How To Write A Resume Title (Plus Headline Examples)

A resume title may be what your resume needs to stand out from the crowd. Including an attention-grabbing snippet that highlights what you bring to the table can help overwhelmed hiring managers notice and remember your resume, which only improves your chances of getting hired.

If you’re a job seeker looking for ways to make your application stand out, keep reading: We’ll go over why a resume title is important, how to write a snappy resume title, and examples of resume titles.

Key Takeaways:

• A resume title is a concise statement that declares your top skills and qualifications.

• Resume titles help readers immediately know what you have to offer.

• Place your most valuable skills related to the job position in the resume title.

• Resume titles are different than resume profiles, which are sections that give a breakdown of your skills.

What is a resume title?

A resume title (also called a resume headline) is one or two sentences that serve as an introduction of your resume and, by extension, who you are as a candidate.

This is different from your job title — a job title is the name of the role you are currently in or are targeting.

A resume title is also different from your resume summary statement. While both are located at the top of your resume, the headline is an eye-catching line that sums up your experience, while a summary statement is a paragraph that provides specific details of your skillset.

Why resume titles are important

Resume titles are important because they quickly communicate your qualifications, help you pass ATSs, and make you more memorable to hiring managers.

1. Resume titles quickly communicate your qualifications. As one of the first pieces of information a recruiter sees, a title immediately describes why you are an ideal fit for the position.

   This encourages the hiring manager to take a second look at your resume, since they can see that you meet the initial qualifications. This is especially important if you have with limited experience, as you can use the headline to showcase your top skills or accomplishments related to the desired job.

2. Resume titles help you pass applicant tracking systems (ATS). With the right keywords, your headline can increase the likelihood of your resume passing through applicant tracking systems that do automatic parsing.

   These programs sort resumes based on keywords found throughout the job description, so including some of these at the top of your resume boosts your chances of making it through to a human reader.

3. Resume titles help make you more memorable to hiring managers. A resume headline clearly conveys your biggest strengths and most relevant experience, which will stick in the hiring manager’s mind better than if they had to dig through your whole resume to find them.

   In addition, if you have years of work history, the headline creates focus and quickly tells hiring managers why you are ideal for this role.

How to write a title for a resume

To write a resume title, research the position you’re applying for, then identify your top relevant qualifications. Once you have those, craft them into a short snippet.

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

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

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

2. Identify your relevant top selling points. Once you understand what the job is looking for, identify which two or three skills, accomplishments, or experiences are the perfect match for the role’s requirements.

   For example, if the job description prioritizes a specific certification that you have, mention that in your resume title. If it mentions the word “experienced,” over and over, include your eight years of experience.

3. Write and rewrite. Set a timer for two minutes and brainstorm as many resume titles as you can in that time. Then go back and rework your favorites until you have the perfect one.

   If you need help starting, ask yourself how you would describe your professional self to a hiring manager in two sentences, then slowly cut that down to one phrase.

4. Put it at the top of your resume. Your headline will go right below your name and basic contact details, before diving into the bulk of your resume. This makes it easy for hiring managers to find both the first time they read your resumeand when they’re trying to remember who you are later.

6. Use title case. Your resume title is just that — a title. So, capitalize the first and last words, as well as all nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Words over four letters long should also be capitalized, no matter what part of speech they are.

   Writing your resume title in bold will also help it stand out.

7. Check it for keywords and cliches. Make sure you’re using verbiage similar to the job description, and leave out overused phrases like, “Highly skilled” that don’t mean anything. The hiring manager can read your resume to decide if you’re highly skilled or not — use your resume title to show them what your skills are.

Example resume titles

Here are a few resume headline examples for you to look at as you write your own resume title. Remember that these are just meant to help guide you, as you will want your resume title to be 100% original.

