resume headline for first job

Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description to showcase your familiarity with the industry and the specific role.

Edit and refine.

Once you've drafted your resume headline, take a step back and review it with a critical eye. Edit and refine your headline to ensure it's concise, clear, and free of any spelling or grammatical errors.

Ask for feedback from a trusted friend or colleague to ensure your headline effectively conveys your unique value proposition.

Now that you have a solid understanding of how to write a resume headline, let's explore real-life examples that showcase the principles we've discussed.

These examples of resume headlines span industries and levels of experience, and they all do a great job of grabbing the hiring manager’s attention.

Note how each headline is tailored to the job and emphasizes the candidate's strengths, accomplishments, and work experience.

Entry-level Resume Headline Examples

1. Enthusiastic Marketing Graduate with a Strong Academic Background in Digital Advertising

Best for: Marketing graduates seeking entry-level roles

What we like: A few vivid adjectives ending with a focus on the applicant’s background make this headline upbeat.

2. Detail-Oriented Finance Major with Internship Experience at Top Investment Firm

Best for: Finance students pursuing roles in the financial sector

What we like: This headline captures a key characteristic of the applicant and highlights their most important experience to date.

3. Driven Sales Associate with Proven Track Record in Customer Satisfaction and Retention

Best for: Recent graduates pursuing sales roles

What we like: The claim to a “proven track record” directs hiring managers to scan the rest of the resume to find said track record.

Mid-level Professional Resume Headline Examples

4. Experienced Project Manager with a 90% On-Time Delivery Record

Best for: Professionals with project management experience seeking a leadership role

What we like: Including the record percentage provides a concrete metric for hiring managers to consider.

5 . Certified Software Engineer Specializing in Full Stack Development and Agile Methodologies

Best for: Software engineers looking to showcase their technical expertise

What we like: This headline names specific areas of specialization, highlighting exactly what this candidate offers.

6. Bilingual HR Specialist with Expertise in Recruitment and Talent Management

Best for: HR professionals targeting roles in multicultural organizations

What we like: Naming a special skill, like being bilingual, immediately sets this candidate apart.

Senior-level Professional Resume Headline Examples

7 . Visionary CMO with 10+ Years of Experience Driving Brand Growth and Revenue

Best for: Senior marketing professionals seeking executive roles

What we like: This headline specifies the number of years of experience, immediately giving the candidate credibility as a leader.

8. Award-Winning Sales Director with a History of Consistently Exceeding Sales Targets

Best for: Goal-oriented sales executives looking to showcase their achievements

What we like: These are big claims in the headline — and a great option if you can support them with evidence in the rest of your resume.

9. Innovative Product Manager with a Track Record of Successful Product Launches

Best for: Product managers with experience in bringing new products to the market

What we like: The adjective at the beginning, “innovative,” pairs nicely with the action of “successful product launches.”

Technology and Engineering Resume Headline Examples

10. Certified Data Analyst with Expertise in SQL, Python, and Tableau

Best for: Data analysts seeking roles in data-driven organizations

What we like: Naming the candidate’s specific expertise immediately lets recruiters know if the candidate is fit for the job.

11. Civil Engineer Specializing in Infrastructure Development and Sustainable Design

Best for: Civil engineers targeting roles in environmentally-conscious firms

What we like: Highlighting specific areas allows the recruiter to know whether they want to keep reading or not.

12. Cybersecurity Expert with 5+ Years of Experience Protecting Enterprise Networks

Best for: IT professionals focusing on cybersecurity

What we like: This headline emphasizes the candidate’s area of experience, likely because they’re looking for another job with an enterprise network.

Healthcare and Sciences Resume Headline Examples

13. Registered Nurse with 7 Years of Experience in Critical Care and Emergency Medicine

Best for: Experienced nurses targeting specialized healthcare roles

What we like: Putting the number of years in the headline saves the recruiter the time of calculating years of experience based on the dates listed in the resume.

14. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative with a Proven Record of Increasing Market Share

Best for: Sales professionals in the pharmaceutical industry

What we like: This headline is simple and direct.

15. Environmental Scientist Specializing in Climate Change Mitigation and Policy Development

Best for: Scientists pursuing roles in environmental research and policy

What we like: The word “specializing” can be used for candidates with experience in their area or those who are just starting out but focused their studies on that particular topic.

Education and Training Resume Headline Examples

16. Passionate Elementary School Teacher with 10 Years of Experience Fostering Student Success

Best for: Educators seeking roles in primary education

What we like: “Student success” is a great general phrase that captures what good teachers do best, which can be elaborated on in the resume below.

17. Corporate Trainer with a Focus on Leadership Development and Employee Engagement

Best for: Professionals in organizational development and training

What we like: Providing the focus gives the hiring agent a better idea of the candidate’s experience than simply the job title.

18. Instructional Designer with a Track Record of Creating Engaging eLearning Content

Best for: Instructional designers targeting roles in online learning

What we like: This headline focuses on the accomplishments of the candidate.

Creative and Media Resume Headline Examples

19. Art Director with a Portfolio of Award-Winning Campaigns for Global Brands

Best for: Creative professionals in advertising and design

What we like: “Award-winning” and “global brands” are attention-grabbing words that are sure to intrigue a hiring manager to read on.

20. Social Media Strategist with a History of Boosting Brand Awareness and Engagement

Best for: Social media specialists targeting roles in marketing

What we like: Modest and to the point, this headline simply states what the candidate has accomplished and implies what they can do in their next job.

21. Seasoned Journalist with a Passion for Investigative Reporting and Multimedia Storytelling

Best for: Journalists seeking roles in news organizations

What we like: “Seasoned” nicely implies experience without listing the number of years, while the two stated passions strongly describe this candidate.

Business and Finance Resume Headline Examples

22. Certified Public Accountant with a Strong Background in Financial Analysis and Reporting

Best for: Accounting professionals targeting roles in finance

What we like: This headline succinctly lists the candidate’s qualifications and background.

23. Operations Manager with 8 Years of Experience in Streamlining Processes and Reducing Costs

Best for: Professionals with operations management experience seeking leadership roles

What we like: Operations managers do lots of things, so emphasizing two key areas helps recruiters get to know this candidate better quickly.

24. Supply Chain Expert with a Track Record of Improving Efficiency and Reducing Lead Times

Best for: Professionals in logistics and supply chain management

What we like: Improving efficiency and reducing lead times are essential parts of this job, so listing them upfront is a good idea.

Customer Service and Retail Resume Headline Examples

25. Customer Service Manager Committed to Enhancing the Customer Experience and Building Loyalty

Best for: Customer service professionals targeting managerial roles

What we like: “Committed” is another flexible word that a seasoned or aspiring manager can use to share their values in their headline.

26. Retail Store Manager with a History of Increasing Sales and Reducing Employee Turnover

Best for: Retail professionals seeking store management positions

What we like: You’d expect a successful retail manager to increase sales, but this headline also shares another important achievement: reducing employee turnover. Be sure to highlight what you have done and what you can do in your next position.

27. Hospitality Professional with 5+ Years of Experience in Event Planning and Coordination

Best for: Professionals in the hospitality industry targeting event planning roles

What we like: Years of experience make this headline stand out.

Sealing the Deal With an Effective Resume Headline

In a competitive job market, the power of a captivating resume headline can't be overstated. By following this step-by-step guide, you'll be well-equipped to create a headline that grabs attention and highlight your unique strengths.

Remember to tailor your headline to the specific job requirements, showcase your unique selling points, and maintain a concise, clear, and impactful style.

With a winning resume headline, you'll capture the interest of hiring managers and increase your chances of securing your dream job.

So, go ahead and perfect that headline — your future self will thank you!

Don't forget to share this post!

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30+ Resume Headline Examples (2024 Update)

11 min read

Are you tired of your resume blending into the sea of applications? In today's competitive job market, a powerful first impression is paramount, especially considering the convenient placement of the <DELETE> button on a hiring manager’s keyboard. That's where your resume headline comes into play. Welcome to "30+ Resume Headline Examples (2024 Update)," your ultimate guide to crafting attention-grabbing headlines that make employers pause and take notice.

You’ve heard that you only have seconds to capture a hiring manager's attention. Did you know you can do that with just a few words at the top of your resume that encapsulate your expertise, experience, and unique value? 

Keep reading to learn how to create impactful headlines that reflect your skills and aspirations. Get ready to harness the potential of a compelling headline and leave a lasting impression on recruiters. Let's dive into the world of resume headlines and unlock your pathway to career success.

A compelling resume headline is a powerful tool

When it comes to job hunting, your first impression can make all the difference. Your resume headline is the gateway to that crucial initial impact. It's a concise statement at the top of your resume that encapsulates your professional identity and sets the tone for what's to come.

Stand out in the sea of sameness

In a sea of resumes, a compelling headline can be your lifeline. Employers usually have to sift through hundreds of applications for each job posting – a well-crafted headline can immediately catch their attention. It's your chance to communicate your unique value proposition and position yourself as an ideal candidate.

You only get one chance to make a good first impression

Imagine a hiring manager scanning through applications, their attention snagged by a headline that speaks directly to the skills and qualities they're seeking. A creative and relevant headline highlights your strengths and leaves a lasting memory, giving them a reason to pause and spend more time on your application.

Conveying professionalism and enthusiasm

A well-crafted headline for your resume showcases your skills and reflects your professionalism and enthusiasm. It presents an image of your dedication and eagerness to contribute to a potential employer's success. Take some time to choose your words carefully, though, so that you can convey your expertise and passion for your work.

How to write a great headline for your resume

A great headline is more than just words; it's a statement that instantly communicates your value as a job seeker. It's like the first handshake at the beginning of an interview. It can really make or break your candidacy for an open job. When your resume has a compelling headline at the top, a prospective employer doesn't need to decode your intent; your headline does it for them. 

Here's a formula for creating a remarkable headline – clarity + relevance = a great headline . Each component of this formula plays a critical role in capturing the essence of your professional identity and communicating it effectively to potential employers.

Clarity ensures that your potential employer immediately understands what you bring to the table. In an instant - the blink of an eye, your headline needs to convey exactly who you are and what you do well. Choose words that succinctly portray your expertise, industry, and key strengths.

If you’re in marketing, having a headline on your resume like "Digital Marketing Specialist with SEO Expertise" immediately informs the reader of your field of expertise and a specific skill you possess. This straightforward approach eliminates ambiguity, helping recruiters categorize your candidacy accurately.

In addition to clarity, your headline must be directly relevant to the job you're pursuing . Relevance ensures that your headline resonates with the specific role and industry, making it crystal clear why you're a suitable candidate. It ties your skills, accomplishments, and aspirations directly to the job's requirements and the company's goals.

Consider a headline like "Experienced Financial Analyst Driving Profitable Insights." This headline not only indicates your role as a financial analyst but also emphasizes your ability to generate valuable insights for the organization's financial growth. The word "driving" underscores your impact and commitment.

Tailoring headlines to industries and roles

While the core of your headline might remain consistent, customizing it to match the specific industry or role is essential. This doesn’t mean that you have to completely rewrite your headline each time. You’ll likely find that all you have to do is change a word or two to make it mirror the job description. 

Balancing professionalism and creativity

A resume headline is your professional introduction, so balance professionalism with creativity. Avoid generic clichés, sometimes called buzzwords, like “Detail-oriented” and “Results-driven.” Those phrases are overused and taboo. Instead, use strong action verbs, industry-specific keywords, and quantifiable achievements. Injecting creativity helps you stand out but ensure it doesn't compromise the message's clarity and professionalism.

Examples of attention-grabbing resume headlines

How about we put theory into practice? Find your industry below and consider how you can infuse your experience, skills, and achievements into your very own standout resume headline. 

Digital Marketing Specialist with SEO Expertise

Data-Driven Marketing Strategist Elevating Brand Engagement

Creative Social Media Manager Amplifying Brand Reach

SEO Specialist Driving Organic Traffic and SERP Rankings

Digital Marketing Enthusiast Specializing in ROI Optimization

Market Research Analyst with Strong Analytical and Insights Skills

Strategic Financial Analyst Driving Profitable Insights

Chartered Financial Analyst Maximizing Portfolio Returns

Agile Financial Analyst Skilled in Rapid Market Analysis

Financial Advisor Offering Expert Wealth Management Strategies

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with Expert Financial Analysis

Innovative Web Designer Passionate about User Experience

Experienced Software Engineer in Full Stack Development

Quality Assurance Engineer Ensuring Flawless Product Performance

Seasoned IT Project Manager with Multinational Project Experience

User-Centric UX/UI Designer Transforming Digital Experiences

Solution-Oriented Software Developer Crafting Seamless Applications

Visionary Technology Strategist Pioneering Future-Ready Solutions

Software Engineer Passionate about Clean Code and Scalability

Adaptable Software Engineer Proficient in Agile Development

Technology Architect Designing Robust and Secure IT Solutions

Accomplished Sales Manager with International Clientele

Dynamic Sales Leader Driving Team Success and Revenue Growth

Top-Performing Sales Representative Exceeding Quotas Consistently

Sales Professional with Strong Client Relationship Management

Dynamic Sales Associate Providing Exceptional Customer Experiences

Patient-Centered Registered Nurse Specializing in Pediatrics

Compassionate Medical Doctor Committed to Holistic Care

Pediatric Nurse Advocating for Pediatric Patient Wellness

Motivated Fitness Coach Inspiring Positive Lifestyle Changes

Patient-Oriented Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Delivering Compassionate Care

Oncology Nurse Providing Compassionate Cancer Care

Project Management

Agile Project Manager Delivering On-Time, On-Budget Results

Innovative Product Designer Creating Aesthetically Pleasing Solutions

Agile Project Management Expert Leading Cross-Functional Teams

Agile Project Manager Focused on Continuous Improvement and Delivery

Product Manager Driving Innovative Product Launches

Creative Content Writer Crafting Compelling Stories

Content Writer Dedicated to Improving Post Conversions

Creative Writer Crafting Versatile and Engaging Content

Accomplished Research Scientist with Peer-Reviewed Publications

Environmental Scientist Advancing Sustainability and Conservation

Published Author & Space and Astrophysics Enthusiast with 30+ Patents

Human Resouces

Strategic Human Resources Professional Nurturing Organizational Talent

Top Talent Recruiting and Employee Retention Expert 

Plus others in customer service, art, data analysis, hospitality, construction, and trades sectors, including:

Client-Focused Service Representative Resolving Complex Issues

Visual Artist and Illustrator Capturing Emotions Through Art

Data Analysis Expert Translating Data into Actionable Insights

Customer-Centric Hospitality Manager Enhancing Guest Experiences

Visual Storyteller and Illustrator Creating Vibrant Visual Narratives

Safety-Conscious Construction Worker Building Futures

These examples are not just words on paper (or on a computer screen, as it were); they represent the art of effectively capturing your professional essence in just a few words.

Headlines for resumes in less-than-perfect scenarios

We know that not everyone is traveling a straight career path. Some people’s journeys are just beginning, while others are changing entirely. Don’t worry; we have some guidance for you, too. 

In fact, it should be noted that crafting a compelling headline for your resume becomes even more critical when you're starting your career journey or transitioning paths. Let’s talk about creating an effective headline highlighting your strengths and potential, even when experience might be limited.

1. New graduates or limited experience

When you’re fresh out of school, it can be difficult to know what to write. You don’t have any experience – so you think – and your skills probably still need a bit of work. Leverage your recent academic achievements, internships, and relevant coursework to showcase your readiness to contribute. You can also showcase your creative mindset, willingness to think outside the box, and passion for innovation.

Eager Business Graduate Ready to Excel

Creative Design Graduate with a Knack for Innovation

2. Changing careers

Sometimes you decide to shift gears in your career , or something may push you in a different direction. That’s okay! When this happens the best thing to do is focus on soft skills—like communication, data analysis, and project management—that can seamlessly bridge your background to the new role. Emphasize your adaptable problem-solving skills and your eagerness to learn and embrace new challenges.

