I used to think resume headlines were kind of a joke.

You know, that little line right under your name? The one that’s supposed to sum up your entire professional existence in like, seven words? It felt like trying to fit a whole book into a tweet.

But then I talked to a recruiter friend of mine. She told me she spends about six seconds on a first pass of a resume. Six seconds.

And guess what she looks at first? The headline.

So yeah. Maybe it’s not a joke. Maybe it’s actually the most important part.

Here’s the thing—most people screw this up. Not because they’re bad at their jobs. But because they try too hard to sound impressive. They load up on buzzwords. They write things like:

“Results-Oriented Synergistic Leader with a Proven Track Record of Excellence.”

Honestly? That doesn’t mean anything. It’s just noise. And recruiters read that kind of stuff all day long. Their eyes glaze over.

So let’s talk about how to do this differently. How to write a headline that actually stops someone from scrolling.

Forget what you think a headline “should” sound like.

I’ve seen people freeze up over this. They stare at a blank screen, trying to come up with something that captures their entire career. That’s way too much pressure.

A headline isn’t your life story. It’s just a filter. A way for someone to instantly know if they’re in the right place.

If you’re a graphic designer, you don’t need to say “Creative Visual Artist Specializing in Brand Identity and Digital Experiences.”

Just say: “Graphic Designer. I help brands look like themselves.”

See the difference? One sounds like a robot wrote it. The other sounds like a person.

Be specific about what you actually do.

Here’s a little trick I stole from a copywriter friend. She said to imagine you’re at a party. Someone asks what you do. You wouldn’t hit them with a corporate jargon bomb. You’d say something normal.

So why would your resume be any different?

If you’re a project manager, you could say: “Project Manager. I keep teams on track so they can actually ship stuff.”

If you’re a nurse: “ER Nurse. I handle the chaos so families can breathe.”

It’s honest. It’s human. And it tells me way more about you than “Healthcare Professional with Critical Care Expertise.”

Don’t be afraid to show a little personality.

I’m not saying you need to be a comedian. But the best headlines have a tiny bit of voice. Just a hint that there’s a real person behind the words.

I saw one once from a barista that said: “Coffee Nerd. I remember your order and your name.”

That’s perfect. It tells you what they do, and it also tells you they’re friendly and detail-oriented. Way better than “Customer Service Professional with Beverage Preparation Skills.”

Obviously, use your judgment. If you’re applying for a super formal job—like a lawyer or a banker—maybe save the jokes for later. But even then, you can still sound like a human.

The “So What?” test.

Here’s a trick I use when I’m stuck. After I write a headline, I ask myself: “So what?”

If your headline is “Experienced Sales Professional”—so what? Lots of people have sales experience.

But if it’s “Sales Rep. I help small businesses find tools that don’t suck.”—okay, now I’m interested. You’ve got a point of view. You’re not just listing a job title.

It’s okay to try a few versions.

You don’t have to get it perfect on the first try. Write a few. Mess around with them. Show them to a friend and ask which one sounds most like you.

Sometimes the best ones come out when you’re not trying so hard. I was helping a friend with hers, and she said, offhand, “I don’t know, I just fix computers and try not to make people feel dumb about it.”

I said, “Stop. That’s it. That’s your headline.”

And it was.

IT Support Specialist. I fix your computer without making you feel stupid.

Doesn’t that make you want to hire her immediately?

One last thing.

Don’t stress about this too much. It’s just a headline. It won’t make or break your entire job search. But a good one? It might buy you a few extra seconds of someone’s attention.

And in a world where recruiters spend six seconds on a resume, that’s a lot.

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