how to write a cv professional summary

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How to Write a Resume Summary Statement

With all the resumes recruiters receive for every job, they only skim yours for about 7.4 seconds before deciding to move you to the next round or rule you out . This is why your resume summary is a game-changer. It is prime real estate that needs to hook the recruiters’ attention and convince them that you are the right person for the job – all within that 7-second window.

In this article, we’ll walk you through:

What a resume summary statement is

When to use a resume summary

How to use keywords in a resume summary

Key Takeaways

Download free resume templates

What is a resume summary?

A resume summary (also called a professional summary or summary statement) is a preview of who you are, what you bring to the table, and how you can help the company solve its problems through your experiences, skills, expertise, and accomplishments.

It is an elevator pitch (composed of 1-4 sentences) that sits right below your name and contact information. It proves why you are the one for the job and makes recruiters want to read your resume and know more about you.

There is no hard and fast rule on when to include a resume summary. But a summary is most helpful if:

However, if you have limited work experience, you can consider using a resume objective instead, but that might not be the best option. Here’s why.

Resume Summary vs Resume Objective

A resume summary and a resume objective are two different things.

The resume objective statement tells the recruiter what you want and focuses on your professional goals.

Example:

To obtain a job as a Search Engine Optimization Specialist at a reputable tech company.

The resume summary statement , on the other hand, shows the unique value you bring to the company and why you are the right fit for the job. It is geared toward the employer’s needs and highlights your accomplishments and notable skills related to the job. When possible, it uses quantifiable metrics to add supporting facts.

Driven Search Engine Optimization Manager with 10+ years of work experience managing different teams in established companies, engaging users, and growing brands through effective SEO strategies and innovative marketing campaigns.

After reading the professional summary above, the hiring manager has a better understanding of the job seeker’s impressive abilities. The resume objective statement, on the other hand, leaves the hiring manager with more questions than answers.

The traditional objective statement has become outdated because it takes up space without offering anything truly valuable to the resume.

Benefits of a resume summary statement

Here are three reasons why you should craft a high-impact, keyword-rich, and strong resume summary.

1. You get noticed more quickly

Because the resume summary sits at the top of your resume right below your contact information, the recruiter can easily spot and read it. Having a strong resume summary gives you a better chance of standing out and landing an interview since the hiring manager can see upfront what you bring to the table.

2. You sell your strongest attributes and top achievements

A resume summary section showcases your top accomplishments , key skills , and experience . This helps recruiters quickly size you up and find key attributes they are looking for in your resume. It leverages the 7-second window by showing the recruiter why you are the best person for the job in just a few sentences.

3. You can include high-impact keywords and get past the ATS

99% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen candidates and narrow the list down to the top job applicants. This means that recruiters and hiring managers are not the only ones you need to impress. The resume summary is a great place to capture relevant keywords that help you get past the ATS, outsmart the bots, and get your resume in front of a recruiter.

How to write a summary on your resume

So, how do you craft a winning professional resume summary statement? Here’s how.

An effective resume summary follows this formula:

Professional Title (if relevant) + Key Experiences (with the total number of years worked) + Top Achievements (preferably measurable results) + Top Skills/Expertise/Unique Values (relevant to the job and industry).

1. Research the company you want to work for

First things first. You need to decide which company you want to work for and research it. Analyze the job description for the position and write down the job requirements, industry-specific keywords and phrases, and key skills required for the job.

Here are a few questions to consider:

2. See how you fit into the job

Write down your key achievements, work experiences, and skills that tie into the specific job you are applying for. Determine how you can add value to the company and how you can help the company solve its problems.

3. Highlight your top selling points in 1-4 sentences

Narrow down your top selling points into 1-4 sentences. Include your top achievements, unique skills and expertise, and relevant work experience. Include data and numbers in your resume summary to back your achievements up. Mention how your previous employers’ operations improved because of your contributions.

Some powerful numbers that can be included in a resume summary are:

Other important notes to nail your resume summary

Due to the number of resumes companies receive for every job post, recruiters and hiring managers use Applicant Tracking Systems to make their lives easier and more efficient. The ATS sifts through applications for specific keywords and skills and chooses the top candidates for the job from the information parsed.

Keywords used by recruiters are usually skills and qualifications from the job description.

Here’s how you make a keyword-rich resume summary that gets past the ATS:

Here are nine examples of resume keywords :

As a job seeker, you have a personal brand. Each company also has its own brand. In order to sell yourself, you must find a way to align your brand with the company brand. A well-written career summary, optimized with the right keywords, gives you that opportunity.

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Paste in your resume text and the job description below for all the top keywords:

How long is a summary?

There is no definitive rule for resume summary length, but most HR experts agree that it should be between one to four sentences .

Professional Resume Summary Examples

Here are some professional summary examples and pointers to guide you as you craft your own winning resume summary.

Resume summary examples for students

Resume summary examples for career-changers, resume summary examples for office/administrative jobs, resume summary examples for marketing jobs, resume summary examples for a management position, resume summary examples for customer service, resume summary examples for teachers, resume summary examples for finance and accounting jobs, resume summary examples for retail jobs, resume summary examples for technical jobs.

Bad Example:

Recent Marketing graduate. Passionate about optimizing product value and increasing brand awareness .

Good Example:

Recent Marketing Graduate with two years of experience in creating marketing campaigns as a trainee in X Company. Adept in Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing. Eager to learn more about growing businesses and optimizing product value.

Why this works: Here, the hiring manager knows that the applicant recently graduated but already has relevant experience in marketing as a trainee at “X Company”. This resume summary highlights key skills in marketing: Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing. Although the applicant is new to the job force, this summary shows his willingness to be trained and to grow more in this area.

Registered nurse who has a huge passion for running and managing a business. Has strong leadership and managerial skills. Able to work with others and take charge of a diverse team.