Experienced Educator Transforming Knowledge into Engaging Content

Journalist Harnessing Storytelling Prowess for Dynamic Public Relations Campaigns

When your experience is limited, focus on transferable skills that can apply across industries and roles. Did your summer job require teamwork, communication, or problem-solving? Those skills are universally valuable. You should also highlight your achievements that come from non-professional experiences like volunteering or personal projects. Did you organize an event? Manage a team project? Successfully complete a certification? These demonstrate initiative and drive. 

When you take the time to craft a headline for your resume that showcases your transferable skills and relevant achievements, you'll convey that even with limited experience, you're a valuable asset ready to make a significant impact in your new professional journey.

Your resume headline and profile paragraph work together

Be careful to distinguish the headline you write at the top of your resume from the profile summary . They are two distinctly different things. It’s also important to note that your resume headline should be short. If it extends to two lines, then you’ve written too much. At that point, it starts to look like a profile paragraph. The idea with your resume headline is that it should be a phrase that anyone can look at and discern within a few seconds. 

Your profile summary, on the other hand, is your opportunity to provide a more comprehensive overview of your professional journey. It's a brief – three-five-sentence –  paragraph that delves into your background, achievements, and career aspirations. This section allows you to elaborate on your experiences, skills, and values, providing context for your headline and showcasing your unique value proposition.

While your headline grabs attention, your profile summary keeps it. They work in tandem to offer a well-rounded introduction. Your headline sets the tone and hooks the reader, and your profile summary expands on the promise made by your headline. The two should seamlessly complement each other, presenting a cohesive narrative that entices the reader to explore further.

The headline on your resume equals your mark on the world

Okay, so a poignant headline may not allow you to leave your mark on the whole world, but it does allow you to leave a strong impression on the world of a prospective employer. It definitely has the power to reshape your career trajectory, and, in that sense, isn’t something that should be taken lightly. 

By investing time and thought into your headline, you're investing in your future. You're seizing the opportunity to assert your value. Your headline is your personal brand, and a strong one can open doors to interviews, networking connections, and career growth. Experiment with different headline styles, tweak them for various job applications, and observe the responses. Remember, your headline isn't set in stone; it can (and should) evolve as your career does.

If crafting a compelling headline or writing your resume feels like a challenge, ZipJob’s expert resume writing services are here to guide you toward a successful and impactful job application.

Recommended reading:

7 Examples of a Bad Resume and How We Fixed It

5 Things Hiring Managers and Recruiters Want On Your Resume

101 Power Verbs For Your Resume

Marsha Hebert, Professional Resume Writer

Marsha is a resume writer with a strong background in marketing and writing. After completing a Business Marketing degree, she discovered that she could combine her passion for writing with a natural talent for marketing. For more than 10 years, Marsha has helped companies and individuals market themselves. Read more advice from Marsha on ZipJob's blog .

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How to write a resume headline with 25+ examples

Accounting and finance

Business and management, hospitality and catering, maintenance and repair.

Do you really need to take up a line with a headline for a resume when space in your application document comes at a premium and every word counts? Should you cut out a precious work responsibility to make room for this seemingly repetitive phrase? The quick answer is yes. Resume headlines give you a chance to stand out in a few pithy words. If you understand how to write a great resume headline, that one line of type will be worth the cost of the real estate.

Now that you know you should write a headline for your resume , you need to know how and why. Within this article, you will find the answers to the following:

• Exactly what is a headline for a resume?
• What’s the difference between a headline and a resume title?
• Why does a resume need a headline?

How do I write a resume headline that works?

Read on for advice, explanations and resume headline examples.

What is a headline for a resume?

A headline is a phrase or that gets to the heart of your message. A resume headline serves the same function: It advertises to the hiring manager or recruiter your experience and skills. You can think of it as the title of your elevator pitch or, if you prefer, the slogan that leads off the marketing campaign for your next great job.

The remainder of your resume will consist of section titles and text (mostly in bullet form except for your summary section) that get deeper into your career, so a headline gives you the best chance to raise an eyebrow quickly. Any opportunity to differentiate yourself at a glance is one you should not pass up.

The headline for your resume is also a grabber – the aha! That makes recruiters smile and read on because they may have found who they are looking for.

How does that differ from a resume title? A title is just that: your current job title. Here are examples that illustrate the difference:

Resume title example: Marketing manager

Resume headline example: Creative marketer with expertise in SEO-driven campaigns

A good headline for a resume sums up not your career, but the job you want to do by signaling that you already do it, and do it very well. Despite this, keep in mind that your focus is the present – what you do now or have done. This is not a career objective statement, which tells hiring managers what it is you would like to do in the future.

Where does the headline on a resume go?

The headline sits directly below your name or above your summary statement, depending on the design of your resume. That placement ensures a direct link between your name and this key statement about yourself. Since you want recruiters to link your name with your achievements, you should not move your resume headline too far from your name. Hiring managers see tons of resumes, so you want them thinking, “Oh, John Q. Smythe. That’s the person who said he was a SQL expert!” not “Hmmm, John Q. Smythe, what’s his experience again?”

First, just as with the rest of a resume (or cover letter), personalization rules. Using keywords associated with the job in your headline gives you a better chance of being among the 25% or so of candidates who make it past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) screening. And when you do make it into the hands of a person, it shows that you took the time to understand what they are looking for and how you can ease the burden the company faces while the position is left unfilled. It also offers hiring managers a quick way to find out what you think is the greatest asset you will bring to the job.

Since each company is different and each job will have different priorities listed as job requirements, you’re not writing one headline, but several. Each one should emphasize the priorities your targeted employer wants. Just as you do when you craft your cover letter or resume, you want to highlight the greatest achievement you have that meshes with the job you seek. It’s fabulous that you developed a new system for controlling inventory, but that’s not what you want to highlight if you’re applying for a job in IT. Instead, focus on the software you used to create that system.

Ideally, the headline of a resume is less than one line long. Although there’s no standard format for this feature, most headlines will end up with similar structures because of the limited number of words and space. They start with a job title or description, followed by a career highlight, expertise or impressive achievement. Resume headlines may also include years of experience or a phrase such as “highly experiences” that alludes to your length of tenure. Here are three examples for a corporate accountant that focus on different skills:

Resume headline example: Corporate accountant with an eagle-eye for cost savings

Resume headline example: Corporate accountant with 5+ years specializing in tax compliance

Resume headline example: Corporate accountant with expertise in financial statement analysis 

The stories that you share in your resume will hint at the personality behind the professional. Hiring managers will have a good idea what sort of person they want on their team, so how do you convey the job-winning traits? This blog explores the answer.

Examples of resume headlines for different careers

Below you will find examples for different careers. Use these for some ideas, then check out our tips and takeaways at the end of the article. If you want more specific ideas, check out Resume.io’s more than 300 resume examples and guides for more inspiration.

• Mid-career financial analyst and expert auto industry market forecaster
• Financial advisor with 10+ years of helping clientele grow their nest eggs
• Auditing clerk with expertise in QuickBooks and record compliance
• Loan officer specializing in attracting small business accounts
• Project manager who kept 10 projects on schedule and under budget this year
• Business development manager with high-level of customer retention and expansion
• Business analyst with expertise in fashion and beauty trends and markets
• Newly minted MBA with concentration in entrepreneurship
• Deliciously creative chef with 5+ years cooking at Michelin star restaurant
• Restaurant manager focused on limiting waste and retaining staff
• Concierge and lifelong city resident; winner of US Hotel Employee of the Year, 2018
• Unflappable line cook known for perfectly seasoned burgers every time

The header is the crucial section at the top of your resume that contains your name, occupation and contact info. How you format the header can make or break your application.

• Carpenter/craftsman who designs and builds custom furniture
• Master electrician with 6 years experience in household rewiring
• Plumbing contractor with 5 years of new construction expertise
• Industrial repairman with 10+ years of experience in heavy machinery
• Dedicated marketing associate with 2 years focusing on digital campaigns
• Content writer with specialty in B2B client services and 5+ year track record
• Marketing consultant with 15+ years of high-profile client satisfaction
• Creative director overseeing complete redesign of $5M+ food product line
• Attentive registered nurse with 7 years experience in cardiac units
• Licensed pharmacist with 8-year error-free record in lab work
• Soothing dental assistant known for easing patient anxiety multi-specialty practice
• Physical therapist specializing in traumatic spinal injury
• IT salesperson generating $1.4 million in revenue yearly
• Friendly sales associate with 2 years selling power tools at hardware store
• Sales manager whose team exceeded consulting sales goals by 10% three years running
• Account executive with 4+ years of 95%+ client satisfaction numbers

Tips to generate an outstanding resume headline

Take stock of all your skills and attributes. This advice will help you throughout the process of creating your application documents. Make a list of every responsibility, type of knowledge or desirable characteristic you can think of and organize it in a way that makes the most sense to you. You may make a list of hard skills, one of soft skills and another of accomplishments to which you can attach supporting data. List all the software and specialized equipment you have used as well.

Once you have a complete list, highlight the skills you want to use in your next job and the achievements that demonstrate your expertise in those skills. That list will form the basis of your resume headlines.

Don’t sell yourself short here. Feel free to use strong, positive descriptions. You’re not just a salesperson, you’re a dedicated salesperson. 

It has long been a job search rule that experienced professionals should not put hobbies and interests on resumes. However, as work/life boundaries shift, employers are increasingly interested in the broader aspects of a candidate’s personality. Time for a rethink.

Key takeaways 

• Yes, taking up space with a headline on your resume is well worth it, even if you have to trim a line somewhere else.
• Your resume headline expresses your career at present, not your goals..
• Link your name firmly with your headline to help recruiters remember you.
• Include your years of experience when the information strengthens your case.
• A resume headline that works well grabs the attention of the hiring manager, touts your greatest skills or achievement and shows how you will solve the company’s problem.

If you need any additional examples, take a look at our resume templates , so you can create your own resume!

How To Write The Best Resume Headline, With 50+ Examples

In today's competitive job market, a well-crafted resume can be the difference between landing your dream job and getting overlooked by potential employers. While the content of your resume is essential, the way you present it can also make a significant impact.

One crucial element that can help your resume stand out is a strong, eye-catching headline. But why is having a resume headline important?

In this article, we'll discuss what a resume headline is, the importance of having a compelling resume headline, how to write one, and provide you with examples to help you craft an attention-grabbing headline that will make your resume stand out from the crowd.

What is a resume headline?

A resume headline, also known as a resume title, is a short statement or phrase that appears at the top of your resume, just below your name and contact information. The purpose of a resume headline is to quickly and effectively communicate your value proposition as a strong candidate.

A good headline should convey your key skills, experience, or achievements in a clear and concise manner and entice the employer to read further. Think of it as your personal brand statement or elevator pitch that summarizes your professional identity and makes you stand out from other candidates.

Your number one goal is to make a hiring manager stop in their tracks and have their interest piqued enough that they'll want to find out more about you. A well-crafted resume headline can help you grab the attention of potential employers and increase your chances of being invited for an interview.

What's the difference between a resume headline and a resume title?

The terms "resume headline" and "resume title" are often used interchangeably, but they can have slightly different meanings depending on the context.

In general, a resume headline or title refers to a short phrase or sentence that appears at the top of a resume and serves as a concise resume summary of the candidate's experience and qualifications. This is often the first thing a recruiter or hiring manager will see when they review a resume, so it should be attention-grabbing and clearly communicate the candidate's value proposition.

Some people use the term "resume headline" specifically to refer to a brief statement that highlights the candidate's most relevant skills or achievements, while "resume title" may refer to the name or title of the job the candidate is applying for.

Ultimately, the specific terminology may vary depending on the industry, job market, or individual preferences of the candidate or employer. The most important thing is to make sure that the resume headline or title effectively communicates the candidate's strengths and piques the employer's interest in reading further.

Why are resume headlines important?

You might be wondering why a resume title is important. Surely the other 90% of the page is where the real enticing information is? That may be the case, but there are added benefits that come with having a catchy headline.

• You're instantly grabbing the hiring manager's attention. ‍ Going through hundreds of resumes is time consuming for recruiters, so they're only looking at each one for a few seconds. Having relevant information at the top of your resume means that they'll be more likely to stop at yours and keep reading to see if you're a good fit.
• Your strengths are front and center. ‍ Even for less experienced applicants, you can establish credibility in your industry from the very beginning with your most relevant and highest qualifications and outcomes listed first.
• It makes your resume unique and contextual. Even with a similar work history, no applicant should have a headline that's exactly the same as yours. You're also helping hiring managers to understand where your experience fits into the broader picture and how it applies to the position you're hoping to get.
• You can include your resume headline on your online profiles, like LinkedIn. Many job applications require online profiles, and resume headlines are often displayed prominently on these platforms, which can help increase your visibility and attract potential employers.

A strong resume headline is an important part of your job search toolkit, helping you to make a great first impression and stand out from the competition.

How do I write a resume headline?

Your resume headline is typically the first thing a potential employer will see, so it's important to make it count. In this section, we'll explore how to write a compelling resume headline that will catch the attention of hiring managers and help you stand out from the crowd.

Here are some steps you can follow to write an effective resume headline:

Keep it concise

Your headline should be brief and to the point, ideally no more than a few words or a short phrase. The purpose of the headline is to quickly summarize your skills and experience and grab the attention of the hiring manager. A concise headline is more likely to be read and remembered than a long, convoluted one.

Keep in mind that your headline is just one part of your resume, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to expand on your hard skills, soft skills, and experiences in other sections. Focus on crafting a headline that's short, snappy, and relevant to the job opening you're applying for.

Tailor your headline to the job

A memorable resume headline should be customized to the job listing you are applying for. By tailoring your headline to the job, you're increasing the chances that your resume will catch the hiring manager's eye and get noticed.

A tailored headline shows that you've taken the time to understand the job requirements and have positioned yourself as a good fit for the position. This can help to increase your chances of being selected for an interview.

Use keywords to highlight your relevant skills and experience

Before writing your headline, take some time to identify your key skills , qualifications, and achievements that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.

A well-crafted headline that's tailored to the job should include specific keywords from the job description. This will make it easier for the employer to see how you can contribute to their organization.

Use Teal's AI Resume Builder to quickly compare the skills and keywords in the job posting to those in your resume. Make sure to add any relevant experience to your customized resume and to your application answers.

Use action-oriented language

Use strong resume action words and descriptive language to convey your skills and experience. For example, instead of "Experienced Sales Associate," try "Proven Sales Leader with 5+ Years of Experience."

Highlight your unique value proposition

A good resume headline should communicate your unique value proposition and what sets you apart from other job seekers. Consider highlighting any awards, certifications, or other impressive achievements that make you stand out.

Review and revise

Once you have drafted your headline, review it for clarity, relevance, and impact. Revise as needed to ensure it is an accurate reflection of your skills and experience and is tailored to the job you are applying for.

You should already be customizing your resume to the jobs you apply for, and the same goes for your resume headline. You can speed up this process by creating multiple resumes in a tool like Teal's AI Resume Builder , where you can pull in different sections and adjust them as needed.

Some of the  most impressive resume examples  that we've seen strike a nice balance between being concise and attention-grabbing.

How can I make my resume headline stand out?

A great resume headline that stands out typically has certain qualities. Here are some tips for writing a resume headline that gets noticed:

• Clarity: The headline is clear and easy to understand, even for someone who is not familiar with your industry or profession.
• Impact: The headline makes a strong impression and captures the reader's attention. It should communicate your unique value proposition and highlight your most relevant skills and experience.
• Differentiation: The headline sets you apart from other candidates and highlights what makes you unique.
• Quantifiable: If possible, include quantifiable achievements or metrics that demonstrate your skills or accomplishments examples in your headline.
• Positive and enthusiastic: Use positive language and avoid clichés and negative words or phrases. Your headline should convey enthusiasm and confidence in your abilities.
• Use title case: Capitalizing the first letter of each major word in your resume headline using title case can enhance its readability and professionalism.
• Echo the voice in the JD: It is important for the voice in your resume headline to match that in the job description because it helps to convey your personality in a way that aligns with the employer's expectations and company culture. Additionally, using the same voice as the job description can help your application pass through any applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen for relevant keywords and phrases related to the position.

