How to get the most out of your LinkedIn Profile
If you’re working as (or moving into) a senior role in the animal health, veterinary, agriculture or aquaculture sectors, your LinkedIn profile isn’t just a box to tick. It’s one of the most visible assets you have. A strong profile signals credibility, readiness and seriousness — and in a niche market like animal health, those signals matter.
Why LinkedIn Matters for Leaders in Animal Health
- Recruiters, boards and hiring decision-makers are on LinkedIn. They’ll look there long before they call.
- Your network is a live reflection of your industry relevance — in animal health, professional circles are smaller and tightly connected.
- Key roles (sales, regulatory, technical, operations) often move through non-traditional channels. A strong profile means you’ll be found, not just apply.
What to Focus On (Step-by-Step)
1. Invest some quality time
Yes, your profile will take a bit of work. But the more time you can take, the better your result will be. Ensure your photo, your headline and your summary all reflect who you are. Make sure you’ve added a custom URL and even add relevant skills and any volunteering experience you have. Even shifting a few words can change how you show up.
2. Write in the first person
Your profile should sound like you. Using “I” instead of “he/she” or third-person makes it more personal and less pretentious, while still coming across as knowledgeable and experienced.
For example: “I lead commercial strategies for animal health companies across Australasia…”
3. Use industry-relevant keywords
In animal health, certain keywords will help you be found by the right people: e.g., veterinary sales, regulatory affairs, aquaculture operations, feed & nutrition, animal pharmaceuticals.
Do a quick search: look at profiles of senior executives in your field. Spot the patterns. But make sure the terms you use genuinely reflect your experience — don’t just pick popular words.
4. Let personality and purpose show
Your career history matters — but your profile shouldn’t read like a sterile résumé. Add a few lines about what drives you and what you believe in.
Obviously, you want your career highlights to be visible, but LinkedIn is your opportunity to let your personality, values and goals shine through. Allow the readers to get a feel for you through your photo, choice of words and tone of voice.
5. Ask for meaningful recommendations
Recommendations still carry weight. Reach out to key colleagues, mentors or board members you’ve worked with — especially if you’ve led teams in animal health, developed regulatory frameworks, or driven growth in veterinary or agriculture firms. Rather than telling the world how good you are at something, let others highlight your impact.
Quick tip: When you’re asking someone for a recommendation, give them a short list of the skills you’d like underscored.
6. Make it easy for people to reach you
If your profile is polished, but no one knows how to contact you, you’ve missed an opportunity. Make sure your location is clear (and appropriate for your market) and include a preferred contact email or message avenue.
7. Engage, interact and update regularly
LinkedIn is not just a site for posting your CV; it’s a networking site. Posting occasionally, sharing relevant industry insights (for example: trends in livestock health, regulatory updates in agtech, new aquaculture technologies) and connecting with peers keeps your profile active — and visible.
The Payoff
Complete this process and you’ll start to notice the difference: more profile views, more inbound messages, and more opportunities. For senior leaders in animal health, that translates into being visible for the kind of roles where your experience matters, not just any job.
