Symbols for Your Resume, LinkedIn & CV
150+ Copy-Paste Symbols That Get You Noticed
Unicode symbols are the secret weapon of standout resumes and LinkedIn profiles. A well-placed ✔ or → makes your CV scannable in seconds. This is the complete collection — every symbol a professional needs, organised by use case, with copy-paste ready templates for LinkedIn About sections, resume bullets, and job posts.
Why Symbols Make Resumes & LinkedIn Profiles Stand Out
LinkedIn and most resume formats don’t support native bold, italic, or bullet formatting in key areas like headlines, About sections, and job descriptions. What they do support is Unicode characters — which means any symbol on this page will paste in and display correctly for every viewer, on every device.
The visual effect is significant. A profile that uses → arrows to lead into a call to action, ✔ checkmarks next to key achievements, and ◆ diamonds as section separators reads as intentionally designed rather than just typed. Hiring managers and recruiters scan, not read — and symbols tell the eye where to look.
Bullet Point Symbols
The most-used symbols on professional profiles. These replace the default hyphen (-) that most people type, creating a cleaner, more polished look. Click any to copy.
Checkmarks & Tick Symbols
The most powerful symbols on a resume. A ✔ before an achievement immediately communicates “done, delivered, proven.” Use these next to key accomplishments, certifications, and skills.
How to use checkmarks effectively
The most effective use is placing ✔ before each bullet in your achievements section. This pattern is used by top LinkedIn creators and career coaches because it turns a list of responsibilities into a list of completed deliverables — a subtle but significant shift in how a recruiter reads your profile.
Arrow Symbols
Arrows are the highest-impact symbols on LinkedIn profiles. A → or ↳ before your call to action directs the reader’s eye instinctively. Use them to lead into your email, link, or “open to work” statement.
Contact & Social Symbols
These symbols replace text labels before contact details — turning “Email: name@email.com” into “✉ name@email.com”. Cleaner, faster to scan, and more visually considered.
Section Dividers & Separators
In LinkedIn About sections and Word resumes, section dividers visually organise your content without needing actual horizontal lines. These strings of repeated symbols create clean separators between sections.
Stars & Rating Symbols
Stars are used in resumes and LinkedIn to indicate skill levels, highlight top achievements, and add visual emphasis. A ★ before your most impressive achievement draws the eye immediately.
Skill rating with stars — copy-paste format
Complete LinkedIn Profile Templates
These are complete, structured LinkedIn About section templates using the symbols above. Each one is designed to be scannable in 10 seconds — which is the average time a recruiter spends on your profile. Click any template to copy the full text, then replace the placeholders.
ATS Compatibility — What to Know Before Using Symbols
ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) are the software tools that most large companies use to automatically parse and screen resumes before a human sees them. Not all ATS systems handle Unicode symbols correctly — some may render them as garbled text or strip them entirely.
The safest symbols for ATS resumes: bullet (•), em dash (—), right arrow (→), checkmark (✓ ✔), filled square (■), filled circle (●), diamond (◆). These have the widest ATS support across Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, and other major platforms.
Avoid in ATS resumes: emoji, complex Unicode characters (anything with U+1F000 or above), and highly decorative symbols. These are completely safe for LinkedIn and visual resumes sent directly as PDFs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use symbols in my LinkedIn headline? Yes — LinkedIn headlines support Unicode symbols fully. A ◆ or | between headline elements is one of the most effective quick improvements you can make to your profile.
Do symbols work in LinkedIn posts and articles? Yes. Copy any symbol from this page and paste it into a LinkedIn post or article — it will display correctly for all viewers on all devices.
What’s the best bullet symbol for a resume? The standard bullet • is safest for ATS compatibility. For visual resumes (PDF sent directly), ▸ or ◆ look more premium. For LinkedIn, ✔ before achievements is the most impactful choice.
Do these work in Microsoft Word and Google Docs? Yes. Paste any symbol directly into Word or Google Docs. Both handle Unicode correctly. The symbol will appear in your document exactly as shown here.