Resume Headlines

Resume Headlines Matter - Now More Than Ever

Seth Godin, author of business books and prolific blogger, recently quipped: "Headlines matter now more than they ever did. Headlines provoke and introduce. They cajole and they position. No headline, no communication. If you want to communicate (your resume, your trustworthiness, your graciousness) you need to be sure your headline is compelling, accurate and a viable foundation to the message you're ultimately trying to send."

He is so right. A resume headline, typically the position title, serves as an introduction to you, communicates your objective in far less text than a traditional objective statement, and it assures the recruiter of which position you are applying to (the company may have several openings, and things do get messed up now and again). In fact, recruiters have indicated that they appreciate when an applicant names the position to which he or she is applying.

Headlines in general provoke a reaction, even a subconscious one. They persuade subliminally, and they position the candidate. Perhaps you've never considered a headline for your resume? Not sure what I'm talking about? It's very simple. Rather than using an objective statement - Looking for a position as I.T. Manager - just use a headline at the top of your resume - I.T. Manager. It works as an article headline does, priming the reader for what's to come. And it is easily scannable for the reader; less words with more effect! (See the samples at the bottom of this article.)

A headline communicates - this is the bottom line. Documents without headlines have less impact and are less likely to get noticed. Given that perhaps 95% of job applicants do not use a headline, this is an easy way to attract the recruiter's instant attention.

Sub-headlines work

Direct mail, i.e. marketing, copywriters know this. Every ad has a headline, and so, say the copywriters, should every paragraph. Resumes, as self-marketing documents (not biographies, not histories), benefit from marketing strategies. You want your resume to be scannable, that is, easy for the eye to peruse over several seconds while absorbing a few key facts. Because on the recruiter's first run-through of applicants' resumes, maybe 15 seconds is all your resume is going to get.

Chunk Your Information

Research shows that too much information is overwhelming. Information that is broken down into affiliated chunks is more easily assimilated. You likely already have your resume information chunked, but why not take it a step further? Rather than relying on the standard "Professional Experience," why not use "Management Experience," or "Leadership in Action"? How about changing the Hobbies section (which is mostly useless information) to something related to the job, for example Athlete-Author-Actor sections for an English/Phys Ed teacher? Get creative with your headings and get your reader involved in your resume.

Why It's Important Now More than Ever

Strategies are employed by management all the time - this means planning, positioning, and evaluating the how and why of something. Using a headline is a simple strategy to use in your resume to stand out from the many other applicants. In these challenging times, where applicants to most positions will increase as jobs are lost, standing out is critical.

Take it Up a Notch

Now that you had given yourself a headline, take it up one notch: give yourself a tagline too. A tagline is defined as: A slogan or phrase that visually conveys the most important product attribute or benefit that the advertiser wishes to convey. Generally, a theme to a campaign (taken from About.com.: Marketing). Developing a tagline for yourself is a wonderful way to establish yourself as an expert, and as an excellent candidate. In essence, your tagline should highlight aspects of your experience, skills or education that are directly related to the sorts of jobs to which you aspire, and most of all, it should be authentic to you. Here are some samples:

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
- Project Management
- Customer Service Excellence
- People Management

PHARMACIST RECRUITING SPECIALIST
- with recruiting, retail, speaking, and mentoring experience -

MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEER
- International Experience
- Project Management
- Maintenance Planning

Following these ideas through in your own resume will instantly provide a visual focus, conveying who you are and that little extra that you bring to the position.

Stephanie Clark, a respected leader on the resume scene, is owner of New Leaf Resumes. Recipient of four awards for outstanding resumes in the Career Professionals of Canada 2008 and 2010 Awards of Excellence. Cover letters in print in Joyce Lain Kennedy's latest book on cover letters (2009).

New Leaf's clients, serious about managing their careers, appreciate working with a leading professional. Stephanie invites you to visit her website at http://www.newleafresumes.com for more information. Or call toll-free at 855-550-5627, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm ET, or email at newleafresumes@gmail.com.

"I look forward to being of service."

Stephanie Clark, BA, CRS, CIS, CCS

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