Whether you’re a Solar PV Engineer, Grid Connection Specialist, or HSE Manager, LinkedIn is one of the most valuable tools in your job search. It’s where recruiters like me spend hours every day sourcing candidates, reviewing experience, and reaching out to the right people.

Here are my top tips to improve your LinkedIn profile and make it work harder for you — and help you stand out in the competitive clean energy talent market.

1. Keep Your LinkedIn Profile Up to Date

Too many strong candidates miss out on opportunities because their profiles are out of date.

If your LinkedIn doesn’t match your actual experience, recruiters won’t know you’re qualified.

📌 Make sure you update:

Your job titles (especially if you’ve been promoted recently)
Key skills, certifications, and training courses (e.g., GWO, NEBOSH, solar design tools)
Your location and work preferences (especially for hybrid/remote roles)
Your contact information (email/phone — if you’re happy to be contacted directly)

🖼️ Bonus tip: Add a background banner image that reflects your industry (e.g., solar array, wind farm, offshore platform).

2. Use the Right Keywords for Search Visibility

LinkedIn is a search engine, and keywords are your SEO fuel.

Use the exact words a recruiter would search to find someone like you:

Job titles (Solar Design Engineer, Site Manager, Planner)
Skills (AutoCAD, SCADA, EPC, HV switching, DNO)
Certifications (IOSH, GWO, CSCS, SMSTS)
Sectors (solar, energy storage, battery, O&M)

Place these in:

Your Headline – e.g. “Project Engineer | Battery Storage | HV Design | UK-Wide”
Your About section
Your Job experience descriptions
Your Skills section

💡 Pro tip: Review job ads you’re interested in and match their language in your profile.

3. Highlight Experience That Aligns with Your Career Goals

Be intentional with what you include. LinkedIn isn’t a full career history — it’s a highlight reel.

Each job role should include 2–4 concise bullet points focused on:

Key responsibilities
Technical tools/systems used
Project types or clients
Outcomes and achievements

🎯 Recruiters want to know:

What you did
How you did it
What impact you made

If you led a team, delivered a project under budget, or improved safety records — say so clearly.

4. Stay Active and Expand Your Network

LinkedIn rewards activity. If you want to appear in more searches, start engaging regularly.

You don’t need to post daily — but even occasional activity builds visibility:

Comment on industry news or recruiter posts
Share updates from projects you’re proud of
Join sector-relevant groups (e.g., “Solar Energy UK” or “CleanTech Careers”)
Use hashtags (e.g., #RenewableJobs, #SolarCareers, #NetZero)

Building your network also helps. Aim to connect with:

Recruiters in your sector
Former colleagues and managers
People at companies you’d love to join

5. Let Recruiters Know You’re Open to Work (Privately)

LinkedIn allows you to quietly let recruiters know you’re open to new roles — without alerting your employer.

Here’s how:

Go to your profile
Click the “Open to” button
Select “Finding a new job”
Add preferences (job titles, location, start date, job type)

This tells recruiters like me that you’re ready to talk — even if you’re not applying directly.

6. Avoid These Common LinkedIn Mistakes

🚫 Outdated Info: If your headline says “Open to Work” but your last update is from 2021, that’s a red flag.
🚫 No Profile Photo: A blank photo often gets overlooked — use a professional image, even a clean smartphone shot.
🚫 Overused Buzzwords: Avoid vague terms like “hardworking” or “go-getter” — focus on real skills and results.
🚫 No Contact Details: If we can’t reach you, we might move on to the next candidate.
🚫 No Custom URL: You can personalise your LinkedIn URL to look more professional and be easier to share.

Real Example: How a Solar Engineer Got Discovered

One candidate we recently placed into a role on a major solar project stood out because of their clear, concise profile.

They:

Had a strong headline with keywords
Included recent solar projects with brief bullet points
Used relevant hashtags in posts
Had their contact info visible

We reached out, interviewed them the same week, and he started within 4 weeks.

✅ LinkedIn Profile Checklist for Job Seekers

Here’s a quick reference guide you can use to optimise your profile today:

Profile photo (professional headshot)
Updated headline with keywords
About section written in first-person
Current & relevant job experience listed
Key responsibilities & achievements as bullet points
Certifications, tools, and training included
Skills matched to your target roles
“Open to work” signal turned on
Contact details visible (if open to contact)
Active in groups or posts

About the Author

Karianne Morris is a Senior Talent Specialist in the Renewables team at Astute People.

She works with skilled professionals across solar, battery storage, and clean energy sectors to connect them with leading employers across the UK and beyond.

👉 Connect with Karianne on LinkedIn