Most recruiters take only a few seconds to scan through a CV or resume. The first thing(s) that they see on the header section are your name, contact details, and your resume/CV’s headline or profile. These are the few main things that they will look at on your header section to decide whether to continue reading the whole page.
A headline works perfectly as the attention catcher of your resume/CV because it is the section that serves as an overview of your personality and working experience as a whole.
A resume headline is a phrase that highlights your value and qualities to show to the recruiters. A good resume headline allows recruiters to have a brief understanding of you as a candidate to see if you are a good potential fit for the job.
You might have heard of a resume title, but there are differences between a resume title and a resume headline. The former is the statement or name of your profession, whereas the latter can be longer and more detailed.
Examples of resume headline & title:
Resume Title: Graphic Designer
Resume Headline: Innovative Graphic Designer with 4+ Years Experience in Commercial Design
A resume headline is a statement where you tell the recruiter directly about who you are. It is a phrase formed by a few words and should not be a full sentence. You can include your job title, years of experience, and skills or impressive achievements.
Usually, a resume headline is placed below your name right after your contact details. This helps the recruiter to be able to find it easily. Also, it is a summarized essence of your resume, so if located at the end of your resume, it will lose its purpose.
A resume headline should be included by most people when looking for jobs or applying for an education program. No matter who the readers of your resume are, the resume headline serves a great benefit as a quick description of you and your qualifications.
How to Write a Resume/CV Headline
Now that you’ve known what a CV headline is, we are going to walk you through the steps of creating your CV headline.
Incorporate important keywords from the job description
When applying for a job, there are always requirements that can be found in the job description. Those requirements contain keywords that you should take note of. Here is an example of a job description with the important keywords highlighted:
As a Personal Assistant, you have to be able to deal with many tasks perfectly. This includes booking flights, arranging appointments, having no issues with answering incoming calls, being the driver when needed, and being punctual at all times.
You want to incorporate these keywords into your CV headline to show that you are a great fit for the role.
Use powerful keywords and be brief
Aside from the requirements shown in the example above, you should also incorporate powerful keywords or action verbs. When you have too many things to include, don’t forget to be brief and keep things simple.
Powerful Verbs for CV headline:
achieved
founded
pioneered
sharpened
analyzed
operated
collaborated
researched
advised
refined
Powerful Adjectives for CV headline:
innovative
punctual
creative
responsible
reliable
decisive
positive
multilingual/multicultural
goal-oriented/detail-oriented
award-winning
Highlight your years of experience and key qualifications with quantifiable proof
If you have worked in your career for some years and gained some impressive achievements that are worth mentioning, you should incorporate them into your CV headline. These can add extra points for yourself because you’re showing credibility.
Make the headline eye-catching
A CV headline is the next thing the recruiter sees right after your name. If it is not eye-catching, recruiters might skip your CV and move on to the next one. These are the few ways that you should try to make the CV headline obvious.
When applying for jobs, you might have a certain goal or objective that you want to reach after getting hired. However, a CV headline is to give an intro of your experience but not your objectives. If you were to include your objectives, you can mention them on your cover letter.
Do not lie
Lies and exaggeration are never a good way to impress someone, and recruiters know when they see a made-up resume. If the recruiter finds out that you lied on your CV, your chance of getting hired will instantly fly away.
Use title case for the headline
Title case is a very simple way for you to make your fonts larger and more formal without having to change the font size manually. Think of your CV headline as the title of the document, so it makes sense to write it using title case.
Resume/CV Headline Examples
If you want to avoid spending too much time thinking about a good headline for a resume, check out these examples.
Sales Executive Responsible for $600,000+ in Yearly Sales
Sales Executive who Generated $500K in Business Revenue
Experienced Sales Executive who Managed Relationships of Over 500 Growth Sales Accounts
Senior Sales Executive
Sales Executive Leading a Team that Breaks Sales Records
Resume Headline for Business Analyst
Business Analyst with Strong Analytical Skills
6+ Years' Experience Business Analyst in Retail Domain
Business Analyst Who Picks Trends With an Innovative System
Senior Business Analyst from AIA Insurance
CBAP Certified Business Analyst with 2+ Years' Experience
🔑 Key Takeaways
A resume headline should be a simple line that can briefly introduce your title and work experience and also catch the attention of a recruiter. It should contain some impressive verbs and adjectives that recruiters like to see to add more points to your resume before getting into the interview stage.
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A biodata is a simple document that contains all of your personal information. A student biodata is biographical information that states all of your information as a student, including your personal information, degree, certificate, and professorship. It can be substituted with a resume/CV in some countries like India when applying for job positions or academic institutions.