Use LinkedIn Featured to Showcase Work Samples

In brief: LinkedIn Featured lets you put selected work samples directly on your profile, where visitors can open them. Choose an item that supports the role you want, add a short description of your contribution, and check that others can access it. One sample you have permission to share is enough to start.

Three things to remember

1. Pick work for your target role, not just your previous titles.
2. Explain what you contributed and test access.
3. Check permissions and remove confidential material before publishing.

How Featured works and how to add an item

Featured is a curated area on your personal LinkedIn profile. You might use it for a LinkedIn post, an external portfolio page, or an uploaded document. It's a display window for selected work, not a substitute for your resume.

Here's the path for adding your first item:

1. Open your profile and select Add profile section.
2. Select Recommended, then Add featured.
3. In the Featured area, use the add control. Choose a content type and follow the prompts.

Already have a Featured section? Use the controls in that area to add items or change their order.

Menu wording and placement can change, so don't worry if the screen looks a little different when you visit. LinkedIn's official accessibility guidance describes the profile-section path and notes that Add featured opens a separate window.

Choose evidence that fits your target role

Look at a job description for a role you'd like next. Which skills does it ask for, and which piece of your work gives someone a useful look at one of them? A sample can be relevant even if your past job title doesn't match the title you're pursuing.

You don't need to fill every row. Choose one strong item first. If you add one or two more, look for pieces that show something different rather than making the same point again. Put the closest match to your target role first.

Thing is, the post with the most reactions may not be the most useful sample. A piece that explains a difficult decision can give a visitor a clearer view of your skills.

Give each sample context before the click

The title and description do some work before anyone opens your sample. Make the title specific, then use the description to explain the problem and your part in addressing it. Include a result if you can substantiate it and have permission to share it.

Compare these:

• Vague title: "Project presentation"
• Clearer title: "Customer onboarding redesign: research and recommendations"
• Description: "I interviewed users, mapped the existing process, and presented recommendations to the project team."

That description tells the reader what you did. It also avoids claiming the entire project as your own. For collaborative work, name the parts you handled; if you can't substantiate a result, leave it out and describe the work instead.

Protect sensitive information and find alternatives

Caution: Check whether you have permission before uploading client information, internal documents, or unpublished work. Follow your organization's sharing rules and ask for approval when needed.

A removed client name isn't always enough. Take a close look at screenshots, internal figures, speaker notes, identifying details, and anything else embedded in the file. Check the whole document before you publish it, not just the pages you plan to discuss.

You can still show your approach without sharing the original. Consider a hypothetical project that you label clearly, a public talk, or a process summary that leaves out sensitive details. A student might choose an academic project; an experienced professional might feature a public case study or portfolio page.

The sample doesn't have to be a polished campaign or a public client project. It does need to be something you're allowed to share.

Check the section as a visitor

Open each item yourself. Read its title and description as if you weren't there to explain the work. Can a visitor tell what the sample shows and which part you contributed?

Test external links in a private browser window. Where possible, look at your profile from another account or device, too.

Turns out, checking the profile and checking a link are separate jobs. An external page may require a company login, a LinkedIn post may have its own audience settings, and profile visibility can vary depending on settings and how someone views it. A link that works for you isn't necessarily open to everyone else.

Ask someone you trust to review the section. Have them try to open the work and tell you what they understand about your contribution. Fix broken links, restricted access, and descriptions that leave them guessing.

A simple timeline for building your section

You don't need a full portfolio before you begin. Work through one item first, then come back to the section as your goals or available samples change.

1. First, choose and prepare one sample. Match it to a skill in your target role. Check that you have permission to share it and remove sensitive material.
2. Add the item and context. Write a specific title and a short description of your contribution.
3. Test and refine. Check access, ask for feedback, and fix anything that isn't clear.
4. Review when your direction changes. Replace older work when you have samples that are stronger or more relevant.

One useful sample gives you a starting point. You can add another later when it gives visitors a different piece of evidence about your work.

For a broader perspective on presenting your experience during a job search, visit DossierPro.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add a PDF to LinkedIn Featured?

Featured may offer a media upload option for a PDF. If you don't see it, check the current prompts or visit the LinkedIn Help Center.

How many items should I feature?

Start with one strong, relevant item. Add another when it shows a different skill or contribution, rather than repeating the evidence you've already shared.

Can everyone see my Featured section?

Visibility can depend on your LinkedIn settings and how someone views your profile. Ask another person to check what they can see, and test any external links separately.

The bottom line

Pick one sample you're allowed to share. Give it a clear title, describe your contribution, and ask someone else to open it before you add another.