How to Write a LinkedIn Headline (with Examples)
Learn how to write an effective LinkedIn headline that grabs recruiters' attention and showcases your unique value proposition. Discover best practices and examples.
As a job seeker, your LinkedIn headline is among the most important elements of your profile. It's the first thing recruiters and potential employers see when they come across your page. Your headline gives them an initial snapshot of who you are, what you do, and why they should care. An eye-catching, memorable headline can draw them in to learn more about you.
However, many job seekers underestimate the impact of this brief but powerful description. They default to generic titles, meaningless buzzwords, or quotes.
Crafting a compelling headline is well worth the effort. The right turn of phrase could lead to exciting career opportunities. Your headline sets the tone for your entire LinkedIn narrative. It frames your personal brand and value proposition.
So how can you make the most of these 220 characters? Let's start by examining some of the most common headline mistakes to avoid.
Common LinkedIn Headline Mistakes
Using generic quotes or phrases
Your headline is not the place for an inspirational quote or generic phrase like "seeking new opportunities." Recruiters want to know what role you're targeting and the skills you offer.
I've seen far too many headlines like: "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life!"
Using a quote as a LinkedIn headline is one of the common mistakes job seekers make, especially when hunting for a new job.
This tells a recruiter nothing about the candidate's background or career aims. It's a waste of valuable headline real estate.
Failing to clearly state job title and expertise
On the flip side of vague quotes are headlines that lack any specificity about the person's professional identity. Things like:
"Experienced marketing professional"
"Leader and team player"
"Passionate learner"
Again, these platitudes could apply to anyone. They don't provide any concrete information about the level or type of role the person is qualified for. There's no indication of industry or specialist expertise.
To give you an example from my own LinkedIn profile, my headline clearly states my job title:
"Director of Talent Acquisition | We're Hiring!"
There's no ambiguity that I work in recruitment and lead a team. The "We're Hiring!" tagline also invites job seekers to reach out since my company has open roles. Your headline should clarify what you do and at what level.
So now that we've covered what not to do, what is the best approach? Many "experts" claim to have cracked the code on the perfect headline formula. But the reality is more nuanced, as we'll explore in the next section.
Should You Use LinkedIn's AI Headline Tool?
LinkedIn introduced an AI-powered tool that generates headline suggestions for users. However, there are a few caveats to keep in mind before relying on this feature.
Firstly, the headline generator is only available to Premium subscribers. So if you're using a free LinkedIn account, you won't have access to this tool.
But more importantly, the quality of the AI-generated headlines is hit or miss. The tool pulls keywords from your profile to create headline options. But in my experience, the suggestions often fail to capture the essence of a person's professional brand.
For example, when I tested the tool on my own profile and my headline:
LinkedIn only gives you three options, and it’s unclear how my job is related to 'Responsible AI'. The other titles don't even come close to the simplicity of my original headline.
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
While this includes some relevant keywords from my background, the headlines feel generic and incomplete.
The bottom line is that LinkedIn's AI tool can offer some inspiration. But I wouldn't recommend relying on it to write your headline for you. Nothing beats crafting a headline that truly reflects your value proposition.
Beware of Generic ChatGPT Headline Prompts
With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, some "LinkedIn experts" are touting the magic of AI-generated headlines. They'll share generic prompts like:
"Craft a new LinkedIn headline showcasing my latest job from my resume."
Then they showcase the AI-generated result as if it's a remarkable improvement. The problem is that these formulaic prompts rarely lead to standout headlines.
This headline is too long, and we don't need to mention Director and Leader in the same headline.
The AI doesn't know the nuance of your role, industry, or goals. It can't weave in your personality or unique perspective. So you end up with a dry, dull headline that sounds like it could have been written for anyone.
AI prompts also tend to be heavily keyword-stuffed in an attempt to game the LinkedIn algorithm. But this approach can backfire. Crowding your headline with keywords makes it clunky and inauthentic.
The Popular But Flawed Headline Formula
If you've spent any time searching for LinkedIn headline advice, you've likely come across some version of this "optimized" template:
[Your Job Title] | [Years of Experience] | [Industry-Specific Skill #1] | [Industry-Specific Skill #2] | [Key Achievement or Focus Area] | [Value Proposition]
My headline based on this formula would look like this:
On the surface, this formula seems to check all the boxes. It includes your current role, relevant skills, impressive accomplishments, and the unique value you offer. Many LinkedIn coaches swear by this format.
