How do I write a resume headline that stands out?

Have you ever feared that no one will contact you after sending a resume?

Your fear has a reason:

• Recruiters typically spend 7 seconds skimming over a resume.

• Recruiters use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), a software that scans your resume looking for keywords and rejects the applications that don't match them.

You need a catchy resume headline to outperform your rivals, a line that will get your CV to the "Maybe" pile on the recruiter's desk.

Stand out with effective headlines. Let's get to it!

Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash

A resume headline is a one-liner sentence describing skills and experience on your CV.

Job seekers sometimes confuse it with the resume title, but the headline adds information that the title ignores.

Resume Title

English Teacher

Resume Headline

English Teacher with 8+ years of experience in helping teenagers foster autonomy

The resume headlines capture skills, experience, or achievements the candidate wants to highlight.

As a general rule, you could follow the formula:

• Job Title + Years of Experience + Skill/Specific Task/Impressive Achievement

However simple the structure, the real challenge is choosing the words that best describe yourself to the job offer.

Jobs Requiring Experience

• Business development manager with experience in managing projects with more than 30 employees

• Compassionate nurse with a strong emphasis on pediatrics

• Administrative assistant with 3+ years of experience in real estate

Jobs for Recent Graduates

• Library science graduate with internship experience as a book organizer

• Driven journalism student with a passion for political issues

• Certified medical assistant with a strong emergency care background

• Keep it short. Less is more when creating your resume headline. It's about creating a short impactful message.

• Use power and action verbs. Verbs like encouraged, facilitated, coordinated, or supervised will go a long way over overused terms like "a team player".

• Focus on the "now". Think about what you can offer now, and past achievements that made you who you are.

• Don't use too many skills. Showing one or two skills is enough for such a short message. If you're a recent graduate, you should focus on extracurricular experience.

1. Placement

   Put your resume headline immediately after your name and surname, like in the image.

   

2. Generation

   Use a different headline every time you write a new resume. The headline should match the experience and skills required in the role.

3. Practice

   Practice writing a few headlines. There isn't such a thing as the perfect headline, but it is very difficult to make it right the first time. It's better to write many and pick just one.

What's next?