Turn Your Work Experience into a Story – Don’t Just List It

Your LinkedIn profile is a tool you can tailor to your personal goals. Most optimization guides are aimed at people climbing the career ladder—but that’s not everyone’s path. Maybe you just want a better employer, with fairer conditions or higher pay. Maybe, like me, you’re a freelancer looking for clients. Or you want to expand your professional network. Your “Experience” section should reflect your goals—no more, no less. LinkedIn can help improve your situation, even if you’re not chasing a big career.

This blog is part of a series on profile optimization. For the full picture, check out my guide: “Creating and Optimizing a Successful LinkedIn Profile: Your Key to Visibility and Career Opportunities.”. It shows how all the pieces—from your headline to your experience—fit together.

Why Your Work Experience Should Be Tailored to You

When I revamped my LinkedIn profile, I noticed that many profiles just list tasks—it’s uninspiring. A good profile shows what you bring to the table in a way that aligns with your goals. If you want to position yourself as an expert, highlight your achievements. If you’re job hunting, emphasize your reliability and competence. As a freelancer, it’s about showing potential clients that you deliver results.

Your profile doesn’t need to be perfect for everyone—it just needs to work for you.

How to Shape Your Experience Section to Match Your Goals

Here’s a step-by-step guide you can adapt to your needs—whether you want to showcase accomplishments or demonstrate your skills.

1. Start with a Strong Title That Reflects Your Role and Goals

Your job title is the first impression. If you're aiming for leadership roles, use terms that highlight your expertise, like “Senior Project Manager” or “Content Strategist.” I updated mine to “Freelance Marketing & Business-Growth Partner | Strategy & Digital Solutions” to clearly state what I offer and attract the right clients.

If you’re job hunting, go with a title that accurately reflects your current role, like “Administrative Assistant” or “Customer Service Representative.” Make sure it’s honest and descriptive so potential employers know what you do at a glance.

2. Show Your Contribution – With or Without Numbers

If you have measurable results and want to stand out, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). For example:

“A launch event had budget issues. My task was to turn it around. I secured sponsors and cut costs by 15%—the event sold out and media coverage doubled.”

This shows you’re a problem-solver.

No numbers? No problem. Be specific:“I plan events and make sure they run smoothly by coordinating all the details.”

For routine work, like admin roles:“I support the team by scheduling meetings, managing documents, and responding to requests quickly.”

Think: What value do you bring? Write it in a way that shows your strengths.

Tips for STAR stories:

• Start with the problem – e.g., “Sales were dropping.”

• Keep the task short – e.g., “Bring back lost customers.”

• Be precise with actions – e.g., “Launched a new campaign.”

• State clear results – e.g., “Increased sales by 20%.”

3. Highlight the Skills That Support Your Goal

If you’re positioning yourself as an expert, share projects that show your range. I once implemented a CRM system as a consultant, which improved lead tracking by 25%—it shows I go beyond the basics. If you’re job hunting, show what makes you reliable:“I’m the go-to person on the team, ensuring everything runs smoothly by prioritizing requests and coordinating workflows.”

Think: Which skills make you valuable in your role? Organization, communication, problem-solving—choose what fits your goal.

4. Use Keywords That Match Your Situation

Keywords boost your visibility, but they should be relevant to your goal. If you’re aiming for leadership roles, try terms like “Project Management,” “Team Leadership,” or “Strategic Planning.” I use “Digital Transformation” and “Marketing Strategy” to attract clients. Check out three job ads in your field—what keywords keep coming up? “Project Management” or “Data Analysis” are good hits, while “Team Player” is too vague.

For admin roles, keywords like “Office Management,” “Document Handling,” or “Communication Skills” might apply. Pick 3–5 that describe your work and weave them into your description.

For example:“I have strong office management skills and ensure efficient processes.”That way, you’ll show up in the right searches.

5. Add Media to Showcase Your Work

Media can support your story—if it fits your goals. Want to share a success? Upload a document, like an event photo (“Sold-Out Launch Event”) or a report (“Project Report: 15% Cost Reduction”). For everyday tasks, even something simple like a table showing your organizational structure (“Weekly Team Schedule”) can work. Media isn’t required, but it makes your work more tangible.

Think: Do you have something visual that could back up your description?

6. Show Who You Are – In Your Own Words

Show what drives you—it makes you relatable. An event manager might say:

“I thrive when everything comes together—sold-out events are my proof.”

A content strategist:

“I love content that works—40% more traffic says it all.”

An assistant:

“I take pride in being organized so my team can rely on me.”

Choose a sentence that reflects your attitude toward your work—it makes your profile authentic.

• Tips to Get Started:

  • Use a precise title with relevant keywords – e.g., “Content Strategist”

  • Share 2–3 STAR stories – problem, solution, result

  • Show versatility – one extra task that made an impact

  • Pick 5 keywords from job ads – tailor them to your profile

  • Upload 1–2 media files – like a report or photo

Turn Your Experience into a Power Tool for Your Goals

The “Experience” section on LinkedIn is more than just a list of duties. It’s your stage to showcase your expertise, accomplishments, and personality. How you present your experience can be the difference between an average and an outstanding profile.

LinkedIn helps you gain visibility and improve your work life—even if you’re not aiming for a high-flying career.

Want more tips on optimizing other parts of your profile? Check out these articles:

• “The Perfect Header for Your LinkedIn Profile – How to Make a Memorable First Impression”

• “Your Headline – Your Personal Brand in 120 Characters”Learn how your headline can be just as powerful as your experience.