How to Write a LinkedIn Headline for a Triumphant Job Search

We’ve all seen a LinkedIn headline that makes us go WOW — I bet they would be fun to talk to." No one likes the job search, but a strong LinkedIn profile makes your profile stand out. And it might even play a role in helping you get the job...

Think of your profile as an extension of your resume. It shows the world — and hiring managers — who you are. So your headline is the 220-character zinger that starts you off on the right foot.

With more than 800 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is undeniably the largest professional network on the planet. But what’s the point of having a great LinkedIn profile if you won’t appear in LinkedIn search results?

Leverage your headline!

Your headline is the most visible part of your LinkedIn profile. It’s not only a major factor in LinkedIn’s search algorithm; it plays a critical role in determining whether your readers will want to reach you or move on to the next person.

Simply put, a great headline is key to:

1. Attracting the attention of recruiters
2. Increasing your number of profile visitors
3. Growing your network

That headline is your own personal ad. Think of it as a newspaper headline that summarizes who you are and why you do what you do. Treat it as your mission statement, summarizing who you are and why people should connect with you.

What’s a Headline on your LinkedIn Profile?

A LinkedIn headline is the short description that appears right below your name on your profile.

In the past, the headline used to be 200 characters. But in 2020, LinkedIn increased the number of characters to 220. So, you have a little more space to market yourself, share your vision, or give a taste of your personality!

What’s a Catchy Headline on Your LinkedIn Profile?

There’s a difference between a good and a great headline. A good LinkedIn headline will just portray who you are or what you do. A great or catchy headline, on the other hand, will compel people to take action, wonder, and want to know more about you,

The advantage of crafting a catchy headline is that it captures people’s attention, and they tend to remember your profile and remember YOU. Let them know who you are, and give them a little oomph that makes them want to read on.

What’s Your Catchy Headline on Your LinkedIn Profile?

It can be hard to know where to start, but treat it like you’re designing a poster for the next great blockbuster hit. But this movie is starring you.

Once you’ve decided to revamp your LinkedIn profile, it’s a great idea to have a little brainstorming session. Start by answering these questions:

• How would you describe yourself in just a few words?
• What makes you unique?
• What are your greatest accomplishments?
• What are your most in-demand skills?
• Who are you targeting with your profile?
• What makes you different from other users with the same title?

Answering these questions will help you figure out what to include in your LinkedIn headline and make things easier once you get started.

1. Get Inspiration

If you want your headline to stand out, the first thing you’ll want to do is get inspiration. Look at several headlines for people in your field who have similar roles as you and see how they have formulated theirs.

By default, LinkedIn uses the ‘job title’ and ‘employer name’ in the headline. Pay attention to people who appear on top of search results and note the keywords they are using. Those keywords are likely the reason they are ranking high in search results.

2. Use the Right Keywords

A great LinkedIn headline contains strong and searchable keywords. Don’t use random keywords because they fit your job description or title. Instead, think of how you would search for someone with your skillset.

What keywords would people in your industry use if they were looking for you? Think about who you want to target with your profile. This will guide you in determining the keywords to target.

3. Find what you offer!

Recruiters don’t always have the time to open the profiles of every potential hire that pops in the search results. That said, it’s crucial that you include your value proposition — your hook, and the reason people should look for you — in your headline.

Our COO, Donna Litt, starts her headline with Elevating others” as well as includes Founder” and her current position of COO.” Beginning with a key personality trait, including the industry she works in allows anyone to see exactly what she does, what she has done, and her core values in a succinct way.

4. Show your personality

In the film world, a lot of writers will use something called a logline.” The term is industry known, but it originated from Blake Snyder’s book on story structure titled Save the Cat.

In this book, he emphasizes a key piece of what makes a good, and catchy pitch:

The logline must have irony. Irony gets attention. It hooks your interest. It’s emotional. Draws you in. You must offer something unexpected.”

This applies to your headline too! The great thing about the above headlines is that they give you two opposing images that create some form of juxtaposition.

For example, one of our Account Execs, Steve Gelberman has an eye-catching headline that adds a sprinkle of personality as well:

The irony” here is that dad jokes are known to make people groan, but the humor comes with the knowledge that his job requires excellent people skills! This makes us go He’s down to earth, he’s relatable" — let's jump on a quick call.

Find those unique areas in your life, and highlight them!

What to Avoid in Your LinkedIn Headline

• WRITING EVERYTHING IN ALL CAPS
• Using jargon/flowery language
• Too😊😀😁 many 😄😅😆😇 emojis 😛😜😝😋😗
• Inappropriate **** language
• Controversial topics
• Speling and mistakes of grammar

Your LinkedIn headline is vital in helping you attract the attention of recruiters and increase your number of profile visitors. It’s the first thing people see when they search for you. Don’t sell yourself short! Shine bright and show people your personality and strengths!

Looking to build your presence on LinkedIn and turn your job search around? You've come to the right place! We've got a library of video content ready to help uplevel your online presence, plus so much more!

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