Registered nurse with 10+ years of management experience, leading teams of medical and non-medical staff. Looking to leverage leadership skills as Operations Supervisor at Company XYZ. Has 3+ years of experience running a family business, helping manage operations, and growing the business. Has strong leadership and managerial skills and has a huge passion for building businesses. Able to learn fast and adapt to changing circumstances.

Why this works: Although being a nurse and applying for a business job is a huge career jump, this resume summary explains the relevant work experience of the candidate. With this, the recruiter has an idea that the candidate has been leading teams for 10+ years and has relevant work experience in running and managing a business.

Bad example:

Office Assistant with strong organizational and administrative skills. Has worked with various agencies and has contributed greatly to every previous employer. Able to manage multiple tasks and create effective systems.

Office Assistant with 4+ years of experience doing administrative work and office support in 3 different agencies. Created a filing system that resulted in a 10% decrease in slack time within X Organization. Has strong organizational skills and a strong eye for detail. Able to create effective systems and documentation that are critical for the success of any organization or company.

Why this works: This resume summary states the specific number of years the assistant has worked and the number of previous employers. This resume summary also backs up the key skill of the candidate by highlighting the tangible result of creating an effective system (i.e. 10% decrease in slack time).

Experienced marketing professional seeking an opportunity to share her expertise on growing brand and increasing social media presence at X Company. Passionate about driving innovation in every marketing campaign and engaging users to more effectively reach and engage with them.

Digital Marketing Director with over 20 years of experience. Spent 12+ years learning and focusing on Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, digital marketing, and Social Media Marketing.

Why this works: This resume summary is very specific. It mentions the years of relevant experience and outlines the key skills that are relevant to the job and industry.

Bad Example:

Operations manager with proven leadership skills and strong communication skills. Has led various teams under different companies. Seeking to add value to X Company and help build the business from zero to one.

Results-driven Operations Manager with Lean Six Sigma Certification. 6+ years of experience leading teams, managing projects, and overseeing operations. In-depth knowledge of Supply Chain Management, Total Quality Management, and Project Management. Aim to share my knowledge base and skills with X Company and add value to the business.

Why this works: This resume summary statement mentions a certification that gives the operations manager an edge. It also states the years of experience and expertise of the candidate. The summary ends with the candidate’s goal of sharing his knowledge and positively contributing to the success of “X Company”.

Motivated customer service professional with years of experience working in Customer Service across different MNCs. Has strong communication and interpersonal skills and is seeking to join X Company to grow more in CS.

Customer Service Representative with 10+ years of experience dealing with different customers and resolving different customer complaints, issues, and inquiries. Has strong knowledge and experience in driving customer loyalty and building strong linkages with existing and repeat customers and clients. Consistently awarded as Customer Service Representative of the Month at X Company.

Why this works: This professional resume summary is specific and on point. It lays out the candidate’s strong work experience in customer service. It also highlights the candidate’s award which increases his value and brand as an excellent customer service representative.

A teacher who is very passionate about Physics and imparting knowledge to high school students. Physics coach for several years. Introduced Physics modules and reviewers that helped many students pass exams and win physics competitions within the country.

High school Physics teacher with more than ten years of experience teaching high school students. Coach of school’s Physics team for 8 consecutive years and has consistently won in national physics competitions. Very passionate about providing quality education to her students and pushing them past their limits so that they can maximize their potential.

Why this works: This career summary statement is oozing with passion, but it is also specific. It states the robust experience of the teacher and highlights how she coached the school’s physics team and won national competitions.

Certified Public Accountant for 15 years. Worked for big auditing firms within the country and has strong experience in Tax Accounting, Risk Analysis, and Fund Management.

Certified Public Accountant with 15 years of experience in Tax, Risk Analysis, and Fund Management working with Ernst and Young for 10 years and Deloitte for 5 years. Responsible for cutting overhead by 10% in EY in 2020. Has strong analytical skills and is an expert in different accounting software and systems.

Why this works: This professional summary states the years of experience as well as the companies the candidate has worked for. Since EY and Deloitte are two of the 4 Big Accounting firms, this gives the candidate a strong chance to be considered for the job. The resume summary also includes tangible results achieved by the job seeker.

Enthusiastic cashier with years of relevant experience working in X company. Works well under pressure and is willing to learn new skills to better serve customers.

Customer-focused cashier with 5+ years of experience serving different customers and creating a warm and friendly store environment. Has raised sales by 5% through strong communication and interpersonal skills. Has strong knowledge of managing financial transactions and creating end-of-day cash position reports.

Why this works: This career statement states the years of experience and measurable achievements that give the job candidate a strong edge over competitors. It also states key skills that are critical for cashiers like financial management, analysis, and reporting.

Experienced and knowledgeable IT professional seeking to contribute her skills and knowledge to X Company.

Goal-oriented IT specialist working in the industry for more than 5 years creating databases, maintaining IT systems and infrastructures, and training others in IT. Automated a complex system and helped the company save 10% in overhead.

Why this works: This resume summary outlines the key experiences of the candidate as well as his years of experience and a major measurable accomplishment while working for his previous employer.

Now that you know how to write a summary, you also need to complete the other sections of your resume and make sure they are effective and optimized for ATS.

Here are references to help you build a strong resume:

Use Jobscan’s free ATS-friendly resume templates and start building your resume that gets noticed by recruiters!

Resume Summary Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a summary on a resume.

The resume summary is a brief paragraph that showcases who you are, how you are able to help the employer with your skills, experiences, and expertise, and why you are the best person for the job.

Should you include a resume objective?

You don’t need to include a resume objective in your resume. Most HR professionals think the resume objective is obsolete and outdated.

Should a resume summary be written in the first or third person?

Your entire resume, including the resume summary, should be written in the third person. You can also eliminate pronouns in the summary.

