Links on your resume: LinkedIn, portfolio, GitHub and what to check before you add them
Which links help a reader, how to write them so they work in print and on screen, and what a stranger will see when they click.
By Avowly · Last reviewed 6 November 2026 · 6 min read · How we write these
In short
- Add a link only if it gives the reader something your resume cannot, and only if the page behind it is ready.
- Keep addresses short and readable, write them out as text too, and test them in a private window.
- Make sure your profile matches your resume and your best work comes first.
- Hands-on work counts: a few photos of finished jobs, with the client's agreement, can be your portfolio.
A link is an invitation. It says "there is more to see, and I am happy for you to see it." That is a strong move when the page behind it is good, and a poor one when it is not.
This guide is about being deliberate with links: which ones to include, how to write them so they work, and what to check so the invitation does not backfire.
Which links earn a place
Include a link when it gives the reader something your resume cannot. Think of it as an extension of the page.
- A professional profile. For most people this is a profile on a professional network. It lets a reader see your history in a different format, and confirms that you are who you say you are.
- A portfolio or personal site. Essential in design, writing, photography, architecture, development and other fields where the work is the proof.
- A code repository. Useful for developers, data people and technical students, when it holds projects you are proud of.
- A published piece. An article, a talk, a paper, a case study.
- A certification or license record. Only where the issuer has a public page for it and the role asks for proof.
Skip links to anything that does not support the application: a personal blog about unrelated topics, a social profile full of private posts, a shopping wishlist. If it is not something you would show an interviewer on purpose, it does not belong. A project link is strongest when the projects section explains what it shows.
A promise to show work later is not a link. Many readers will not write to ask.
Before
Portfolio available on request.
After
Portfolio: ninadraws.example.com (six finished pieces, each with the brief and what changed after feedback)
Why it works: She already had the pieces; she put them on one simple page and wrote a line for each. A reader can now judge the work in two minutes without sending an email.
Write them so they work
A link has to survive two situations: being clicked on a screen and being typed in from a printout.
- Keep them short. A tidy address is easier to type and looks better. Many profile sites let you set a custom address using your name. Do that before you add the link.
- Show readable text. "linkedin.com/in/your-name" is better than a long string of letters and numbers.
- Test every link in the final file. Open the exported document, click each link, and make sure it goes where it should. Test in a private window, so you see what a stranger sees and not what you see when signed in.
- Write out the address in plain words. Some systems drop links when they read a file. If the address is also visible as text, nothing is lost.
Before
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-okoro-4b7a92113a/
After
linkedin.com/in/samokoro
Why it works: He set a custom address in his profile settings, then dropped the parts nobody needs to type. It now fits on one line and can be read off a printout.
If you have more than a couple of links, group them near your contact details, in one line, in the same order every time.
In your contact line
linkedin.com/in/your-name
mayafernandes.example
Written out as text as well, so nothing is lost if a link is dropped.
Opens in a private window
Matches your resume
Best work comes first
Short, readable address
When your work is something you build or make
Carpenters, tilers, landscapers, chefs, florists, hairdressers and decorators often have the best proof of all, and rarely link to it. A few clear photos of finished jobs can do more than a paragraph. They do not need a website; a single public page or shared album is enough.
Before
See my work on my personal social media.
After
leahjoinery.example.com: 12 fitted kitchens and staircases, each with a photo and a line on what she built
Why it works: She moved her best jobs from a personal account, which mixed work with family photos, to one plain page. The 12 is how many jobs she chose to show.
Ask the client before you post photos of their home or business, and crop out house numbers, number plates and faces. Put the newest and best work first, and add one line under each photo: what you built, what with, and anything tricky you solved.
What a stranger will see
Before you put a link on your resume, open it as a visitor would, and ask honest questions about what appears.
For a professional profile: Does it match the resume? Same job titles, same dates, same spelling of your name. A mismatch looks careless at best. Is the photo reasonable and the headline clear? Is the profile public enough for a recruiter to see it?
For a portfolio: Does the first screen make sense in a few seconds? Is your best work first, with a short note on what you did in each piece? Does it load quickly on a phone?
For a repository: Is there a short description at the top of each project that says what it does and how to run it? Are there leftover test files or half-finished work at the top of your list? Pin or highlight your best few, and tidy the rest.
If the answer to any of these is no, fix the page before you share the link. Sending a recruiter to something unfinished is worse than sending no link at all. The LinkedIn headline and summary guide covers the profile side.
Privacy and safety
Think about what a link reveals. A profile may show where you live, your connections or details from earlier jobs. Check what is public and change settings if you are not comfortable.
Never include a link to a document that contains private information, an old employer's internal material, or data you are not allowed to share. If your work is confidential, a portfolio with sanitized examples or case descriptions is a better choice.
Where the links go
In your contact block at the top, in one line, after your email and phone number. For a project link, place it beside the project it belongs to, so the reader does not have to hunt.
A few readers will not click anything, so do not rely on a link to carry key facts. Everything needed to judge you should be on the page itself. The link is the extra.
When you have no portfolio yet
You do not need a website to apply for most jobs. If you want to show work and do not have a site, a clear public page on a recognized platform is enough. Choose a few strong pieces, add a sentence about each, and keep it simple.
A short, tidy presence is better than a large, abandoned one.
Common questions
- Do I need a LinkedIn link on my resume?
- It is not required, but many recruiters look for it. If your profile is complete, public and matches your resume, add it. If it is out of date, update it first.
- Should I use a link shortener?
- Avoid it. Shortened links can look suspicious and may be blocked. A short custom address from the site itself is better.
- What if my portfolio is private?
- Offer a password protected link only if the application is likely to need it, and say so in your email. For most applications, a public sample with a short description works better.