LinkedIn profile vs CV - what's the difference?
They cover the same career, but they aren't the same document. Copy-pasting one into the other usually leaves both worse off.
Different jobs, different formats
LinkedIn is ongoing and discoverable - recruiters search it, and it stays live between applications. Your CV is a tailored, final document built for one specific role and sent once. LinkedIn can be broad; your CV should be narrow and targeted.
What to keep consistent
Job titles, employers, and dates should match exactly between the two - inconsistencies here are one of the fastest ways to raise doubt during a background check. Your core narrative should also line up, even if the wording differs.
What LinkedIn can do that a CV can't
- Recommendations from colleagues and managers - social proof a CV can't replicate.
- Ongoing activity - posts, comments, and shares that show you're active in your field.
- A public, searchable profile recruiters can find without you applying at all.
Quick checklist
Same job titles and dates, tailored CV per application, an up-to-date LinkedIn photo and headline, and a CV that goes deeper into results than your LinkedIn summary ever needs to.
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