Teal's  AI Resume Builder  includes a Professional Summary section with an AI integration feature where you can draft and save multiple headlines. Easily swap them across multiple resumes, depending on the job title you're tailoring your application for.

50+ resume headline examples

When you have limited words to play with, your resume headline needs to be as strong as possible. But how do you convey possibly years, even decades, of work into only one short phrase? 

Every industry will require something slightly different, but here are a few examples of resume headlines to get you started:

Marketing, sales, or administrative roles

• Content Writer With 4+ Years’ Experience  Writing Advertising Copy and Content in the Food and Beverage Industry.
• Social Media Manager With 5 Years Experience  Growing Online Presence and Increasing Engagement for Globally-Recognized B2C Brands.
• Senior Sales Account Manager for Luxury Goods and Retail Businesses, Consistently Hit Sales Goals the Past Four Quarters.
• Office Assistant With 7 Years Experience in Schedule Management and Customer Service.‍
• Creative Marketing Professional with a Proven Track Record of Driving Sales Growth through Innovative Strategies.
• Results-Driven Digital Marketing Specialist with Expertise in SEO, PPC, and Social Media Marketing.
• Highly Organized Administrative Assistant with Strong Technical Skills and Collaborative Spirit.
• Dynamic Sales Manager with a Passion for Helping Clients Achieve their Financial Goals and Delivering Top-Notch Insurance Solutions.
• Experienced Graphic Designer with a Passion for Creative Solutions and Visual Storytelling.
• Creative and Analytical Marketing Manager with Expertise in Social Media Strategy.
• Personable Sales Representative with a Strong Customer Focus and Strategic Vision.

Technical, engineering, or IT positions

• Award-Winning Civil Engineer With 10+ Years Experience in Government Agency Infrastructure Management.
• Highly Experienced Data Analyst  for Healthcare and Wellbeing Businesses, Proficient in Power Bi and Tableau.
• Environmental Engineer With 3 Years Experience in Climate-Friendly Building Supplies and Ecological Architecture.
• Experienced Field Engineer Specializing in Aerospace Design and Manufacturing.
• Experienced Technical Support Technician with Strong Troubleshooting and Customer Service Skills.
• Senior Member of Technical Staff with Strong Software Engineering and Distributed Systems Skills for Large-Scale Operations.
• Data-Driven Technical Specialist with Experience in Optimizing Business Processes and Improving Performance.
• Accomplished Mechanical Engineer with a Strong Background in Product Development and Project Management.
• Experienced Technical Support Professional with Expertise in SQL and Javascript.
• Data Analyst with expertise in SQL, Python, and Machine Learning for Process Improvement and Data-Driven Business Strategy.
• Experienced Manager of Risk Advisory and Consulting with Expertise in SOX and IT Audit and Cybersecurity Frameworks.
• Expert Software Engineer with Proven Track Record of Developing High-Quality Code.

Healthcare and professional services

• Registered Nurse With 10 Years Emergency Room Experience and Experience Leading Outpatient Clinical Procedures.
• Tri-Lingual Pediatric Nurse With Experience Communicating With Patients in Spanish, French and English.
• Senior Certified Public Accountant Specializing in Family Businesses and Succession Planning.
• Tax Preparer With Experience Using Proconnect Tax Online, Proseries Professional, Lacerte, and Cch Axcess Tax.
• Compassionate Registered Nurse with 10+ Years of Experience in Patient Care and Clinical Leadership.
• Skilled Healthcare Administrator with a Strong Background in Operations, Quality Improvement, and Regulatory Compliance.
• Compassionate Social Worker with MSW Degree and LGSW/LICSW Licensure, Dedicated to Delivering High-Quality Patient Care.
• Registered Dietitian with Expertise in Nutrition Policy and Guidance.
• Board Certified Oral Surgeon with Exceptional Clinical Expertise and Patient Care.
• Financial Inventory Specialist Driving Financial Optimization and Accuracy in Inventory Control Processes.
• Experienced Clinical Trial Attorney with Sound Legal Judgment and Strong Drafting Skills.

Management and leadership roles

• Navy Veteran With Over 20 Years Experience Leading Project Management Teams of 10+ People.
• Operations Director Overseeing a $3 Million Annual Budget Across 7 Departments.
• Warehouse Manager With Experience Leading Departments of 50+ People, Over 10 Years of Forklift Experience and Efficiency-Focused Operational Skills.
• Group Director with 10+ Years Experience and Expertise in Customer Experience Across Multiple Channels.
• Experienced Senior Project Manager with Proven Results in Strategic Sourcing, Negotiation, and People Management in Supply Chain and Operations Management.
• Inventory Manager with Expertise in Procurement, Item Management, and Financial Analysis for Optimal Supply Chain Performance.
• Data-Driven Project Leader Skilled in Managing and Developing High-Performing Teams.
• A Visionary Leader with 10+ Years of Expertise in Program Management and Global Technology Initiatives.
• Experienced Managing Director with Strong Leadership Skills in B2B Business Development and Strategy Building.
• Experienced Client Executive with Proven Track Record of Driving Revenue Growth and Building Strong Relationships.
• Certified Special Education Autism Teacher with Exemplary Organization and Planning Skills.
• Veteran High School Teacher Proficient in Utilizing Technology and Subject Matter Expertise.
• Compassionate Elementary School Teacher Committed to Maintaining Professionalism and Constructive Working Relationships.
• Collaborative Special Education Co-teacher With 7+ Years of Experience and Ability to Adapt to New Directions and Deadlines With Composure.
• Experienced Paraprofessional With a Focus on Student Success and Support in Educational Environments.

Students and recent graduates

• Software developer intern  with experience in Python, C++, HTML, Java and Unix.
• Aspiring disease and chronic illness researcher, current biology student.
• Early childhood education major with 2 semesters of hands-on lab experience and student teaching experience.
• Innovative Computer Science Major with Strong Coding Skills and a Keen Interest in Artificial Intelligence.
• Proactive Journalism Major with Experience in Reporting and Editing for Campus and Community Publications.
• Creative Recent Graduate with a Passion for Design and a Strong Portfolio in Graphic Design.
• Detail-Oriented Recent Graduate with a Degree in Accounting and Relevant Internship Experience.
• Enthusiastic Recent Graduate with a Degree in Marketing and Experience in Social Media Management and Branding.
• Creative and Ambitious Marketing Intern with a Passion for Digital Media and Brand Strategy.
• Analytical and Driven Finance Intern with Experience in Data Analysis and Financial Modeling.

How to create a resume that matches your resume headline and helps you land more interviews

No matter what industry you work in, presenting yourself as the ideal candidate to fill an open position should always be top of mind when updating your resume. 

Clear and concise resume headlines are the best way to get noticed and move your application to the top of the hiring manager's stack.

With Teal's AI Resume Builder , you can create customized resumes that will grab the attention of any recruiter. With several professional templates to choose from and seamless integration to pull information from your LinkedIn account, you can quickly put together the information you need to tailor your resume for each job application.

Want to craft a catchy LinkedIn headline? Check out our guide on the best  LinkedIn headlines for job seekers .

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an effective resume headline be, can i use a resume headline if i'm changing industries, should my resume headline include keywords from the job description.

Becca Dershowitz

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Resume Headline: Definition & Examples for a Winning Resume

In today’s highly competitive job market, it’s crucial to have a standout resume that catches the attention of hiring managers. One way to do this is by using a resume headline. A resume headline is a short summary statement that highlights your most relevant experiences, skills, and achievements. It’s essentially your elevator pitch, and it’s the first thing a hiring manager will see when they look at your resume.

Your resume headline can make or break your chances of getting hired. It’s your chance to make a strong first impression and capture the reader’s attention. A well-crafted headline can lead to more job interviews and ultimately land you your dream job.

Definition of Resume Headline

A resume headline is a short summary statement that appears at the top of your resume. It typically consists of one or two phrases that highlight your skills, experiences, and achievements. The goal is to grab the hiring manager’s attention and make them want to read more.

Your resume headline should be tailored to the job you’re applying for and should highlight your most relevant experiences and skills. It should also be concise and easy to read. Avoid using complex language or industry jargon that may be confusing to the reader.

A resume headline is a critical component of a winning resume. It’s your chance to make a strong first impression and highlight your most relevant experiences and skills. By crafting a well-written headline, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Components of a Good Resume Headline

When crafting an effective resume headline, there are several important components that should be considered. These components include customization, the use of quantifiable metrics and action verbs, and keeping the headline brief and relevant.

Importance of Customization

One of the most crucial elements of creating a strong resume headline is customization. Tailoring your headline to the specific position you are applying for can help catch the attention of the hiring manager, as it shows that you have taken the time to understand the company’s needs and how your skills and experience can meet those needs.

Consider researching the company and the job posting thoroughly, looking for keywords and phrases that can be incorporated into your headline. This not only demonstrates your qualifications but also aligns your headline with the company’s brand and values.

Use of Quantifiable Metrics and Action Verbs

Another important aspect of a good resume headline is the use of quantifiable metrics and action verbs. Quantifiable metrics, such as revenue generated, project completion rate, or sales growth, provide concrete evidence of your achievements and abilities.

In addition, action verbs such as “developed,” “managed,” “implemented,” or “initiated” communicate a strong sense of action and accomplishment in your work experience. Combining these elements can make your headline stand out and demonstrate your value as a potential employee.

Keeping it Brief and Relevant

Finally, it is essential to keep your headline brief and relevant to the job you are applying for. It should be concise, ideally no more than a few words, and clearly communicate your value proposition to the employer. Avoid clichés or overused phrases, as they can make your headline appear generic and lacking in originality.

An effective resume headline is a customized, attention-grabbing statement that utilizes quantifiable metrics and action verbs to showcase your skills and experience. It should be concise, relevant to the job, and demonstrate your unique value proposition to the employer.

Types of Resume Headlines

When it comes to creating a winning resume, one key element is crafting a strong headline that catches the recruiter’s attention. There are three types of resume headlines that can help you achieve this:

1. Professional Headline

A professional headline is a brief statement that summarizes your skills, experience, and expertise. It is typically placed at the top of your resume, right under your name and contact information. This type of headline is ideal for professionals who have a broad range of skills and who are seeking a position in a general field. A well-crafted professional headline should be concise and specific, emphasizing the most important aspects of your professional profile.

2. Industry-Specific Headline

An industry-specific headline is designed to target a particular field, such as healthcare, technology, or finance. It should be tailored to the position you are seeking and highlight your relevant skills and experience. This type of headline is particularly effective for professionals who are trying to make a career change or who are looking for a job in a specific area.

3. Resume Summary

A resume summary is a paragraph that provides an overview of your qualifications, work experience, and accomplishments. It is typically used by mid-career professionals who have a wealth of experience and want to showcase their skills in a way that stands out. A well-written resume summary should be brief, impactful, and show how your experience and skills match the requirements of the job you are seeking.

The three types of resume headlines – professional headline, industry-specific headline, and resume summary – are all effective ways to make your resume stand out from the crowd. By tailoring your headline to the position you are seeking, you can communicate your value to potential employers and increase your chances of landing the job.

Characteristics of a Winning Resume Headline

A winning resume headline captures the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. It should be unique, accurately reflect the job seeker’s skills, and be attention-grabbing.

Being Unique

A unique headline sets the job seeker apart from the competition. It should not be a generic statement that any candidate could use. Instead, it should highlight the job seeker’s strengths and convey their personal brand.

Accurately Reflecting the Job Seeker’s Skills

The headline should accurately reflect the job seeker’s skills and experience. It is not enough to have a catchy headline if it does not accurately represent the job seeker’s qualifications. The headline should communicate what the job seeker can bring to the company and how they can add value to the organization.

Attention-Grabbing

A winning resume headline should be attention-grabbing. It should make the hiring manager or recruiter want to learn more about the candidate. A good headline can be the difference between a hiring manager deciding to read the rest of the resume or moving on to the next candidate.

A winning resume headline is unique, accurately reflects the job seeker’s skills, and is attention-grabbing. A well-crafted headline can make a candidate stand out from the competition and increase their chances of landing their dream job.

Challenges to consider

When crafting a resume headline, there are two common challenges to consider:

Overuse of buzzwords:  While it’s important to use industry-specific language and keywords in your resume, overusing buzzwords can make your headline appear cliché and unoriginal. It’s important to strike a balance between using relevant terms and phrases and avoiding common buzzwords that may not add value to your headline.

Concern for being too creative:  With only a limited number of words available for your resume headline, it’s natural to want to be as creative and impactful as possible. However, it’s important to remember that your headline should be clear and concise, and it should accurately represent your skills and experience without sacrificing readability. Avoid convoluted or overly complicated language, and focus on communicating your unique value proposition in a simple, straightforward way.

How to Write a Resume Headline

A resume headline is a brief statement that highlights your professional attributes and accomplishments. It is the first thing that catches the eye of the recruiter and entices them to read your resume in more detail. Here is a step-by-step approach to crafting a compelling resume headline that stands out:

Step 1: Identify Your Unique Selling Point

The first step in writing a great resume headline is to identify your unique selling point (USP). This is the specific skill or accomplishment that sets you apart from other candidates in your field. It could be anything from a prestigious award you’ve won, to a particularly impressive project you’ve completed, to a valuable certification or skill set that you possess.

Step 2: Tailor Your Headline to the Job Description

Your resume headline should be tailored to the job you’re applying for. Review the job description carefully and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, integrate these keywords into your headline in a way that highlights your expertise in those areas.

Step 3: Keep It Short and Sweet

A good resume headline should be concise and to the point. Aim for no more than 10-12 words, and avoid using cliches or buzzwords that don’t provide any real value. Instead, focus on making your headline clear, compelling, and easy to read.

Step 4: Use Strong Adjectives and Action Verbs

Your headline should be written in an active voice and use strong adjectives and action verbs to convey your skills and accomplishments. Examples of powerful adjectives include “award-winning,” “innovative,” “experienced,” and “results-driven,” while action verbs such as “created,” “led,” “managed,” and “delivered” can help showcase your capabilities.

Examples of Good Resume Headlines

Here are a few examples of effective resume headlines for different industries and job types:

• Experienced Marketing Professional with a Proven Track Record of Driving Sales Growth
• Award-Winning Journalist with Expertise in Breaking News and Investigative Reporting
• Accomplished Project Manager and Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
• Dynamic Sales Representative with a Proven Ability to Exceed Quota
• Strategic Human Resources Manager with Extensive Experience in Talent Acquisition

A great resume headline should be attention-grabbing, concise, and tailored to the job you’re applying for. By following these steps and using strong adjectives and action verbs, you can craft a headline that sets you apart from other candidates and impresses potential employers.

Mistakes to Avoid in Writing a Resume Headline

Your resume headline is the first thing that recruiters and hiring managers see when they review your application. As such, it’s crucial to get it right. Unfortunately, many job seekers make mistakes when writing their resume headlines that can cost them their dream job. Here are some of the most common resume headline mistakes and their consequences.

Common Resume Headline Mistakes to Avoid

1. being too generic.

One of the most common mistakes job seekers make is using a generic resume headline that doesn’t stand out. For example, using a headline like “Experienced Marketing Professional” isn’t going to catch anyone’s attention. Instead, try to be more specific about your experience and career aspirations.

2. Using industry jargon

Another mistake to avoid is using too much industry jargon in your resume headline. While it may seem impressive to use complex terms and buzzwords, it can actually work against you. Not all recruiters and hiring managers will be familiar with industry jargon, and it can make you seem out of touch or difficult to work with.

3. Being too long

Your resume headline should be concise and to the point. If it’s too long, it can come across as rambling or unfocused. A good rule of thumb is to keep your headline to about 10-12 words or less.

