6 LinkedIn headline formulas

Every headline the generator writes follows one of these patterns. Each example comes straight from the generator.

How long should a LinkedIn headline be?

The headline box holds 220 characters. LinkedIn Help doesn't print the number; it comes from the edit box itself. Your profile shows the whole headline, while other places shorten long ones, so the generator offers three lengths.

Where your headline appears

Where a headline is cut depends on the screen, so lead with your role and main keyword. The checker shows the first 60 characters as a quick test: "Senior Product Manager at Acme | B2B SaaS · Onboarding · Retention | Ex-Atlassian | Helping SaaS teams turn trials into loyal customers" (135 characters) starts "Senior Product Manager at Acme | B2B SaaS · Onboarding · Ret…"

LinkedIn headline tips

• Use the job title people search for. If your internal title is unusual, add the common one next to it.
• Keep keywords in plain text. Styled Unicode fonts may not match searches and may be read letter by letter by screen readers.
• Edit the headline itself, not just your job. LinkedIn builds the default headline from your current position, and when the two match, it hides the position line in your introduction.
• Looking for work? Say the role you want, and consider LinkedIn's Open to Work setting, which can stay private to recruiters.
• Use your headline for any status. LinkedIn notes you can call out other professional statuses, such as unemployed or retired.
• Edit every language version. If you have a secondary language profile, update its headline too.

Terms used on this page

Headline

The text below your name in your profile's introduction section, shown in search results.

Introduction section

The top of your profile: name, photo, headline, current position, location, and contact info.

Current position

The role pulled from your Experience section. LinkedIn builds a default headline from it.

Keyword

A job title, skill, or tool that people type when they search for someone like you.

Value proposition

Who you help and what you help them do, in a few words.

Proof point

A credential, former employer, or result that backs up your claim.

Open to Work

A LinkedIn setting that tells recruiters you are looking, privately or with a #OpenToWork photo frame.

Buzzword

A vague word, like passionate or driven, that many profiles use and few readers remember.