Ever heard the phrase “make a good first impression”? In person, that might include dressing properly for an occasion, having a firm handshake, or remembering someone’s name. Online, in a professional setting, that almost certainly includes having a proper LinkedIn headline. Having a great LinkedIn headline can make the difference in how people see you and whether or not to take you seriously. So, how’s your LinkedIn headline?
What Recruiters See
As mentioned above, the first thing people see on your LinkedIn profile is your headline, right below your name. This includes recruiters, the people who can make your life better and bring offers to your table. As such, recruiters look for what you bring to the table. If your LinkedIn headline is just your job title and employer, you won’t make a great impression. Recruiters search for skills, accomplishments, and personality. Share those traits in your headline.
How to Write a LinkedIn Headline
So, what should you include in your LinkedIn headline? If it’s not the right approach to include your job title and employer, what should you include? First, let’s start by establishing there’s no “right” answer; this can be situational. The best approach is to tell the reader who you are, not just what you do. Job titles can be useful to describe your role quickly, but it might not be very detailed. While tons of details aren’t needed in a LinkedIn headline either, some additional information might be useful.
Are you someone who sets and reaches goals, bringing additional revenue or growth to an organization? Did you receive an award or achieve something else great? What are some accomplishments you are proud of? How have you helped people in the past? These are questions only you can answer: when you figure it out, share them in the headline.
How to Check Your Headline
Checking your LinkedIn headline is fairly easy and well worth the time. To see how your headline is performing, simply go to your analytics from the link on your profile. This will tell you all about how you’ve appeared in other people’s feeds, via comments, posts, or searches. The “searches” is the category to focus on here, as this can be directly impacted by your headline. There are tons of ways to maximize your search potential, too.
The moral of the story is to maintain an appropriate headline, including your accomplishments and activities. A simplistic “I do this at this place” is not enough to cut it nowadays. But you can accomplish great things, and a headline ready to impress at first sight will help you bring in all sorts of opportunities.