Consequences of a bad Resume Headline

A bad resume headline can have serious consequences for your job search. Here are some of the ways a bad headline can hurt your chances of landing the job you want:

1. Getting overlooked

Recruiters and hiring managers may receive hundreds of resumes for a single job opening. If your headline isn’t attention-grabbing, it’s likely that your resume will be overlooked in favor of another candidate’s.

2. Giving the wrong impression

Your headline is your chance to make a good first impression. If it’s too generic, too long, or full of jargon, it can give the impression that you aren’t detail-oriented, aren’t a good communicator, or aren’t a good fit for the job.

3. Making you seem unqualified

If your headline doesn’t accurately reflect your skills and experience, it can make you seem unqualified for the job. This can be particularly problematic if you’re applying for a job that’s a stretch for your experience level.

It’s essential to take the time to craft a compelling, attention-grabbing resume headline. Avoiding common mistakes and showcasing your skills and experience in an engaging way can put you ahead of the competition and help you land the job of your dreams.

Best Practices for Resume Headlines

In order to create a winning resume, having a strong headline is essential. It is the first thing that a potential employer will see and can make or break your chances of being noticed. Here are some tips for creating an effective resume headline:

Latest trends in Resume Headlines

Personalization: Tailor your headline to the specific job you are applying for. This shows that you have done your research and are truly interested in the position.

Use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description into your headline. This will help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Highlight accomplishments: Instead of just stating your job title, showcase your achievements and what you have accomplished in your previous roles.

Keep it short and sweet: A headline should not be more than a few words or a short phrase. It should be easy to read and not too cluttered.

Tips from experts

Karen Siwak, career expert and resume writer, suggests starting your headline with a strong verb such as ‘accomplished’ or ‘experienced’. This grabs the reader’s attention and shows that you are confident in your abilities.

J.T. O’Donnell, career coach and CEO of Work It Daily, recommends using your headline to show how you can benefit the company. This can be done by including a short sentence that summarizes your unique selling point.

Forbes Coaches Council member, Kris Holmes, advises against using generic headlines such as ‘experienced professional’. Instead, she suggests using specific job titles or areas of expertise.

Career expert, Susan P. Joyce, emphasizes the importance of being truthful in your headline. Avoid using vague or misleading titles that don’t accurately reflect your professional experience.

A strong resume headline can set you apart from other candidates and grab the attention of potential employers. By incorporating the latest trends and expert tips into your headline, you can create a winning resume that showcases your unique skills and experience.

Resume Headline Examples

Your resume headline is the first thing that recruiters and hiring managers look at when screening resumes. An impactful headline can make all the difference in capturing their attention and making sure your resume stands out from the rest.

Here are some examples of effective resume headlines that you can use for your own job search:

Samples of Effective Resume Headlines

• Marketing Manager with 5+ Years of Experience in Digital Marketing Strategy
• Award-winning Sales Representative with Proven Record of Exceeding Sales Targets
• Dedicated Nurse with 10+ Years of Experience in Emergency Medicine
• Experienced IT Professional with Expertise in Web Development and Project Management
• Customer Service Representative with Passion for Delivering Exceptional Service

As you can see, a resume headline can convey a lot about your skills and accomplishments in just a few words. It’s important to choose a headline that accurately reflects your strengths and highlights what you can bring to the table.

Examples of Headlines for Various Industries

Here are some additional examples of resume headlines tailored to specific industries:

• Bilingual Registered Nurse Specializing in Critical Care
• Pediatrician with Passion for Child Nutrition and Development
• Healthcare Administrator with Expertise in Financial Management
• Results-Driven Finance Analyst with Expertise in Budgeting and Forecasting
• Senior Human Resources Manager with Extensive Experience in Talent Acquisition
• Business Development Professional with Proven Track Record of Closing Deals
• Award-Winning Graphic Designer with 8+ Years of Experience in Branding and Identity
• Multimedia Journalist with Skillset in Videography and Storytelling
• Creative Director with Passion for Conceptualizing and Executing Marketing Campaigns

Your resume headline should be memorable, targeted to the job you’re applying for, and showcase your relevant experience and skills. Use these examples as inspiration to craft your own winning headline that catches the eye of recruiters and hiring managers.

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of our guide on creating a winning resume headline. As a bonus, here are some tips to help fresh graduates, job-seekers with little or no working experience, and those wanting to make a career change:

Tips for Fresh Graduates

Emphasize your education: Since you likely have little or no work experience, highlighting your education and academic achievements can help you stand out. Include any honors or awards you received, as well as relevant coursework or projects that showcase your skills.

Highlight your extracurricular activities: If you participated in any clubs, sports teams, or volunteer work during college, be sure to include these activities on your resume. They can demonstrate your leadership abilities, teamwork skills, and commitment to your community.

Focus on transferable skills: Even if you don’t have direct work experience, you likely have skills that can be applied to a job. Think about your communication, problem-solving, and time-management abilities, and find ways to showcase them on your resume.

Tips for Job-Seekers with Little or No Working Experience

Consider internships or part-time work: If you’re struggling to find a full-time job with no experience, look for opportunities to gain experience through internships or part-time work. These positions can help you build your skills and network with professionals in your field.

Highlight your education and skills: Similar to fresh graduates, you can emphasize your education and transferable skills to make up for lack of work experience. Be sure to showcase any coursework or projects that demonstrate your abilities.

Use a functional resume format: If you have limited work experience, a functional resume format may be more effective than a chronological one. This style emphasizes your skills and achievements, rather than your work history.

Tips for Job-Seekers Wanting a Career Change

Emphasize relevant skills and experience: When transitioning to a new career, you can highlight skills and experience that are relevant to your new field. Focus on transferable skills, such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.

Use a combination resume format: A combination resume format can be effective for those making a career change. This format combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes, highlighting both your work history and skills.

Consider additional education or training: Depending on your desired career path, you may need to undergo additional education or training to gain the necessary skills and certifications. Be willing to invest in yourself to make a successful career transition.

Remember, creating a winning resume headline is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to securing your dream job. By following these tips and putting in the effort to gain experience and build your skills, you can position yourself as a strong candidate in any job market. Good luck!

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More from ResumeHead

100 Examples: How to Write a Strong Resume Headline

By Status.net Editorial Team on September 29, 2023 — 11 minutes to read

• Understanding the Resume Headline Part 1
• Why a Resume Headline is Essential Part 2
• How to Write a Powerful Resume Headline Part 3
• 3 Types of Effective Headline Structure with Examples Part 4
• 100 Examples of Effective Resume Headlines Part 5

Crafting a strong resume headline can make a world of difference when it comes to standing out in a pool of job applicants. A powerful headline serves as a quick snapshot of your expertise, capturing the attention of hiring managers and enticing them to delve deeper into your resume. If you’re looking to make a lasting impression and secure that all-important interview, here are some tips and examples to help you create a winning resume headline.

Related: Get More Interviews: Follow Up on Job Applications (Templates)

Part 1 Understanding the Resume Headline

A resume headline, also known as a resume title, is a phrase that highlights your key qualifications and skills, making it easy for employers to identify your strengths quickly. It typically appears at the top of your resume, right after your contact information, and serves as a snapshot of what you bring to the table.

To create a strong resume headline, you should focus on summarizing your most relevant and impressive achievements or attributes. It is crucial to customize the headline for each job application, tailoring it to match the specific requirements and keywords of the job posting.

For example, if you are applying for a marketing manager role, your resume headline might be: “Results-Driven Marketing Manager with 7 Years of Experience Boosting Sales by 40%”. This highlights your relevant experience while emphasizing your success in driving sales growth.

Consider using action-oriented language and quantifiable results in your resume headline, as this demonstrates your ability to make a positive impact. Also, try to keep the headline short and to the point, ideally within one line of text, to make it easy for employers to understand your value.

Here are some more examples of effective resume headlines:

• “Award-Winning Graphic Designer Specializing in Branding and Social Media Content”
• “Certified Project Manager with a Track Record of Completing Projects On-Time and On-Budget”
• “Bilingual Customer Service Rep Providing Top-Notch Support in English and Spanish”
• “Highly Skilled Java Developer with a Passion for Developing Cutting-Edge Applications”

Related: Best LinkedIn Headlines for Job Seekers [Examples]

Part 2 Why a Resume Headline is Essential

A well-crafted resume headline is essential for catching the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. With just one short, impactful statement at the top of your resume, you can make a strong first impression that encourages them to read further.

Think of your resume headline like a newspaper headline. Its main goal is to pique the reader’s interest and make them want to learn more. It should be concise, yet packed with relevant information to give your potential employer a taste of what you bring to the table.

A resume headline acts as a sales pitch, showcasing your most marketable skills, qualifications, and experiences while providing a quick snapshot of your professional identity. It helps you stand out from the crowd of applicants, especially when you’re competing for sought-after positions.

Moreover, a strategically crafted resume headline is essential for optimizing your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). By incorporating relevant keywords and phrases from the job description, you can improve your resume’s visibility and ranking in the computerized filtering process, enhancing your chances of being noticed.

Part 3 How to Write a Powerful Resume Headline

• Be specific, yet concise: Your headline should communicate your value in a short and impactful statement. Avoid generic phrases and focus on your unique qualifications.
• Highlight your strengths: Showcase your skills, experience, and successes in a way that communicates the value you bring to a potential employer.
• Tailor it to the job: When possible, use keywords from the job description to tailor your headline to the specific position. This will increase the chances of your resume being noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruiters.
• Keep it up-to-date: As your career progresses, remember to update your resume headline. It should always be a true reflection of your present capabilities and strengths.
• Avoid Unnecessary Formatting: ATS systems may have trouble parsing complex formatting or special characters in your headline. Stick to standard text without excessive formatting elements.

Relevance to Job Description

To create a powerful resume headline, start by analyzing the job description. Focus on what the employer is looking for and tailor your headline to reflect those requirements. For example, if the job posting emphasizes a need for a sales professional with a proven track record, your headline could read, “Top-performing Sales Professional with 5+ Years of Experience Generating High Revenue.”

Incorporating Skills

Your resume headline should showcase your most relevant skills. This helps hiring managers instantly recognize your expertise and makes your application stand out. Identify your unique skills related to the job you’re applying for, such as language proficiency, software proficiency, or a specific certification. For instance, a software developer might have a headline like, “Full Stack Developer Skilled in Python, Django, and React Native.”

Highlighting Experience

Experience is often a significant factor in hiring decisions. By emphasizing your experience in your resume headline, you demonstrate to employers that you’re a seasoned professional. You can include the years of experience or mention the industries you’ve worked in. An example could be, “Experienced Project Manager with 7 Years in Tech and Lifestyle Industries.”

Usage of Keywords

Incorporating relevant keywords into your resume headline helps your application stand out, especially when applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used. These systems often look for specific keywords that match the job posting. By using such keywords in your headline, you increase the chances of your resume being spotted. For example, a graphic designer might use the headline, “Creative Graphic Designer Specializing in Branding, Logo Design, and UX/UI Design.”

Part 4 3 Types of Effective Headline Structure with Examples

Writing a strong resume headline can make a significant difference in helping you land your desired job. Let’s explore some successful resume headline examples and tips to help you create your attention-grabbing headline.

Type 1: Example: “ Customer Service Expert with 10+ Years of Experience” In this example, the headline focuses on two key elements: the area of expertise and years of experience. By mentioning these upfront, you showcase your value to potential employers and make it easier for them to identify you as a top candidate.

Type 2: Example: “Award-Winning Graphic Designer Skilled in Adobe Suite” This headline combines recognition and specific skills, emphasizing relevant achievements and technical expertise. Use this format to demonstrate your unique qualifications and what makes you stand out from other candidates.

Type 3: Example: “Bi-Lingual HR Manager Specializing in Employee Relations” Language skills and specialization are highlighted in this example, creating a distinct impression that helps differentiate you from others with similar experience. This type of headline emphasizes your unique abilities to enhance the headline.

Industry-specific keywords are important: Research common keywords and phrases specific to your field and incorporate them into your headline.

When applying, try to tailor your headline for each job application by adjusting the keywords and phrases to match the specific job posting.

• Initial Screening Process: Many employers use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to manage the overwhelming volume of resumes they receive for job openings. ATS software scans and filters resumes based on specific criteria, including keywords and phrases found in the resume. If your resume doesn’t pass the ATS screening, it may never be seen by human eyes.
• Keyword Relevance: ATS systems often prioritize resumes that contain keywords and phrases directly related to the job opening. When you include industry-specific keywords and skills in your resume headline, you increase the likelihood that the ATS will recognize your qualifications as a match for the position.
• Ranking and Scoring: ATS software may assign a score to each resume based on its relevance to the job description. Resumes with higher scores are more likely to be considered by recruiters. A well-crafted resume headline with the right keywords can boost your score and move your resume higher in the applicant pool.