For example:

“He is a licensed teacher with 10+ years of experience. He has strong communication skills.”

For this career statement, you simply say:

“Licensed teacher with 10+ years of experience. Has strong communication skills.”

Where does a resume summary go on a resume?

The resume summary comes directly after your name and contact information.

Should you always use the same resume summary?

No. A resume summary should be tailored for each job application. If you want to apply to 5 different job applications, then you need to prepare 5 different resumes tailored to a specific job posting.

How long is a summary on a resume?

A resume summary can be one to four sentences long. It can be written as a short paragraph or listed in bullet points.

What is a summary of qualifications?

A summary of qualifications is the same as a resume summary. It emphasizes on key accomplishments and qualifications and presents why you are the best candidate for the job.

What are the other names for Resume Summary?

A resume summary statement is often referred to by other names, including

The Resume Summary is a critical part of your resume that highly impacts your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and landing interviews. So make the most out of this prime real estate by crafting a winning, keyword-rich, and compelling resume summary.

Here are important pointers:

How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement

A resume summary or career proﬁle is a brief statement at the top of your resume. If you are a career changer or have many years of experience, craft a powerful summary to highlight your accomplishments and skills. Show the employer, at a glance, why you’re qualiﬁed for the job!

Resume Proﬁle Guidelines

General guidelines to keep in mind:

How To Create Your Proﬁle

To choose what to highlight in your summary, research positions of interest and write a list of the common requirements and qualiﬁcations.

Assess your skills and credentials. How does your background and experience align with the qualiﬁcations outlined in the job description? Select skills, experiences, special knowledge, and accomplishments that you want to highlight in your proﬁle selection.

Next draft a few phrases that summarize your Skills/Experience/Accomplishments/Knowledge/Education

Now write a sentence describing your “professional role,” which you can use as the opening line in your proﬁle. For example:

Finally, put all of the sentences together and edit for a clean, concise, and compelling proﬁle statement.

Career Proﬁle

Successful professional with corporate marketing and training experience seeking position in nonproﬁt organization leveraging fundraising and program development skills. Recognized for ability to develop strong relationships and plan strategically. Strengths include:

Highly skilled and results-oriented professional with solid academic preparation holding a Juris Doctor degree and extensive experience in intelligence and special operations seeks position in risk management. Proven ability to assess and manage complex obstacles; viewed as a strong troubleshooter. Successful in intense and demanding environments, providing decisive team leadership and structure with a track record of motivating and developing soldiers. Willing to relocate.

Publishing executive with multi-faceted background encompassing international licensing and brand management. Developed specialties in editorial planning, global marketing strategy, and design. Managed multiple projects simultaneously and eﬃciently by overseeing the daily operations of 17 magazine titles worldwide. Proven ability to develop strong relationships across cultures and to provide decisive team leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Resources

We have many resources available to help you navigate career change and showcase your transferable skills.

Related Resources

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A resume summary statement usually comes right after a job seeker’s contact info and before other resume sections such as skills and work experience. It provides employers with a brief overview of a candidate’s career accomplishments and qualifications before they read further. Because of how early it appears on the document, your resume summary statement (or your CV “profile” in the UK) is one of the first places recruiters and employers look. And without the right information, they’ll doubt that you’re qualified and may move to another resume.

So I got in touch with a select group of professional resume writers, coaches and career experts to get their best resume summary examples you can use and adapt to write a resume summary that stands out and gets interviews.

As a former recruiter myself, I’ll also share my best tips to write your resume summary effectively.

Why the Resume/CV Summary is Important

You may have heard that recruiters only spend 8-10 seconds looking at your resume. The truth is: they spend that long deciding whether to read more. They do glance that quickly at first and may move on if your background doesn’t look like a fit. However, if you grab their attention, they’ll read far more. Recruiters aren’t deciding to interview you in 8-10 seconds, but they are ruling people out in 8-10 seconds. And this is why your resume summary is so crucial. It appears high up on your resume (usually right after your header/contact info) and is one of the first sections employers see. So it’s part of what they’ll see in the first 8-10 seconds.

Your resume summary statement is one of your first (and one of very few) chances to get the employer to stop skimming through their pile of resumes and focus on YOU.

10 Resume Summary Examples for Various Industries:

These career summary examples will help you at any experience level – whether you’re writing a professional summary after a long executive career, or writing your first resume summary without any experience! After you finish this article you’re NEVER going to have to send out a limp, weak resume summary statement again (and you’ll get far more interviews because of it).

1. Healthcare Sales Executive Resume Summary Example:

Turnaround & Ground Up Leadership – Concept-to-execution strategies for untapped products, markets + solutions that yield 110% revenue growth – Negotiates partnerships with leading distributors + hospitals—Medline to Centara + Novant Health to Mayo Clinic – Revitalizes underperforming sales organizations via scalable, sustainable infrastructures emulated as best practice – C-Level networks of clinical + supply chain leadership acquired during tenures with XXX, XXX and XXX

Why this resume summary is good:

This resumes summary example’s strength lies in the detailed, unique information that has been included. By including revenue stats, names of past employers and partners, the reader right away sees that this person will bring to the role a strong networking ability with key players in his industry, and more importantly can build, grow and revitalize a sales organization, market or product.

By: Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes and Forbes contributor.

2. 15+ Year Business Owner Resume Summary Statement:

Dynamic and motivated marketing professional with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, designing educational strategies, and coaching individuals to success. Skilled in building cross-functional teams, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, and making critical decisions during challenges. Adaptable and transformational leader with an ability to work independently, creating effective presentations, and developing opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Why this is a good summary section:

This is a resume summary statement that was for a candidate returning to work after having her own business for 15+ years. Because of this, we needed to emphasize her soft skills and what she can bring to this potential position. In addition, we highlighted the skills she has honed as a business owner so that she can utilize these qualifications as a sales professional, account manager, and someone knowledgeable about nutrition, medicine, and the overall sales process.

By: Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish. MBA, Ph.D., CPRW, and Founder of Feather Communications

3. Human Resources Generalist Resume Summary Example:

Human Resources Generalist with progressive experience managing employee benefits & compliance, employee hiring & onboarding, performance management processes, licensure tracking and HR records. Dependable and organized team player with the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently. Skilled at building relationships with employees across all levels of an organization. Proficient with HRIS, applicant tracking and benefits management.

Why this is a good resume summary:

The applicant highlights their experience across a wide range of HR functions from the very first sentence, and continues this pattern throughout the rest of the summary. They then use easily digestible langue to showcase their hard skills (in the first & fourth sentences) and soft skills (in the second & third sentences). They also integrate a variety of keywords to get past automated job application systems , without sounding spammy or without overdoing it.

By: Kyle Elliott, MPA/CHES, Career Coach and Consultant

4. Social Media Marketing CV Profile Example (UK):

Social media expert with successes in the creation and management of social media strategies and campaigns for global retail organisations. Extensive experience in the commercial utilisation of multiple social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube; I build successful social strategies that increase brand awareness, promote customer engagement and ultimately drive web traffic and conversions.

Why this summary is good:

This summary is well-written, short, sharp, and gives recruiters a high-level explanation of the candidate’s core offerings in a persuasive and punchy style. A quick scan of this profile tells you the exact type of social media platforms the candidate is an expert in, as well as the campaigns they have experience running and types of organizations they have worked for. Most importantly, the summary is rounded off by showing the results that this person achieves for their employers, such as increased web traffic and conversions.

Editor’s note: This CV profile summary was written for the UK market… this is a great one to use/copy, but make sure you put it through a spell-checker if you’re applying for jobs in the US (utilisation vs. utilization, etc.)

By: Andrew Fennell, Director at StandOut CV , contributor for The Guardian and Business Insider

5. Marketing Manager Professional Summary Example:

Marketing Manager with over eight years of experience. Proven success in running email marketing campaigns and implementing marketing strategies that have pulled in a 20% increase in qualified leads. Proficient in content, social media and inbound marketing strategies. Skilled, creative and innovative.

This resume summary stands out because it gets straight to the point. By immediately introducing the number of years of experience the candidate has, the HR manager doesn’t need to spend time adding up years. The candidate also jumps right into his or her strongest skill, provides a statistic , then gives additional skills.

By: Sarah Landrum, career expert and contributor at Entrepreneur.com and Forbes

6. Warehouse Supervisor Resume Summary Example:

Warehouse Supervisor with Management, Customer Service, & Forklift Experience – Dependable manager with 15+ years of experience in warehouse management and employee supervision. – Skilled at managing inventory control, shipping & receiving, customer relations and safety & compliance. – Certified Power Equipment Trainer, Forklift Operator and Reach Operator skilled at coaching other staff. – Promoted to positions of increased responsibility given strong people and project management skills.

The applicant was applying for a warehouse supervisor position that required them to have demonstrated management, customer service and forklift experience. As such, the applicant showcased their experience in these areas with a few keywords in the title, followed by additional details in the accompanying bullet points. Their final bullet shows a record of promotions, while reinforcing the applicant’s customer service and project management skills.

7. IT Project Manager Resume Summary Example:

Experienced Project Manager with vast IT experience. Skills include computer networking, analytical thinking and creative problem solving. Able to apply customer service concepts to IT to improve user experience for clients, employees and administration.

Because this candidate is switching career paths, it’s important he or she take skills used for previous positions and apply those skills to the new job listing. This is a great example because the candidate makes it clear that his or her experience is not in the new field, but that they are still able to bring relevant experience to the table. When writing your resume summary, keep these tips in mind: Use writing that is straight to the point, clear and concise, you’ll have a higher chance of getting noticed by the hiring manager.

8. Career-Changer Resume Summary Example:

Earn trust, uncover key business drivers and find common ground as chief negotiator and identifier of revenue opportunities in sales, leadership and account management roles spanning e-Commerce, air travel and high-tech retail. Navigate cultural challenges while jumping time zones, lead international airline crews and manage corporate accounts to deliver an exceptional customer experience. A self-taught techie sought after as a go-to for complex billing systems and SaaS platforms alike—bridging the divide between technology and plain-speak. – Tenacious Quest for Success + Learning . Earned MBA and BS in just 3 years while working full-time – gaining hands-on experience in research- and data-driven product roadmap development, pricing and positioning. – Results-Driven Leadership. Whether leading Baby Boomers, Gen X or Millennials—figures out what makes teams tick, trains and transforms individuals into top-performers. – Challenger of Conventional Wisdom. Always ask the WHY. Improve the user experience through smart, strategic thinking that anticipates outcomes. Present cases that influence, and lead change that drives efficiency and profitability.

This client was eager for a career change and had moved from role to role and industry to industry. After completing her Master’s degree, she was eager to tie her skills together to land a role – which she did – as a Senior Technology Account Strategist for a global travel company. Although a bit longer than a traditional summary, its strength lies in the details. Without ever getting to the experience section, the reader gets a clear idea of the scope of responsibility, and hard and soft skills the candidate brings to the table.

By: Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes and Forbes contributor.

9. Project Management Executive Professional Summary Example:

15+ years of initiating and delivering sustained results and effective change for Fortune 500 firms across a wide range of industries including enterprise software, digital marketing, advertising technology, e-commerce and government. Major experience lies in strategizing and leading cross-functional teams to bring about fundamental change and improvement in strategy, process, and profitability – both as a leader and expert consultant.

