In 2025, almost every professional job search involves both a CV and a LinkedIn profile. They're not interchangeable — they serve different purposes and work best when they complement each other strategically.
Your CV is a targeted, tailored document for a specific application. It should be adapted for each job, focused, and concise.
Your LinkedIn profile is a permanent, public, comprehensive professional presence. It's there to be found — by recruiters, future employers, collaborators, and your professional network — at any time, not just when you're actively job searching.
Important: Your LinkedIn profile and CV should be consistent — same job titles, same dates, same key facts. Discrepancies between the two are a major red flag for employers and recruiters. If you update one, update the other.
Recruiters use LinkedIn's search function to find candidates by skill, location, job title, company, and industry. This means your LinkedIn profile needs to be keyword-optimised — include the specific job titles, skills and tools that recruiters in your field search for.
Your LinkedIn profile URL by default contains a random string of numbers. Customise it at linkedin.com/public-profile/settings — change it to linkedin.com/in/yourname. Then include this clean URL on your CV.
The most effective job search strategy uses both tools working together: your CV gets you through the application process; your LinkedIn profile supports your application and builds your professional brand in the background. A recruiter who receives your CV will almost certainly look at your LinkedIn profile — make sure what they find reinforces your application.
Start by building a professional CV with our free CV generator. For expert help optimising both your CV and LinkedIn profile together, check out the CV and LinkedIn writing services on Fiverr.