Write a Resume Title that Works - Tips and Examples

Your resume title or resume headline is the first thing you put under your name and contact information. Differing slightly from your job title, it is an opportunity to introduce your professional self in a snappy manner with clarity and appropriate keywords.

Consider it like an elevator pitch or the tagline or slogans of a marketing campaign. By making use of a few pithy words, you can beat the competition and accentuate your value in the sight of employers.

In fact, your resume title is the optimal opportunity to grab a HR manager’s attention in no time and stand out quickly from the competing applicants but what exactly is a resume headline and how can you leverage it? Read this blog to learn everything about resume headline.

What is a Stellar Resume Title Like?

A resume title also interchangeably used as resume headline is a short statement that highlights your core strengths/skills and achievements. Your resume title offers a glimpse of your professional journey - often a condensed one-liner that sums up your professional self and career success. 

Example Resume Title: Top Rated Sales Content Writer with 6+ Years of Experience

A resume title is sandwiched between your contact information and resume summary at the top of your resume. When used above summary and below the contact information, it is the key piece of the puzzle that compels recruiters to make their mind about you. Resume title that includes your new or old target title can also be different from your previous job title while aligning with the job posted by HR.

So, what is the impact of an impressive job title or job headline?

First impression matters

Your resume title is what recruiters see at first glance after digging through hundreds of resumes. To put it bluntly, hiring managers love a well-crafted title more than anything else and will equally hate a bland or nonexistent title or some cliché headline. So, you should have the ability to control what they see and use resume header sections wisely and correctly. Formatted bigger than regular text, your resume headline should be attention grabbing and encapsulating your professional identity.

Conveys your role with clarity

Clearly mentioning the targeted role and communicating your areas of expertise to recruiters allows them to assess your suitability for the role. It also highlights your focus and commitment, relevant experience and success in a specific industry.

Differentiation

In a competitive job market, standing from the competition is important. By demonstrating your clear understanding of the job you are applying for you can show the prospective employer exactly what you have to offer.

Tailors your resume with the job posted

Align your resume title and personalize it for every role you get a chance to apply for.

Difference Between Resume Title and Resume Headline

Though resume title and resume headline are often used interchangeably – and they can be used this way – but some HR managers identify them differently. Resume title can be defined as the target title recruiters view to assess the position the applicant is targeting for example, Digital Content Writer, FBA Expert, SEO Specialist etc. It serves as a focal point for hiring managers and tells the manager what position you are exactly targeting.

In contrast, a resume headline is bigger in length than resume title and provides a snapshot of the job seeker’s strengths, qualifications and professional identity. A resume headline is a brief, attention-grabbing phrase that highlights your key skills, qualifications, or achievements. It is typically more descriptive and can include specific areas of expertise or notable accomplishments. For instance, a resume headline could be "Results-Driven Marketing Specialist with 5+ Years in Digital Campaigns."

While both elements aim to capture the employer's attention, the title focuses on your career objectives, whereas the headline emphasizes your unique value proposition.

How to Create a Resume Title that Can’t Be Ignored?

Your resume header should not be long. Much like an article or new headline that highlights what the story is about. Good resume headlines are a group of words precisely organized to summarize the applicant’s career in a snappy one-liner.

Also, good resume titles are more dynamic. They encapsulate a candidate’s value proposition in a sharply brief manner. To cut the clutter, a headline is a phrase or short statement that gets to the heart of your message conveyed in a CV. It is purposely built to capture the attention of prospective employers and get you to the interview desk. When creating a target title/resume title there are a few things you must consider to increase your chances of landing the job you want.

Be concise

Remember! You want the recruiters to remember your headline. So, try to be as concise as possible and create a one-phrase eye-catching resume headline. Your resume title should be easy on the eyes and succinct, limited to a few powerful words and defining your professional career effectively.

Don’t miss the relevance

Being hyper-relevant to the position you are applying for is very important. Your resume title should align with the job description posted by the recruiter so the employers know you are responding to their demands as a right fit.

Place it right

A resume title or headline belongs in the first line right after your name and surname and before you contact information. It introduces everything else on your CV.

Make use of action verbs/power words

Minus any cliché and overused terms and phrases like “motivated”, “hardworking” or flashy words like “team-player" and instead use real action verbs like “Industrious” “Delivered”, “Headed” and “Collaborative” etc. to maintain a professional tone. Using power words with your concrete skills can make an impact on recruiters.

Don’t inject cliches

Avoid saying you are highly skilled or credible/dependable. Let your experience section and portfolio do the talk!

Use title case

Use capitals for the initials and a slightly larger font to separate resume headline from the rest of the text. However, don’t make your resume title unnecessarily flashy or hyper-highlighted.

Include keywords to make resume ATS-friendly

Use the keywords posted in job description to grab the attention of HR managers and recruiters. Putting relevant keywords in your resume will also optimize your resume for ATS (Applicant Tracking System).

Highlight massive Success

You made your mark as an award-winning content lead for your jaw dropping work in a previous role! It’s time to go great in your resume headline and showcase your big achievements and industry accolades in a couple of powerful words.

Mention 1-2 skills max

This is optional but if the potential recruiter requires or prefers it you can always add one two skills in your resume title. For example: “Persian Speaking Doctor”.

Add your number of years of work experience

 Writer with “5Y of Experience” is always better than an “Experienced Writer”. Mention the specific number of years of experience in your resume headline to get noticed instantly. If the title is getting too big, you can save this for the summary section.

