Your LinkedIn headline is the first thing colleagues, recruiters, and potential employers see, and it’s why they either click on your profile or keep scrolling. It’s prime real estate, and your one-line elevator pitch gives your audience a quick overview of who you are, what you do, and what you bring to the table. Many professionals have difficulty finding the right words to maximize headline space for the utmost effectiveness. Here, we’ll share results-driven LinkedIn headline examples and strategies to create awareness and make the most out of the given area.
At MatchBuilt executive search, we’re power LinkedIn users as we’ve connected with 1000s of professionals and job seekers over the years and developed best practices for a professional headline. You need to start with an eye-catching LinkedIn profile headline to make a great first impression, increase your visibility and gain exposure. A great headline is crucial because it affects how recruiters, hiring managers, and prospective employers perceive you, it shows up in Google search results, and it’s one of the most important fields for LinkedIn’s search algorithm. Further, your LinkedIn photo and headline are the only elements of your profile that appear in search results, so it’s essential to maximize their effectiveness and convince your audience to click on your profile and learn more about you.
Compelling LinkedIn Headline Examples
- Project Manager / Oversaw 700 New Home Builds, Generating $65M in Revenue in 2021
- Sales Manager / Generated $5M in Widget Revenue in 2021
- Digital Advertising Manager / Generated $1.2M in AD Sales in 2022
- CFO / Managed $120M Budget With a Variance of 1%
- Sales Director / Residential Construction / Top Tier Trainer
- Financial Analyst / Forensic Accounting and Auditing / Cost Accounting
- Production Manager / Single Family for Rent / Certified Construction Manager
- Digital Marketer / Facebook Ads, Lead Gen, Low CPA’s / Google Ads and Analytics Certified
- Senior Superintendent With a Passion for On-Time Delivery
- Junior Architect With a Penchant for Mid-Century and Eclectic Design
- Psychologist With a Passion for Mental Health Awareness
- Purchasing Manager / Helping Leading Builders Increase Their Efficiency
- Construction Management / 40 Under 40 Builder Magazine Award Winner
- Honors English Literature Student / Writer and Aspiring Editor / GPA 4
- Indiana University Law Student / Personal Injury Lawyer / Dean’s List 2021
- Purdue Engineering Student / Chemical Engineer / President’s List
- Business Development Director / 180% Increase in Revenue Growth / Environmental Services
- Communications Manager / Increased Facebook and Twitter Followers by 400%
- Managing Director / 10 – 12% Growth Year on Year
- Human Resource Manager / 15+ Years of Staffing Experience
- Project Manager / 10+ Years Measuring and Tracking Project Progress
- Graphic Designer / 5+ Years Communicating Ideas With Virtual Art Forms
- Accountant Specializing in Budgeting and Billing
- Occupational Therapist Specializing in Customized Intervention and Adaptive Devices
- Financial Advisor Specializing in Real Estate Acquisition
- Financial Analyst Seeking a Management Opportunity
- Copywriter Seeking Editing Position
- Data Scientist Looking for Opportunity in Analytics Management
- New Home Sales / Salesperson of the Year 2022 / $11M Sales Volume
- Land Acquisition Manager / 300 Lots Under Contract in 2022 / Entitlement Specialist
The best LinkedIn headlines are customized and enable you to showcase your value proposition using the right keywords. It posits an excellent impression for potential customers and recruiters who don’t have the luxury of viewing every candidate’s profile.
What is a LinkedIn Headline?
Your LinkedIn headline is the text below your name in the introduction section of your professional profile. The headline has a 220-character limit and is displayed in search results.
A good LinkedIn headline can make or break a LinkedIn post’s potential reach and engagement. The aim here is to grab a colleague’s or hiring manager’s attention as soon as possible with a scroll-stopping first line while keeping it within the limit of 220 characters. A good headline is essential whether or not you are happily employed, passively seeking a new job, or between jobs. In addition, the headline is crucial if you are simply interested in becoming more socially active or building your personal brand.
What do you put in a LinkedIn Headline?
- Your Value Proposition, Such As Core Skills and Abilities
- Keywords Representing the Job You Have or the Job You Want
- Your Existing Job Title
- Something That Makes You Valuable, Such as a Core Qualification, Accomplishment, or Goal
Your LinkedIn headline allows you to combine personal marketing and personal SEO (search engine optimization) while leveraging essential keywords about your background. Below are a handful of tips that you may want to consider to maximize the use of this valuable LinkedIn real estate.
While providing details about your experience is important, your value proposition drives the best results. Potential connections and your target audience should be aware of the skills you bring to the table and how you may enhance their lives; finding a new job isn’t as simple as just revealing your title or prior experience.
An easy way to make your headline stand out is to add the results of your work. Let’s say you are a Customer Service Representative at Pulte Homes, and you are in charge of helping out customers just before and after closing. Instead of leaving the title as “Customer Service Rep,” the best way would be to say something like “Creating Homeowners for Life in Customer Service at PulteGroup.” We’ve seen so many job seekers seeking new opportunities waste a great opportunity on their LinkedIn headlines.
Other Critical Factors in Your LinkedIn Headline
- Be Specific
- Exude Confidence
- Avoid Hyperbole
- Avoid Saying You’re Unemployed
Your headline is no place to brag or be inappropriate! Avoid hyperbole, and don’t be dishonest. A few words to avoid include “greatest at..”, “expert in…”, “top-performing…”, “best at…”, “proactive,” “hardest working…”, “capable at….” Further, don’t label yourself as “unemployed” when out of a job or utilize “seeking new opportunities” when looking for jobs. Use the tips above with the right keywords to increase your profile’s probability of appearing in a recruiter’s search.
30 Best LinkedIn Headline Examples
A great LinkedIn headline will include your value proposition, such as core skills and abilities, keywords representing the job you have or the job you want, your current job title, and something that makes you valuable, such as a core qualification, accomplishment, or goal. Here we’ll explore LinkedIn headline examples for job seekers, students, entry-level professionals, and more.
The best LinkedIn headline examples below can be grouped into one of the following categories. Start by picking a category that fits you best and go from there.
Role You Have or Want / Quantify Past Achievements
-
Project Manager / Oversaw 700 New Home Builds, Generating $65M in Revenue in 2021
-
Sales Director / Generated $5M in Widget Revenue in 2021
-
Digital Advertising Manager / Generated $1.2M in AD Sales in 2022
-
CFO / Managed $120M Budget With a Variance of 1%
Role You Want / Industry-Specific Keywords / Hard Skills
-
Sales Director / Residential Construction / Top Tier Trainer
-
Financial Analyst / Forensic Accounting and Auditing / Cost Accounting
-
Production Manager / Single Family for Rent / Certified Construction Manager
-
Digital Marketer / Facebook Ads, Lead Gen, Low CPA’s / Google Ads and Analytics Certified
Role You Want / Industry Keywords / Specific Accomplishments
-
Construction Management / 40 Under 40 Builder Magazine Award Winner
-
Business Development Director / 180% Increase in Revenue Growth / Environmental Services
-
Communications Manager / Increased Facebook and Twitter Followers by 400%
-
Managing Director / 10 – 12% Growth Year on Year
-
New Home Sales / Salesperson of the Year 2022 / $11M Sales Volume
-
Land Acquisition Manager / 300 Lots Under Contract in 2022 / Entitlement Specialist
Role You Have or Want / Years of Experience in Your Industry
-
Human Resource Manager / 15+ Years of Staffing Experience
-
Project Manager / 10+ Years Measuring and Tracking Project Progress
-
Graphic Designer / 5+ Years Communicating Ideas With Virtual Art Forms
Role You Have or Want / Specializing in _____________
-
Accountant Specializing in Budgeting and Billing
-
Occupational Therapist Specializing in Customized Intervention and Adaptive Devices
-
Web Developer Focused on Social Media Integration
-
Lawyer Specializing in Family Law and Divorce
Role You Have or Want / Looking for Opportunities in _____________
-
Financial Analyst Seeking a Management Opportunity
-
Copywriter Seeking Editing Position
-
Data Scientist Looking for Opportunity in Analytics Management
Aspiration & Passion
-
Senior Superintendent With a Passion for On-Time Delivery
-
Junior Architect With a Penchant for Mid-Century and Eclectic Design
-
Psychologist With a Passion for Mental Health Awareness
-
Purchasing Manager / Helping Leading Builders Increase Their Efficiency
Area of Study / Career Goal / Notable Accomplishments
-
Honors Computer Science Student / Software Engineer / GPA 4.4
-
Indiana University Law Student / Personal Injury Lawyer / Dean’s List 2021
-
Purdue Engineering Student / Chemical Engineer / President’s List
The Most Effective LinkedIn Headline Examples Summary
Your LinkedIn headline is the first thing colleagues, recruiters, and potential employers see, and that’s why it’s imperative to take time and get it right. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a thought leader, a seasoned professional, or trying to network with potential recruiters, small business owners, or potential clients, avoiding the default headline is critical.
For best results, include your value proposition, keywords representing the job you have or want, your existing job title, and something that makes you value, such as core qualifications, accomplishments, or goals. Further, remember that your LinkedIn photo and headline are the only elements of your profile that appear in search results, so it’s crucial to maximize their effectiveness and convince your audience to click on your profile and learn more about you.