I'm a recruiter who was headhunted by Apple. Here's how I optimized my LinkedIn profile for maximum visibility.

• Theresa Park said Apple found her on LinkedIn in 2021 when she was not actively job hunting.
• She used keywords, networking and active posts to make her profile stand out to recruiters.
• Park said she always updates her LinkedIn — even when she is not actively looking for a new role.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Theresa Park, a 32-year-old tech and creative recruiter. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider verified Park's past employment and business.

About three years ago, I wasn't actively job hunting when a recruiter at Apple found me.

I was happily working as a talent partner at Spotify with no plans to leave.

Still, I'd made a conscious effort to keep my LinkedIn profile updated — not for job searching but to position myself for the next step in my career.

When Apple reached out with an offer to contract for them, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

A recruiting manager from Apple messaged me on LinkedIn in October 2021.

She wrote: "You have an impressive background. I oversee design and creative recruitment for Apple Media Products. I'm eager to see if I might be able to get you on the phone for a few minutes at a convenient time? I look forward to hearing back!"

I took the role and worked at Apple for seven months — until they let go of over 100 contractors, including me. It wasn't the outcome I expected, but was a huge learning experience.

I worked with some of the best creative leaders in the industry, saw what top companies look for in talent, and learned to think beyond traditional recruiting tools. This experience made me a stronger recruiter and shaped how I help job seekers today.

I think having my LinkedIn profile optimized for the exact role I wanted was key to the recruiter finding me. Here's how I set it up and my advice for job seekers.

Craft a compelling summary that tells your story

Your LinkedIn summary is one of the first things recruiters look at, so it needs to be clear and impactful. I always recommend keeping it short — five to six sentences max.

The key to structuring it well is:

• Start with who you are.
• Highlight the impact you bring to the industry.
• Use relevant keywords from the job descriptions you're interested in.
• Add a personal touch that reflects who you are outside work.

For example, in my summary, I included my passion for music and DJing. That detail wasn't random — my love of music led me to work at Spotify in April 2021. The detail helped me tell my story and connect it with my industry.

If you're applying to Nike, maybe you run marathons. Include that. The goal is to align your personal insights with the role you're targeting.

Use the right keywords to make your profile searchable

When I transitioned from Big Pharma at Allergan and AbbVie to tech in 2021, I didn't just update my LinkedIn job title — I made sure my headline clearly showed my expertise in creative and marketing recruitment.

A LinkedIn headline is that line of text under your name, and one of the first things people on your profile. It should state what you bring to the table and help the right opportunities find you.

Recruiters search for candidates using specific keywords, so I included terms relevant to my industry, such as "creative recruitment," "marketing," and "product design."

In my summary, I went beyond listing my job experience. I used keywords relevant to the skills listed in relevant job descriptions like "Boolean search," "X-ray search," and "applicant tracking systems."

I also highlighted my impact in each role I'd done — scaling hiring efforts, partnering with leadership, and building recruitment strategies.

Many people simply list their job titles, but that's not enough. A recruiter might see "Creative Director" in your headline, but they won't know your specific expertise.

When I review 20 profiles, I'll choose the one that shows impact rather than just listing responsibilities.

Keep your profile updated — even if you're not job-hunting

Even if you're happy in your current role, don't neglect your LinkedIn.

I wasn't actively looking when Apple reached out, but my profile was up to date. That's what made it easy for them to find me.

Make sure to:

• Update your job title and responsibilities with clear impact statements.
• Add results and metrics instead of just listing your tasks.
• Keep your location updated — recruiters filter by location, and missing or outdated information can mean you don't show up in searches.

Stay active on LinkedIn

Engaging on LinkedIn doesn't mean posting every day, but sharing industry insights and interacting with professionals in your field can help you get noticed.

As a job seeker, you can advertise yourself through posts about industry trends, challenges you've overcome, and lessons you've learned. Visibility can lead to opportunities.

Leverage networking and referrals

Back in 2021, when an Apple recruiter found me on LinkedIn, companies were hiring fast, and opportunities were everywhere.

Now, hiring has slowed down, and companies are much more selective. You can't just wait for recruiters to come to you.

When I post a job as a recruiter, I can get 300 résumés. I don't have time to go through every one and use keywords to filter candidates and may miss some of the best applicants.

If you know someone at a company you're interested in, reach out to them or a recruiter. It can make all the difference.

The recruiter who helped me get my job at Allergan also helped me land my role at Spotify.

Use LinkedIn as a tool, but don't rely on it alone

While LinkedIn is a powerful tool, different industries have different hiring strategies.

When I was recruiting designers, I found candidates through portfolio sites like Behance, Squarespace, and Farmer. Instagram was an effective tool for finding social media managers or photographers. And for engineers, I used platforms like GitHub and GitLab.

Many companies also post jobs in private Slack communities before making them public. Job seekers should join industry-specific Slack groups and engage in conversations there. It's an underrated way to network, especially in tech.

Being intentional about where and how you present yourself, you can increase your chances of finding the right job.