downloading your resume, you have a portable version that you can share or upload.
Not through the LinkedIn app. Neither the iPhone nor the Android app has a “Save to PDF” option. You can still do it from your phone by opening LinkedIn in a mobile browser and switching to the desktop version of the site first. On Android, tap the three-dot menu in Chrome and select “Desktop site.” On iPhone, tap the “aA” icon in Safari’s address bar and select “Request Desktop Website.” From there, go to your profile and follow the same six steps above.
