How to Write Your LinkedIn Headline (With Examples)

The biggest mistake people make with their LinkedIn headline? They don’t know what story they’re trying to tell.

Instead of a clear, powerful message, their headline turns into a confusing mix of old jobs, random skills, and lost opportunities.

This is a problem because your headline is one of the most important parts of your LinkedIn profile. It’s the first thing people see when you show up in a search.

Since 67% of recruiters are using LinkedIn to source candidates, an optimized LinkedIn profile, including your headline, is more important than ever.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to write a LinkedIn headline that tells your story clearly, builds curiosity, and sets you up for new opportunities.

What is a LinkedIn headline?

Your LinkedIn headline is a short blurb that sums up who you are professionally. And it’s more important than you might think.

“A candidate’s LinkedIn presence can make a huge difference in getting an interview, especially in today’s digital world,” says professional resume writer Clair Levy. “Recruiters and hiring managers love to do a little LinkedIn snooping (in a good way!) before deciding who gets that golden ticket to an interview.”

If you don’t create your own headline, LinkedIn will generate one for you. But it’ll be basic and boring, and won’t show off what makes you unique.

Your headline appears right beneath your name and profile picture on your LinkedIn profile page.

How do you create a powerful LinkedIn headline?

Here’s a simple formula you can use to create an effective LinkedIn headline.

You can even copy and paste it into the writing platform of your choice to get started:

Let’s break down each part of the formula:

1. What industry or job are you in?

Your headline should quickly establish your professional identity. Use the exact title you hold at your current company. If it makes sense, include your level of experience too—words like “Senior,” “Manager,” “Director,” etc.

If your current job title doesn’t perfectly match your career goals, you can tweak it slightly to better reflect where you’re headed. Just be careful not to mislead.

2. What are the key skills relevant to your target position?

Many companies today focus on skills-based hiring. That’s why it’s so important to include your standout skills or certifications right in your headline.

To choose the right skills, take a look at job listings for roles you’re targeting. Find the skills that show up the most. Then highlight the ones you’re great at and that align with your career goals.

Including the most relevant keywords can also help recruiters discover you in their searches for candidates.

3. Which powerful action words make you stand out?

Your unique value is what makes you stand out from everyone else in your field. It could be your specialized expertise or innovative problem-solving skills. Or it could be any other trait that makes you valuable to employers or clients.

In today’s competitive market, being just qualified isn’t enough. You need to be memorable.

4. Is there a measurable accomplishment or impact?

If possible, try to include a measurable accomplishment in your LinkedIn headline.

A measurable accomplishment uses numbers to show the impact you had. Tangible results are a powerful way to boost your credibility.

5. What is a personal passion or career goal you have?

Make your LinkedIn headline more compelling by adding your personal passion or career goal. It can be a unique value proposition that only you can bring to your target role.

This highlights your enthusiasm and helps you connect with others who share your interests and values.

NOTE: The LinkedIn headline formula we’ve provided is just a handy guide for job seekers. Don’t feel like you have to stick to it rigidly. Tweak the formula to showcase your unique personality.

6. Is there an online tool to generate a LinkedIn headline?

A faster—and easier—way to create a strong LinkedIn headline is to use Jobscan’s LinkedIn Optimizer. One feature is a headline generator that uses your LinkedIn profile and the job descriptions you’re targeting.

It analyzes your skills, experience, and career goals. Then it creates a customized LinkedIn headline based on what employers are looking for.

Here’s how it works:

Here’s what the headline section of the LinkedIn Optimizer looks like:

You can click “Generate new headline” to incorporate best-practices with one-click.

The LinkedIn Optimizer doesn’t just analyze your headline. It also looks at your summary section and gives you a Match Score showing how closely your entire profile aligns with your target roles.

This helps you create a stronger, more recruiter-friendly LinkedIn profile that gets you noticed.

How can you change your LinkedIn headline?

To change your LinkedIn headline, first go to your profile. Then click on the edit button in the upper right (it looks like a pencil).

You’ll then see an “edit intro” screen. Scroll down until you see the headline section. Update your headline and hit the “save” button.

Your LinkedIn headline can be up to 220 characters long. It’s valuable space, so make every word count.

Read more: 28 LinkedIn Profile Tips to Supercharge Your Job Opportunities

What are some examples of effective LinkedIn headlines for different careers?

Now that you know how to write a compelling LinkedIn headline, let’s dive into some real-world examples.

What do LinkedIn headline examples for technology professionals look like?

Why it works: This is great for a mid-level pro. It shows they don’t just code, they understand product, making them more valuable to a cross-functional team.

Why it works: “Principal” and “7x Certified” establish immediate authority. The value prop (“Migrating & Modernizing”) is exactly what enterprises pay for.

Why it works: This is a powerful, first-person “I” statement that perfectly and confidently describes the job. The certs (OSCP, OSCE) are non-negotiable proof.

Why it works: It’s specific (“SOC”), high-stakes (“APTs”), targets a clear audience (“Fortune 500s”), and lists top-tier certifications.

Why it works: This is extremely current and high-demand. It mentions the hottest fields (GenAI, LLMs) and—critically—the engineering part: “into Production at Scale.”

What do LinkedIn headline examples for marketing and sales experts look like?

Why it works: “Revenue Engines” is a powerful term that CEOs love. It identifies a clear, high-value niche (FinTech Startups) and strategic skills (ABM, Ops).

Why it works: It makes a bold, confident claim (“#1 Spot”) and backs it up with a massive, specific metric (10k to 1.5M).

