How to Write a LinkedIn Headline That Gets You Hired
Your LinkedIn headline is the first thing recruiters see. It appears in:
- Search results
- Profile views
- Connection requests
- Post comments
- Message previews
You have 220 characters to make an impression. Make them count.
Headline vs. Title vs. Summary
Job Title
What you were hired to do. Static and often vague.
LinkedIn Headline
Your brand statement. Dynamic, searchable, and impactful.
Professional Summary
Your story in depth. Optional but recommended.
Your headline should be unique, not just your job title.
What Makes a Great LinkedIn Headline?
1. Value Proposition
What problem do you solve for employers?
Example:
"Instead of: Software Developer" "Full-Stack Developer | Building Scalable Web Applications | React, Node.js, TypeScript"
2. Keywords
Include terms recruiters search for.
Keywords to include:
- Job titles (current and target)
- Skills and technologies
- Industry terms
- Geographic location (if relevant)
3. Specific Achievements
What have you accomplished that sets you apart?
Example:
"Project Manager | Delivered $5M+ in Projects | Led Teams of 20+ | Agile & PMP Certified"
4. Differentiation
What makes you unique?
Example:
"UX Designer | Creating Intuitive Digital Experiences | 50+ Apps Launched | Design Systems Expert"
7 LinkedIn Headline Formulas
Formula 1: Role + Value + Skills
[Current Role] | [What You Do] | [Key Skills]
Examples:
- "Senior Software Engineer | Building Scalable AI Applications | Python, TensorFlow, AWS"
- "Marketing Manager | Growing Brands Through Data-Driven Strategies | SEO, Analytics, Content Strategy"
- "Product Designer | Creating User-Centric Experiences | Figma, Prototyping, Design Systems"
Formula 2: Achievement + Role + Target
[Major Achievement] | [Current Role] | Seeking [Target Role]
Examples:
- "Led $10M Revenue Campaign | Marketing Director | Open to VP Marketing Roles"
- "Launched 3 Products to 1M Users | Product Manager | Senior Product Opportunities"
- "Reduced Churn by 40% | Customer Success Manager | CS Leadership Roles"
Formula 3: Expertise + Industry + Value
[Area of Expertise] | [Industry] | [Value You Provide]
Examples:
- "Financial Modeling & Valuation | Finance Professional | Helping Companies Make Data-Driven Decisions"
- "Full-Stack Development | Tech Industry | Delivering High-Performance Web Applications"
- "Digital Transformation | Healthcare Industry | Improving Patient Care Through Technology"
Formula 4: Passion + Skills + Outcome
[What You Love] | [Your Skills] | [Results You Drive]
Examples:
- "Passionate About Clean Energy | Solar Engineer | Powering 500+ Homes Annually"
- "Love Building Teams | HR Director | Creating High-Performance Cultures"
- "Obsessed With User Experience | UX Researcher | Delivering Products Users Actually Want"
Formula 5: Current + Aspirational
[Current Role] | Aspiring to [Future Role] | [Relevant Skills]
Examples:
- "Software Engineer | Aspiring Technical Lead | Team Building, Code Review, System Design"
- "Sales Representative | Aspiring Sales Manager | Exceeding Quotas, Client Relationships, Negotiation"
- "Junior Developer | Aspiring Full-Stack Engineer | Frontend, Backend, Database Design"
Formula 6: Multi-Skilled Professional
[Skill 1] | [Skill 2] | [Skill 3] | [Industry Focus]
Examples:
- "Python | Data Science | Machine Learning | AI Research"
- "Project Management | Agile | Product Strategy | SaaS Industry"
- "Content Writing | SEO | Email Marketing | B2B SaaS"
Formula 7: Outcome-Focused
[What You Achieve] | [For Whom] | [Using What]
Examples:
- "Helping Startups Scale | 20+ Companies | Through Strategic Product Planning"
- "Optimizing Operations | Fortune 500 Companies | Lean Six Sigma Black Belt"
- "Building Developer Teams | Early-Stage Startups | Technical Recruiting & Culture Building"
LinkedIn Headline Examples by Industry
Technology
- "Senior Software Engineer | Building Scalable Systems | AWS, Kubernetes, Go | Open to Staff+ Roles"
- "Full-Stack Developer | React, Node.js, PostgreSQL | Launching Products That Users Love"
- "Data Scientist | Machine Learning & AI | Python, TensorFlow | Helping Companies Make Data-Driven Decisions"
Marketing
- "Digital Marketing Manager | Driving Growth Through Data | SEO, PPC, Analytics | E-commerce Expert"
- "Content Strategist | Creating Brand Stories That Convert | B2B SaaS | $5M Revenue Generated"
- "Marketing Analyst | Turning Data Into Action | Excel, SQL, Tableau | 40% Campaign Improvement Rate"
Sales
- "Enterprise Account Executive | Closing $3M+ Deals | SaaS Sales | Building Long-Term Partnerships"
- "Sales Manager | Leading Teams to 125% of Quota | Consultative Selling | B2B Sales Expert"
- "Business Development | Opening New Markets | Partnership Strategy | 50+ Deals Closed"
Finance
- "Financial Analyst | Providing Strategic Insights | FP&A, Valuation, Modeling | MBA | CPA Candidate"
- "Investment Banking Analyst | M&A & Capital Raising | $200M+ Deals Closed | Modeling & Due Diligence"
- "Controller | Streamlining Operations | Cost Reduction | Process Improvement | GAAP & IFRS"
Healthcare
- "Registered Nurse | Critical Care Specialist | BLS, ACLS Certified | Compassionate Patient Care"
- "Healthcare Administrator | Optimizing Hospital Operations | Process Improvement | Patient Satisfaction 95%+"
- "Physical Therapist | Helping Patients Recover | Sports Medicine | Evidence-Based Treatment"
Design
- "Product Designer | Creating Intuitive Experiences | UX/UI, Prototyping | Design Systems"
- "Graphic Designer | Building Brand Identities | Adobe Creative Suite | 100+ Brand Logos"
- "UX Researcher | Understanding User Behavior | Usability Testing | Data-Driven Design"
Human Resources
- "HR Manager | Building High-Performance Teams | Talent Acquisition | Culture & DEI"
- "Recruiter | Sourcing Top Talent | Technical Hiring | Closing Candidates"
- "Learning & Development | Training Leaders | Curriculum Design | 500+ Employees Trained"
Common LinkedIn Headline Mistakes
❌ Mistake 1: Just Your Job Title
"Software Engineer" (Too vague)
❌ Mistake 2: Buzzwords Without Context
"Thought Leader • Synergy Ninja • Guru" (Says nothing)
❌ Mistake 3: Missing Keywords
"Experienced Professional" (Recruiters can't search this)
❌ Mistake 4: Too Long
"I am a dedicated professional with over 10 years of experience in..." (Cut to the chase)
❌ Mistake 5: No Location
If targeting specific markets:
"Sales Manager" (Add location if relevant) "Sales Manager | NYC Metro | B2B Sales Expert"
How Kryte Can Help Your LinkedIn Headline
AI-Enhanced Language
Transform casual into professional:
Your input:
"Looking for marketing job. Good at social media and writing."
AI enhanced:
"Digital Marketing Professional | Social Media Strategy & Content Creation | 3+ Years Experience | Open to New Opportunities"
Achievement Suggestions
Add metrics to your headline:
Your input:
"Sales Representative"
AI enhanced:
"Sales Representative | $1M+ Revenue Generated | Exceeding Quotas by 30% | B2B Sales Expert"
Testing Your LinkedIn Headline
1. Search Yourself
Go to LinkedIn search and enter keywords from your headline. Do you appear?
2. Check Character Count
Ensure it's under 220 characters.
3. Read Aloud
Does it sound natural and professional?
4. Ask for Feedback
Get honest feedback from colleagues or mentors.
5. Monitor Results
Track profile views, connection requests, and recruiter messages.
Optimizing for LinkedIn Search
Keyword Placement
Put most important keywords at the beginning of your headline.
Location
If targeting specific markets, include:
- City and state
- "Open to relocation" if flexible
- "Remote" if relevant
Industry Tags
LinkedIn allows industry tags. Choose the most relevant ones.
A/B Testing Your Headline
Try different headlines and measure results:
Week 1: Headline A
"Software Engineer | Full-Stack Development | React, Node.js"
Week 2: Headline B
"Full-Stack Developer | Building Scalable Applications | React, Node.js, TypeScript"
Week 3: Headline C
"Senior Software Engineer | Delivering High-Impact Solutions | Cloud, Microservices, DevOps"
Compare profile views and connection requests for each version.
Final Tips
- Be authentic—don't sound like everyone else
- Include achievements—differentiate yourself
- Use keywords strategically—help recruiters find you
- Update regularly—reflect new skills and roles
- Proofread carefully—professionalism matters
- Be specific—vague headlines get skipped
- Show value—what's in it for employers?
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Your headline is your brand, not just your title
- ✅ Use formulas to structure your headline effectively
- ✅ Include keywords, achievements, and differentiation
- ✅ Keep it under 220 characters
- ✅ Be specific and authentic
- ✅ Test and iterate over time
Ready to Build Your Professional Brand?
Create a resume that perfectly complements your LinkedIn profile: