LinkedIn headline for job seekers
Your headline is what recruiters see in search results. Lead with the role you want, add two skills they search, and end with a proof.
[role you want] | [two skills recruiters search for] | [one proof]
How to get it right
- Use the title you want next, not the one you just left. Recruiters search for the title they are hiring.
- Include two or three keywords from postings you want. Use the résumé vs job description tool on this site to find them.
- Add a result with a number. It stands out in a list of identical headlines.
- Avoid “seeking opportunities” and “open to work” in the headline; use LinkedIn’s own Open to Work setting for that.
- You have 220 characters. Put the most important words first, because search results cut them off.
Questions about this template
- What is a good LinkedIn headline when you are laid off?
- The role you want, two skills and one proof, for example “Senior Operations Manager | Supply Chain | Process Improvement | Cut delivery times 18%.” It should read like a job title, not a status.
- Should my headline say I was laid off?
- No. Put it in your post or your About section if you want. The headline should sell what you do next.
- How long can a headline be?
- Up to 220 characters. Only the first 60 or so show in search, so put the target role first.
Read the guide
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