In a recent LinkedIn post, Ehsan Ali offers a stark assessment of how many senior IT professionals manage their online presence, likening their profiles to neglected filing cabinets rather than dynamic storefronts.
Ali argues that the common practice of updating a LinkedIn profile only every few years—adding a new role, changing dates, and then letting it sit dormant—is a significant misstep in a competitive job market. He highlights a scenario where less experienced individuals might secure coveted positions, leaving seasoned professionals feeling overlooked.
“Most senior IT professionals treat it like a filing cabinet. You open it every few years. Add a new role. Change the dates. Close it again.”
The High Cost of a Passive Profile
The core of Ehsan Ali’s message is that for high-earning roles, particularly those exceeding $300,000, hiring managers are not just looking at responsibilities but at demonstrable outcomes and impact. He contends that crucial achievements, such as architecting systems that underpin major financial platforms or successfully mitigating critical incidents, often go unmentioned on professional profiles.
Ali contrasts a generic profile description with one that speaks to tangible achievements. He points out that a profile stating, “Senior IT Manager. Responsible for managing technology programs across the business,” fails to capture the essence of a candidate’s value. Instead, he suggests this kind of description acts as a “tombstone for your career growth.”
“Hiring managers for $300K+ roles don’t buy responsibilities. They buy outcomes.”
Revitalizing Your LinkedIn ‘Storefront’
According to Ehsan Ali, the most impactful changes can be made by focusing on two key areas: the headline and the ‘About’ section. He believes that optimizing these elements can significantly alter how the right hiring managers perceive a candidate and increase the chances of being found.
Ali provides a compelling example of this contrast:
“’Experienced IT professional with a strong background.’ versus ‘For 15 years, Australia’s Big 4 banks have trusted me to lead their most critical technology transformations.’”
He emphasizes that while these descriptions might represent the same individual, the latter sends a much stronger and more memorable signal to the market, distinguishing between a profile that gets skimmed and one that captures attention.
Actionable Steps for Career Growth
To assist senior IT professionals in aligning their online profiles with their actual career achievements, Ehsan Ali has developed a resource. He offers a guide that includes specific fixes and AI prompts designed to refresh a LinkedIn profile within a short timeframe. Ali suggests that this process can take as little as 15 minutes to implement key changes.
For those interested in this transformation, Ali invites them to send him a direct message with the keyword “PROFILE.” He also encourages the sharing of his post to help others whose online presence may be lagging behind their professional development, and following his profile for ongoing career strategy advice for high-level IT roles.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Ehsan Ali on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on June 24, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →