How To Write A Resume Title (Plus Headline Examples)

Think about the last article that you decided to read. It likely had a strong or compelling headline that made you select it over other pieces and also got you wanting to learn more on the subject matter. The same thought process can be applied when considering hiring managers and resume titles.

These short snippets open your resume just under the header and are used to quickly give the recruiter insight into your professional purpose. Your title will have a combination of primary skills, your experience, and even a few resume buzzwords. A strong resume headline can help you land the job interview and your dream job by simply getting more attention from employers.

Learning how to write titles for your resume or CV is an essential aspect of the overall job application process, and with a few tips and examples, you can curate the perfect headline.

Why Resume Titles Are Important

To fully understand why a resume title matters, you must understand exactly what it is. First and foremost, a resume title is not the same as your job title. The resume title or headline is one or two sentences that serve as an introduction – the job title is simply the name of the role you are currently in or targeting, aka your professional identity.

Another key distinction is between the headline and resume summary. While both are located at the top of your resume, the headline is an eye-catching line that sums up your experience, while a summary statement is longer and provides specific details of your skillset.

The resume title should be of particular importance to job seekers for several reasons:

1. As one of the first pieces of information a recruiter sees, it immediately describes why you are an ideal fit for the position.

2. With the right keywords, your headline can help the likelihood of your resume passing through applicant tracking systems that do automatic parsing.

3. The title clearly conveys your biggest strength and most relevant experience.

4. If you have years of work history, the headline creates focus and quickly tells hiring managers why you are ideal for this specific role.

5. Those with limited experience can use the headline to showcase top skills or accomplishments related to the desired job.

How to Title a Resume

Less is more when it comes to crafting the perfect resume title. Job applicants already understand how crucial structure is when formatting any resume.

The headline will fit in right below your name and basic contact details, before diving into the bulk of your resume. Capitalize your snippet in title case and bold the font to help it further stand out on the page.

Here is a step-by-step checklist on how to write your resume title:

1. Understand the position. The best place to begin with writing your headline does not involve writing at all. You should instead start by researching the job title that you are applying for.

   Look at key characteristics and skills that employers are searching for, and consider how you can incorporate these into your headline.

2. Be original. Just as we strongly advise against submitting the same exact cover letter to each potential employer, the same goes for your resume headline.

   A generic title that could apply to any position will not help your resume stand out from other candidates, so tailor it to the job.

3. Keep it relevant. If you are applying for an engineering position, you would not want your headline to focus on your years of customer service experience.

   Even if you are applying for an entry-level position with no experience, you can still highlight certain skills that apply to the job rather than work history.

Resume Headline Examples

With the basic foundational components covered, you can look at a few examples of good resume headlines. Remember that these are just meant to help guide you, as you will want your resume title to be 100% original.

Experienced Resume Title Examples

• Innovative Software Developer with 3+ years experience in Java

• Product Development Coordinator with Proven Revenue Growth in Cloud-Enabled Applications

• Human Resources Manager with 15+ Years of Recruiting Experience in Fortune 500 Companies

• Business Procurement Specialist with Experience Growing and Scaling Private Sector Teams

• Marketing Specialist with Experience Growing eCommerce Stores from 1K to 500K Visits/Month

Entry-Level and Career-Change Resume Title Examples

• Proactive Professional Open to New Managerial Opportunities

• Customer Service Agent Skilled in Data-Entry and Transcription

• Recent College Graduate and Recipient of A.B. Langston Leadership Award

• Bilingual Graduate with 95 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

• Analytical Professional with Advanced Proficiency in Excel

Additional Tips for Writing a Resume Headline

With the basic foundational components covered, you can use these tips for writing your resume titles:

1. Declare your skillset, not your intent. Your resume headline is an opener to who you are, versus a resume objective statement that states what type of employment you are seeking.

   There is no need to express that you are looking for work in your headline – this goes without saying. An exception would be if you are putting your resume into a pool where the specific role is flexible.

2. Keep length in mind. Your resume summary describes your overall work history and professional accomplishments in a few lines.

   You can consider your headline to be a summary of this summary, a one-sentence introduction to your overall resume. Be as concise as possible when writing your headline.

3. Remember keywords. Keywords help in several ways, and one is by serving as flags to recruiters. When employers look at resumes, they are automatically looking for specific skills mentioned throughout the job description.

   Try to find a keyword used several times throughout the posting and fit it into your headline.

4. Highlight what’s most valuable first. Being that recruiters scan resumes quickly, structure your headline with the most important details up front.

   For example, start your sentence with years of experience or a specific accomplishment that immediately tells them who you are and sets you apart.

5. Make it unique. Try to avoid clichés at all costs. Saying that you are “highly organized” will not differentiate your resume from a pool of others, and it does not tell the employer how you have proven to be organized.

   Speak to your actual accomplishments and proven skills.

Resume Headlines vs. Resume Profiles

There is one more resume component that you should be aware of to understand resume titles better. They are sometimes confused with resume profiles, which are an entirely different concept.

While the headline is short and just one sentence, your resume profile is a section that gives a breakdown of your skills. Job seekers can make this a bulleted list or a paragraph highlighting relevant qualifications.

If you include both a headline and profile, the latter will come after and will not be capitalized. You also do not need to bold this section as you would your resume title.

Examples of Resume Titles With Profiles

If you’re curious as to how to add both a headline and profile to your resume, here are examples across several industries:

More Resume Title Examples

No matter your profession or desired career, having a proper headline can improve your overall resume. Below are additional resume titles that you can build off of to create your own unique headline:

• Seasoned Retail Associate with Key Holder and Training Experience

• Sales Representative with 5 years of Experience, Specializing in Health Care

• Regional Manager who Increased Territory Revenues by 58%

• Personable Daycare Provider with Accreditation and Special Education Experience

Veteran Marketing Professional who Scaled Startup Growth by 82%

• Award-Winning Author with 7 Years Experience in Self-Publishing and Marketing

• Eager College Graduate with Teaching Assistant Experience Focused in Meteorology

• Graphic Designer with 10 Years Experience at Ad-Tech Companies

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Expert

Don Pippin, MHRM, CPRW, CDCS

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.