Why this resume summary is good:

“Project Manager” is one of those job titles that’s REALLY broad. You can find project managers earning $50K, and others earning $250K. The client I wrote this for was at the Director level, and had worked for some of the biggest and best tech companies in her city. So this resume profile section shows her level and experience, and the wide array of areas she has responsibility for in her current work. You can borrow or use some of the phrasing here to show that you’ve been responsible for many important areas in your past work.

By: Biron Clark, Founder of CareerSidekick.com.

10. Startup And Finance Management Consultant Career Summary Example:

Experienced strategist, entrepreneur and startup enthusiast with a passion for building businesses and challenging the status quo. 8+ year track record of defining new business strategies, launching new ventures, and delivering operational impact, both as a co-founder and management consultant.

Why this resume summary example is good:

This summary was for a highly-talented management consultant looking to break out of finance, and into trendier tech companies like Uber. His track record and educational background were great, so the goal of this summary section was to stand out and show he’s more than just the typical consultant with a finance background. So we emphasized his passion for startups, and his ability to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. That’s something that companies like Uber and other “disruptive” tech companies look for.

Now you have 10 professional resume summary statements and explanations of why they’re effective. Next, I’ll share tips for how to write your own in case you’re still unsure how to begin based on these examples above.

How to Write a Resume Summary: Steps and Hints

We’ve looked at 10 great resume summary examples above. As you begin writing a resume summary for yourself, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

How Long Should a Resume Summary Be?

As you read the resume summaries above, you probably noticed there are some short single-paragraph resume summary examples and much longer career summaries that are two to three paragraphs plus bullet points. So how long should YOUR professional summary be? If you have relevant work experience, keep your summary to one or two paragraphs. The piece you really want the hiring manager to read is your most recent work experience (and you should make sure you tailored that info to fit the job description). The resume summary is just a “bridge” to get the hiring manager into your experience.

If I were writing my own career summary right now, I’d likely use one single paragraph packed with skills, accomplishments, and exactly why I’m ready to step into the job I’ve applied for and be successful!

Even for a manager resume summary, I recommend a very short length. However, if you’re changing careers, or you’re looking for jobs without any work experience , the summary section needs to stand on its own, and should be longer. That’s why some examples above are a bit longer.

Formatting Your Resume/CV Career Summary

You may have noticed a variety of different formats in the career summary examples above. There isn’t one “right” way to format this section on your resume or CV. However, I recommend either using one or two brief paragraphs, or combining a short sentence or paragraph with bullets. Avoid writing three or four long paragraphs with no special formatting like bullet points. That’s simply too much text for your summary section and will cause recruiters and hiring managers to skip over it in some cases.

Should You Include a Resume Objective?

You do not need to include an objective on your resume, and doing so can make your resume appear outdated. Use a resume summary instead of an objective. Follow the resume summary examples above and focus on discussing your skills, qualifications, and achievements, rather than stating your objective. Employers know that your objective is to obtain the position you’ve applied for, and the resume objective has no place on a modern resume/CV in today’s job market.

After You Start Getting Interviews, Make Sure to Take Advantage…

If you follow the advice above, you’ll have a great professional resume summary to make your qualifications stand out to employers. But landing the interview is only half the battle… So make sure you go into every interview ready to convince employers that they should hire you, too! If you write a great resume summary example that gets employers excited to interview you, they’re going to ask you questions like, “tell me about yourself” early in the interview to learn more about your background. So make sure you’re prepared with an answer.

I also recommend you review the top 20 interview questions and answers here.

Your resume caught their interest, so naturally, they’re going to follow up with a variety of questions to learn more about your professional background.

The bottom line is: A strong professional resume summary, followed up by other well-written resume sections will get you the interview, but your interview performance is what determines whether you get the job offer!

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Biron Clark

Biron Clark is a former executive recruiter who has worked individually with hundreds of job seekers, reviewed thousands of resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and recruited for top venture-backed startups and Fortune 500 companies. He has been advising job seekers since 2012 to think differently in their job search and land high-paying, competitive positions.

41 Comments

I would recommend to customise the skills section of your resume, and ensure that it matches the job posting. The higher the number of phrases within the resume matching the job requirements the more are the chances that the recruiter will pick you for the job.

I just wanted to say, “thank you!”. This was very helpful. Instead of jumping from one website to the next there’s so much useful, relevant information right here.

Hi, I have been having trouble creating a resume as My old one is so long, I’ve worked for a government agency for the past 14 years and held multiple positions doing many different duties for each and now I have to relocate to another area where they do not have an agency like mine in my new area within a 3 hour drive, how can I squeeze all my experience and duties on one page and where do I even start, I’m so nervous, it’s been so long since I’ve attempted the job hunt. So I’m wondering, I do not want to cut anything out that may hurt my chances and I can’t afford to have my resume rewritten by a professional. Can you guide me as to where you think would be a good place to start, I’ve been staring at this laptop for weeks trying to decide on a resume template, there are so many. I thank you for your time and any input will help.

Hi, I am a new graduate and do not have any experience in my field which is Nursing. I want to apply for the jobs but I have no idea about what to mention in my resume.

Hi, this article should help with the resume summary, at least: https://careersidekick.com/summary-for-resume-no-experience/

Other than that, you need to put your academic experience. And internships/part-time jobs if you’ve had any.

Dear Biron,, Thanks for sharing the 10 examples of professional summaries in your article, and especially the reasons why they were considered to be good. However, as a HR professional, I would most likely skip over most of them and would not read much past the first or second sentence. The summaries were mostly too wordy and boring, and did not demonstrate ‘oomph’ at first cursory reading. Simply indicating certain skills or behaviors does not give an idea of the level of expertise, and could simply be wishful thinking on the part of the resume writer.

Just goes to show that there are many ways to see what makes a good summary.