Part 5 100 Examples of Effective Resume Headlines

1. “Results-Driven Marketing Manager with a Proven Track Record” 2. “Experienced Software Developer Specializing in Front-End Technologies” 3. “Detail-Oriented Financial Analyst with Expertise in Forecasting” 4. “Dedicated Nurse Practitioner Improving Patient Care” 5. “Creative Graphic Designer Transforming Ideas into Visuals” 6. “Seasoned Project Manager Delivering On-Time and On-Budget” 7. “Customer Service Guru Enhancing Client Satisfaction” 8. “Passionate Elementary School Teacher Inspiring Young Minds” 9. “Strategic Sales Executive Driving Revenue Growth” 10. “Analytical Data Scientist Leveraging Big Data for Insights” 11. “Experienced Human Resources Manager Fostering a Positive Work Culture” 12. “Senior Accountant with Expertise in Financial Reporting” 13. “Digital Marketing Specialist Boosting Online Presence” 14. “Skilled Web Developer Creating User-Friendly Websites” 15. “Dynamic Event Planner Orchestrating Memorable Experiences” 16. “Charismatic Sales Representative Building Strong Client Relationships” 17. “Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) Leading Complex Projects” 18. “Detail-Oriented Quality Assurance Analyst Ensuring Product Excellence” 19. “Innovative Product Manager Driving Product Development” 20. “Customer-Centric Retail Manager Maximizing Store Performance” 21. “Results-Driven Sales Manager with a Focus on Team Success” 22. “Experienced Registered Nurse Providing Compassionate Care” 23. “Creative Copywriter Crafting Engaging Content” 24. “Strategic Business Analyst Identifying Growth Opportunities” 25. “Efficient Administrative Assistant Streamlining Office Operations” 26. “Passionate Social Worker Making a Difference in Communities” 27. “Technical Support Specialist Resolving IT Challenges” 28. “Motivated Marketing Coordinator Implementing Winning Campaigns” 29. “Experienced Account Executive Nurturing Client Relationships” 30. “Detail-Oriented Legal Assistant Supporting Legal Professionals” 31. “Innovative Product Designer Bringing Ideas to Life” 32. “Data-Driven Market Research Analyst Informing Business Strategies” 33. “Effective Public Relations Specialist Building Brand Reputation” 34. “Adaptable Project Coordinator Managing Cross-Functional Teams” 35. “Customer-Focused Retail Sales Associate Driving Sales Growth” 36. “Proven Sales Leader Achieving Targets Consistently” 37. “Experienced Registered Dietitian Promoting Healthy Lifestyles” 38. “Creative Video Producer Bringing Stories to Screen” 39. “Strategic Supply Chain Manager Optimizing Logistics” 40. “Results-Oriented IT Manager Ensuring Network Reliability” 41. “Passionate Nonprofit Director Advancing Social Causes” 42. “Analytical Financial Planner Securing Financial Futures” 43. “Experienced Operations Manager Streamlining Processes” 44. “Detail-Oriented Legal Secretary Supporting Legal Practices” 45. “Innovative UX Designer Creating Intuitive User Experiences” 46. “Data-Driven Marketing Analyst Optimizing Campaigns” 47. “Dynamic Customer Support Specialist Resolving Issues Swiftly” 48. “Motivated Event Coordinator Executing Flawless Events” 49. “Experienced Accountant Managing Financial Accuracy” 50. “Results-Driven Sales Director Expanding Market Share” 51. “Experienced Registered Pharmacist Ensuring Medication Safety” 52. “Creative Art Director Visualizing Brand Identities” 53. “Strategic HR Manager Cultivating Talent and Culture” 54. “Efficient Office Manager Enhancing Workplace Efficiency” 55. “Passionate Environmental Scientist Protecting Ecosystems” 56. “Customer-Centric Retail Store Manager Driving Profitability” 57. “Innovative UX/UI Designer Crafting User-Centered Designs” 58. “Detail-Oriented Research Analyst Gathering Critical Insights” 59. “Technical Support Engineer Resolving Complex IT Issues” 60. “Motivated Marketing Specialist Implementing ROI-Driven Strategies” 61. “Experienced Account Manager Building Strong Client Partnerships” 62. “Results-Oriented Sales Executive Exceeding Targets Consistently” 63. “Experienced Registered Physical Therapist Improving Mobility” 64. “Creative Content Strategist Driving Engagement” 65. “Strategic Operations Director Optimizing Efficiency” 66. “Detail-Oriented Legal Counsel Delivering Legal Excellence” 67. “Innovative Industrial Designer Creating Innovative Products” 68. “Data-Driven SEO Specialist Boosting Online Visibility” 69. “Dynamic Customer Success Manager Ensuring Client Satisfaction” 70. “Motivated Event Planner Orchestrating Memorable Experiences” 71. “Experienced Financial Advisor Providing Sound Financial Guidance” 72. “Results-Driven Marketing Coordinator Executing Winning Campaigns” 73. “Experienced Accountant Managing Complex Financial Transactions” 74. “Detail-Oriented Research Scientist Conducting Groundbreaking Studies” 75. “Efficient Office Administrator Streamlining Administrative Processes” 76. “Passionate Wildlife Biologist Studying and Protecting Ecosystems” 77. “Customer-Centric Retail Sales Manager Maximizing Store Performance” 78. “Innovative UI Designer Creating Intuitive User Interfaces” 79. “Strategic HR Generalist Nurturing Organizational Culture” 80. “Motivated IT Support Specialist Resolving Technical Challenges” 81. “Experienced Account Executive Growing Client Relationships” 82. “Results-Oriented Sales Manager Leading High-Performing Teams” 83. “Experienced Registered Nurse Practitioner Improving Patient Care” 84. “Creative Graphic Artist Transforming Concepts into Visuals” 85. “Detail-Oriented Financial Planner Ensuring Financial Security” 86. “Innovative Product Developer Bringing Ideas to Market” 87. “Data-Driven Market Analyst Informing Strategic Decisions” 88. “Dynamic Public Relations Manager Building Brand Visibility” 89. “Passionate Event Coordinator Executing Successful Gatherings” 90. “Experienced HR Specialist Fostering Employee Engagement” 91. “Results-Oriented Retail Store Manager Increasing Profitability” 92. “Experienced Legal Assistant Providing Comprehensive Support” 93. “Efficient Office Coordinator Enhancing Workplace Productivity” 94. “Strategic Project Manager Delivering Complex Initiatives” 95. “Motivated Social Worker Making a Positive Impact” 96. “Customer-Centric Sales Associate Building Client Relationships” 97. “Innovative Product Designer Creating Innovative Solutions” 98. “Detail-Oriented Data Analyst Transforming Data into Insights” 99. “Experienced IT Consultant Solving Complex Technical Challenges” 100. “Results-Driven Marketing Director Driving Business Growth”

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some eye-catching resume headlines for managers.

For a manager, creating an eye-catching resume headline is crucial to grabbing the attention of potential employers. Here are some examples:

• Results-driven operations manager with 10+ years of experience
• Award-winning marketing manager with a record of success
• Innovative project manager excelling in IT management

How can I create an effective resume headline in customer service?

To create an effective resume headline in customer service, focus on your relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments. Some examples include:

• Customer service pro with top-notch problem-solving skills
• Bilingual customer service expert with 5+ years of experience
• Dedicated customer support specialist consistently rated 5-stars

Can you provide examples of great professional headlines for resumes?

Let’s look at some examples of strong professional headlines for different fields:

• Software engineer: Skilled Full-Stack Developer with a passion for creating seamless user experiences
• Graphic designer: Creative and versatile designer with a keen eye for detail
• Data analyst: Experienced data analyst adept at transforming data into actionable insights

What are common headline examples for freshers on Indeed?

For freshers seeking jobs on Indeed, a strong resume headline should emphasize their relevant skills and education. A few examples include:

• Recent graduate with honors in computer science seeking entry-level role
• Ambitious marketing degree holder eager to apply skills in a professional setting
• Certified financial analyst ready to contribute to company growth

What type of headline works best for a sales resume?

For sales professionals, an effective resume headline should focus on your abilities to generate revenue and forge strong client relationships. Consider these examples:

• Dynamic territory sales manager with proven track record of exceeding targets
• Consultative sales professional skilled in building long-term relationships
• Sales leader with expertise in driving revenue growth and market expansion
• 3 Examples: Job Application Email (with Tips)
• 3 Examples: How To List Certifications on a Resume
• Resume Summary: Smart Examples
• Good Reasons for Leaving a Job [10 Examples]

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• The Best Resume Format to Get...

The Best Resume Format to Get Hired

21 min read · Updated on May 29, 2024

Is your resume format the right one for your career needs?

When you're trying to create the perfect resume for your job search needs, few things are more important than the resume format that you choose to deliver your message. After all, the goal of any resume is to ensure that employers can easily see that you're the right person for their job. Choosing the best resume format is essential for achieving that goal.

In this post, we'll examine the three main resume formats, consider their pros and cons, and explain how you can decide which format is the best option for you. We'll also offer some tips that can help you to learn how to create these different resume formats. 

What are the three best resume formats?

There are three main resume format options that job seekers use. They include:

1.      Reverse-chronological

2.      Functional

3.      Combination

Each formatting option offers a different way to organize and present your resume information, depending on your overall work history and the type of job you're seeking. We'll examine each one and provide the information you need to ensure that you use the right format for your resume needs.

Reverse-chronological resume format

Also known simply as the chronological resume, this format is a favorite for job seekers and hiring managers alike - and for good reason. It's a format that allows you to present your professional experience in a straightforward, chronological way by listing ten to fifteen years of work history in reverse order. You simply begin by including details about your most recent or current job and then work backward.

The chronological resume usually follows a simple and straightforward resume structure. That structure includes several sections which each contain specific types of information. For example:

Contact information

Resume headline

Summary paragraph

Skills matrix or core competencies

Work experience

Optional sections, such as relevant volunteer experience, certificates, and so on

Dividing this information into distinct sections will make it easier for hiring managers to quickly scan your resume and locate the details they're interested in seeing. If an employer can quickly identify those key qualifications they want to see, then there's a better chance that they'll take time to read your resume to learn more about you.

Another great thing about the chronological resume format is its flexibility. If you're seeking a job with very specific skill requirements, you can place the skill section right after the resume summary so that it receives more attention. You can even choose to emphasize the education section if you're a recent graduate and are highlighting those qualifications .

Who should use a chronological resume?

The reverse-chronological resume is widely regarded as the best resume format for job seekers who have years of consistent experience in the workforce. Typically, job seekers who use this format will have been working in the same industry for several years, with no serious gaps in that employment history. Because this format provides a clear picture of your career trajectory, it's also an ideal option when you're seeking a promotion in your field.

Chronological resume pros and cons

There are both advantages and disadvantages to choosing the reverse-chronological resume format. We've listed some of the most relevant pros and cons below.

Chronological format pros :

Employers are familiar with the chronological resume format and often prefer it to the alternatives

This format provides an easy-to-follow overview of your entire career trajectory

When used properly, the work experience section can highlight critical skills that the employer wants to see

Chronological format cons :

If there are notable gaps in your employment history, listing jobs in chronological order can make them easier for employers to spot

Because this format emphasizes your employment, it may not be the best option for anyone who lacks a steady job history. It can also be a tricky option for job seekers who are trying to move from one career to another

This format's familiarity can work against you if you're not focused on ensuring that your resume properly differentiates you from other job seekers.

Tips for writing a chronological resume

It's important to know how to write a chronological resume, since it's the format option you'll probably be using throughout most of your career. We've compiled some simple tips that can help you learn how to craft this type of resume.

List your employment history in reverse order, starting with your current position. Use that same chronological approach in your education section, too.

For each job listed, include the company name, job title, and dates of employment. Then add three or four bullet point examples of quantifiable achievements. These accomplishments should demonstrate how you used your skills to create real value for the company.

Highlight relevant skills. Include both hard and soft skills, paying special attention to the requirements listed in the company's job posting. Make sure that you use the exact terms from the posting in your resume, as these keywords will improve your resume's searchability. 

For your resume headline , include the job title you're seeking and some descriptive language that sets you apart from other candidates. For example, instead of writing “ Marketing Manager,” you could write “Dynamic Marketing Manager Committed to Driving Growth and Profits.”

Make sure that your summary paragraph is no more than 3-5 sentences and that it includes a couple of achievements and skills that highlight your value. Remember, this paragraph is supposed to help you capture a hiring manager's attention, so treat it like an elevator sales pitch. Keep it concise and focused on earning the reader's interest.

Functional resume format

The functional resume is also sometimes referred to as a skill-focused resume. Because it emphasizes skills over work history, it can be a great way to mask inexperience in your field. It's also sometimes used by job seekers who have significant gaps in their work history to hide those periods of unemployment. That latter feature is one of the main reasons why many employers view this format with suspicion. Employers are also less familiar with this format.

Still, it can be used to great effect if you take the time to present information in an easy-to-follow structure. Like the chronological resume, this resume format divides information into distinct sections. For example:

Contact details

Resume summary paragraph

Professional experience

Optional sections

The skills section is typically different from the section found in a chronological resume, however. Since the whole purpose of the functional resume is to emphasize your abilities, several skill sub-sections are often used to drive those qualifications home. Those sections may include:

Soft skills: This section can be used to highlight your most important competencies. List those skills and include language that illustrates how you used your abilities to create value for employers. Basically, you highlight these skills in the same way that you'd highlight quantifiable achievements.

Hard skills: These are typically the skills that are required by the employer in order to qualify for the role. They might be technical or knowledge-based in nature and relate directly to your ability to perform the job's required duties.

Who should use a functional resume?

Unlike the chronological resume format, the functional format is less suited for those with a good deal of consistent work experience. Instead, it's a better option for people who have very little experience. As a result, it's often used by recent graduates and others who are just entering the workforce. It can also be a good option for some workers in the creative industries or those whose work history spans multiple sectors.

Functional resume pros and cons

Of course, there are some advantages and disadvantages to choosing this resume format. To help you better understand the relative benefits and drawbacks of the functional resume option, we've listed some of the most important pros and cons below.

Functional resume pros

By emphasizing skills, this resume format can enable you to shift focus from a lack of professional experience

It can provide an effective way for inexperienced or non-traditional workers to highlight their potential value by focusing on transferable skills

They can be a good option for veterans transitioning to civilian employment, or those who do not want to appear over-qualified for a position

Functional resume cons

Employers may view this format with suspicion and wonder what you're hiding

Because it's typically used by people with little experience, it won't help you to land a position if the employer is seeking someone with a longer career trajectory

It can be confusing for employers who struggle to see which skills relate to which roles and therefore how much experience you have in using a particular skill 

Tips for writing a functional resume

Writing an effective functional resume can be challenging if you're not sure how to get the most out of this format. That's why we've compiled some of the best tips available to assist you in that process.

Make sure that your summary statement focuses intently on the core requirements for the job. Use no more than five sentences to describe your key skills, how you've used them, and the results you've obtained for your previous employers.

It's easy to get so focused on your core hard skills that you forget to emphasize vital soft skills. Remember that those intangible abilities may be just the thing that separates you from the competition.

For your work experience section, keep things relatively concise. Include the company name and dates of employment and your job title.

If you're a first-time job seeker, you may not have work experience to include in the resume. Instead, you can provide information about volunteer work, internships, or other relevant activities that can illustrate how you've used your skills to create value and solve problems.

Pay careful attention to any listed requirements in the job posting, since you'll want to use these key terms throughout your resume. This will help to ensure that employers can readily identify those qualifications when they scan through your resume.

Since your work history section will be brief, you may want to bolster your education section by including more than just your academic achievements. Add listings for any other formal training, online certifications, and continuing education that highlights your qualifications.

Combination resume format (hybrid)

The third option is known as the combination, or hybrid, resume. As the name suggests, it's literally a combination of the chronological and functional resumes, attempting to combine the best elements of each. Basically, it allows you to focus on your skills and work history in roughly equal measure. When executed correctly, this resume strategy can help to remove focus from any employment gaps, while effectively aligning your most notable skills with your work achievements.

To create this type of resume, you need to use a simple structure that employers can easily follow. Again, the information should be separated into compartmentalized sections. For example:

Skills summary

Educational section

Additional skills

There are a few things to note here. First, you can choose to omit a summary paragraph, depending on your resume space needs. We recommend using a summary wherever possible, however, since it can be a powerful way to capture the reader's attention and encourage them to continue scanning the document.

Second, the arrangement of your skills and work history sections will depend on which qualifications you need to emphasize. If the job requirements focus on skills, highlight yours by placing the skills section first. If work experience appears to be more important, place that section before your skills.

Third, take note of the fact that your skills are divided into two sections: a summary of key skills and a separate section that outlines other relevant abilities. Each of these sections is a little different in layout and purpose. The skills summary should provide several bullet point examples of achievements that highlight your use of key hard and soft skills . The second skill section should be a bullet point list of other key skills needed for the job.

Who should use a combination resume?

The combination resume can offer the best of both worlds for job seekers whose career trajectory may not align well with the traditional chronological format. For example, if you've had a career that has seen you move from one industry to another, your work experience may not perfectly align with the job you're currently seeking. By balancing focus on skills and experience, you can get around that obstacle.

As a result, the hybrid resume format can be a good option for people who are applying for managerial roles with no formal experience as a manager. It can also be useful for job seekers who are trying to transition from one industry to another. Its unique structure makes it easier to focus attention on your transferable skills, while illustrating how they apply to the job you're seeking.

Combination resume pros and cons

As with the other two resume formats, the combination option comes with its own pros and cons. Before you choose this format for your resume, consider the following potential benefits and drawbacks:

Combination resume pros:

This format highlights your most important skills and provides an easy way to tie them to your achievements

Like the chronological resume, the combination format allows you to focus on demonstrating the value you can provide as an employee

It's a great option for candidates with steady job experience, the desire to change their career trajectory, or significant gaps in employment history

Combination resume cons:

It's not really a good option for entry-level job seekers who lack experience

This format can only be effective if you can successfully align your experiences and achievements with your skills - if your skills and job history don't mesh, the resume will reflect that disharmony

This format can be excessively long, as it include both skills and career history in great detail

Tips for writing a combination resume

The combination resume format can be difficult to master, since you need to ensure that everything is organized in the most efficient manner possible. That's especially true if you have experience in different fields and need to somehow bring them together to create a coherent narrative. To help you with that process, we've gathered some important tips you can use as you try to create your combination resume.

Don't forget to divide your skills into two separate sections.

Focus on your most important and relevant skills in your summary section and include several bullet point examples of achievements to showcase how you've used those abilities in the past

As mentioned earlier, the second section will include a bullet point list of your other relevant skills. Those skills should include abilities that round out your qualifications. Refer to the job posting to find the terms that the company uses to describe those abilities.

Your work history should include quantifiable achievements that align with your cited skills. If possible, focus on highlighting achievements that feature the same type of skills you'll need for the job you're seeking.

Always write your summary paragraph last. That way, you can refer to the rest of your resume as you select two or three key skills and experiences to showcase. If you're trying to switch careers, use part of this paragraph to illustrate how your transferable skills contribute to your overall qualifications for the job.

