The Best Way to Put Your Resume on LinkedIn [2024]

Are you looking for a new role?  Maybe you’re looking for advice about your resume?  You found this article because you want to know how to upload your resume to LinkedIn.

I am a hiring manager, and I use LinkedIn to source candidates when I have positions available. I’ve also used the LinkedIn network to find my last two roles.

There are four ways to upload your resume to LinkedIn. 

• Upload a copy of your resume and store it on LinkedIn so it’s easy to attach to job applications
• Upload a resume at the time you apply for a role
• Add your resume to a LinkedIn post
• Add your resume to the featured section of your LinkedIn profile, too.  

In this article, you will see step-by-step instructions for uploading your resume to LinkedIn using each of these methods.  You’ll find instructions for using your mobile app and the desktop version.

Finally, you’ll see the pros and cons of uploading your resume to LinkedIn using each method.

Upload Your Resume to LinkedIn From Job Application Settings

Here’s how to get started:

On the desktop:

1. Select jobs from the top menu bar.
2. In the left margin of the page, you’ll see application settings at the bottom of the menu.  Click it.
3. The first option on the page is to save your resume and answers to LinkedIn.  Toggle this button to the right this will activate your ability to save your resume.
4. The second thing you’ll see on the page is an archive of resumes. As you build and store different versions of your resume, you can select the resume you want for the opportunity you are pursuing.
5. Below the resume archive, you’ll see an upload button.  When you click the button your file folder will open and select your resume.  

LinkedIn is very versatile. You can upload your resume as either a .doc, Docx, or PDF file.  The size limit for your resume is 5MB.  This is generous for the 1 to 3-page document you’re uploading.

To complete the process, click done.  You will now see your resume listed in your resume archive.  

On the Mobile App:

You can easily upload your resume on the mobile app, too. 

1. From the home page, click on your picture in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.  
2. Next, click on Settings.  Be sure you click settings and not on the word profile.  This will take you to another menu.  
3. Scroll down until you see data privacy.  When you click on this row, another menu opens.  
4. Scroll down again until you see “Job Application Settings.” When you click on this line, you’ll see the same options described above.  
5. Click on the “Upload Resume” button, then search for the version of the resume you want to upload.  Select that file and it will begin to upload.

Once your resume is uploaded to the job application area on Linkedin, you can select it when you apply for positions.  You can also download a copy for your review. 

I recommend this to make sure that your formatting was maintained through the upload process.  I’ve never had a problem with this, but it doesn’t hurt to take a minute to make sure there are no mistakes.

Linkedin also allows you to delete resumes once they’re no longer useful to you.  I download mine and delete them from my LinkedIn profile all after 6 months.

Uploading your resume to the job application section of your LinkedIn profile is easy to do and it provides you with an archive of your recent resumes.  This is helpful if you have a need to find your resume fast or if you don’t have access to other copies of your resume because you are away from your laptop and/or can not access another saved copy of your resume.

The downside of this method is that you are likely uploading a generic resume – one that has not been optimized for the role for which you are applying. While recruiters may find your profile based on keywords and location in your profile, your resume is almost always entered into an applicant tracking software program where it’s scanned for relevant keywords.  If you have not optimized your resume for the most relevant keywords for that role, you may not be selected for the next step in the hiring process.

Add Your Resume to LinkedIn When Applying For a Role

A second way to upload your resume to LinkedIn is to add it while you are posting for a position.

To upload a new resume from your computer or mobile device:

1. Click on “jobs” from the main LinkedIn menu.  This is on the top menu bar on the desktop and the bottom menu bar on the mobile app.
2. Click or tap on the title of the position that you are applying for.  
3. When the next page opens, click the “easy apply” button or the “apply” button – whichever appears with the specific job listing.  

When you see the “apply” button, you’ll be routed to the hiring company’s website to continue the application process.  

If you have the “Easy Apply” option, you’ll be prompted to complete a few required fields.  Under resume, you will see the option to upload your resume.

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LinkedIn warns that if you are not logged into LinkedIn when you’re making this application, then uploading your resume is mandatory rather than optional.  That’s because LinkedIn pulls information from your profile to expedite the application process when you are logged into their system.  

The file size limit here is 2MB and the file must be formatted either for Microsoft Word or PDF.  Once you’ve added the required information, complete your application by clicking or tapping on “submit application.”

Add Your Resume To A LinkedIn Post

You can share your resume with your network by adding it to a post. 

1. To add your resume to a LinkedIn post, click on “start a post” from your homepage.  
2. Add a little text – perhaps you’re asking for help with your resume – by typing in the box.  
3. Below the text box, you can select “add a document” from the menu at the bottom of the post dialog box.

You can select “choose file” to upload a file from your computer.  You can also upload from your Google Drive or Dropbox if your resume is stored there. 

Once your resume is posted to your profile in this way, your entire network or even more LinkedIn members will see your resume.  The distribution will vary based on your privacy settings.  

Also, once your resume is posted as a document attached to your post, it may be downloaded by anyone in a PDF format.  This allows access to your resume, but readers can not easily change the PDF document.

You can attach various file types to a post. See the table below for details on file type and size requirements.

Upload Your Resume To The Featured Section of Your LinkedIn Profile

A 4th way to add your resume to LinkedIn is by uploading it to the featured section of your LinkedIn profile. 

To see the featured section of your LinkedIn profile, view your profile either on your desktop or mobile app.  Directly below your About section, you’ll find your featured section.  If you do not see the featured section, you can easily add it.  From your profile view on either mobile or desktop versions of LinkedIn, click on “add section” in your introduction.  Select featured, and save.

The featured section of your profile is a place where you can upload media, like videos, links to your website, or documents like your website.  LinkedIn recommends that you place excellent examples of your work in this section.  

It’s important to know that any content you place here is not searchable within LinkedIn.  In this case, that’s ok.  You are likely using similar keywords in your LinkedIn profile, so you are not relying on your resume to help you be found on LinkedIn. 

1. To upload your resume, go to the featured section of your LinkedIn profile.  
2. At the upper left of the Featured window, you’ll see a “+” or a pencil.  Click the plus sign to add your resume.  
3. Once you click plus, you’ll see 4 options – select media.  
4. Once you select media, your computer files will open.  Select your resume, then click open.  This uploads your resume to the featured section.  

You’ll find it’s tough to read because LinkedIn creates a “thumbnail” of your resume, but once it’s clicked by a viewer, they’ll see the full document.  

If you want to remove your resume from the featured section, click the pencil at the top of the featured section of your profile,  then click delete in the window below the content you wish to delete.  This removes your resume from the featured section of your profile.

Here are a few more quick tips:

1. If you have trouble attaching your resume, try using a different browser.
2. You can only apply for a role once. If you’ve submitted your application without a resume attached, you can’t reopen your application to attach your resume or reapply for the same job post.
3. If you need to send your resume after submitting your application, you can contact the job poster if they’ve provided contact information in the job posting.

Each of these 4 methods for uploading your resume to LinkedIn is easy to do and each has a different purpose.

The best reason to upload your resume to your LinkedIn profile is to apply for a new role.  The key is to upload a resume that’s customized for the specific role you seek. 

If you’re looking for help with your resume, don’t blast your resume across your network. Here are three better ways to get help with your resume: ask a potential mentor for specific help, use an online resume service like Jobscan.co,  or engage a resume writing service.  You could use a service like Top Resume, or look for a vendor on Fiverr.  I’ve used top resume and Jobscan to tune up my resume for job searches.

If you’re looking for help adding LinkedIn to your resume, click here.

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