A recruiter in Toronto reads your application, likes it, and types your name into LinkedIn. What she finds in the next thirty seconds decides whether she calls you. If your photo is cropped from a wedding, your title is a literal translation and your location still says Lyon, the call may not come.
These LinkedIn profile tips are written for newcomers to Canada: what Canadian recruiters look for in each section, with before-and-after examples you can adapt. Fix them before you apply anywhere.
1. A photo, and a banner, that look like you at work
Use a recent, well-lit head-and-shoulders shot, alone, against a plain background, dressed as you would be for an interview in your field. No pets, no group photos, no sunglasses. A friend with a recent phone, a window for daylight and a neutral wall are enough. People should recognize you when you walk into the interview.
The banner behind your photo is free space most people leave grey. A simple image of your field, or of the Canadian city where you live, already says more than the default. Some people add one line of text, such as "Bilingual HR generalist | Montréal".
2. A headline Canadian recruiters search for
Your headline appears next to your name everywhere: in search results, comments and messages. By default it shows your current job title and employer, which tells a Canadian recruiter little. Write it yourself: the role you want, your main skills and, if it applies, your languages and city.
- Before: "Chargée de communication chez Groupe Horizon | Passionnée".
- After: "Communications Coordinator | Content, media relations, events | Bilingual English-French | Vancouver".
Use the titles Canadian employers post, not a word-for-word translation. A chargé de communication in France is usually a communications coordinator or officer in Canada; a responsable can be a manager, a lead or a specialist depending on the role. Search LinkedIn Jobs and Job Bank for your field, open ten postings that match what you did, and note the titles that come up most. Our post on translating your job title has more examples. Use the same titles in your Experience section, with dates that match your resume.
3. An About section that answers "why you, here"
Recruiters search with keywords, so your About section should contain the words that appear in the postings you want. Write it in the first person, in three short paragraphs: what you do and for whom, two or three results with numbers, and what you are looking for in Canada.
Before: "Dynamic and results-oriented professional with a passion for communication and strong interpersonal skills, seeking new challenges."
After: "I help organizations explain what they do to the people who matter to them. For eight years in France, I ran content and media relations for a regional energy company: a bilingual website relaunch, 40 press releases a year and a 30% rise in newsletter sign-ups. I moved to Vancouver in 2026 with an open work permit. I'm looking for a communications coordinator or officer role in energy, transportation or the public sector, in English or in both languages."
Copy two job postings into a document and highlight the skills and tools they mention. Every one you genuinely have should appear somewhere in your profile. If you'd like an expert to go through your profile with you, our Job Boost LinkedIn profile session is a 30-minute review against our seven key points, with a discussion of your goals.
4. Your Canadian location and work status
Many recruiters filter candidates by location. Once you have arrived, set your location to your Canadian city. If you are still abroad, say in your About section when you will arrive and whether you already have a work permit or permanent residence. Recruiters ask about work authorization early, and answering it up front saves a round of messages.
5. Open to Work: public or recruiters only
LinkedIn's Open to Work feature lets you list the job titles, locations, start date and work types you want. You can show it publicly, with the #OpenToWork frame on your photo, or privately, so that only recruiters see it.
If you are between jobs, which is common in your first months in Canada, the public frame is fine: it tells your network you are looking, and many people will think of you when they hear of an opening. If you are still employed, choose recruiters only; it is the discreet option, though no setting is a guarantee. Either way, add two or three Canadian titles and the cities where you would work, and include "Remote" if it applies.
6. English first, French as a strength
Write your main profile in English. In the 2021 Census, English was the first official language spoken by 75.5% of people in Canada and French by 21.4%, and 18.0% could hold a conversation in both (Statistics Canada). Being bilingual is a real advantage for roles in Quebec, Ottawa, New Brunswick, the federal public service and companies that serve French-speaking clients.
Make it visible: put "Bilingual English-French" in your headline, add French to the Languages section with an honest level, and consider a second profile in French, which LinkedIn lets you add alongside the English one. Check every translated title: literal translations are a common mistake in both directions.
7. Skills, Featured and a clean URL
- Skills: add the skills from the postings you highlighted, and put the three or four you most want to be hired for at the top. Ask colleagues to endorse those.
- Featured: pin two or three items that prove your work: a portfolio, a presentation, an article you wrote or a Canadian certification you just earned.
- Custom URL: edit your public profile address to your name (for example linkedin.com/in/amina-diallo) and put it at the top of your resume.
8. Recommendations from people who saw you work
References matter in Canadian hiring, and LinkedIn recommendations work as public references. Ask two or three former managers or colleagues to write one in English, and tell them what to mention: "Could you say a few words about the client onboarding project we led together?" A recommendation from someone in Canada carries extra weight, which is another reason to volunteer or take a first contract early.
Thirty seconds, now well spent
Go back to that recruiter in Toronto. With a clear photo, a headline she searches for, an About section that answers "why you, here", a Canadian location and a few recommendations, your profile confirms what your resume promised. Fix one section a day this week. Then put the profile to work: set up alerts and reach recruiters with our guide on how to use LinkedIn to find jobs in Canada, and start conversations with our LinkedIn job search strategy. If you want a second pair of eyes on your resume and profile together, our Face-to-Face session reviews both with you in one hour.
