How long can a LinkedIn headline be?
LinkedIn's own Talent Blog puts it simply: "You get 220 characters". The Help article on editing your headline gives no figure, and limits can change, so if the edit box stops you sooner, the edit box wins. The options from this generator are written to stay inside that limit.
The About section has much more room. Another Talent Blog post gives a maximum of 2,600 characters. You rarely need all of it. LinkedIn's profile tips suggest one or two paragraphs, and the draft here runs 120 to 200 words.
What makes a useful LinkedIn headline
According to LinkedIn Help, your headline sits below your name, appears in search results and can differ from your job title. So use it to say what you do. A simple pattern is role, then specialty, then proof or audience.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Looking for new opportunities | Data Analyst · SQL, Power BI · Cut monthly reporting from 3 days to 4 hours |
| Hardworking MBA graduate | Marketing Associate · Paid search and email for online retailers |
| Software Engineer at Acme | Backend Engineer · Python, AWS · Payments and billing systems |
These are made-up examples, so use your own facts. Put job titles, tools and industries first, since those are words a recruiter might type. "Passionate" and "hardworking" tell a reader very little. Some views may shorten a long headline, which is one more reason to lead with what matters.
How to choose between the five headline options
You get five angles: role and skills, an outcome, your target role, your specialty, and a plain version. Run each through four checks:
- Is it true? Every number, title and skill should match your profile and resume.
- Would someone search these words? Swap internal job titles for what the wider market calls the role.
- Does it claim too much? If you named a target role, be clear you are moving toward it. "Accountant moving into financial planning" is honest. Listing a title you have never held is not.
- Would you say it out loud? If it makes you wince, try another.
You can also combine them, taking the role from one option and the proof from another. Check the length again afterwards.
How to edit your LinkedIn About section draft
LinkedIn says this section should express your "mission, motivation, and skills". The draft is written in the first person, so it should sound like you talking about your work. A shape that holds up well:
- Opening line. What you do and who you do it for. Some readers will see little else.
- Proof. Two or three results with real numbers.
- How you work. One thing you care about that a colleague would recognize.
- What you want next. The roles you are open to and how to reach you.
Replace any [add number] placeholder with a real figure or cut the sentence. Then line it up with your resume, because a recruiter may read both. The resume builder helps with that side, and open jobs will show you the words employers in your field use.