I am a chemical engineer and project management professional with 15+years experience. My experience is between process engineering and project management . How can I marry the two in my profile summary?

It’s not about showing everything you’ve done. It’s about showing employers evidence you’ll succeed in their job. You can show a bit of both but focus heavily on what’s most relevant for the jobs you’re applying for right now. 80/20.

This was absolutely helpful and amazing! Thank you very much!

Hello, I am an active job seeker. I hold a law degree from a foreign country and currently in college for an associate degree. My question is, how do I blend both my foreign job experience with that of the United States in my resume. Thank you.

I’d put your work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent up top. That’s what I’d recommend for 95% of people actually. Then it doesn’t matter where you held each job.

And then in your Education section, I’d include your foreign degree and the current degree you’re pursuing in the US, too (for the US degree, you can say “in progress” or “graduating May 2019” for example).

I am 40 years old & B.A degree holder I have experience in many fields.I would like to join any one fields

I am a fresh graduate, who has five years teaching experience and some months customer service representative experience. Pls kindly assist me to put the resume summary together

I’m an active duty service member and finding in a little difficult creating a good transitional summary from 20 year profession in tactical communications to a drug and alcohol counselor. Do you have any recommendations how I should approach this? Any assistance would be helpful. Thanks

Great piece

How to write the CAREER ABSTRACT in resume for ware super visor retail business?

Just wanted to say thank you.Your advise and information was clear and easy to understand , sometimes there is nothing pertaining to what im looking fot in particular, buy you have sermed to cover everything I n a short quick easy to understand method.It will help tremendously.

Thanks! Glad to hear it helped :)

Very informational

What if you have work experience, but the job your going for(teachingeducation) has nothing to do with warehouse work? How should I build my resume?

In the summary, describe yourself and then say, “…looking to transition into ___” (the type of work you want to be doing now).

This is a bit like a resume “Objective”. I normally don’t recommend an Objective section (and I recommend a Summary section instead), however the one time an Objective does make sense is when you’re trying to change industries or make a big change in the type of role you have.

So that’s why my advice here might seem like I’m telling you to combine an Objective with your resume Summary.

Then “tailor” your previous work to be as relevant as possible. Even if you worked in a different industry you can still show things like leadership, accountability, progress/improvement, hard work, achieving goals, strong teamwork skills, etc. You can do all of that in your resume bullets and work history.

Don’t u have Resume Summary of legal secretary/legal assistant?

No, sorry about that. There are hundreds of different professions/job titles, and we aren’t able to include an example for every scenario out there. These resume summary examples are designed to give you a general idea of how to write yours.

The summaries listed are excellent example and have helped me develop a stand out summary for a new position.

Hello, I been trying to land the job of my dreams. I need help with my resume if i want the recruiters in airlines to notice me. I’ve applied before but haven’t had complete success to making it to a face-to Face Interview. It is a career change – yet i feel i am a great candidate bc i have had many customer service and I even attended an academy for that specific position. Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong on my resume ?

what if i never had a job experience?

Great question. If you don’t have any work experience, take one of the formats/examples above and put your accomplishments and qualifications from your academic studies.

Your headline could say: “Motivated Bio-Sciences Graduate With Expertise in ____”.

And then you might talk about accomplishments in school, group projects you worked on or led, etc.

Basically, when you have no work experience, your school/studies BECOMES your recent work. You should talk about that like it’s a job, because that’s the experience you do have.

really amazing article and too useful , thanks

Hi Mr. Clark, I have been out of the work force for about 18+years and I have been a small business owner for the same number of years. However, I want to go back to the work force. But my problem is that, I don’t know how to prepare my resume or resume summary statement. I had a degree in Communication,Arts and Sciences and a postgraduate degree in Public Administration. I’m a bit confused as to how to incorporate all these experiences into my resume. Please can you help?

Hi Dorothy, I can recommend a professional resume writer if you want. But they’re typically not cheap, so it’s something you’d have to be willing to invest in. If not, there’s a lot of free info online about how to “tailor” your resume for specific jobs. I can’t help one-on-one unfortunately, but I’d recommend thinking about which type of jobs you want, and think of what experience you have that is most relevant. that’s what to put on your resume. Your resume isn’t only about you, it’s about them – what do they want/need? (if you want to get a ton of interviews, that’s how to do it :) ).

Can I have a professional resume writer?

I think it’s okay to use something similar. I might be more brief in the cover letter… it needs to be about them just as much as it’s about you. Whereas the resume is all about you, at least in the summary section. (The later sections should still be tailored to THEIR needs..)

Struggling to write a Summary Statement for a Secretary/Administrative Assistant position. I have 15 years government experience but have been away from the government since 9/1993 and have spent 15 years as a Substitute Teacher after taking off for 10 years to raise my children.

Hiya! I am a mother of three attempting to return to the workforce. I have been a stay at mom for about 13 years, so I have a (large) gap in my employment history; which doesn’t look great. I have a college education and have obtained a few certifications whilst not employed, plus many volunteer hours. I know that I should probably use a functional resume format. Would love some advice on what I should include in my summary statement.

Hi Juniper,

I rarely like functional resumes, but it might be worth trying. I’d “split-test” it (a marketing term). Create two resume styles, send out 50% one way, 50% the other way, and track results for a week.

I’d treat the resume summary statement just like any other resume. Highlight your skills and past wins/accomplishments.

how do i explain long term gaps in employment? leave them out?

Hi Paulette,

Don’t mention them on a resume summary. But do mention the gaps on a cover letter or lower down on the resume. Here’s an article on how to explain gaps in employment:

https://careersidekick.com/explaining-gaps-in-employment/

I am student in civil engineering field. Have 1.5 yrs of work ex. How should i structure my resume. Thanks.

