LinkedIn headline examples you can adapt to your own work

A good LinkedIn headline says what you do, in words people search for, in about one line: your job title or field, one or two key skills or areas, and optionally your situation. For example, "Stock controller | Warehouse and inventory | Durban". Keep it factual and avoid vague claims.

Key points

• Your headline shows next to your name in searches, messages and comments.
• Lead with what you do, then add a skill, place or situation.
• Use words that people in your field would type into a search.
• Examples below are fictional, so replace the details with your own facts.
• Change it when your situation changes, so it stays accurate.

What formula can I use?

A simple pattern works for most people:

What you do | What you are good at or work with | Where, or what you are looking for

You do not need all three parts. Keep the whole headline short enough to read at a glance. Use a plain divider such as a vertical bar or a comma.

Think of the reader: someone who sees your name in a list and has about two seconds. They should be able to tell what kind of person you are professionally.

What are good examples for people starting out?

School leaver or student

• "Matric graduate | Customer service and cash handling | Seeking entry-level retail work"
• "BCom accounting student | Spreadsheets and bookkeeping basics | Open to vacation work"
• "Electrical engineering student | Circuit design and lab work | Seeking in-service training"

Recent graduate

• "Marketing graduate | Social media and content writing | Seeking a junior role"
• "Education graduate | Foundation phase teaching | Open to teaching posts in Gauteng"

These tell the reader the field, the skills and the aim, without claiming to be an expert.

What about people in work?

Office and admin

• "Administrative assistant | Scheduling, filing and supplier queries | Cape Town"
• "Debtors clerk | Invoicing and account queries | Manufacturing sector"

Trades and technical

• "Qualified electrician | Installations and fault finding | Pretoria"
• "Diesel mechanic | Light and heavy vehicle repairs | Workshop experience"

Customer-facing

• "Customer service agent | Query resolution and written support | Call centre experience"
• "Waitress | Fine dining and event service | Port Elizabeth"

Warehouse and logistics

• "Stock controller | Warehouse and inventory | Durban"
• "Dispatch coordinator | Route planning and delivery scheduling"

Managers and senior people

• "Operations manager | Logistics and distribution | Leading multi-site teams"
• "Finance manager | Reporting and budgeting | Growing businesses"

Each example names a role and something concrete. Notice that none uses "passionate", "dynamic" or "guru".

How should I write a headline when I am between jobs?

You can say what you do and show that you are available, in that order. Do not make the headline only about your situation.

• "Retail supervisor | Stock control and staff rosters | Available immediately"
• "Bookkeeper | Accounts payable and bank reconciliations | Open to new roles"
• "Care worker | Elderly and home-based care | Seeking a full-time post"

If you are comfortable with it, you can also use the "open to work" feature that the site offers. Think about who will see it, since it can be visible to many people, including your current employer in some cases.

What should I avoid?

Avoid	Why	Try instead
"Looking for opportunities" alone	It says nothing about you	"Cashier
"Passionate dynamic professional"	Adjectives people cannot verify	A role and a skill
A very long list of skills	Hard to read, gets cut off	Two or three that matter most
Job titles that you never held	It is dishonest and can be checked	The real title, with a description of the work
Emojis and decoration	Can look unprofessional and may not display properly	Plain text

Frequently asked questions

What should I put as my LinkedIn headline?

Put what you do and the area you work in, with one or two key skills, and optionally your location or situation. For example, "Stock controller | Warehouse and inventory | Durban". Use words that people in your field would search for.

How long should a LinkedIn headline be?

Short enough to read at a glance. A single line with two or three parts is usually enough. Put the most important words first, because long headlines may be cut off in lists and on phones.

Can I use "open to work" in my headline?

You can, but it is better to say what you do first. For example, "Bookkeeper | Accounts payable | Open to new roles". Think about who will see it and decide what you are comfortable sharing.

Should my headline match my CV?

Yes, in substance. Your job title or field, skills and dates should agree with your CV. The wording can be a little different, because a headline is short and public while a CV is tailored to a job.

Next steps

Write three versions of your headline using the formula, then choose the one that is most specific and true. Update your About section so it matches. If you want a guided way to put this together, you can build your CV step by step with CV Sorted: it is free to build and preview.