Why it works: This perfectly describes the PMM’s critical cross-functional role and lists the three core pillars of the job.

Why it works: It targets a specific, hard-to-reach buyer (CISOs) and uses strong, active language (“Opening Doors”) instead of passive “booking meetings.”

Why it works: It’s a perfect “I help X do Y” formula. It specifies the buyer (CFOs), the solution (Automate Workflows), and the result (7-Figure Deals).

What do LinkedIn headline examples for healthcare professionals look like?

Why it works: Lists credentials (DPT, SCS), a clear niche (Athletes), and a clear, desirable outcome (“Return to Play Safely & Quickly”).

Why it works: Seniority, key credentials (ARRT), specific skills (CT & MRI), and a core value (“Patient Safety”).

Why it works: This is direct and powerful. It names the specific, high-stakes regulations and the gold-standard certification (CHC).

Why it works: Shows the “bridge” role, names the two biggest EMRs (searchability), and connects the tech (EMR) to the goal (Patient Care).

Why it works: It states the value (Actionable Insights), the source (EMR & Claims Data), and the tools (SQL, Tableau, Python).

What do LinkedIn headline examples for finance and accounting look like?

Why it works: It shows a cross-functional “bridge” role and leads with a quantifiable business impact (15%+ Margin Improvement).

Why it works: “Audit-Proof” is a powerful, confident statement. It lists the three core pillars of a Controller’s job and shows they build systems (“Scalable”).

Why it works: It’s client-centric. It leads with a huge quantifiable result ($1M+) and names a specific, complex specialty (SALT).

Why it works: Clearly defines a very specific and valuable coverage area (Enterprise SaaS) and lists the core job outputs (DCF Models, Investment Theses).

Why it works: This is a high-demand, modern niche. It combines the industry (FinTech, Payments), the function (AML/KYC), and the key certification (CAMS).

What do LinkedIn headline examples for human resource specialists look like?

Why it works: This is a perfect mid-level headline. It shows a clear mission (“Empower Frontline Managers”) and the specific skills used (Employee Relations, Performance).

Why it works: It has an aspirational, clear purpose (“Building the Next Generation”) and defines a critical, strategic specialty (University Relations).

Why it works: This is a perfect, mission-driven headline. It connects “Inclusive” (a culture goal) with “High-Performance” (a business goal).

Why it works: “Embedding” is the key. It shows this role is a strategic partner, not a silo, and connects DEI to a business outcome (“Innovation”).

Why it works: It shows the business value (“Attract & Retain”) and names two of the most critical, in-demand specialties: “Total Rewards” and “Pay Equity.”

What do LinkedIn headline examples for project and product managers look like?

Why it works: This perfectly defines the TPM’s “bridge” role. It names a highly technical, in-demand specialty (“API-First & Developer Platform”).

Why it works: It’s methodology-focused. It shows how you manage (“Empower Teams”) and lists the most in-demand Agile certifications (CSM, SAFe) and roles.

Why it works: This is industry-specific. It gives an immediate, impressive sense of scale ($50M+) and lists a critical, industry-specific software (Procore).

Why it works: This is extremely current and high-demand. It shows you don’t just talk about AI, you ship it. Adding light technical skills (Python, SQL) boosts credibility.

What do LinkedIn headline examples for students and recent grads look like?

Why it works: It claims the professional title (“Full-Stack Developer”), lists a specific tech stack, and shows passion.

Why it works: It leads with the degree, but immediately backs it up with in-demand certifications and the core keywords for the roles they want.

Why it works: It shows high achievement (Magna Cum Laude), lists the three core skills for an analyst role, and includes a key certification.

Why it works: This is the high-achiever format. It shows the future role, the school, and a major leadership position.

Why it works: It leads with the intern experience and shows a focus on a high-demand HR specialty (People Analytics) with a hard skill (Tableau).

Why it works: It confidently claims the title (“UX/UI Designer”) and immediately points to the proof (5-Project Portfolio) and tools.

Why it works: It shows exactly how the “old” experience (Retail) and “new” skills (Data Science) combine to create unique value.

What do LinkedIn headline examples for career changers look like?

Why it works: It leads with the new title. It reframes “Teacher” as “Problem-Solver,” which is a core engineering skill.

Why it works: It connects the past (Retail) to the future (Business Decisions). It shows they have the commercial acumen to back up their new technical skills.

Why it works: Leads with the gold-standard certifications (PMP, CSM). It directly reframes “Event Management” (high-stakes, on-time delivery) to “Tech Projects.”

Why it works: This is a highly valuable niche. It shows they speak both languages (clinical and technical), which is rare and essential.

What do LinkedIn headline examples for unemployed job seekers look like?

Your headline is your #1 marketing tool, not a status update. It should be 100% focused on your value, skills, and professional identity. You signal to recruiters that you’re available using the Open To Work feature (the green profile photo frame), not by wasting your precious headline space.

Why it works: It’s confident and keyword-rich. A recruiter searching for “Java AWS” will find you. Your employment status is irrelevant to your skills.

Why it works: “Audit-Proof” is a strong, confident value prop. It lists your core, high-value skills.

Why it works: It puts your new, high-value certification front and center. It shows a logical progression from “IT Support” to “Cloud.”

Why it works: This is strong re-entry headline after an employment gap. It shows you aren’t just returning—you are returning upgraded with new, relevant skills.

Your headline is for what you do, not who you are (or aren’t) working for. Be the professional you are, show your value, and let the Open To Work feature handle the logistics for recruiters.

What 10 things should you not to say in your LinkedIn headline?