10 LinkedIn Filters Recruiters Actually Use (and How to Optimize for Them)

10 LinkedIn Filters Recruiters Actually Use

And how to make sure your profile shows up. 

Most job seekers focus on applications. Recruiters focus on search. When I worked as an in-house recruiter, LinkedIn was my main sourcing tool, and these are the exact filters I used daily to find candidates. If your profile isn’t optimized for them, you may be invisible, even if you’re highly qualified.

Below are the 10 most important LinkedIn filters and how they work behind the scenes.

1. Professional Title

This is one of the first filters recruiters use.

Your headline should clearly reflect:

• your role

• your seniority

• your specialization

Avoid creative titles. Use market-recognized job titles.

2. Industry

Recruiters often filter by industry to reduce noise.

Make sure your industry reflects:

• where you are now

• or where you want to move next

Mismatch here = missed opportunities.

3. Location

Many roles are location-dependent, even remote ones.

Recruiters filter by:

• country

• city

• relocation eligibility

Always keep your location updated and accurate.

4. Year of Graduation

Used mostly for:

• early-career roles

• graduate programs

• seniority validation

Even experienced professionals get filtered out if this is missing.

5. Years of Experience

Important detail most candidates misunderstand: LinkedIn counts everything on your profile as experience (full-time, part-time, internships, freelance).

Structure your experience intentionally.

6. Skills

Skills are searchable keywords.

Recruiters often filter by:

• core technical skills

• tools

• methodologies

Make sure your top skills match your target roles, not just past ones.

7. Current Company

Used to find:

• competitors’ talent

• candidates with specific company backgrounds

If your company name is missing or unclear, you won’t appear.

8. Past Company

Previous employers matter, especially:

• well-known brands

• relevant market players

Always list past roles clearly.

9. Keywords (Full Profile Scan)

LinkedIn scans your:

• headline

• summary

• experience

• skills

If the right keywords aren’t there, recruiters won’t find you, even if everything else looks good.

10. Candidate Spotlights

This is LinkedIn’s internal recommendation system.

It highlights candidates who:

• match the role well

• have complete, active profiles

Optimized profiles are pushed to recruiters automatically.

Final Tip

Updating your LinkedIn profile and CV takes time. A strong profile doesn’t just help you apply, it helps recruiters find you first.