But in practice, rigidly adhering to this template can undermine your headline. Here's why:
Here is why it’s not only recommended but it could hurt you:
Years of Experience Issues:
Including years of experience can unnecessarily introduce age bias. Recruiters may make snap judgments about your seniority (or lack thereof).
The quality and depth of your experience matters more than the raw number of years.
Listing years also requires constant updating as time passes.
Years of Experience Issues:
Including years of experience can unnecessarily introduce age bias. Recruiters may make snap judgments about your seniority (or lack thereof).
The quality and depth of your experience matters more than the raw number of years.
Listing years also requires constant updating as time passes.
Industry-Specific Skills Drawbacks:
Overemphasizing industry jargon can alienate recruiters from other fields. They may assume you're not interested in opportunities outside your current industry.
Naming specific skills can inadvertently pigeonhole you into specialist roles. It limits your perceived versatility.
Skill-based keywords are also prone to spammy overuse. You lose credibility if your headline is just a jumble of buzzwords.
Key Achievement/Focus Area Pitfalls:
Achievements quickly become outdated. You'll need to frequently refresh your headline to showcase your latest win.
Focusing on a specific project or initiative could make your headline feel too narrow.
Without proper context, standalone achievements may not resonate.
Value Proposition Traps:
It's hard to articulate a meaningful value prop in just a few words. Most attempts veer into trite, overused territory like "results-driven" or "motivated self-starter."
Proving your value is better woven into your full profile. Forcing it into the headline often rings hollow.
So if this popular formula is flawed, what's the alternative? In my opinion, the best approach is to write an authentic, targeted headline that captures the core of who you are and what you do. Forget the prescriptive templates and mad-libs formulas.
Craft a Genuine, Descriptive Headline Instead
Rather than forcing your experience into a rigid, cliché headline template, focus on writing an authentic description of your professional identity. Your headline should provide an at-a-glance snapshot of your career status and goals.
To generate headline ideas, ask yourself:
What role(s) am I targeting?
What are the core functions of my work?
What is my specialty or niche?
What skills and strengths define my approach?
Who is my target audience?
What kind of opportunities do I want to attract?
Distill your answers into a concise, compelling headline. For example, say you're a finance manager with deep expertise in GAAP accounting principles. Instead of a generic headline like "Finance Professional," you could say:
"Finance Manager | GAAP Accounting Expert | Strategic Business Partner"
This headline specifies your role, showcases your specialist knowledge, and positions you as a high-level finance strategist. It goes beyond surface-level labels to give a richer sense of how you operate.
Importantly, it avoids many of the pitfalls we identified with the formulaic headline template, such as:
No arbitrary years of experience that could limit opportunities
Focused on core skills vs. a laundry list of industry jargon
Speaks to a strategic leadership role vs. pigeonholing into a narrow function
Frames expertise in an active, descriptive way vs. a trite value prop
The key is striking a balance between including essential details and maintaining a natural-sounding headline. You want to give recruiters a taste of your professional value. But you also want to avoid overstuffing your headline with keywords or accolades.
Ultimately, your headline shouldn't sound like it was churned out by AI. It should capture your authentic voice and style. Write it in the first person and let your personality shine through.
Tailor Your LinkedIn Headline to Your Goals
Of course, the "right" headline will vary from person to person based on their career stage and aspirations. A recent grad seeking their first marketing role will have a different headline than a seasoned creative director.
Your current career status and goals should shape what you decide to highlight. If you're a generalist exploring opportunities across different industries, keep your headline broader. Emphasize your transferable skills and multifaceted expertise.
On the other hand, if you're aiming for a specific type of role, your headline can showcase niche qualifications. Include the most relevant and impressive details that position you for those target jobs.
You may also consider optimizing your headline for LinkedIn search. Identify important keywords that recruiters in your field are likely to query. Strategically weave a few of those words or phrases into your headline as long as they align with your actual experience.
The most effective headlines aren't static—they evolve along with your career journey.
There's no one "right" way to write a headline. Experiment with different approaches until you find one that feels true to you and speaks to the opportunities you're seeking. By thoughtfully crafting those 220 characters, you can make your LinkedIn profile work harder to open doors and fast-track your job search success.
Two Proven Headline Writing Prompts
While there's no one-size-fits-all formula for the perfect LinkedIn headline, AI tools can provide valuable inspiration and guidance. By leveraging the power of natural language processing, these tools can help you identify your core strengths and articulate your value proposition in a compelling way.
To demonstrate, let's look at two AI-powered prompts that can help you generate an effective headline, no matter your career stage or industry.