How to Write Stand-Out Resume Headlines

A resume focuses more on work experiences than education. Resumes are mainly used to apply for a job within a company or specific industry. Resumes tend to be around one to two pages in length, depending on your experience, in comparison to CVs.

A CV (or curriculum vitae) is typically used to show off all of the above plus a more comprehensive listing of academic accomplishments in order to earn a high position in academia, a grant, or another education-related venture. The education section takes up a larger portion of the document.

At first glance, the resume headline, and resume summary or resume objective, might seem very similar. They seem to accomplish the same goals, except the resume objective tends to be much longer and acts as an all-encompassing summary of the entire resume. It gives you more space to discuss your skills and work experience in a way that a headline doesn’t.

However, recruiters go through dozens of applications every day. They might not even read through your entire resume before filing it or throwing it out altogether. In fact, many companies run resumes through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before it ever gets in front of an actual hiring manager. This system scans for specific keywords in a resume to see which candidates fit the position most. The resume headline acts as a great place to outline your specific qualifications and use keywords that will pass these types of systems.

Writing a new headline for every single job application you create can be tedious. Instead of stressing over writing the perfect resume, try using a resume builder tool. With dozens of resume templates, sample resumes, and other writing tips, you can craft the best resume for your next job application in just a few minutes.