What Is a Resume Title? (With Tips on How to Write One)

A resume's purpose is to concisely outline your relevant abilities and experiences so that employers can swiftly determine whether you're a good match for the position. While a resume title is not essential, it is an effective method of generating interest in your experience, qualifications, and accomplishments. Knowing the answer to "What is a resume title?" can help you write yours. In this article, we explain what a resume title is, discuss why a resume title is important, explore how to title one, review tips for writing resume headlines, and discuss general resume writing tips.

What is a resume title?

If you want to create a resume, you may have encountered the question, "What is a resume title?". A resume title, or a resume headline, is a one-line statement that summarizes and emphasizes your professional accomplishments and conveys what you can do for a company if you get the job. Much like the title of a news report, the headline of your resume is to be succinct and simple to read. Additionally, it can emphasize the qualities that are most relevant to the position for which you're seeking.

Related: How to Write an Effective Resume Headline

Why is a title for a resume important?

A resume title is normally a banner that runs across the top of your resume under your contact information. It usually relates to a job description that details its responsibilities and competencies. Resume headlines introduce you to the reader and can help stimulate their interest and urge them to read more about your skills. Additionally, strong headlines can:

• Establish you as a competent candidate

• Transmit information about your primary skills and talents

• Show your degree of expertise

• Prompt a recruiter or recruiting manager to contact you for an interview by sending an email

How to title a resume

When creating resume titles, it's beneficial to keep them simple and precise. The following are some suggestions for titling your resume:

1. Conduct a job title search

Prior to creating your title, check several job descriptions for occupations that interest you to determine what prospective employers are searching for. Adapt these titles to suit your unique selling qualities and ensure that the remainder of your resume shows your qualifications for the role. Include the job title in your headline, if relevant.

Related: 170 Job Titles for Your Resume

2. Consider your most relevant experience

You may have worked in a range of industries. Consider the job you want and the title that corresponds to it. If you are a student, you may want to include your major or most significant accomplishments in your title to compensate for your limited experience. Your resume can have a single title, which you may modify if you're applying to multiple positions.

3. Capitalize your title

The proper approach is to capitalize your title so that it stands out from the rest of your resume. Hiring managers may notice your name first, followed by your title, and you want to alert them that it is your title by capitalizing each word in it. This can help your resume appear tidy, uniform, and professional.

4. Use keywords

Include keywords from the job description in your title. While the title might be brief, you may want to include one or two phrases, such as strategic, driven, or energetic. This might help to increase the reader appeal of your title. Tracking systems, which look for keywords in the job description, also examine several resumes.

5. Create targeted headlines

You may customize each title and headline you design to match the position for which you're applying. For instance, if you're looking for a sales manager position but have experience only as a sales associate, you might emphasize your team leadership qualities in your headline. But if you are also looking for sales associate employment, you can highlight your sales associate knowledge.

6. Make the title appear unique

Carefully format your resume to ensure that your title stands out from the rest of your content. Consider making the title and headline bold, altering the typeface, or changing the colour of the font to something more fitting. Employers are more likely to notice and read it if it's aesthetically pleasing and bold.

Related: Benefits of Using Manager Resume Examples to Create Your Own

Tips for writing resume titles

The following are some guidelines to assist you in creating an outstanding resume title:

• Keep it brief. Your title can consist of no more than ten words.

• Include quantifiable data. Quantifiable data show you are a high achiever who has met or surpassed the standards and objectives that prior employers established. This comprises years of experience, the number of awards you received, the number of employees you managed, and the dollar amount of sales you generated.

• Be genuine. While you want to strengthen and distinguish your title, remember to describe your genuine experience level, talents, and accomplishments.

• Use fresh terms. Common cliches on resumes include the terms hardworking and strong communicator. Instead of cliches, find fresh methods to convey your abilities.

• Create multiple titles: Create four or five different resume titles and choose the one that is most appropriate for the positions you want to attain.

• Include official credentials and licences: Having formal certifications and licences distinguishes you from other candidates. Recruiters immediately take note of this information, moving you to the top of their call list.

Related: How to Include and Format Contact Information on a Resume

General resume writing tips

The following are some critical resume writing guidelines that can assist you in organizing and designing your resume:

Examine resume samples relevant to your sector

When writing your resume, you may get inspiration from studying samples of resumes from your field. When using resume examples, remember not to duplicate them. While you might not utilize samples as exact templates, they may serve as examples of high-quality resumes relevant to your sector and job description.

Related: 11 Good First Jobs for College Students That Pay Well

Use a professional typeface

Since employers have a limited amount of time to study resumes, they are to be concise and simple to read. You can select a straightforward, uncluttered typeface, such as Arial or Times New Roman. Maintain a font size of between ten and twelve points. Choosing an easy-to-read typeface can help your resume look more professional.

Include only important information and prioritize it

While you may have substantial professional or school experience, it's critical to make your resume concise while including all important information. Because hiring managers do not spend a lot of time reading through each resume, they may spend a few seconds on every resume. Outdated or irrelevant information, such as positions you had more than a decade ago or minor degrees and accomplishments, may divert attention away from the most important information.

Use active voice

It's important to write your resume in an active tone with few unnecessary words. This includes the use of strong language, such as "achieved," "earned," "finished," and "accomplished." If your resume is overly lengthy or seems challenging to read, try shortening phrases and condensing ideas.

Include only the necessary subheadings and sections

Whether you're using a resume template or developing one yourself, you may discover that some of the recommended parts are redundant. For instance, you may require either a resume summary or a resume objective, but not both. If you are a recent college or high school graduate who has not yet had professional employment, leave the work history area blank. Alternatively, you might substitute relevant coursework, academic accomplishments, and other experiences, such as internships and extracurricular projects, for the experience area.

Choose appropriate margins

Generally, your resume can include a one-inch margin on both sides and single line spacing. If you have an excessive amount of white space, you may want to increase the line spacing to 1.15 or 1.5. Additionally, you may increase your margins if you are having challenges with filling your resume, but ensure that they don't exceed two inches.

Edit and proofread

Before submitting your resume, check it numerous times to ensure there are no spelling or punctuation mistakes. While there are various proofreading applications and tools available, it's also beneficial to have your trustworthy friends or colleagues review your resume. It's advantageous to have an impartial third party review your resume in the same manner that an employer may review it to identify areas to improve or modify it.

Related: Additional Resume Information: What to Include to Improve Your Resume