So, which resume format is the best?

At this point, you might be wondering which of these options is the best resume format. If we judge according to popularity, the answer is probably the reverse-chronological resume format. That's because it's not only the most popular format for most job seekers, but is also preferred by employers. Its simple structure , easy-to-follow experience section, and clearly defined sections are hard to beat.

With that said, however, there are obviously instances in which one of the other two options are better suited to a job candidate's needs. As noted earlier, someone with very little job experience may be better served by a functional or combination resume. In general, though, we typically recommend that people who cannot use a reverse chronological resume instead rely on the combination option.

But how can you decide which one is the right choice for you? After all, if you choose the wrong format, you could put yourself at a disadvantage when competing for jobs. By answering the following questions, you can get a better handle on the best options for your resume format needs.

1.     Are you a recent graduate just entering the job market?

If you're just entering the workforce, the functional resume can be an option. If you focus on ensuring that your listed qualifications match the job's requirements, that format should serve you well. Still, given employers' skepticism of the functional format, you might want to at least consider the combination option.

Since the combination format enables you to emphasize both skills and experience, you may find that its approach offers more flexibility for showcasing your abilities. You may even want to create different versions of your resume - one using the functional format and the other adopting the hybrid approach - just to compare them and see which one will work best for your unique circumstances.

2.     Do you have employment gaps or are you trying to pursue a career change?

Sometimes, employment gaps can't be helped. And while most employers are open to discussions about why you went without a job for a significant period, it's often best to avoid dealing with that issue if you don't have to. Fortunately, the combination resume format provides a way to paper over any significant gaps in your work history.

That same format is also a great option when you're in the process of changing careers, since it allows you to redirect attention to how your skills and experiences qualify you for that new job role. Just make sure to include relevant transferable skills that align with the job's needs. Note also that you can use the reverse chronological option here if your prior employment experiences are relevant to the position.

3.     Is your work experience consistent and in one industry or field?

When you have several years of consistent experience in one industry, there's only one real choice to consider: the reverse-chronological resume format. For most job seekers, this format will provide everything they need to craft a resume that effectively highlights their key qualifications and value-added proposition.

How to format your resume layout

Even after you've selected the right format for your resume needs and plugged your information into the various sections you've outlined, you're still not done. Remember, you want to ensure that the resume you submit is as professional as possible so that employers can read it without any confusion or difficulty. Most employers only spend a few seconds glancing at each resume, so your document needs to pass that initial scan if you want them to take a closer look.

That's why it is vital to properly format that resume. Of course, we're talking about a different kind of formatting here - something that's quite apart from the resume format choice you had to make when you decided which resume option to use. This formatting involves all the little things you need to do to make sure that your resume is clear, readable, and easy to scan. The following tips can help with that process.

Choose a professional font

Don't be one of those job seekers who assumes that hiring managers will be drawn to resumes with interesting layouts, fonts , and graphics. Trust us - most will dismiss those resumes out of hand. The average hiring manager wants to see a clear, traditional layout that's easy to scan. If you're using non-traditional fonts or other creative approaches, they probably won't take you seriously.

So, which font to use? The good news is that there are some clear favorites that you can rely on when choosing your font. They include:

Each of these fonts is generally considered to be easy to read in both print and online presentations, so they're likely to appeal to the broadest possible audience. If you're struggling to select one, just pick either Arial or Calibri. You really can't go wrong with either one.

Select the right margins

For a well-balanced and brief resume, a one-inch margin on all sides of the document should enable you to make the most effective use of your resume space. However, feel free to reduce that margin to 0.75 inches if you find that you need more space, to avoid an excessively long resume. 

As you're creating your margins, make sure that your text alignment is considered as well. Your contact information and job headline can be centered on the page, but all your other information should be aligned to the left. That makes it easier for hiring managers to follow, since most people in the United States are accustomed to reading from left to right.

Pick your font size

You also want to ensure that your font size is correct. It needs to be big enough for most people to see it, but not so large that it seems unprofessional. We recommend a font size somewhere between 10 and 12 points. That range should provide you enough flexibility to adjust as your resume space needs require. For example, if you find that a 10-point font leaves too much empty space on the page, adjust to 11 or 12. If a 12-point font causes your page to run long, lower the font size accordingly.

Use bullet points

Remember that your resume is not an essay. It's a collection of relevant details designed to highlight skills, experiences, and achievements. The best way to do that is through the judicious use of bullet points. Lists of bullet point information can be used to showcase your skills and notable achievements.

Edit to make your document more concise

Sometimes, you may find that your resume runs longer than you expected. If it's just over one page and reducing the font doesn't shorten it enough, you may want to edit and refine the language to make it more concise. This could mean omitting irrelevant ideas, using shorter sentences, or eliminating unnecessary words.

Clearly identify your section headings

Your skill, experience, and education sections all need clear heading labels. To make these headings stand out from the rest of the resume, you could:

Increase their font size by two points (so, if the resume text uses a 10-point font, increase the heading font to 12-point)

Bold the entire heading so that it stands out from the other text

Underline section headings

It is also a good idea to use this same approach to your name at the top of the page, to ensure that employers can easily find it.

Get a second or third opinion

Once you've written and formatted your resume, there's one last thing you should do to ensure that it's easy for other people to read. That's right: ask other people to read it! Have a friend or someone else you trust review the entire document so that they can give you their opinion about its effectiveness. Make sure to tell them what you'd like to know, though. For example, ask them to critique the spelling, grammar, and formatting choices, as well as its overall appearance.

Choosing the best resume format can increase your odds of job search success

The resume format you choose can set the tone for your job search success. By selecting the right format for your situation and needs, you can ensure that your information is organized and structured in a way that reinforces your broader career narrative. By using the tips and recommendations in this post, you can create the compelling resume you need to land more interviews.

Want to ensure that your resume format aligns with your career needs? Get a free resume review from our team of experts today.

Recommended reading:

9 Soft Skills Employers Want in 2023

10 Best Places to Learn New Skills in 2022

Make the Perfect Resume For a Career Change

Related Articles:

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Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

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12 Best LinkedIn Headline Examples For Job Seekers

By Biron Clark

Published: November 13, 2023

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

Getting noticed (and getting interviews) on LinkedIn starts with your headline. It’s the FIRST thing people see after your name…When you comment on a post… When you appear in search results (and recruiters are searching LinkedIn CONSTANTLY)… Or when a hiring manager checks out your profile before interviewing you.

>> And a lot of hiring managers view your profile even if you didn’t apply via LinkedIn!

So you really need to make a good impression. In this article, we’ll look at examples of the best LinkedIn headlines for job seekers , and how to write your own.

What Is a LinkedIn Headline, and Why Is It Important?

A LinkedIn headline appears at the top of your LinkedIn profile. The headline can describe what you do or identify what stands out about your skill set. LinkedIn headlines have a limit of 220 characters, so typically, the headline consists of a short sentence or phrase.  LinkedIn headlines impact how potential employers perceive you. A headline showcasing your unique skills will positively impact employers and recruiters looking to attract fresh talent to their workplace.

You should include terms that are relevant to your profession. That way, employers looking for someone with your background will be more likely to find you. For example, if you’re a digital marketing professional, a headline like “SEO Guru with 15 Years of Experience Optimizing Websites” clearly outlines your unique expertise.

Reader Q’n’A

Submit an answer to see what other readers voted.

Have you ever received a job offer based on someone seeing your LinkedIn profile?

Watch: how to write a linkedin headline for job searching, how to write a linkedin headline for job searching.

The best LinkedIn headlines for your job hunt have a few things in common. They will:

1. Show your skills and expertise (what do you do?)

Highlight specific skills and expertise you can bring to a role that other job seekers may not have. For instance, if you’re a computer programmer with coding experience in a unique programming language, that might be something to include in your headline.

2. Include current or past job titles if those are relevant to the jobs you’re pursuing now

Add your current or past job title to help recruiters and hiring managers understand your experience. For instance, if you’re a tax accountant , including your title indicates that you have experience handling taxes for individuals or businesses. 

3. Communicate the value you bring to a new employer (why should they care?)

Use your headline to communicate the value you’ll bring to a new employer. For instance, if you’re an experienced sales director, you might indicate any revenue growth you helped achieve in your current role.

4. Include at least one keyword/phrase for the type of job you want, whether a job title or other keyword

If you’re looking for a specific type of role relevant to your prior experience, include a keyword relevant to the position. For instance, if you’re looking for a job in journalism, you might include a term relevant to news reporting.

5. (Optional) Demonstrate something unique to make your LinkedIn profile stand out – Maybe it’s a specific accomplishment. Or an award. Maybe it’s a passion or a hobby. You’ll see some of this in the LinkedIn headline examples coming up.

Finally, you might consider incorporating something into your headline that makes your profile stand out, like a certification you earned or a hobby that you’re passionate about.

The Best LinkedIn Headline for Entry-Level Job Seekers and Recent Grads

If you’re looking for a job as a fresh graduate with no industry experience, I recommend using this headline formula:

Recent ___ graduate with a focus in ___, ___ and ___

LinkedIn Headline Example for Fresh Graduates:

Recent Finance graduate with a focus in financial analysis, reporting, and auditing

However, if you’re a recent graduate who has any relevant work experience, even an internship or part-time work, I’d recommend highlighting that with any of the LinkedIn headline formulas that we looked at previously. That’s REAL experience that employers will care about and value. So you can use any headline we’ve previously looked at. FYI- if you just graduated and aren’t sure what career path to choose, I just wrote an article with the 3 best jobs for recent graduates .

LinkedIn Headline Examples for Job Seekers with Experience

Next, I’m going to share multiple strong headline examples for your LinkedIn profile if you have work experience. For each, I’ll share the basic formula/template and then examples of how it would look in real-world LinkedIn profiles. Finally, I’ll explain the strategy behind each headline and what type of job seeker it’s best for (fresh graduate, experienced candidate, career-changer, etc.)

1. Role | Specific Achievement

LinkedIn Headline Examples:

B2B Inside Sales Rep | $2.4MM generated in 2018 Digital Ads Manager | 5 Years Experience Managing 7-figure ad budgets

This is a great LinkedIn headline for job seekers who have past results they can quantify. …And don’t write this off just because you’re not in sales! There’s usually a way to quantify your work in ANY role if you take the time to think about it. For example… if you’re a writer , how many pieces of content did you create? If you’re in tech support, how many users did you help per week? Or how many requests did you solve? Nothing beats specific results/proof when it comes to convincing a new employer you’d succeed in their job, which is why this is one of the best LinkedIn headlines for job seekers.

2. Role | Years of Experience in Industry | Fun Fact to Stand Out

Headline Examples:

Human Resources Manager | 10+ Years of People Experience | Disneyland Annual Passholder Senior Manufacturing Engineer | 6+ Years in GMP Manufacturing | Cat fanatic

This LinkedIn headline formula is a great way to include multiple keywords for the type of job you’re targeting (so you can get found in LinkedIn searches), while showing some personality, too. This is one of the best LinkedIn headlines for job seekers with at least a couple of years of experience. Credit for this formula goes to Kyle Elliot of caffeinatedkyle.com

3. Role | Industry/Expertise | Unique Value You Bring

Director of HR at Oracle | Software Technology | Certified HR Trainer R&D Scientist at Pfizer | Oncology Research | Science Blogger

Credit for this formula goes to career expert Madeline Mann . This is similar to LinkedIn headline example #2, above, but with one key difference: The middle section is focused on your industry, rather than the number of years of experience. So this may be a better option for job seekers with less experience, but experience from the same industry that they’re applying for jobs in now.

4. Role | Helping ___ (type of company) do ___ (result)

Headline Example:

Social Media Manager | Helping software start-ups manage and grow their social media to drive more sales

Below is an even simpler formula following this same general idea. I recommend this headline variation for freelancers, consultants, and coaches on LinkedIn:

5. I help ___ (type of company) do ___ (desired result)

LinkedIn Headline Example for Freelancers:

I help coaches and consultants generate an additional $10,000-20,000 per month via video ads

Career Coach Sarah Johnston uses a variation of this headline herself on her LinkedIn profile.

I asked her if she had a formula and this is what she gave me…

6. What you do/how you meet someone’s pain point | Keyword 1 | Keyword 2 | Keyword 3

Example Headline:

I help manufacturers become more efficient through process engineering | GMP-Certified | Project Manager | CQE

The keywords should be what a recruiter or hiring manager would search for if they were looking for someone with your skills or background.  Sarah also added this tip: “I also use free online keyword analytic tools to pick the best keywords. For example, for a while I was saying “job search strategist”, but after doing a keyword search found that more people search for “career coach”. Since shifting my language, I’ve seen about a 30-40% increase in LinkedIn search appearances.”

That’s an important tip to follow no matter which of these LinkedIn headlines you end up using for your job search.

7. <Role/Job Title> specializing in ____, ____, and ____

Content Marketing Strategist specializing in press releases, blog content, and social media

This is a relatively simple formula that puts your job title or main keyword at the very front of your profile so it gets noticed immediately. This will get you more clicks from recruiters and hiring managers looking for the skill set you highlight (in the example above, Content Marketing). Then, there’s an opportunity to include more keywords and show what you’re BEST at throughout the rest of the headline. Now you’re more likely to get found and clicked in searches for those keywords.

8. X Years of Experience in ____ | Helping companies ____

5+ Years of experience in software product management | Helping tech companies grow and deliver outstanding mobile and web applications 8 years of experience in customer support for multiple Fortune-500 companies | Helping global brands deliver an outstanding customer experience

This is similar to headline example #2 from earlier, but leads with your years of experience and then follows up to explain exactly how you’re helping companies grow/succeed (which is important if you want them to see why they should hire you instead of someone else ). If you feel your amount of experience is one of your biggest strengths or unique selling points, then this is a good LinkedIn headline formula for you.

9. Area of Expertise #1 & Area of Expertise #2

Creative Advertising Expert & Digital Marketing Strategist Engineering Team Lead & Project Management Professional

Sometimes less is more when it comes to showing employers you’re the best candidate for the position. If you’ve been doing the exact type of work that an employer needs in your past roles, then this headline formula is simple and effective. All you’re doing is picking your top two skills or areas of work that are relevant to the next job you’re looking to land, and then stating those two areas in your LinkedIn headline with no distractions/clutter. If you’re looking for a short, simple headline for your job search, then this is one of the best options to consider.

Should You Say “Actively Seeking Opportunities” in Your LinkedIn Headline?

You may have noticed that NONE of the LinkedIn headline examples so far have said, “actively looking for opportunities.” Here’s why I don’t think it’s a good idea to put this as a job seeker on LinkedIn. First – this communicates absolutely nothing, other than the fact you’re out of work and need a job.

Second – the most in-demand, highly-skilled job candidates never put this. They have multiple opportunities, recruiters chasing them, etc. And so they conduct a quiet, undercover job search. I know you may not be flooded with interviews and job offers yet, but you still want to act like it. You want to position yourself as an in-demand job seeker! And shouting to the entire world that you’re actively seeking a job is the OPPOSITE of doing this.

>>> If you do insist on doing this, at least add some keywords and indicate the exact type of role you’re looking for. Here’s an example…

LinkedIn Headline Formulas 8 & 9: (If you insist on saying “Actively Seeking…”)

10. <role> seeking a ___ opportunity, 11. <role> looking for opportunities in ___ (specific area).

“Certified Public Accountant (CPA) seeking a management opportunity” “Financial analyst looking for opportunities in the private sector”

That way, your headline at least communicates something about your expertise and what type of job you’re a fit for in addition to saying, “Actively seeking opportunities.” You should never  just use your LinkedIn headline to say that you’re actively seeking opportunities.

How to Choose the Right Keywords For Your LinkedIn Headline

If you’re job hunting, you want to get found by recruiters. So try to brainstorm industry-specific keywords that can go into your LinkedIn headline, no matter what formula/example you’re using above. Avoid generic phrases like, “Experienced Leader” and think about hard skills and specific knowledge useful in the type of jobs you’re seeking. This can be technical terms or specific areas of work within your industry.