1. Experienced resume title examples

   • Innovative Software Developer with 3+ Years Experience in Java

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

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

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

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

   • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineer with 8 Years Experience in Private Sector Jet Engines

   • Social Media Manager Who Improved Engagement by 25% in 6 Months

2. Entry-level and career-change resume title examples

   • Proactive Professional Open to New Managerial Opportunities

   • Customer Service Agent Skilled in Data-Entry and Transcription

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

   • Bilingual Graduate with 95 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

   • Analytical Professional with Advanced Proficiency in Excel

   • Hard-Working Licensed RN and Outstanding Nursing Student Award Recipient

   • Licensed Teacher with 20 Years Laboratory Research Experience

3. Additional resume title examples

   • Seasoned Retail Associate with Key Holder and Training Experience

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

   • Regional Manager who Increased Territory Revenues by 58%

   • Personable Daycare Provider with Accreditation and Special Education Experience

   Veteran Marketing Professional who Scaled Startup Growth by 82%

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

   • Eager College Graduate with Teaching Assistant Experience Focused in Meteorology

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

   • Freelance Writer with SEO Certification

Tips for writing a resume headline

Here are some tips for writing your resume titles:

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

   There is no need to express that you are looking for work in your headline — this goes without saying.

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

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

3. Don’t reuse titles. Just as we strongly advise against submitting the same exact cover letter to each potential employer, the same goes for your resume headline.

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

4. Keep length in mind. Your resume title should be less than one sentence long.

   This will take some work, but it’s important to make your resume title snappy and easy to read at a glance.

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

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

6. Highlight what’s most valuable first. Since recruiters scan resumes quickly, structure your headline with the most important details first.

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

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

   Speak to your actual accomplishments and proven skills.

Resume headlines vs. resume profiles

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

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

Examples of resume titles with resume summaries

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

1. Resume title and summary HR example

   Director of HR with 10 Years Experience in Technology Sector

   Highly productive in developing and executing training protocols across all company verticals. Global human resources certificates with international team experience. Certified in Oracle and led implementation of technology audits for 500+ employees. Masterful in selecting and retaining top talent, with a 98% employee retention rate over the last 24 months.

2. Resume title and summary social media example

   Social Media Consultant Assisting Startups Grow Online Presence and Drive More Sales

   Over 5 years of experience transforming the social media reach of small businesses. Responsible for creating social media strategies that increase lead generation with various SEO optimization techniques. Amassed more than 3M followers across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for clients across health, fashion, and food industries.

3. Resume title and summary retail manager example

   Confident Retail Manager with 6 Years of High-Volume Store Experience

   Results-driven manager producing the highest-grossing store in the district. Responsible for talent management, resource allocation, and merchandising efforts. Analysis of annual budget resulted in implementing an action plan to improve loss prevention efforts and reduce shrinkage.

Resume titles FAQ

1. What is a resume title?

   A resume title is a short statement at the beginning of your resume that declares your skills and qualifications. A resume title needs to entice the reader, so it is important that you keep your resume title unique, concise, and relevant. It is helpful if your title relates to the job you’re applying to. A great way to do this is to use keywords found in the job description.

2. Are resume titles necessary?

   Strictly speaking, no, resume titles are not necessary, but they are very helpful. A resume title acts as a teaser to the rest of your resume. A resume title done well will make it clear right away to the reader that you are a candidate who deserves further attention. This helps you stand out among other applicants.

3. What’s the difference between a resume headline and a resume title?

   A resume headline is the same thing as a resume title. A resume headline is just another way to describe a heading at the start of your resume that concisely states your qualifications. Just remember to keep it unique and relevant.

4. How do you write a good title for a resume?

   You write a good title for a resume by understanding the position you’re applying for and highlighting your relevant qualifications. Incorporating keywords from the job description will also help you write an effective resume title.

References

1. Columbia University Center for Career Education – How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement

2. Harvard University – Resumes and Cover Letters

Author

Chris Kolmar

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

Expert

Don Pippin, MHRM, CPRW, CDCS

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