Resumes are constantly evolving and resume styles fall in and out of favor frequently. Modern resumes often have a title, sometimes called a headline, listed under the contact information. It’s different from your job title. Your resume title is supposed to be an opportunity to introduce your professional self in a snappy line or two of attention-grabbing, highly-relevant, keyword-optimized text. So what exactly is this title if it’s not your current job title? A job title you want? And it’s not truthful if you announce yourself as something you’re not.
It’s also supposed to alert the hiring managers for which position you are submitting your resume. But don’t they already know that since you electronically submitted it for a specific job? It’s weird and presumptuous. And it makes it look like you’re just keyword stuffing your resume.
.To quote an article: “The best resume headlines are specific to your industry and include what makes you a great hire.” All of that will fit in one title you’ve never had? As you can tell, I’m not a fan. However, if we were allowed to just make stuff up on our resume my headline would read: Dedicated wine drinker and dog lover with years of experience tossing back both frisbees and glasses.
The top of your resume is prime real estate. Instead of wasting that space with a loud, flashy, made up title that does nothing to frame the rest of your resume try including a few sentences that highlight what your’re really all about. A short summary or profile can showcase how your skills and experiences align with the job objectives. These should illustrate strong and relevant accomplishments. Demonstrate how you will bring value to the company. However, use caution that even with this profile you’re not just summarizing the rest of your resume.
