How to Use LinkedIn Like a Pro: A Guide for Engineers and Sales Professionals

If you’re in engineering, technical sales, or service, there’s a good chance you’re on LinkedIn, but are you using it effectively?

Most professionals treat LinkedIn like an online CV. But in reality, it’s one of the most powerful tools you can use to grow your career, expand your network, and attract opportunities, often without even applying.

Here’s how to make LinkedIn work for you.

1. Optimise your profile for visibility

LinkedIn isn’t just a digital business card — it’s a search engine. Recruiters and hiring managers use specific keywords to find candidates, so your goal is to appear in those searches.

Here’s how to optimise your profile:

• Headline: Don’t just list your job title. Add your specialism and results.
  
  • Example: “Technical Sales Engineer | Automation & Control Systems | Driving Growth Through Innovation”
    
• About section: Write in the first person and include key skills, sectors, and achievements.
  
  • Think: What problems do you solve? What results do you deliver?
    
• Experience: Focus on outcomes, not duties. Use bullet points that start with measurable impact.
  
  • Example: “Increased service contract renewals by 18% through proactive maintenance strategy.”
    
• Skills & endorsements: Keep them relevant to your field — e.g. PLC Programming, Process Control, or Key Account Management.
  

💡 Tip: LinkedIn favours complete profiles. A fully filled-out page can get 21x more profile views and 36x more messages from recruiters (LinkedIn Data).

2. Build a professional personal brand

Your goal isn’t to post constantly — it’s to be known for something.
As a high-performing professional, consistency and credibility are what set you apart.

Try this simple framework:

• Post once per week: Share an insight from your industry, a project success, or your take on a new technology trend.
  
• Engage daily: Like, comment, or share others’ posts — especially from peers or company pages in your sector.
  
• Show your face occasionally: If you’re comfortable, use a professional headshot. Posts with a photo of you earn up to 2.5x more engagement (Hootsuite 2025 social data).
  

⚙️ Keep it relevant. Talk about challenges engineers face, trends in automation, sustainability in manufacturing — topics your audience actually cares about.

3. Expand your network strategically

Don’t fall into the “connect with everyone” trap.
Instead:

• Connect with recruiters and decision-makers in your sector — particularly those who specialise in your discipline (automation, flow control, electronics, etc.).
  
• Follow industry groups and manufacturers to stay in the loop with product updates and vacancies.
  
• Join relevant LinkedIn groups like:
  
  • UK Engineering Professionals Network
    
  • Automation & Control Systems Engineers
    

The wider and more relevant your network, the more likely you are to be approached about hidden opportunities.

💡 Around 70% of jobs are never advertised publicly (CNBC Careers Data) — LinkedIn is where many of them surface.

4. Let recruiters know you’re open — quietly

You can signal that you’re open to new roles without alerting your current employer.

Head to your LinkedIn profile > “Open to Work” > “Recruiters only” setting.
Then specify:

• Job titles you’re open to
  
• Preferred locations (e.g., UK, Switzerland, France)
  
• Start date availability
  

Recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter can then find you more easily — and your employer won’t see the tag.

5. Use recommendations to your advantage

A genuine recommendation is more powerful than any job title.
Ask for short, specific endorsements from:

• Managers who can describe your technical expertise
  
• Clients who can vouch for your results
  
• Colleagues who’ve seen your work first-hand
  

Aim for three to five strong recommendations.

💬 Recruiters view candidates with recommendations as more trustworthy — and they help you stand out when multiple professionals have similar experience.

6. Stay active (without living online)

You don’t have to post every day — but being visible matters.

A simple weekly routine:

Day	Action
Monday	Comment thoughtfully on one industry post
Wednesday	Share a useful article or insight
Friday	Connect with two new relevant professionals

That’s it. 15 minutes a few times a week is all it takes to stay visible and top of mind.

7. Bonus: Use content to start conversations

If you’re in technical sales, LinkedIn is an opportunity to demonstrate expertise before you speak to a client.

• Share short videos or posts explaining how your solutions add value.
  
• Repost company updates with your personal insight.
  
• Add documents or case studies under your profile’s “Featured” section.
  

The goal isn’t to sell — it’s to show credibility.

In summary

If you want to attract better roles, build credibility in your niche, or stay on the radar for future opportunities, treat your profile like your personal brand hub.

And if you’d like an expert opinion on how your profile stacks up in the market, the team at Mase Consulting can help you position yourself effectively for your next role, whether that’s in the UK or across Europe.

You can see all of our live vacancies here.