Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most critical elements of your profile. Yet, many people leave it up to LinkedIn’s default setting—one that only includes your current job title and employer. If that sounds like you, it’s time for an update.
Your headline is a marketing tool that can make or break your first impression.
Here’s why your LinkedIn headline deserves attention—and how to craft one that sets you apart.
Why Your LinkedIn Headline Matters
Think of your headline as your personal billboard. It’s the first thing people see when they come across your profile, and it plays a significant role in determining whether they click through to learn more. Whether you’re trying to attract potential employers, clients, or partners, a well-crafted headline ensures you stand out in search results.
When someone searches LinkedIn, the key details visible are your photo, name, headline, location, and mutual connections. If your headline is generic—just your job title or company name—you’re missing a huge opportunity to highlight your value and differentiate yourself from the millions of others in similar roles.
When I searched for “project manager” and selected the option to search for “people” and this is what I found. As you can tell, it is very difficult to determine what type of project manager and what makes each person different. Imagine you were a recruiter. Which profile provides you with information you would find helpful?
The results show people who have the title in their headline. But that’s all they have and as a result, they all look the same.
In reality, very few people make an effort to improve their LinkedIn headline.
Recruiters Search By Keywords
Recruiters and hiring managers don’t search for “project manager” or “marketing professional.” They search for skills, industries, and expertise. Specific keywords like “process improvement,” “digital marketing strategy,” or “SaaS sales” are what help profiles rise to the top of search results.
The more precise and relevant your headline, the better your chances of being discovered.
How to Differentiate Your LinkedIn Headline
Most people don’t take full advantage of their LinkedIn headline, which means this is your chance to shine. Ask yourself:
- Does my headline clearly communicate what I do (or want to do next)?
- Does it make someone want to click to learn more?
- Am I using valuable keywords that recruiters or potential clients would search for?
You may notice some people using emojis in their headlines. When done subtly, it can be a good way to stand out. You may also notice many headlines are not complete sentences. That’s fine too.
Your headline should convey your unique skills, experience, and value in a way that grabs attention. Here are some formulas to help you write a strong headline.
3 Formulas for Your LinkedIn Headline
When writing your LinkedIn headline, consider following the recommendations from one of these three resume and LinkedIn writing experts:
Formula 1: (by Jenny Foss, The Muse)
- Showcase your specialty or value proposition succinctly
- Speak directly to the audience you want to attract
- Include important keywords relevant to your industry
- Add a bit of creativity or flair
Formula 2: (from Laura Smith-Proulx, Job-Hunt.org)
- Start with your target job or position level
- Include your primary industry or job function
- Highlight your strongest areas of expertise
- Mention a signature achievement
Formula 3: (from Jessica Hernandez, Great Resumes Fast)
- Target Job Title
- 3 High-Priority Keywords
- Personal Branding Statement
LinkedIn gives you 220 characters to work with—use them wisely. Think about the terms someone would use if they were searching for someone with your skills. Every word counts, so avoid unnecessary jargon or empty phrases.
It’s also important to put the most important information first. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, we read left to right and you want the reader to clearly understand what you are targeting. Second, on mobile devices, your full headline is likely to get cut off due to space limitations.
Generate LinkedIn Headline Ideas with ChatGPT
If you are at a loss of where to start, you could always try using ChatGPT or your favorite tool to generate your LinkedIn headline. Of course you may need to edit it after, but it’s a starting point and may inspire new ideas for you.
Here are some prompts to help generate a LinkedIn headline:
Prompt: Please create a LinkedIn headline that communicates my experience, qualifications, and unique value. Incorporate keywords relevant to my occupation as mentioned in the resume below. My headline should be 20 words or less, capture attention, and encourage visitors to explore my profile further. [Paste your resume]
Or
Prompt: Write a LinkedIn headline using my work experience below and the keywords [relevant keywords you want to include]. Keep it shorter than 220 characters. [Press “Shift” + “Enter,” then copy and paste your resume under the prompt.]
Or
Prompt: Rewrite my LinkedIn headline for . Use the ABC formula: Audience, Benefit, Credibility. Current headline: [paste current headline]. Limit to 220 characters. Provide 3 options. Here’s my resume: [Paste Resume].
Words and Phrases To Eliminate
- “Professional” – It’s a vague word that doesn’t add value and won’t help your profile show up in searches.
- Job title only – Just listing your current role won’t differentiate you from others in your field.
- School, degree, or current employer – This information is already visible elsewhere on your profile. Focus on what makes you unique.
- “Seeking next opportunity” – This phrase takes up space and sounds passive. If you’re open to work, use LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature instead.
If you want recruiters to know you are open to new opportunities, then change this setting in your LinkedIn profile. How LinkedIn’s Open Candidate Can Save You Time.
Here are a few headline examples that fall flat:
- “Business Professional Experienced in Sales, Customer Relations, and Operations”
- “MBA, Accounting Professional”
- “Management professional seeking new opportunity”
These headlines are vague and don’t offer any insight into the person’s unique skills or accomplishments.
Better LinkedIn Headline Examples
Now let’s look at some examples of stronger, more specific headlines that have close to 220 characters:
Area Sales Representative | B2B Sales | Cross-selling | Product Demos | Consistently Surpassed Quarterly Goals (110 characters)
Brand Strategist | Market Research | Brand Development | Cross-Channel Marketing | Successfully Launched 4 Major Campaigns (122 characters)
Junior Project Manager | Project Scheduling | Resource Allocation | Quality Control | Coordinated Projects Resulting in 10% Increased Productivity (146 characters)
Bookkeeper | QuickBooks Expert | Payroll Processing | Financial Record-Keeping | Maintained Flawless Audit Records Over 5 Years (127 characters)
PMP-certified project manager – Known for successfully leading multi-million dollar projects in developing countries (116 characters)
If you are an MBA candidate, check out this article: What’s the Best LinkedIn Headline for an MBA Candidate?
If you are unemployed and looking for a new opportunity, read LinkedIn Headline When You’re Unemployed
How to Update Your LinkedIn Headline
To edit your headline, go to your LinkedIn profile and click the pencil icon next to your headline.
Before saving, consider your privacy settings.
If you’re in a confidential job search, you may not want your connections to be notified of your profile updates. You can adjust your activity broadcast settings under privacy.
You can change your privacy settings. LinkedIn offers this “help” article about how to Turn on/off your activity broadcasts.
Track Your Results
Once you update your headline, track your profile views over the next week. If you see a spike in either “profile viewers” or “search appearances”, you’re on the right track! If not, don’t be afraid to experiment with different versions. It’s also a good idea to ask for feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors.
Profile Viewers – According to LinkedIn: “If you have a basic account and have set your profile viewing options to display your name and headline when viewing profiles, you’ll see the five most recent viewers in the last 90 days, as well as a list of suggestions for increasing your profile views.
Note: Even if you have a Premium account, you won’t see the names of viewers who choose to browse in private mode or private profile characteristics. We respect the privacy of members who don’t wish to reveal information about themselves when viewing profiles.”
Search Appearances – LinkedIn says: “The Search appearances page details how frequently your profile is listed in search results on LinkedIn. This page also provides insights about the searchers, such as top companies and job titles, which can be used to show professional opportunities that may be relevant to you.”
Not sure how to check how many people have viewed your profile and where they’re from?
From your LinkedIn homepage (main screen) on LinkedIn, this appears on the left side of your screen.
Or, when you are viewing your LinkedIn profile, this dashboard appears near the top.
Remember, your headline is just one part of optimizing your LinkedIn profile, but it’s an essential one. Combine a strong headline with other best practices, and you’ll increase your chances of attracting the right opportunities.
You need to be active on the platform. Check out these ideas for getting people to notice you on LinkedIn 5 Ways to Get More LinkedIn Profile Views.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
