Resume headlines are becoming more common in today’s competitive job market, as applicants continually look for ways to differentiate their resumes and stand out from other candidates. The purpose of the resume headline is to quickly catch the hiring manager’s attention. Keep reading to learn how to develop resume title ideas and see resume headline examples.
What Is a Headline on a Resume?
A resume headline is one line that quickly summarizes your candidacy. It goes under your name in the resume header but before the document’s main body. To ensure it fits on one line, keep it under 15 words but descriptive enough that the hiring manager knows what makes you different from other applicants. It can be one long phrase or several adjectives and keywords divided by the pipe symbol. Some good resume title examples are:
- Compassionate Registered Nurse Skilled in Emergency Care, Patient Advocacy, and Critical Thinking
- Data Scientist Leveraging Predictive Analytics, Machine Learning, and Big Data Insights
- Graphic Designer Creating Impactful Visuals With Advanced Adobe Creative Suite Skills
Benefits of adding a good headline for a resume
Hiring managers often look through dozens of resumes for one position and only have a few seconds to spend on each. This makes it critical to catch their attention quickly. Good resume title examples clarify your unique value proposition as a candidate, which can help set you apart when there’s a stack of similar applications.
How To Write a Good Headline for a Resume
- Choose your words carefully. Good resume title examples are concise but use high-impact keywords.
- Customize the headline to the job description. Come up with multiple resume headline examples you can swap out to target multiple job titles or roles or highlight specific skills.
- Use relevant keywords. Add words and phrases from the posting as applicable to ensure it’s relevant to the job title and industry.
Mistakes to avoid when writing resume headlines
- Overcomplication or vagueness. Good resume title examples are only one line and are specific enough to show your uniqueness without overwhelming the space.
- Misleading claims or unnecessary jargon. Your resume should always be a truthful representation of your background and skills. Avoid buzzwords or jargon, and stick to clear language that’s easy to understand.
- Lack of alignment with job-specific keywords. Leaving out industry-relevant keywords means you’re missing an opportunity to optimize for applicant tracking systems (ATS), and it’s likely to lead to a headline that is similar to everyone else’s.
Resume Headline Examples for Various Roles
Use the good resume title examples below to see how a solid resume headline can help improve your application, no matter where you are in your career or job search.
Marketing Professional Resume Example
Headline:
Digital Marketing Specialist | Expert in SEO, Content Strategy, and Campaign Optimization
Summary:
Dynamic and results-driven marketing professional with 5+ years of experience designing and executing successful digital campaigns. Skilled in SEO, SEM, social media management, and content marketing. Proven ability to increase website traffic by 35% and grow social media engagement by 50%.
Experience:
Digital Marketing Specialist
XYZ Agency | 2020 – Present
- Increased client website traffic by an average of 35% through strategic SEO and content marketing initiatives.
- Designed and executed digital ad campaigns, achieving a 20% increase in ROI for top clients.
- Spearheaded social media campaigns, leading to a 50% boost in follower engagement.
Marketing Coordinator
ABC Solutions | 2017 – 2020
- Managed content creation and publishing for the company blog, resulting in a 25% increase in organic traffic.
- Coordinated email marketing campaigns, boosting click-through rates by 15%.
- Supported market research efforts to identify customer needs and trends.
Skills:
SEO | Google Analytics | Campaign Management | Email Marketing
Software Engineer Resume Example
Headline:
Full-Stack Developer | Proficient in JavaScript, React, and Cloud Computing
Summary:
Innovative software engineer with 7+ years of experience developing scalable web applications and optimizing system architecture. Adept in modern frameworks, API development, and cloud integration. Delivered projects that improved system efficiency by 40% and reduced maintenance costs by 25%.
Experience:
Senior Software Engineer
ABC Technologies | 2018 – Present
- Built and maintained web applications used by over 100,000 users annually.
- Optimized server-side code, reducing response times by 30%.
- Integrated cloud solutions, cutting server costs by 25%.
Software Engineer
TechNova Inc. | 2015 – 2018
- Developed and deployed client-facing web applications with user-friendly interfaces.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate APIs, improving system functionality.
- Wrote automated tests, reducing bugs in production by 20%.
Skills:
JavaScript | React | Node.js | AWS | Python
Sales Executive Resume Example
Headline:
Results-Driven Sales Professional | Expert in Account Management and Revenue Growth
Summary:
Top-performing sales executive with 8+ years of experience in B2B sales and account management. Proven ability to close high-value deals, exceeding revenue targets by 20% year over year. Skilled in relationship building, contract negotiation, and CRM tools.
Experience:
Senior Sales Manager
DEF Corporation | 2018 – Present
- Managed a portfolio of 50+ high-value accounts, generating $5M+ in annual revenue.
- Exceeded annual revenue targets by 20% for three consecutive years.
- Trained and mentored junior sales representatives, improving team performance by 30%.
Sales Representative
GHI Enterprises | 2015 – 2018
- Closed high-value B2B deals, contributing to a 15% increase in annual sales revenue.
- Maintained strong client relationships, achieving a 95% customer retention rate.
- Conducted market analysis to identify new business opportunities.
Skills:
Sales Strategy | CRM Tools | Key Account Management | Negotiation
How Resume Headlines Compare To Other Key Resume Elements
While the resume headline may have some of the same information or keywords as other resume elements, a good headline for a resume is a teaser for the more detailed descriptions in other areas. For example, a resume summary provides more context on your accomplishments, and the resume objective focuses more on your career goals than your achievements. When you’re coming up with resume title ideas, choose an option that complements the rest of your resume, including the format.
Tailoring Your Resume Headline for Different Job Applications
It’s important to come up with several resume title ideas because you’ll need to tailor your resume for each application. This includes swapping out words or phrases from the headline to better fit what’s most important about that particular role.
Using keywords in resume headlines
Look through the job description and highlight anything that’s a must-have for the position. Incorporate these into your resume title ideas — and the rest of your resume — to catch the hiring manager’s attention. Here are some resume headline samples that illustrate this idea for a job description looking for a “results-driven sales executive with experience in account management and a strong track record of driving revenue growth.”
- Proven Business-to-Business Sales Professional With a Track Record of Exceeding Revenue Goals
- Results-Oriented Sales Leader Specializing in Key Account Management
- Experienced in Closing High-Value Deals and Delivering Revenue Growth
FAQs About Resume Headlines
What makes a good headline for a resume?-
A good headline for a resume is concise and powerful. Excellent resume headline samples are keyword-rich and include the terms that are most important for success in the role.
Should every resume include a headline?+
When looking at resume headline samples, you may see some resumes that don’t have this line. It’s a more modern addition to resumes, and traditional templates may not have an automatic spot for resume title ideas. However, it’s easy to include this under your contact information in a header or at the top of your resume, and it’s a good idea for most candidates.
How long should a resume headline be?+
A resume headline should generally be 15 words or fewer. Some resume headline samples may even be as short as five to seven words. The headline should fit on one line and look in proportion to the rest of the document.
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