What Is a Good Headline on a Resume? Best Tips

When in the middle of a job search, a strong resume is a winner. To make your it stand out, you need an appropriate format, well-presented experience and skills, and an appealing headline.

Let’s learn what a great resume headline is and why it is so important.

What is a headline on a resume?

Let’s start with an example. Imagine hiring managers skimming over hundreds of CVs a day and looking for the right match for a particular position. If there is anything that can help a hiring manager, it is a brief catchy introduction of the candidate’s experience and skills at the top of a resume. That’s exactly what a well-written headline is. Your short statement with the most relevant key points.

You also should remember about virtual colleagues of recruiters. They are various applicant tracking systems (ATS in short). They screen piles of candidates’ CVs searching for the ones that match the “possible variants” instead of “delete” in HR’s subgroups. To make the most of your chances, your resume headline should be written just right. This way, you won’t join that 75% of applicants that are rejected through the initial process.

How to write a resume headline?

You’ll find a list of resume headline examples below in this article. But now let’s specify the way to write a memorable one. Imagine the perfect short slogan for your favorite product that will reflect its features, will be short, sweet, and right to the point. That is exactly how you should approach the question, so they’ll come out concise, succinct, and comprehensive.

With applicant tracking software in mind, write your machine-readable and compelling resume headline that will be easily identified: again short, informative, and with no fluff. Use relevant keywords to be easily found.

What is resume headlines vs headers?

Not to confuse with a header, remember that first comes the headline that opens the way to the header with must-have information, that is your name, phone number, email address, location (usually, town and country), LinkedIn URL, Social Media (if necessary), website or blog address, and a link to your portfolio if applicable.

In case you want to include a great headshot to your resume or LinkedIn profile, or use it for other professional purposes, you don’t need to invest a lot now. Either time or money. Use our online tool to take your picture and we’ll prepare your professional AI headshots in no time. With a suitable background and perfect outfit. Try it out now!

What is resume headline vs. resume title?

We also need to explain that there is a resume title that is the name of your job position no more no less. For example, a data scientist or a digital marketing director is a title. On the other side, resume headlines should include more information about your achievements, skills and preferably with the specification of years of experience.

What is a good resume headline? Key takeaways

Stick to these recommendations to be on top of things while writing good resume headlines.

• Pay attention to the effective structure:

1. 1. Job title (name of your position)
   2. Years of experience
   3. Skillset, specific task, achievements

• Keep it to one sentence that goes directly after your name and surname. If it consists of a few sentences, it turns into a resume summary or objective that goes below.
• Use multiple headlines for different job openings, then you can ask for more time to consider a job offer. The fit-all strategy is no good here.
• Use fonts or cases to make the resume headline pop up for the hiring manager’s attention.
• Be specific in terms relevant to your industry.
• Use verbs rather than nouns and adjectives.
• Don’t go over the top with skills. Just the one or two most relevant skills to match the job description.
• If it’s your first job hunt, highlight your best skills and knowledge fields and major extracurricular undertakings.
• Use numbers: it works well in self-presentation too (say, when you need a quick pitch at a job fair).

Benefits of including a headline on a resume

Need more clues on: what is literary a headline on a resume? Read more on how to increase your chances to be visible for the right position:

• If you spend a bit of time thinking over the matter, you’ll be rewarded with more job interviews. You’ll get a chance to join the 25% of applicants that will pass the initial screening.
• Grab the reader’s attention with impressive achievements and overcome challenges.
• Make your strengths stand out: you aim at credibility and trustworthiness by underlining your best soft and hard skills.
• Make it logical: the rest of your resume should follow the lead and be logically detailed after your headline.
• For less experienced applicants, it’s sensible to highlight skills rather than 1 or 2 years of experience.

Ten customizable resume headline examples in 2024

1. Empathetic Certified Nurse with 3 Years of Experience
2. Software Developer with a Proven Track Record of Success
3. Engaging Teacher Who Helps Students Master the Subject
4. Accounting Professional with 15 Plus Years of Experience
5. SEO Copywriter with Editorial Skills and Spanish as a Second Language
6. Executive Director Who Manages Departments of 400+ Employees
7. Creative Outerwear Designer Specializing in Sustainable Materials
8. Hotel Manager with 10-Year Experience in 3 World’s Biggest Hotel Chains
9. Creative Community Manager Who Builds & Inspires Positive Company Cultures
10. Business-savvy Tax Accountant Who Helps Businesses’ Compliance
11. Resourceful Marketer with 5 Years of Experience and MBA in Marketing and Sales
12. Diplomatic Administrator with Strong Interpersonal Skills
13. Helpful Cashier and Walgreens 3x Employee of the Month
14. Inventive 2x Shingo Prize-Winning Videographer
15. Growth Marketing Manager with 5-Years in Sales who Exceeds Targets by 25%
16. Pro Sales Associate Who Landed $10 Million in Sales
17. Cybersecurity Specialist with 4-Year Experience in FinTech
18. Skilled Co-Chef with 5 Years of Experience in High-End Restaurants
19. Graphic Designer with 7 Years in International Team
20. Devoted College Professor Skilled in ESL and IEPS