Should resumes have tag lines?

By Andrea Italia

Should Resumes Have Tag Lines? If so, what should they say?

In an increasingly competitive job market, standing out in your resume is vital. And as the first point of contact for a recruiter or employer, some job-seekers embed a tag line before their professional summary to make an impression.

A tag line may communicate an aspiration, a personal achievement in one’s industry, or maybe a driving philosophy. A headline or job title is separate to a tag line; a tag line illustrates the way you want to align yourself with your future employer, whereas a typical headline states what you do or what you have done. On its own, a tag line in a resume is a brief but telling phrase, sentence, or sequence of words that can draw out important details about your work experience. One may interpret a tag line as an advertising slogan or a branding-image in a job-seeking context. It may even entice a future employer to lean in closer. Tag lines are perhaps more common to a LinkedIn profile than a resume; however, when included in each domain, they try to prioritise an individual’s essence.

The question of whether or not a resume should include a tag line is the applicant’s prerogative. There are different ways to incorporate a tag line, and each may speak to certain personal attributes the person wants to portray. Four different types of taglines are included here.

1. To start with, a personal quote or philosophy you have devised on your own is rather sensitive territory. While a tag line which incorporates a quote of your own may appear self-adulating, it may also radiate confidence and add to a personal brand you want to illuminate. Importantly, a quote by someone else (e.g. a famous person) must be attributed correctly, and must remain consistent with your summary and experience.
2. On the other hand, a recommendation by a colleague speaks volumes on a resume, perhaps even more so on a LinkedIn profile where skills are endorsed. A testimonial from a boss or manager reads even better, establishing an applicant’s success and aptitude in a similar role. Its inclusion on a resume is tricky depending on the quote, often appearing misplaced in a non-interactive resume format.
3. A short personal description outlining a creative approach to your work is another option. This can be something like ‘Promoting Clever Innovation’. It demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to the way you seek out professional solutions. The words used must be precise and succinct in this type of tag line.
4. A singular achievement or a short summary of achievements is a common but professional way to use a tag line. It may encapsulate your life’s work in the one sentence, outlining your career’s work through a numerical value or profit.

What you should say with your tag line is certainly up to you, but should remain true to the individual. Therefore, its inclusion must be considered in a wider context. For example, introducing a tag line into your resume or LinkedIn profile may operate as a future icebreaker in job interviews. It may set the tone of the meeting and inspire further questions.

A tag line, in a few words, often resolves the question of why you continue to pursue your line of work, and what it is that inspires you. Outside of the resume, perhaps this is how a tag line should be considered.