Why Your Side Projects Matter
Side projects are compelling proof of your skills, passion, and initiative. They demonstrate capabilities beyond your formal job description, making your profile more dynamic and attractive to recruiters, clients, and collaborators. Whether it's a personal
blog, a mobile app, freelance work, or a community initiative, these projects tell a story of your commitment to growth and creativity. They allow you to showcase transferable skills, especially if you're aiming to switch careers or industries.
Utilise the Dedicated 'Projects' Section
LinkedIn has a specific section designed for this exact purpose. To add it, go to your profile, click "Add profile section," and choose "Add projects" from the "Recommended" dropdown. This is the most organized way to list your work. For each project, you can add a name, start and end dates, a detailed description, and even link to other contributors you're connected with. Don't just list what you did; explain the project's purpose and your role.
Write Compelling, Outcome-Focused Descriptions
Your project description, which has a 2,000-character limit, is your space to shine. Don't just describe the project; sell the outcome. Use a simple framework like the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your thoughts. Start with the problem you were solving, describe your specific actions, and most importantly, quantify the results. Did your project increase traffic by a certain percentage, solve a specific problem, or receive positive feedback? Lead with the outcome to grab attention, as LinkedIn truncates longer descriptions.
Make it Visual with Rich Media
Words are powerful, but visuals can be more impactful. The Projects section allows you to upload or link to rich media like images, presentations, documents, and videos. This allows people to see your work instead of just taking your word for it. Add screenshots of your app, a PDF of a case study, a link to a live website or GitHub repository, or a presentation deck. Visual evidence makes your project more credible and engaging.
Pin Your Best Work to the 'Featured' Section
The 'Featured' section sits prominently at the top of your profile, right below your summary, acting as a highlight reel. This is prime real estate. You can feature posts, articles, links, or media. Use this to pin your most impressive side project. Create a post about your project with a compelling visual and story, then feature that post. You can also directly feature the project's URL or a case study document. This ensures your best work is the first thing visitors see.
Create Content Around Your Projects
Don't just add a project and forget about it. Create posts that talk about your journey. Share what you learned, the challenges you faced, and the results you achieved. This positions you as a thoughtful expert who is actively learning and growing. This type of authentic content often gets higher engagement and draws more eyes to your profile and your work. You can share behind-the-scenes insights, a key takeaway, or a short video demo.
Connect Projects to Skills and Experience
When adding a project, LinkedIn prompts you to associate it with a role in your Experience section and to tag relevant skills. Do not skip this step. Linking a project to a specific job provides valuable context for when and how you completed it. Tagging skills reinforces your expertise and helps your profile appear in searches for those specific competencies. Think of every project as a piece of evidence supporting the skills you claim to have.