• Content Marketing
• GMP Manufacturing
• Audit Compliance
• Sales Prospecting
• Employee Onboarding
• Phone Customer Service
• HR Compensation and Benefits

This is important for every job seeker, but especially those who are changing careers or industries. Make sure you include keywords that employers are looking for in your NEXT ideal job.

One More Tip – Your LinkedIn Headline For Job Searching Doesn’t Need to Include Your Last Job Title

You may have noticed in a lot of the headline formulas/templates above, there’s a place to include your role or main area of work/expertise. However, there’s no rule that this needs to be your exact job title.

You can put the title of the jobs you’re targeting, for example. Or if you have an unusual title like, “Client Happiness Manager,” you can change it to something more common/recognizable. (Which will also put a more relevant keyword in your LinkedIn headline). So just keep this in mind as you use the templates above to write your own LinkedIn headline for job searching. Think more about what keywords/titles your future employer will want to see, rather than what your past employer decided to name your previous role.

What to Avoid in Your LinkedIn Headline

When crafting your LinkedIn headline, it’s crucial to steer clear of some common pitfalls to optimize your professional online presence.

Firstly , neglecting to use keywords relevant to your industry or job role can hinder your discoverability by recruiters and potential employers. By using industry-specific terms, job titles, or areas of expertise that align with your career goals, you enhance your chances of appearing in search results when people look for professionals with your skill set. Be thoughtful when selecting keywords, as they should be targeted and reflect the most important aspects of your professional identity.

Second , avoid using the default headline. LinkedIn provides default headlines on all profiles. Your headline won’t stand out against other profiles if you choose the default. You’ll have the same headline as hundreds or thousands of other people.

Carefully review your headline for spelling or grammatical errors. Mistakes in your headline will stick out like a sore thumb to people who view your profile. Review your profile carefully before finalizing it.

Finally , if you’re currently unemployed, don’t highlight that fact in your profile. It’s okay to put an end date on your last role, but you don’t need to include in your headline anything about your current lack of employment.

What To Do Next: Write Your Own LinkedIn Headline for Job Hunting

It’s time to put this info to use!

Go grab a piece of paper or open a blank document on your computer, and try to plug your information into some of the LinkedIn headline examples above to see which ones you like. Come up with three to five headlines that sound good to you and then come back a day later and see which one stands out (stepping away for a day after writing something is a good way to come back with a clear perspective!)

Then go update your LinkedIn profile !

If you follow the LinkedIn headline tips above, you’ll have a headline that gets noticed in your job search and gets you more interviews.  And if you want help updating the rest of your LinkedIn, here’s everything I recommend putting on your LinkedIn profile as a job seeker .

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

2 thoughts on “12 Best LinkedIn Headline Examples For Job Seekers”

I’ve always felt that the “Actively Seeking” headlines were a red flag. Now LinkedIn has introduced an “Open to work” frame for profile photos, and there are many advocates for its use. What are your thoughts about it?

Great question, David. I see a lot of job seekers using it. I think LinkedIn “open to work” is worth testing maybe, but I don’t blindly recommend it to everyone. I think having that green circle sort of turns you into a commodity. I see so many job seekers with it, that they all just blend together in my mind (I’m sure that sounds awful but it’s the truth).

And recruiters aren’t typically looking for active job seekers necessarily. They’re looking for people with the right skills and experience for the jobs they’re trying to fill.

Whether you’re looking for a job or not is one of their last concerns, believe it or not. Recruiters don’t help people find jobs. They help companies find people. It’s fundamentally different.

So I’d test it. Maybe it works great in your industry. But I don’t think it’s something that every job seeker should use, and I probably wouldn’t be using it myself if I were job hunting right now.

Comments are closed.

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• Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for.
• Match your resume keywords to skills found in the job description.
• Use long-form and acronym versions of keywords.
• Use Chronological or Hybrid resume format.
• Don’t use tables, columns, or graphics.
• Use a screen-friendly, traditional font.
• Don’t use headers or footers.
• Use standard resume section headings.
• Save Your File as a .docx if possible
• Hard skills
• Education level (only when an advanced degree is included in the job description)
• Soft skills
• Other keywords

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How to Write a Resume: The Only Resume Guide You’ll Need in 2024

• Kaja Jurcisinova , 
• Updated January 16, 2024 16 min read

Your resume is arguably the most important document you'll create during a job search. So taking the time to learn how to write a resume properly can make a job hunt much quicker and easier.  

What would otherwise take you hours of hard work and research can be done in a few minutes. All you have to do is follow our simple step-by-step guide on how to write the perfect resume. 

In the end, a good resume gives you a chance to make a great first impression and ultimately decide if you'll be invited for an interview. 

What makes a great resume?

• Clear division of resume sections
• Prioritizing relevant information
• Tailored for a specific position
• Typo-free and well-written
• Usage of bullet points

There's more to it, though.

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What is a resume?

Before you start writing your resume, how to write a resume, step 1: choose the right resume format, step 2: add contact information and personal details, step 3: begin with your professional summary, step 4: list relevant work experience, step 5: summarize your education , step 6: highlight your soft and hard skills , step 7: add optional resume sections.

• Step 8: Wrap it up with a cover letter 

Final tips before you click “Send”

Let's cover the basics first. Before we learn how to write a good resume, we should know what a resume even is. 

The word resume comes from French, meaning “summary” . This is the perfect word because that’s exactly what a resume is: a short, straight-to-the-point summary that details your professional achievements, skills, qualifications, education, work experience, and past employers. It's also known as a curriculum vitae (CV) .

The aim of a resume is to get invited to a job interview . It should aim to convince an employer that you're a good fit for the job. 

Because of that, your resume should be adjusted and tailored to each job vacancy.

TL;DR Here's a step-by-step video guide on how to write a professional resume in 2024

If you’re already familiar with what should be on your resume and just want a quick and informative recap, or if your time is limited, just check out our 5-minute step-by-step video guide .

Before we move on to how to write a resume, we recommend setting a few minutes aside for research. These few minutes can save you hours of frustration and ultimately make your job search that much easier.

Here’s what we recommend to research before you write your resume: 

• Research the company, specifically the “About Us” page. This is a great place to search for keywords you can use in your resume or cover letter. What are their mission statement and their values?
• Research the position you’ll be applying for. Great resumes are tailored to a specific job opening. You can do this by asking these three questions as you go through the job post: “ What are the essential keywords? What adjectives, nouns, and phrases occur repeatedly? What language does the company use?”
• Discover your strong points , as this will make it easier to pinpoint the qualities you want to highlight in your resume. Ask people around you: “What are my skills and abilities, and what are my weaknesses?” Also, look at your past accomplishments. What were the skills and abilities that helped you succeed in the past?

Another way of preparing for writing your resume is by looking at these well-researched, specifically tailored, and properly formatted resume examples in our database. You can even filter them by your job title.

Not enough time?

Let your resume write itself. All you’ll have left to do is edit the draft.

We'll walk you through nine essential steps to help you create a standout resume.

Different resume formats cater to different types of job seekers, depending on the experience level and career goals. The  three most commonly used  resume formats are chronological, functional, and combination (hybrid).

Your resume should include your contact/personal information right at the top, in a so-called resume header. A resume header is  more than just your name and contact details . Depending on your career path, there's a lot more that can (and should) be included in this section. To find out what to include, what to skip, and how to format it keep on reading.

A professional summary (also called resume profile or resume summary) is a short paragraph that summarizes your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. Think of it as a teaser for the rest of your resume.

This is the most important section of your resume. You need to include key information like : names of companies, locations, job titles, positions held, dates of employment, responsibilities you've had. Then: - list the jobs in reverse-chronological order - write in bullet points - include your quantifiable achievements - avoid buzzwords - use action verbs and keywords from the job description

The education summary section, though important, varies in significance based on your career stage . As an experienced professional, prioritize work history and skills, placing education after. Keep it concise, including university, degree, and graduation year.

Skills fall into two categories: hard and soft. 1. Hard skills are teachable and measurable, acquired through training, and include computer proficiency, language abilities, project management, etc. 2. Soft skills , linked to personality traits, can enhance both work and personal life, encompassing communication, leadership, and time management, among others.

These can include: achievements and awards, certifications and licences, language skills, publications, references, hobbies, social media, volunteering, or custom sections.

A good cover letter should answer the following questions: 1. Who are you?  2. Why are you interested in working for their company? 3. Why are you the best fit for the job opening? 4. How can you enrich their company?

In the following chapters, we look at each step in more detail and give you helpful tips and examples.

Once you know what the company and job require and you’ve identified your strengths and weaknesses, you should be ready to pick the right resume format.  

Make this choice depending on the stage of your career: 

• Are you a seasoned professional ? Then you should pick a resume format that emphasizes your experience.
• Are you a fresh graduate? Then your resume should highlight any transferable skills you’ve acquired during your studies.
• Are you changing careers? Then a combination of the two will produce the best results.

Pick the best option for your career from the three dominant resume formats that are in use today:

• Chronological resume format. Probably the best choice for experienced professionals. Lists the candidate’s jobs and accomplishments in chronological order. Main resume section : Work Experience.
• Functional resume format. Great for fresh graduates, IT professionals, or other skill-based professions. Emphasizes skills instead of experience. Main resume section: Skills.
• Combined resume format . A combination of the previous two.

Let's take a look at what these resume formats look like in practice:

Chronological resume format

Functional resume format, combined resume format.

The resume format you choose will determine how you organize the information on your resume. It will also attract attention to some things and away from others. 

Take time to understand your strengths and weaknesses and choose accordingly.

You want the recruiter to read the strongest and most relevant parts of your resume at the start. For more, check out a guide on how to choose the right resume format .

Your contact/personal information should always be at the top of your resume in a so-called resume header .

Compared to the other resume sections, filling in the contact information section may seem super easy. That's until you start asking more questions.

Should you put your address on the resume? How to include social media , and should you? And what about the date of birth? 

Well, let’s see: 

• Name. Absolutely necessary. Put your first name first and surname last. Middle name is optional.
• Title. Optional. If you’re applying for a position in a traditional or specialized field, it's good to add your Ph.D., MBA, or other titles to it.
• Email address. Absolutely necessary, even when you’re sending your application by email. Your email address should look professional (e.g. [email protected] , NOT [email protected] ). Always use your personal email address, not the email address with the domain of your current employer. 
• Home address. Somewhat problematic. Your neighborhood can say a lot about you in some cases, disclosing living in a certain area can lead to discrimination. On the other hand, if you’re located in the same city as the company, it may help you to get the job, as it saves the company that they'd have to spend on a relocation package (of course, only if the job isn't remote).
• Phone number. Necessary. Many employers will call you by phone to arrange an interview, instead of doing it by email.
• LinkedIn. Recommended. And if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet, consider creating one. Make sure your profile is complete and up-to-date.
• Social media. Optional. Include it only if it’s related to your job. GitHub, Behance, and even your Facebook or Instagram profile will do (if you regularly post content that has to do with your profession). Here are a few tips on how to include your social media . 
• Blog/website. Optional. Similar to social media. If you have a blog , website, or digital portfolio related to your chosen profession, don’t be afraid to show it off.
• Photo. Problematic. It depends on the country. In most English-speaking countries, they don’t add a photo. See this guide to know if you should put a picture on your resume .

Your professional summary should be a list of about 4-5 bullet points or a short paragraph that summarizes your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements.

You can think of it as a teaser for the rest of your resume. Make sure it’s interesting enough to hook the hiring manager right in.

But how do you write a good professional summary?

• Write your professional summary last. It’s surprisingly easy to do if you’ve already finished other sections of your resume.
• The first bullet point should describe your professional title. Don’t forget to add the number of years of experience. Write it in bold if the number is especially impressive.
• Pick the most impressive parts of your resume and rewrite them into snappy bullet points. Tease your potential employer into reading further.
• Pack your professional summary with relevant keywords. Think of ATS. This will help you get through automated pre-screenings.
• Quantify every achievement if possible. This will make you look even more professional. 
• Tie every bullet point to the requirements introduced in the job offer.

If you do everything right, you should end up with something like this:

The work experience section is what most people picture when they think “resume” .

The trick is to focus on your past achievements , not your responsibilities. 

Hiring managers are likely to know what your responsibilities were supposed to be. In most cases, your job title says it all.

If you want to stand out, you should tell them how you excelled in your previous job instead. 

And there’s hardly a more effective way to do that than by mentioning your achievements.

But how do you list your work experience on a resume?

• Put your work experience section in the right spot. If you can boast a lot of professional experience, put your work experience section right under your resume summary. If you don’t have enough experience yet, put it just below your education section. Finally, if you prefer to highlight your skills instead of experience, put your skills section first.
• Give it a proper heading. Keep it simple and stick to “Work Experience” or “Employment History” as other headings might not be understood by applicant tracking systems (ATS) .
• List your jobs in reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent experience and work your way back from there. Based on your level of experience, decide how far back should your resume go .
• Don’t include the job description. Instead of listing what you were supposed to do, try to tell your potential employers what positive results you had.
• Write in past tense. This will help you focus on your past achievements instead of responsibilities. It also sounds better.
• Show your problem-solving skills. In the end, hiring managers want to know how effective you’re going to be in solving real problems. There’s no better way to show your problem-solving ability than to briefly describe how you solved difficult problems in the past. Follow the PAR scheme: What was the (P)roblem? What (A)ction did you take? What was the (R)esult?
• Quantify results. Hiring managers love measurable results. Because of that, a single number often speaks more than a thousand words. Don’t say that you “increased the company’s revenue significantly.” Instead, don’t be afraid to brag about “increasing the company’s revenue by 20%.”
• Use bullet points. Bullet points help you structure each subsection. Try to limit yourself to about 5 bullets per job.
• Avoid buzzwords. People used some phrases in their resumes so much, these words have become meaningless. Everybody seems to be an out-of-the-box creative thinker with a knack for innovation nowadays. But in reality, only very few people really are those things. See what other 10 buzzwords you should stop using on your resume
• Use action verbs . Unlike buzzwords, action verbs carry the weight you need to persuade an employer to hire you. Just to mention a few, these are words like “developed” , “increased” , “facilitated” and others. For more action verbs, check out our resume cheat sheet .
• Keywords. Reread the job description and carefully pick the most important keywords. These are the words that best describe the position you’re applying for, and that will attract the attention of the ATS system. 

In the end, your work experience section should look a bit like this:

The education summary section is where you list your degrees and relevant academic accomplishments.

Based on your degree and where you're in your career, it can be either the least or the most important part of your resume.

Are you an experienced professional?

Once you become more experienced, the education section takes a back seat to your work history and hard skills.

In other words, your education section should come after your work experience section, not the other way around. It also shouldn't be too long. For instance, your grades are no longer relevant.  

It’s enough if you include the name of your university, the name of your degree, and the year you graduated.

Here’s an example:

Are you a fresh graduate?

Then your degree is still one of the strongest cards you have to play.

In practical terms, it means that you should place your education section at the top of your resume — right between your professional summary and work experience section.

It should also be a bit longer. 

These are the things you should add to your education section if you’re a student or a fresh graduate:

• Academic awards. AP scholar, Duke of Edinburgh award, National Merit Award, President’s Award, school subject-based awards, dean’s list, etc.
• Scholarships. Athletic scholarships, scholarships for women, creative scholarships, etc.
• Academic conferences and symposia. Don’t forget to mention the scope and name of the paper you presented at a conference.
• Relevant student societies. Debating or programming clubs. If you were on a student committee of any kind, mention that too.
• GPA. Only include your GPA if it was higher than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If your overall GPA was lower, mention your overall GPA. Alternatively, mention your summa cum laude or magna cum laude .
• Academic publications. Producing an academic work worth publishing is impressive no matter the context.

In the end, your education section can look like this:

Before you start writing, you should know there are two types of skills : hard skills and soft skills.

1. Hard skills can be learned, taught, and most importantly — measured. Acquiring them requires deliberate effort, training, and time.