Hello My name is Shataka and I’m a current job seeker trying to land my dream job as a Counselor. I have Master degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. My experience lies in many different fields. I’m currently a Substance Abuse Counselor, with a teaching background and over 5 years of social service experience. I guess my question is how would I sum up all my experience to help me find a job as a Counselor.

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45+ Resume Summary Examples (& How to Write)

Your professional resume summary quickly shows employers you have the experience and skill-set needed to do the job. After explaining how to write a resume summary statement , we list 42 resume summary examples for all experience levels and job types.

resume summary hero, highlights the resume summary statement of an admin assistant resume

What is a summary on a resume?

A resume summary is a 1-5 sentence introduction at the top of your resume that highlights your most relevant career experience, skills, and achievements. If you have many career highlights, the professional summary for your resume will be longer.

The first sentence of a resume summary should always include your biggest professional selling points. And for most employers, those selling points are your:

Each sentence of your professional summary must clearly highlight good examples of why you’re the best fit for the role.

Good resume summary examples

Here are a few examples of what different resume summaries look like:

Customer service representative summary

An example of a professional summary for a resume written by a customer service representative

Software engineer summary

A software engineer resume summary sample

Nursing assistant summary

A nursing assistant resume summary statement example

Notice that all three of these resume summaries hit upon several major points of interest for hiring managers:

If you can summarize your key selling points at the start of your resume like these candidates, you immediately improve your job prospects. We’ll show you how with 40+ of our best resume summary examples and instructions for writing your own summary.

40+ professional resume summary examples

Whether you have no work experience or are applying for an executive role, we have resume summary examples that can help you as you write your resume .

10 good resume summary examples (entry-level)

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a resume summary with no experience. If you have accomplishments related to the position you’re applying for, then writing a resume summary statement can help you land work.

Here are 10 summary for resume examples written by candidates with little or no relevant work experience to give you some ideas:

Childcare Resume Summary

Passionate childcare professional with over a year of babysitting experience. Skilled at creating engaging, educational activities for children and fostering a safe, caring environment. Employed unique tutoring methods to help the child I was babysitting improve her speech impediment. CPR certified and an experienced vegetarian home cook.

Related resume samples:

College Student Resume Summary

Committed English major with exceptional research and writing abilities. Awarded multiple honors based on merits and expected to graduate from UCLA in June of 2019. Tutored freshmen and improved writing scores by 40%.

Computer Science Resume Summary

Recent Computer Science graduate (3.8 GPA) seeking to use my backend development experience in an entry-level position. Possess 4 months of internship experience building and testing applications for Android, iOS, and Windows. Skilled with C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, and Swift. Independently built a note-taking application that was recently approved by the Apple App Store.

Digital Marketing Resume Summary

Recent Marketing graduate with 5 months of internship experience in digital marketing and branding in the fashion industry. Helped launch a branded account on Tik Tok for Michelle Textiles, gaining over 8,000 followers in 4 months. Skilled in growing engagement and staying on top of the latest trends to improve brand growth.

Food Service Resume Summary

Enthusiastic high school student with strong interpersonal skills and perfect attendance record. Was a top performer in my school’s fundraiser last year, selling $450 worth of chocolate. Have CPR certification and am well-versed in food safety techniques from helping in my grandparents’ restaurant.

High School Resume Summary

Diligent high school graduate with a 3.9/4.0 GPA and 100% attendance record. Served a term as student council president with 70% support from council members and organized a charity drive for homeless veterans, raising $4,700.

Internship Resume Summary

Energetic marketing student with knowledge of advertising, PR, product development, and consumer research strategies. Received 3rd place out of 30 teams in UGA’s business plan competition. Member of the American Marketing Association.

Nursing Student Resume Summary

Upcoming nursing graduate with excellent educational credentials and hands-on patient care experience. Possess strong foundational knowledge of medical terminology, healthcare policies, and patient care.

Research Assistant Resume Summary

Recent Political Science graduate (3.7 GPA) with 5 months experience conducting research through my school’s statewide polling program. Excellent understanding of standard survey methods and quantitative analysis. Achieved recognition for completing an average of 40 successful phone interviews per day, the highest volume of anyone in the program.

Warehouse Worker Resume Summary

Dedicated aspiring warehouse worker with 1 year of experience working for a moving company. Fluent in English and Malay, and able to repeatedly lift packages of over 100 pounds. Won an award at my previous job for shaving an average of 10 minutes off every moving job.

20 resume summary statement examples (mid-level)

Have a few years of work experience already? Here are 20 resume summary examples for mid-level jobseekers in a wide range of industries:

Accountant Resume Summary

Certified public accountant with 5+ years of experience handling ledger processes and account reconciliations, as well as streamlining accounts. Supervised a $4.7 million budget and reduced costs by 17% over 3 years. Possess an MBA with a focus in accounting.

Bartender Resume Summary

Lead bartender with 3+ years of experience in cocktail preparation and creation. Deep knowledge of local craft beers, wine, spirits, and cocktails, as well as their optimal food pairings. Bartending license certified by the District of Columbia.

Business Analyst Resume Summary

Methodical business analyst with 5+ years of experience supporting business solution software and analyzing operations. Evaluated risks related to requirements implementation, testing processes, project communications, and training which saved the company $5,000+ annually.

Camp Counselor Resume Summary

Camp Counselor with 4+ years experience directing lively, interactive, and educational summer camps for youths from 5 to 15 years old. Energetic leadership style, extensive experience running summer camps. First Aid, CPR, and Lifeguarding certifications, plus Wilderness First Responder Training.

Cashier Resume Summary

Head cashier with 7+ years of experience providing excellent customer service, handling daily accounts, and maintaining inventory. Handled 92+ transactions daily and increased customer satisfaction by 9% in 6 months.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resume Summary

Reliable and caring certified nursing assistant with 6+ years of experience caring for elderly adults. Assisted 15 residents during each shift with everything from the basic activities of daily life to providing social and emotional support.

