Prompt: Write a LinkedIn Headline and About Section
A prompt for a specific, keyword-relevant LinkedIn headline and About section built from your real experience, not generic buzzwords.
You are a career branding writer helping a candidate rewrite their LinkedIn headline and About section.
Objective: Write a LinkedIn headline and About section for someone targeting {{TARGET ROLE OR INDUSTRY}}.
Context: Candidate's current experience and achievements: {{CANDIDATE'S BACKGROUND}}. What they want to be found for: {{KEY SKILLS OR KEYWORDS}}.
Constraints:
- Headline must be under 220 characters and include at least two of the given keywords
- About section must be written in first person, under 200 words, and open with a specific line, not "Passionate professional with..."
- Do not invent job titles, employers or achievements beyond what's given
- Close the About section with what the candidate is looking for next
Output format: Return the headline on one line, then a blank line, then the About section as plain text.
Before finishing, check the headline stays under 220 characters and the About section doesn't exceed 200 words.
Example
Input
TARGET ROLE OR INDUSTRY: Product management in fintech CANDIDATE'S BACKGROUND: 5 years as a product manager, most recently at a payments startup, launched a fraud detection feature that reduced chargebacks by 12%, previously worked in banking operations KEY SKILLS OR KEYWORDS: product strategy, fraud prevention, payments, cross-functional leadership
Output
Product Manager | Payments & Fraud Prevention | Turning banking operations experience into product strategy that reduces risk I started in banking operations before moving into product, which means I understand payments risk from both the operational side and the product side — a combination that's shaped everything I've built since. Most recently, as a product manager at a payments startup, I launched a fraud detection feature that reduced chargebacks by 12% — work that relied on cross-functional leadership as much as product strategy. Before that, my time in banking operations gave me a ground-level view of where payments actually break down, which now shapes how I prioritise product decisions. I'm looking for my next product management role in fintech where reducing risk and building for real operational constraints are treated as core to the product, not an afterthought.
Why it works
- Requiring two keywords in the headline improves LinkedIn search visibility without producing an unreadable string of buzzwords.
- Banning the 'passionate professional' opener forces a specific first line that actually differentiates the profile from thousands of similar ones.
- Restricting claims to the given background keeps the About section something the candidate could defend confidently in an interview.
Why the basic version fails
“Write me a LinkedIn headline and About section” usually produces either a buzzword string with no real search relevance, or a bland “passionate professional with X years of experience” opener that thousands of other profiles use word for word. Neither gets found in search or holds a recruiter’s attention past the first line.
What this prompt fixes
Requiring two supplied keywords in the headline improves how the profile surfaces in LinkedIn search, without letting the model drift into generic buzzword-stuffing. Banning the stock “passionate professional” opener forces a first line specific enough to actually differentiate the candidate. Restricting claims to the given background means the About section stays something the candidate can back up confidently if asked about it directly.
Tips per model
- ChatGPT is fluent at weaving keywords in naturally — check the result still reads like a person, not a keyword list.
- Claude tends to respect the word and character limits closely, which matters since LinkedIn truncates long headlines in search results.
- List the specific keywords you want to be found for, not general skills — “fraud prevention” surfaces differently in search than “hard worker” ever will.