How to Customise Your LinkedIn URL and Why It Matters

When you create a LinkedIn account, you are assigned a default URL that looks something like: linkedin.com/in/firstname-lastname-4b3a921c

That random string of characters at the end is not a problem — but it is an easy fix that makes your profile look more polished and is easier to type, share, and remember.

Why Customise Your LinkedIn URL?

It looks professional on your CV

Your LinkedIn URL often appears in the header of your CV alongside your email and phone number. A clean URL like linkedin.com/in/janesmith looks intentional. A URL like linkedin.com/in/janesmith-4b7d28f looks like an oversight.

It is easier to share verbally or in print

In an interview, if someone asks "do you have a LinkedIn profile?" you want to be able to say your URL without apology. A custom URL you can recite without a long string of characters helps.

It signals attention to detail

Small things matter in competitive hiring. A clean LinkedIn URL is one of those things that costs nothing and contributes to a generally polished professional presence.

How to Customise Your LinkedIn URL

Go to your LinkedIn profile
Click Edit public profile and URL (top right of your profile page)
On the right-hand side, under Edit your custom URL, click the pencil icon
Enter your chosen custom URL — typically your name or a professional variation
Click Save

Your new URL will be: linkedin.com/in/[yourchoice]

What to Use for Your Custom URL

Your name is the obvious choice: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith

If your name is already taken:

Add your middle initial: linkedin.com/in/johnrsmith
Add your profession: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith-ux
Add your city or country: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith-london
Use a variation you use professionally: linkedin.com/in/jrsmith

Avoid adding numbers unless nothing else is available. Numbers in a URL look like a compromise rather than a choice.

Keeping It Professional

Your LinkedIn URL should be professional — your name or a recognisable professional variation. Avoid:

Nicknames
Random words or phrases
Humorous choices
Anything you would not put on a business card

Adding It to Your CV

Once you have a custom URL, add it to your CV header alongside your email address and phone number. Format it consistently:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourname

You do not need to include the "https://www." prefix on a CV — it is implied and adds unnecessary length.

Checking Availability

LinkedIn custom URLs are first-come, first-served. Common names may already be taken. If your exact name is gone:

Try adding your industry or role (linkedin.com/in/sarahbrown-marketing)
Use your initials and surname (linkedin.com/in/sjbrown)
Try a slightly different formatting (linkedin.com/in/sarah-j-brown)

Updating Your URL Later

If you change your name — due to marriage, legal change, or preference — you can update your custom URL to match. LinkedIn allows you to change your custom URL up to five times within a six-month period, so there is no rush to get it perfect immediately.

The Bigger Picture

Your LinkedIn URL is a small thing. But the combination of small things — a clear photo, a strong headline, a custom URL, complete sections — adds up to a profile that projects professionalism and intentionality.

Use CVCircuit to build a CV that reflects the same level of care: clean, complete, and consistent with your LinkedIn profile at every point.