Your LinkedIn Profile needs to be professional, yes. Always. But all work and some fun can be pretty good when you’re talking about yourself. A unique, lively, or personal addition to your LinkedIn Headline can be really valuable in so many ways. Explore the various options, and lots of examples, on how you can make your LinkedIn Headline engaging and interesting!
A dear friend of mine, who works in the C-Suite in HR also loves cooking and photographs her creations wonderfully. Another, in his 50s, plays in a Soccer league, despite extensive work travel, and has won our respect with his commitment to playing religiously. Yet another is a DIY expert and enthusiastic gardener. A technology professional, who is also a gifted drummer; a CFO who’s an amazing singer and trains to refine his craft; a Professor who works through pain to pursue her love of dance…
What do they all have in common?
Their LinkedIn Profiles are sadly lacking any mention of this engaging and important aspect to their personality. While it doesn’t undermine their professional credentials, everyone loves a good story, and anything out of the ordinary always catches our interest.
But why write an engaging Headline?
Well, for one, it’s…engaging…?! Formal can also be fun, Serious and sassy can co-exist…
So adding something like a hobby or interest lends a dimension to your persona that goes beyond your role title, degree and skills, valuable as they are.
Importantly, a personal detail is both an icebreaker and a great way to find common ground, if you meet clients and collaborators online.
And interestingly (there goes that word again), the click-throughs to your Profile page are higher when there’s something unusual or attention-worthy there.
Go beyond the expected!
There are tons of options on what it takes to include a fun or personal element or bring attention to something close to you, and here are a few ideas you can use.
> Shout-out achievements
> Include a Hobby or Recreation
> Talk about Interest Groups
> Mention a favorite Team or Organisation
> Add Volunteer work
> Share survivorship or vulnerability (only if you’re comfortable)
> Write about a cause you support
> Share Parent status
> Also your Pet Parent life
> Humorous quirk(s) you possess
Keep in mind that you can always talk about these in your LinkedIn Summary, if you’d rather not mention them in your Headline.
Here’s the skinny on what ALL can you write in your LinkedIn Headline (and what doesn’t help)
Engaging with your LinkedIn Headline – ideas and examples!
Check out the Profile headlines of these accomplished professionals and how they add a very welcome dimension to their work! Do note that the substance is as strong as the spice. Or in other words, you can be smart, talented, successful… and still be fun!
Hobbies and Recreations
How does your after work life look? Do you have a special talent that you’d like to talk about?
A lineup of the most popular hobbies in America in 2024 include cooking, reading, of course, plus, DIY & Crafts, Gaming, even shopping. (Netflix didn’t make the cut yet 🙂
In the Headlines below, Mike talks about his interest in reading and music, while Peeyush, Barry and Hannah share their love of sport and the outdoors.
And Henry here, who probably loves a good game chooses to be quite honest about his golf prowess. 🙂
Given their interests, Bryan, Chris and Jonathan offer some fun talking points for conversations.
‘Serious interests’
You can also share a serious interest as Maria and Regan have done, while Atish connects his work and interests adeptly.
Better than one – multiple interests!
If you do many things, why not spotlight them! In their LinkedIn headlines, Jim and Carrie share their work and many hobbies.
Fun accomplishments
Who wouldn’t want an attorney who knows her stuff and brings a cinematic flair to her work too – Elizabeth’s LinkedIn Headline does exactly that.
Epicures and savants
The profile headlines of Nikki, Jonathan and Jerome, all of whom come from different professions, speak of their love and appreciation of food. I particularly love that they chose to write about specific rather than generic interests.
Personal status + Fun pursuit
They are parents, and they want to talk about it!
If you believe that you are the sum of your work and home life, then check out these Profiles for inspiration. All of them are proud parents and family folk, and they have also included their side pursuits. Whether it is Jake’s interest in food & baseball, or Tanya’s fondness for sports, it is out there.
On the other hand, while Michael and Mike are Dads with dimension.
Similarly, Ram and Bud love four legged creatures, as does Ross (along with sports), and are proud to share their it in their LinkedIn Profile Headlines.
Andrew shows that he’s a Dad with a sense of humor, and who doesn’t love a good dad joke!
Figure out all the angles
You can be seriously left-brained and follow the most learned of vocations and still love the thrill of a challenging slope. Check out the profiles of John and Alex that combine STEM professions with the inside edge on the snow.
Fandom & ‘followship’
Nothing inspires so much follower fervor as sports, especially the teams that you love. Curtis and Andres here are passionate about their support to their basketball teams.
Causes and Advocacy
If there’s a cause or lifestyle choice you hold dear, why not talk about it. Whether it is Sharada’s vegetarianism or Katrina’s focus on conservation, they bring attention to it in their LinkedIn Headline. Similarly, Tara and Sarah mention their focus on advocacy in 2 very key areas.
Survivorship
Being vulnerable and sharing a health journey isn’t easy but it’s so powerfully inspiring to others! Both Amri and Michael have chosen to talk about cancer, and Nurjahan and Jessica speak of Gun and Gender-based violence.
More power to all of them for this!
Volunteer work & Support
It’s not easy to volunteer outside of busy work schedules, and it’s wonderful that so many make the time for it. Samantha and Jeff share how they are supporting others through this path.
Shining achievements
Completing a marathon takes work and grit, but how about repeating this feat multiple times like Yin has done! Or Patrick’s celebrated work in representing and making his country proud!
Purposeful Passion
What if your work adds to a core interest or vice versa? In their LinkedIn headlines, John, Yuheng and Emily connect their vocations with their interests, whether in research, AI tech or preserving our oceans. And Mikel has taken his success and experience at the Olympics into Partnerships.
Conclusion
So, can your LinkedIn profile headline be engaging? Clearly, the answer is YES!
And don’t assume that your interests are not share-worthy just because you haven’t done something exceptional. Even if you don’t have anything to match the scale of sporting glory, bestselling status or an exotic hobby, it’s worth considering writing something that excites or moves you. Or a fun activity that you enjoy or excel at.
So share away. Your audience can’t wait to discover that fun side or thought provoking side of you…
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