Hard skills can be, for instance: computer skills, language skills, manual skills, mathematics, project management, etc.

2. Soft skills are tied to your personality traits. These skills can come as part of your upbringing, or you can acquire some later in life through self-improvement. These skills can bring value to any job, as well as your private life.

Examples of soft skills include: communication, leadership, time management , creativity, decision-making, etc.

But how to make your skills stand out?

• Focus on what’s most relevant. Do you have any of the skills mentioned in the advertisement for your desired job? Good. Make sure to include them in your resume’s skills section.
• Organize your skills into subcategories. Divide your skills section into several subsections like computer skills, soft skills, languages, and others.
• Don’t underestimate soft skills. 67 percent of HR managers said they’d hire a candidate with strong soft skills even if their technical abilities were lacking. On the contrary, only 9 percent would hire someone with strong technical credentials but weak soft skills.
• There are skills you shouldn’t include. Never include any skills you don’t have, skills that have nothing to do with the job, skills everybody should have, or skills that have become obsolete.

Apart from the standard resume sections we just mentioned above, are also optional sections. 

A good rule of thumb is to add an optional section only if it's relevant to the job you're applying for. If done properly, these sections can help you:

• Fill the gap when lacking experience
• Highlight additional skills and expertise 
• Let an employer know more about who you are

Pro tip: Optional resume sections can be especially important to companies that prioritize hiring candidates who fit their workplace culture. 

Here are some of the most common optional sections: 

Technical skills

This section can be a nice addition when applying for (surprise!) technical jobs. 

Some examples of technical skills are: programming languages, software proficiency, project management, and data analysis.

Technical skills are usually measurable, so if you decide to include them in your resume, use a graph or a scale to illustrate how strong they are. Adding visual elements to your resume not only looks nice but also shows your ability to be precise and analytical.

Achievements and awards

Scholarships, competitions, work-related awards, or even promotions to leadership positions in your job — all of these can be considered important professional achievements. 

Either distribute them across other parts of your resume or put them in a dedicated section. The latter allows you to truly highlighted them. 

And if you choose to include them in a separate resume section, don't forget to mention the dates and the name of the company/institution at which you've accomplished the achievement. 

Professional references

In today's competitive job market, strong professional references can be a game-changer. Consider including a ' Professional References ' section in your resume to provide potential employers with easy access to these valuable resources.

How to format references on resume? Here's what you should list for each reference:

• Their full name
• Their current job title and organization
• Their contact details (email and phone number will do)
• Your relationship with them (e.g., Former Supervisor)

Ensure you have their permission and inform them when actively job searching.

Once you decide who you want your references to be, it's time to ask them if they agree. Here's how to ask someone to be a reference via email .

Certifications and licenses

Listing the certificates and courses that you've successfully completed on your resume is never a mistake.

However, keep in mind that they should be related to the role that you're applying for. 

If you'd like to add a certificate to your CV but you're unsure about where to find the best course for you, check out this carefully curated list of the best online courses that will help you to get a job. 

Publications

In this section, you can mention all the relevant conferences, presentations, and written publications. 

This section is most useful if you're working in academia, marketing, or journalism. 

However, include it in your resume also if you're applying for a position that requires you to be an expert on the topic that you've written about.

Volunteering

This section lists your volunteer work . It should be treated similarly to a work experience section. The reason is that whether your work was paid or not, it still translates to real-life experience. 

This is true especially if you find yourself at the beginning of your career. In that case, feel free to place the volunteering section towards the start of your resume. 

On the other hand, if you're a seasoned professional, locate this section more toward the end of your document. 

This is the part of your resume that's the most personal. Here, let a little loose and let your personality shine through. List you hobbies and interests, even the quirky or unique ones.

Hobbies serve as a great way for a hiring manager to see you more as a person and less as just a name written on a paper. They can also break the ice during the interview stage.

Christy's word of advice

Really, it sounds so simple, but one of the best ways to stand out with your resume is to apply for jobs you’re a close fit for. So many people apply ‘just in case they’ll consider me if even I only meet some of the requirements’, then feel deflated when they’re rejected. The company has spent time figuring out exactly what they need and are paying their staff or a recruiter to find that. Look closely at the minimum/essential requirements, apply for jobs you’re a great fit for, and you’ll have much better luck!

Christy Morgan, Resident HR Expert

Step 8: Wrap it up with a cover letter  

Phew! Almost done with how to write a resume. Just a little bit of editing and proofreading, picking the right resume template , and you should be able to click send, right? 

Well, not quite. At least we wouldn’t recommend you sending it —  yet. 

The truth is that resumes are often put aside when not accompanied by a cover letter. It would be a shame if this happened to you, especially after all the time you’ve spent creating it. 

A good cover letter is a way to stand apart from the competition. It’s where you can show your hiring manager you mean business. 

And, if you're fresh out of college or changing career this step-by-step guide on  how to write a cover letter with no experience  will show you what to focus on instead. 

Here are 4 questions to guide you while writing your cover letter: 

• Who are you (professionally)? 
• Why are you interested in working for their company?
• Why are you the best fit for the job opening?
• How can you enrich their company?

When all it’s said and done, your cover letter should look something like this:

Cover letter example

This cover letter sample was provided by a real person who got hired with Kickresume’s help.

Want more inspo? Browse another 1,250+ cover letter examples by your profession.

And if you really want a memorable cover letter, we’ve got you covered. In fact, we’re certain it will be the only cover letter guide you’ll ever need . 

• The older the job, the fewer the details. In other words, don’t have 13 bullet points on a job from 5 years ago.
• Use off-peak hours for maximum attention , especially if you’re reaching out to an employer directly. Hiring managers are busy people and you want them to receive your resume when they have enough time to carefully read through it.
• Check your resume for typos. If English isn't your first language, employers might be inclined to overlook any grammatical mistakes that you make in your resume. Typos, on the other hand, are unforgivable. Your computer’s spell-check feature can help you fix that.
• Customize your resume for each job application. Every employer is different. And any hiring manager can tell if you’ve just sent them the same generic resume as to everyone else. So make sure you tailor your resume to each individual employer to increase your chances of getting hired.
• Get the introductory email right. It doesn’t matter that you have the best resume ever if nobody gets to read it. Attach it to an email that catches the employer’s attention from the get-go. Pay particular attention to the subject line that will make them read the full email, including the attachments.

FAQ: How to write a resume

One to two pages is the ideal. If you're at the junior stage of your career, one page is more than enough. Similarly, make sure that your resume isn't longer than three pages (and this may be stretching it already), even if you're a CEO.

Generally speaking, content is superior to form when it comes to resumes. However, a nice design is the first thing that catches the recruiter's attention — and that's precisely what you want. Moreover, if you're looking for a job in marketing, art, or design, the design of your resume naturally becomes your selling point, too.

Typos, being too general and not specific enough, not including relevant information, not using action verbs, and writing about duties instead of accomplishments.

The best format for sending a resume is PDF, as it keeps the visuals of the resume unchanged once the document is opened by the recruiter.

1.  Include standard resume sections.  Contact information, resume summary, work experience, education, skills. 2.  Include optional resume sections.  Awards, references, certifications, publications, projects, etc. 3.  Choose a resume format.  The three standard are: chronological, functional, combination.  4.  Use bullet points.  Use bullet points to make your resume easier to scan and highlight important information quickly.  6.  Think about the  margins .  Strike a good balance between not leaving too much white space and making your resume seem cluttered.  7.  Keep it to  one-two pages .  Unless you have extensive work experience, you should generally aim to keep your resume to one page.  8.  Consistency is key.  In all aspects of your resume, including the spacing, font, margins, etc. 9.  Use a professional resume   template  or layout which helps to structure the information effectively and makes it easy to read. 

Good job, you made it! If you still need more information on how to write a resume. You can go further in-depth in our section-by-section resume guide .

This article was recently updated. The original article was written by Noel Rojo in 2019.

Kaja Jurcisinova is a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

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The résumé hack to use to get recruiters' attention

• The F-method helps recruiters identify key info by structuring résumés for how they read them. 
• This approach can help job seekers because recruiters might spend only seconds looking at a résumé.
• Highlighting key skills and accomplishments up top can help hiring managers and scanning software.

Sometimes, an F can be a good thing .

Take the so-called F-method. It's a way of organizing your résumé so that a recruiter can read the most important parts across the top — like the upper portion of the letter F.

The next most essential info goes farther down with keywords or points sticking out like the arm on an F.

The idea behind the framework is to help someone looking over your résumé get to the good stuff right away. That's because recruiters might spend only seconds scanning your work history and other accomplishments, and you need to make sure you really stand out, really quickly.

"The skills section on my résumé is in that 'F.' It's in that direct line of sight," Lee Woodrow, owner and principal consultant at Bigger Fish Executive Branding , told Business Insider.

Highlighting the top information right away is all the more important in an environment where it's getting harder to get desk jobs — and where the ease of applying means recruiters are often overrun with applications.

'Buzzword bingo'

Woodrow, who's been writing résumés for others for many years, said the top of a CV built around the F-method should include essential information about the value you bring: details like who you are professionally, what area your expertise is in, and which industries you've worked in.

"It's an elevator pitch," he said. That information belongs at the top near your name, he said, so that it gets seen. "That entices the reader to read on."

It's also important, Woodrow said, to have the right words and phrases up high where a busy recruiter can see them.

"It's like buzzword bingo," he said.

This is often important when recruiters are trying to fill technical roles. They might not have a lot of background in the particulars of a job, so they might be on the hunt for phrases or words that a hiring manager has flagged.

Related stories

Setting your résumé up with the F-method can mean a break from traditional formats, such as listing your work experience in reverse chronological order, which may surprise some.

But Woodrow said floating the most important ideas to the top makes sense if, for example, your most relevant experience for a job isn't tied to your latest role. Or, in other cases, he said, a job posting might call for someone with a master's degree or a Ph.D.

"Why would you put it lower down on page two or three? You'd want it on page one somewhere — highlighting it in that area which is in the 'F,'" Woodrow said.

In any case, he said, it's important to keep the most relevant information on the first page of a résumé.

Have a few goals in mind

Woodrow said one goal for your résumé should be ensuring it can be easily read by the applicant-tracking software companies often use to sift through job applications. Another aim should be having clear section titles so the document is a breeze for a recruiter to navigate. Highlight things like relevant job experience for a role you're going for, he said.

Last, Woodrow said, a résumé needs to influence a decision-maker by giving proof of your accomplishments. He recommends including three brief examples on the first page about how you solved a problem. To do this, describe a situation, give context, and use metrics from the business, if possible, to demonstrate how you improved a situation.

It's an abbreviated version of the STAR technique , sometimes used in interviewing, and involves describing a situation or task, actions, and results.

Kyle Samuels, founder and CEO of the executive search firm Creative Talent Endeavors , told BI that using the F-method to lay out a résumé can make sense for technical roles where a recruiter needs to know you have a certain amount of experience with, say, a particular programming language or modeling.

But in other cases, where a job might be more senior, artificial intelligence tools that do a first pass on a stack of résumés might make the F idea somewhat moot because AI bots can scoop up huge volumes of information.

"It kind of feels like a poor man's AI," Samuels said, referring to the F-method.

He said that with a role like a VP of marketing, you might have several candidates who would be a great fit.

"We're not expecting to see the exact same formatting or skills or experience, and so we really pore through the résumé," Samuels said.

That's why, especially when recruiting for more senior roles, there's little substitute for reading a résumé thoroughly, he said.

"I study it like the Torah," Samuels said.

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• Main content

• International

Hunter Biden's gun trial

Israel-Hamas war

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Attorney General Garland testifies at House Judiciary Committee

By Devan Cole, Hannah Rabinowitz and Annie Grayer

House Judiciary Committee hearing concludes

The House Judiciary Committee has concluded its Justice Department oversight hearing following hours of testimony from Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Members from both sides of the aisle quizzed Garland on a range of topics for about five hours on Tuesday, with GOP lawmakers occasionally engaging in testy exchanges with him over former President Donald Trump’s criminal cases and other DOJ matters.

Democrats spent much of their time heaping praise on the department and defending its actions amid attacks on the DOJ from their Republican colleagues.

The hearing has resumed

The committee hearing has started back up again after members took a short break.

The committee is taking a short break

The hearing has paused as committee members take a brief break. It is expected to resume shortly.

Garland: There's been "a terrible explosion" of anti-Semitic and anti-Arab threats in recent months

Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Tuesday that there has been a “terrible explosion” of anti-Semitic, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim threats since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.

“Since October 7, there has been a terrible explosion of anti-Semitic threats. Also anti-Arab, anti-Muslim threats in this country that make all of these communities afraid,” he told lawmakers. “And we regard it as an important element of our civil rights work to deter and to investigate and to prosecute and to stop these threats.”

Earlier Tuesday, Garland said he’s “worried” about a possible terrorist attack following the events of October 7, saying the threat level for US law enforcement “has gone up enormously.”

Garland says he has never spoken to Hunter Biden

Attorney General Merrick Garland said he has never spoken to Hunter Biden, as a Republican lawmaker grilled him over the Department of Justice’s handling of the criminal investigation into the president’s son.

When GOP Rep. Ben Cline asked Garland if he spoke with the president’s son when they were both in attendance at a state dinner at the White House in May, Garland said, “I have never spoken to Hunter Biden in my life as far as I know.”

Garland also denied various accusations that Cline brought forward about DOJ’s handling of the case into the president’s son and maintained that he cannot discuss ongoing legal cases.

When asked if he attempted to obstruct the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, Garland said, “absolutely not.”

Cline presented various claims brought forward by IRS whistleblowers who have alleged DOJ deviated from standard investigative procedure on the case, to which Garland said he did not know anything about those individuals and affirmed that special counsel David Weiss will be able to testify about the specifics.

On the accusation that his decision to appoint Weiss to be special counsel was connected to certain statue of limitations in the criminal case lapsing, Garland said, “there is no connection between whatever happened with the statute of limitations, which I don’t know about, and the appointment of Mr. Weiss.”

Garland continues testimony as hearing resumes

Attorney General Merrick Garland is answering more questions from lawmakers as the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee's resumes following a break.

The hearing is on a short break

The hearing is paused as members take a brief break. It is expected to resume shortly.

What the DOJ has said about keeping the audio tape of Biden's interview in classified documents probe secret

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

Attorney General Merrick at least once in today's hearing has pointed to the Justice Department's statements in court to keep the audio tape of President Joe Biden's interview in his classified documents investigation secret.

CNN is suing for access, through the federal Freedom of Information Act, and a federal judge in Washington, DC, is looking at whether the DOJ is appropriately withholding the audio tape from public access. The case isn't resolved, and it's always possible the courts could order the tape's release before Congress might obtain it.

In court, the DOJ reasons echo why Garland says Congress shouldn't have the tape either: because it could harm future investigations by chilling other witnesses who may be willing to testify.

But in court, DOJ also says there are privacy interests at play. The audio wouldn't give enough more information about the investigation, on top of a transcript of Biden's interview that's already public, to justify its release, the Department said in court.

"The President’s status as a public figure does not eliminate these significant privacy interests," DOJ lawyers wrote on Friday.

The Justice Department also argued in court "the threat of malicious manipulation of audio files" also factors into their reasoning to keep the audio tape private.

Democrat highlights Trump allies prosecuted by his own DOJ as Republicans allege politicization

As House Republicans repeatedly accuse the Justice Department of improperly targeting allies of the former president, Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu listed off people around Trump who were prosecuted under the previous Republican administration.

Those individuals included Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, former lawyer Michael Cohen, former advisor Roger Stone, fundraiser Elliott Broidy -- all of whom were prosecuted under attorneys general nominated by Trump himself.

“It is not the fault of the department of justice that Donald Trump has surrounded himself with criminals,” Lieu said. “Trump brought that upon himself.”

Lieu also noted that President Biden's son Hunter is being prosecuted “in federal court right now” by Garland’s Justice Department.

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