For most developers, what to put in a developer profile comes down to a clear headline, a short summary, a few well-explained projects and working links. Everything else is optional, and the order below is editorial judgement.
Use the list for any developer career profile, whether it lives on LinkedIn, GitHub or a personal site. If you are still deciding what the profile is for, read the explainer on what is a developer career profile and come back to fill it in.
How this list is ranked
The ranking rests on platform guidance and portfolio advice, not on a measured ranking of recruiter behaviour. Showproof divides a developer portfolio into 13 sections: 4 must-have, 6 should-have and 3 nice-to-have. This list borrows that tiering. Must-haves tell a reviewer who you are and what you can do. Should-haves add proof. Optional items add little and can cost you credibility.
- Verifiability: an element ranks higher when a reader can check it, such as a linked project, rather than take your word for it.
- Scan speed: short, specific elements beat long ones, because a reviewer decides quickly whether to read further.
- Platform support: sections that LinkedIn itself documents and encourages rank above sections that only advice articles mention.
Must-have elements
These four elements belong in every profile before you apply. If time is short, finish them and stop.
Headline and summary
Write a headline that names your role and focus. Showproof advises keeping a headline under 120 characters. For the summary, LinkedIn says to limit the About text to one or two paragraphs. Coursera notes the LinkedIn summary has a maximum of 2,000 characters (around 300 to 500 words). That is a ceiling, not a target. Aim for the shorter LinkedIn guidance.
Project evidence
Projects are the strongest proof in a developer portfolio. Showproof’s position is blunt: one project, done well, beats twelve shallow ones. Pick the project closest to the job you want and explain what you built and what you decided. Link to something a reviewer can open.
Work history
List the roles that support your next move rather than every job you have held. Showproof suggests two to four roles that map to what you want to do next. This section does the job of your resume inside the profile, so keep it tight.
Contact route and profile links
Give a reviewer an obvious way to reach you and a link to your code. Experts Exchange says that linking to your GitHub gives prospective employers a chance to deep dive into the projects. Make sure the GitHub profile you link to has pinned work and readable READMEs, or the link will undercut the rest of the profile.
Should-have elements
These add proof and polish. Showproof advises aiming for at least four of its six should-have sections, so you do not need all of them. Pick the ones you can support with real material.
Open source contributions
An open source contribution shows you can work in someone else’s codebase. Showproof suggests listing 3-5 specific PRs or OSS projects with brief descriptions. This suits developers with little commercial history. It is not essential if your projects already show depth.
Profile photo
LinkedIn states that members with a profile photo receive up to 2X more profile views. That makes a photo a cheap way to increase visibility on that platform. The figure describes views, not hiring outcomes.
Relevant skills list
LinkedIn says a list of relevant skills helps you showcase your abilities to other members. Keep it to the technologies you would be comfortable being interviewed on.
Recommendations and testimonials
Experts Exchange describes a personal testimonial as a great way to demonstrate that you can build personal connections. On LinkedIn, there is no limit to the number of recommendations you can request. Ask former colleagues who can speak to how you work with a team.
Downloadable resume
Offer a downloadable copy of your resume for the reviewer’s convenience. If you expect your application to pass through an applicant tracking system, Showproof mentions using a platform with ATS-ready PDF export.
Optional elements you can skip
Leaving these out will not hurt a candidate, and some of them can hurt if done badly.
- Skill percentages: Showproof is direct that no one believes made-up percentages. Name the skills and show them in projects instead.
- A full CV inside the portfolio: Showproof’s rule is that a portfolio is not a CV. Link to a resume download and let the portfolio show work.
- An exhaustive skills inventory: Experts Exchange warns that more items in your list aren’t necessarily more valuable.
- LinkedIn media samples: you can add media samples to provide quick access to your work portfolio. They help if you have polished work to show, and are skippable if your GitHub or portfolio link already does the job.
Priority table at a glance
| Tier | Element | Typical guidance | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must-have | Headline | Under 120 characters | Write it first and make it name your role and focus. |
| Must-have | Summary | One or two paragraphs on LinkedIn | Keep it short and specific to the job you want. |
| Must-have | Project evidence | One deep project beats many shallow ones | Spend your time on depth for the most relevant project. |
| Must-have | Work history | 2-4 roles that map to your next move | Cut roles that do not support the target job. |
| Should-have | Open source work | 3-5 PRs or projects with brief descriptions | Worth adding if commercial history is thin. |
| Should-have | Profile photo | Up to 2X more profile views on LinkedIn | Low effort, so add it. |
| Should-have | Skills list | Relevant skills only | Prune to what you can defend in an interview. |
| Optional | Skill percentages, full CV, media samples | Percentages and a full CV are discouraged | Skip unless they clearly add proof. |
Figures come from Showproof’s portfolio guide and LinkedIn’s profile help page.
How complete the profile should be before applying
Apply once the four must-haves are finished and you have a few should-haves behind them. You do not need every section filled. On LinkedIn you can use your profile strength meter to gauge the strength of your profile, which is a quick completeness check before you send applications.
Depth matters more than count when you ask how many projects or links are enough. A single well-explained project with a working link, a short list of open source pull requests and a downloadable resume cover most needs. Adding more shallow items rarely strengthens the picture.
To see how a reviewer actually moves through these elements, read how recruiters read developer profiles. What recruiters want most is something they can verify quickly: a clear role, visible work and proof of teamwork such as recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
Can a LinkedIn profile stand in for a resume?
Coursera calls a LinkedIn profile a dynamic resume, so it can serve that role. Levamo adds that a strong web developer portfolio is more than just a resume, so add project links if you want to show work.
Do small open source contributions count?
Yes. Showproof says even small, merged PRs count. Include a short description of what each change did.
Is a longer skills list better?
No. Experts Exchange notes that more items in your list aren’t necessarily more valuable. A focused list is easier to trust.
What does a LinkedIn public profile show?
LinkedIn describes it as a simplified version of your complete profile that shows up in search engines. Check what it displays so your headline and summary read well to someone who finds you through search.
