Ok, so you’ve gotten the message that LinkedIn is really the place you need to be to get recruiters attention. Now what?

The first step is to craft a profile headline that will get attention, set you apart, and avoid being overly cheesy or “buzzwordy”.

When someone searches for a content area, keyword, or even job title, the first thing they see in the list of results is your mugshot and the beginning of your headline. How to make them click on you? Write something catchy, memorable, interesting, or in all honesty…best fit for the job!

Here are my three favorite tricks (in 120 characters or less) 

Strategic Marketing Executive | 15+ Years Helping (Insert Target Market Here) Achieve Awareness, Revenue, and Operational Targets

The strategy? Lead with your professional value proposition. Who you are, what you do, who you do it for and how long you’ve been doing it.

Marketing & Communications Executive // Brand & Marketing Strategy | Vision & Goal Setting | Business & Revenue Growth

The strategy? Put your best foot forward and stock your headline with keywords that a recruiter would search. Not the most creative but certainly concise and gets results.

Product Marketing Executive | 15+ Year Career Growth | Fortune 100 & Multinational Experience | Finance MBA | 25%+ YOY Gains

The strategy? Summarize your entire career directly in your header. Who you are, how long you’ve done it, who you do it for, what sets you apart, and an example of your successes. Pique the recruiters interest and showcase your value in 120 characters or less.

One question I always get from my clients about LinkedIn is how do you find those fancy bullets? Easy!

On a Mac: Finder/Edit/Special Characters

On Windows: Start, Search Character Map, Click on Character Map in search results.

Happy networking!