It’s 2026. Everything has changed. Everything is fast. Everything is connected. And everything is digital.

From the way we communicate with other people, to finding a job, to getting hired, everything is digital and powered by the internet. 

It is an opportunity that everyone should be taking advantage of, especially if you are looking for a job. You need to be digital and you need to create a strong professional profile this year. 

It can increase your chances of standing out, getting noticed, and even getting hired. 

In this digital world, your professional profile is often the first impression employers, recruiters, and clients see, even before the interview. And with the increasing competition across industries and remote opportunities expanding globally, having a great and strong profile can make you stand out. 

Your professional profile is like our modern resume. It is like your personal brand where you showcase it to your prospect clients or employers. 

If you are thinking on how to create a professional profile that can land you your dream job this 2026, here’s what you need to do. 

How to create a strong professional profile this 2026

1. Spend time optimising your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is the number 1 platform for professionals and recruiters. It is a great place to find companies and careers. It is where most recruiters spend their time. That is why if you want to make a strong professional profile, you need to make your LinkedIn profile complete and compelling.

To do that, you need to use a clear, professional headshot. You need a strong headline that focuses on your value, not just your job title. You also need to spend time writing a friendly but powerful summary. It is also important to highlight your top skills as it is an eye candy for recruiters. If you have certifications, achievements, and portfolio pieces, you need to showcase them too. 

It will also help to keep your LinkedIn account by actively sharing insights, joining groups within your industry and engaging on posts on some companies that you would like to be a part of.

2. It’s time to clean and update your resume

When was the last time you opened your resume? You don’t open your resume only when you are looking for a job. You need to update it always when you have a certification, achievements or any updates in your career or professional work. 

Updating it is also not enough. You have to clean it. Read your resume and remove things that are already irrelevant. Make sure to keep it to one to two pages only. It is also important to use measurable results with your achievements on your previous or current jobs. 

If you are looking for a job, you may want to tailor your resume for each job application that you will apply to. And since most recruiters are handling hundreds of resumes, they often use AI tools to easily filter applicants. With this, you may need to use keywords that recruiters search for. And lastly, and most importantly, avoid clutter and outdated formats. 

3. Build a portfolio

A portfolio is not just for graphic artists, website developers, writers, etc. Any professional can build a portfolio that will increase their opportunity of getting hired for a great job. A portfolio is proof of your skills. It is tangible evidence of your work experience and contribution to companies or communities you’ve been involved with. 

Your portfolio can be your sample work. It can also be reports, dashboards, or campaigns you launched. You can also use case studies as your portfolio. 

Aside from that, you can also get testimonials from your clients and employers and add it to your portfolio. You can simply screenshot some of your achievements or a project summary. 

4. Strengthen your personal brand

If you have time to work for a company to grow, then you have time to strengthen your personal brand. Take yourself as a business or as a company, how would you want to sell yourself to others? What story would you like to tell people so they can easily remember you? Your personal brand includes your tone, values, experience, and how you present yourself online. 

You can build your brand by sharing content related to your industry. You can also start commenting or engaging on some posts from other professionals or companies. Try joining webinars or communities to expand your reach and network. And lastly, be consistent in your messaging. Stick to what you want people to remember about you. 

5. Clean up your digital footprint

Another part of strengthening your personal brand and profile is to check yourself online. If you Google your name, what type of information does it give you? Is it good or is it damaging? You may want to do yourself a favour by removing any information that does not make you look good in the eyes of a recruiter. Recruiters sometimes Google applicants to see what kind of person they are outside of work. You may want to stick to your professional branding for this. 

To clean up your digital footprint, review your public social media posts. Make sure to remove inappropriate or unprofessional content that can damage your professional image. If you can’t clean up your social media, you can put it into private to separate your professional and personal life online. Also, ensure your name and information are consistent across platforms.  

6. Expand your professional network

Network is important. It can open great opportunities not just about jobs or work, but also amazing people, situations or experiences. To build your network, try to attend online conferences and local events. You may also want to join industry-specific communities. Try to connect with mentors and leaders in the industry too. Keep in touch with former colleagues and try to participate in group discussions. 

7. Continue to upskill

As mentioned, take yourself as a business. And as a business, you need to expand and offer new products or services to keep clients coming in. As a professional, you also need to continue learning and developing skills. The digital era evolves quickly, and your skills should catch on with it too. 

In upskilling, you can try to learn new tools that support your field. You can also take short online courses and get certifications that you can include in your LinkedIn profile or portfolio. Don’t forget to stay updated with industry trends. Watching webinars and training sessions from time to time.

These are just some of the things that you need to do to strengthen your professional profile this 2026. Remember, your professional profile is more than online presence. It is your personal brand, reputation and career identity. When done right, you can attract employers, build credibility, open new opportunities, and even strengthen your reputation in your industry. 

In this digital era, your online presence is your career passport. Invest in it and make it count. 

Looking for a job this 2026? Make sure to follow us on social media and on our website for our new job posting!