New title/headline for new job

Since it is the very first thing the HR managers spot in your resume make sure it is cut for the position you are currently applying for. Your resume title should correspond to the job title they posted in the ad. So, feel free to create multiple resume headlines for multiple jobs and always pick the best-fitting one.

Mention any certification or license

If it is the key requirement of your prospective employer, it may not be bad to put a certification or license upfront in the resume headline/title.

Write many, insert one

Last but not least, it is always a best practice to write down a few versions of your resume title/resume headline and test which one aligns with the job title and also describes you best.

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Resume Headline and Title Examples by Industry

Now that you have gone through the how-to part of the resume headline and know how your resume header advertises your skills and experiences, here are some examples of the industry specific compelling headlines that you can use to get noticed as a candidate.

Accounting

●      Detail-Oriented Certified Public Accountant Specializing in Tax Preparation

●      Financial Analyst with Expertise in Budgeting and Forecasting

●      Experienced Bookkeeper with Strong Organizational Skills

●      Accounts Payable Specialist with a Proven Track Record in Cost Reduction

●      Tax Accountant Focused on Maximizing Client Savings and Compliance

 Administrative

●      Proactive Executive Assistant with Excellent Time Management Skills

●      Organized Administrative Coordinator with Experience in Office Management

●      Detail-Driven Office Administrator with Strong Communication Abilities

●      Skilled Receptionist with Expertise in Customer Relations and Scheduling

●      Efficient Project Assistant with a Background in Event Coordination

Customer Service

●      Customer-Focused Support Specialist Committed to Excellence

●      Experienced Call Center Representative with a Passion for Problem Solving

●      Bilingual Customer Service Agent with Proven Conflict Resolution Skills

●      Dedicated Client Relations Specialist with Strong Product Knowledge

●      Results-Driven Customer Care Associate with a Track Record of Improving Satisfaction

 Education

●      Passionate Elementary Teacher with a Commitment to Student Growth

●      Dedicated Special Education Instructor with Proven Differentiation Techniques

●      Dynamic Curriculum Developer Focused on Innovative Learning Solutions

●      Experienced High School Math Teacher Committed to Engaging Students

●      Educational Administrator with a Strong Background in Program Development

 IT

●      Certified IT Professional Specializing in Network Security Solutions

●      Experienced Software Developer with Expertise in Full-Stack Development

●      Results-Oriented Systems Analyst with a Focus on Efficiency Improvement

●      Tech-Savvy IT Support Specialist Committed to Customer Satisfaction

●      Innovative Data Analyst with a Passion for Transforming Raw Data into Insights

Health Care

●      Compassionate Registered Nurse with a Focus on Patient-Centered Care

●      Detail-Oriented Medical Assistant with Experience in Patient Management

●      Dedicated Healthcare Administrator with a Strong Background in Compliance

●      Certified Pharmacy Technician Committed to Medication Safety

●      Skilled Physical Therapist with Expertise in Rehabilitation Techniques

 Human Resources

●      Strategic HR Manager with a Focus on Talent Acquisition and Retention

●      Dedicated HR Coordinator with Experience in Employee Relations

●      Results-Driven Recruitment Specialist with Strong Networking Skills

●      HR Generalist Committed to Enhancing Workplace Culture

Compassionate Employee Benefits Administrator with a Focus on Employee Satisfaction

Marketing

●      Creative Marketing Specialist with a Proven Track Record in Digital Campaigns

●      Data-Driven SEO Expert Committed to Boosting Online Visibility

●      Dynamic Brand Manager with Experience in Market Research and Strategy

●      Social Media Coordinator with a Passion for Engaging Audiences

●      Innovative Content Writer with Expertise in Copywriting and Storytelling

Retail

●      Customer-Centric Retail Manager with a Proven Sales Record

●      Experienced Sales Associate with Strong Product Knowledge

●      Detail-Oriented Inventory Specialist Committed to Efficiency

●      Dynamic Visual Merchandiser Focused on Enhancing Store Aesthetics

●      Results-Driven Assistant Store Manager with Expertise in Team Leadership

 Sales

●      Results-Oriented Sales Executive with a Strong Track Record of Exceeding Targets

●      Dynamic Account Manager Committed to Building Long-Term Client Relationships

●      B2B Sales Specialist with Expertise in Strategic Negotiation

●      Driven Inside Sales Representative with a Focus on Lead Generation

●      Customer-Focused Sales Consultant with Proven Closing Skills

Engineering

●      Innovative Mechanical Engineer with a Passion for Sustainable Design

●      Detail-Oriented Civil Engineer with Extensive Project Management Experience

●      Experienced Electrical Engineer Specializing in Circuit Design

●      Results-Driven Software Engineer Committed to Agile Development Practices

●      Dedicated Industrial Engineer Focused on Process Optimization

Feel free to adapt these headlines to better suit specific job descriptions or personal branding!

Key Takeaways

You have got it all covered and now know how to deliver a paunchy resume title! Here are the key takeaways you should consider when crafting your headline for a resume.

1.    Your resume headline must be a one-liner that expresses your career at present.

2.    The resume title features your top selling points as a candidate.

3.    Always write your resume headline in title case

4.    Write resume title with this structure: Job title + Years of experience + Skill/Accomplishment/

5.    Tailor your resume title to each job application