Are These LinkedIn Headline Mistakes Costing You Job Opportunities? Here's How To Fix Them

I saw a post recently from someone looking for an engineering role but his headline says he’s a life coach.

At first glance, the only thing that people see when you come up whenever they're scrolling through their feed or pulling you up in a search, is your photo and your headline, so if you leave a recruiter or hiring manager confused or uncertain about what it is that you do, they'll move on to the next LinkedIn profile, which means you've missed out on a potential job opportunity, especially given that there are 1000’s of profiles with headlines that state outright exactly what their job titles are and what they specialize in.

Whether it's your resume or your LinkedIn profile, the less time that a recruiter or a hiring manager spends wondering if they should reach out to you or not, the higher your chances of getting to the next stage of the process, so do yourself a favor: help recruiters and hiring managers help you by crafting an effective LinkedIn headline. (Note: Having the right keywords not just in your headline but in other sections of your LinkedIn profile also help because LinkedIn searches are primarily based on keywords).

Here are the most common LinkedIn headline mistakes:

1. Being Vague or Generic: Avoid generic phrases like “Dynamic professional” (What kind of a professional are you?) or “Results-driven expert" (Shouldn't everybody be results-driven?) or "Servant leader" (Ugh! Can we please retire this phrase? This needs to be thrown into the same dustbin as 'ninja' and 'rockstar' because in an era where layoffs have become incredibly commonplace, it leaves a film of ick in one's mouth) or "I deliver." (What exactly do you deliver? Pizza? Vengeance? Justice?) because these don't provide any specific information about your skills or background.

How to fix this: Clearly state your professional identity or the role you’re targeting.

Use relevant keywords that align with your expertise, industry, or job function.

For example:

Marketing Director | Mobile Gaming | Strategic Partnerships

Software Engineer | Full Stack Developer | React | Javascript | SaaS | eCommerce

2. Stuffing With Fluff And Buzz: Fluff words and buzzwords are those that make you go "Well, duh, that goes without saying!". Here are some examples:

• Experienced (as opposed to inexperienced?)
• Leader (as opposed to a follower?)
• Skilled (as opposed to unskilled?)
• Passionate (as opposed to uninterested?)
• Expert (as opposed to amateur?)
• Motivated (as opposed to lazy?)
• Creative (as opposed to uninspired?)
• Successful (as opposed to being a failure?)

How To Fix This: Show don't tell.

Whenever possible, quantify your achievements or highlight relevant qualifications. Numbers and specific details grab attention. (Note: You can also mention them and expand further in your Summary (About) section, add them to the description portion of your work experience.)

For example:

Increased ROI by 30% through Email Marketing Campaign Optimization

Awarded Million Dollar Biller For 5 Years In a Row

3. Ignoring Your Target Audience: Bear with me. I come from the world of sales and marketing so everything about job searching instantly translates into either a sale or marketing component in my brain.

How To Fix This: Tailor your headline to the people you want to attract. Use language that speaks directly to their needs. Use language that speaks directly to their needs.

If you’re job hunting, focus on the things (ex. hard skills, certs, job titles, niches, specializations) specific to the role or industry that recruiters are looking for. If you’re networking, consider what peers or potential clients want to see.

For example:

Security Analyst | Security+ | AWS CCP | THM Enthusiast -Top 7%| Linux | VMWare | Virtual Box

Certified Project Manager with PMP and Scrum Master Credentials

4. Neglecting Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Your headline should convey what makes you unique. Highlight your strengths, accomplishments, or niche expertise.

How to fix this: Focus on your value proposition.

Highlight what sets you apart. Showcase your unique skills, accomplishments, or the value you bring to potential employers or connections. Be concise and impactful.

For example:

Helping Businesses Drive Revenue through Data-Driven Marketing Strategies

Transforming Complex Ideas into Elegant Code

Empowering Early-Stage Startups with Creative Branding Solutions

5. Not Using the Character Limit Wisely: LinkedIn allows up to 220 characters for your headline.

How to fix this: Use them wisely to maximize impact.

Make use of as many characters as you can, thoughtfully.

6. Not Testing and Iterating: What's great about LinkedIn is that you can keep iterating until you land on a headline that resonates with your audience. Keep experimenting, test different versions, and see which one's the most effective.

How To Fix This: Update regularly.

LinkedIn headlines are not set in stone. As your career evolves, update your headline to reflect your current focus, projects, or aspirations. Keep it fresh and relevant.

If, at this point, if you're saying, "Well, that's all fine and dandy but I'm not just trying to pivot into a different role and industry, I'm also trying to fly under the radar because my boss keeps tabs on our LinkedIn activity so I can't even change my headline!", book a complimentary initial consultation with me because stealth searchers who also happen to be pivoting are exactly who I specialize in helping with their job search.

If you've got a job search topic you'd like me to do a deep-dive into, send me an email.

Dezzi