Customer Service Resume Summary

Customer service representative with 5+ years of experience in a call center setting, including sales, tech support, and customer care. Received an average 85% customer satisfaction rating to date, while handling 90+ calls daily. 70 WPM typist.

Dental Assistant Resume Summary

Dental assistant with 4+ years of experience providing efficient and competent service in busy dental clinics. Prepared 15 patients daily to undergo dental procedures, and recorded treatment information in patient records with 100% accuracy. Possess Dental Assistant Associate Degree.

Financial Analyst Resume Summary

Detail-oriented financial analyst with 6+ years of experience developing and presenting informed analysis to guide executive-level decisions. Increased revenue by an average of 7% annually through an optimized investment strategy. Possess M.S. in Accounting and CFA certification.

Housekeeping Resume Summary

Diligent hotel housekeeper with 6+ years of experience managing and training new employees. Deep familiarity with all cleaning material and tools, as well as OSHA safety guidelines. Fluent English and business-level Spanish.

Information Technology (IT) Resume Summary

IT specialist with 7+ years of professional experience in information security and digital forensics. Expert with a wide variety of security, engineering, networking, and operating system software. Possesses an Associate Degree in Information Security and Digital Forensics.

Marketing Resume Summary

Creative marketing professional with 6+ years of experience working for a diverse group of organizations and clients. Increased monthly sales from $8,000 to $25,000 in 10 months, and increased followers on social media by 150% over the same timespan.

Medical Assistant Resume Summary

Attentive and detail-oriented medical assistant with 5+ years of experience. Assisted family doctor to administer exams of more than 2,000 patients from over 600 families. AAMA Certified Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy Technician since 2011.

Receptionist Resume Summary

Receptionist with 9+ years of experience managing administrative functions for office personnel. Strong ability in analyzing information and providing solutions to problems. Saved the company $10K in undue payments from inaccurate billings.

Retail Resume Summary

Retail sales associate with 5+ years of experience communicating with and retaining clients. Achieved an average of 140% of sales goals for 3 consecutive months and provided recommendations that generated $8K in additional revenue. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Server Resume Summary

Courteous server with 7+ years of experience of food preparation and service in 150+ seat restaurants. Generated additional daily wine sales of $150. Certificate in Food Handling and Safety.

Social Worker Resume Summary

Committed social worker with 5+ years of experience serving the community, resolving conflicts, and providing guidance for those in need. Served in 3 to 5 weekly therapy groups. Facilitated crisis intervention services and psychosocial assessments to address needs of young adolescents, who ranged from 10 to 18 years old.

Software Engineer Resume Summary

Driven software engineer with 6+ years of experience executing cutting-edge engineering solutions with a wide range of e-commerce application and technology skills. Able to leverage full-stack expertise to build interactive and user-centered website designs to scale.

Teacher Resume Summary

Accomplished teacher with 10 years of experience instructing classes of different sizes and ability levels. Received 90%+ satisfaction rating from parents and students each of those years. Improved math and literacy grades by 17% and 24%, respectively.

Web Developer Resume Summary

Web developer with 8+ years of experience in designing and developing user interfaces, testing, debugging, and training staff in ecommerce technologies. Optimized check-out page that increased user clicks, and subsequently customer purchases by 20%.

10 professional summary examples (management)

Your manager resume summary needs to quickly demonstrate your relevant experience and knack for management, otherwise it may leave the hiring manager thinking you’re unqualified for the job.

Here are 10 manager resume summary samples to help you write your own manager resume :

Account Manager Resume Summary

Account manager with 7+ years of experience monitoring client accounts, analyzing incomings and outgoings, and performing forecasts. Managed accounts worth $4.7 million in annual sales. Increased business volume by 150% by implementing new customer service initiatives.

HR Manager Resume Summary

HR manager with 6+ years of experience implementing effective HR policies and leading a 4-person human resources team. Increased employee retention above 90% and reduced recruitment costs by 10%. SHRM certified, Google Workspace fluent, 90 WPM.

Marketing Manager Resume Summary

Innovative marketing manager with 6+ years of experience in home appliances and cosmetics environments. Recruited, hired, and trained 30+ marketing and sales specialists, improving overall sales targets by 24%. Directed launch of 12 new product lines, with total annual revenue of $1.3 billion.

Operations Manager Resume Summary

Financially savvy, customer experience-oriented Operations Manager with a passion for solar energy. Over 7 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, with an expert understanding of compliance regarding state and federal laws. Reduced operating budget waste at my current company by 3% for the past two fiscal years. Committed to promoting high safety standards and ethical company values.

Product Manager Resume Summary

Product manager with 8+ years of experience developing brand strategy, evaluating financial performance, and marketing. Managed an annual budget of $4.7 million and exceeded sales quota by 74%.

Project Manager Resume Summary

Project manager with 8+ years of experience managing multi-million dollar construction projects, coordinating a team of 90+ subcontractors, and performing budget allocation and analysis. Managed a project budget of $325M+ while reducing costs by 15% annually.

Project manager resume

Property Manager Resume Summary

California-licensed property manager with 15+ years of experience closing contracts with landlords and clients, selecting professional and cost-efficient contractors, and filing accurate taxes. Hold a certification from the National Association of Residential Property Managers and a California Real Estate Salesperson License.

Restaurant Manager Resume Summary

Enterprising restaurant manager with 6+ years of experience managing a high-quality and fast-paced five-star restaurant. Coached 50+ staff members and maintained an employee retention rate 25% higher than industry standard by implementing training programs.

Sales Manager Resume Summary

Fiercely competitive sales manager with 7+ years of experience driving profitability through strategic growth, leading teams, and quality control. Achieved $13,000,000 in sales monthly within the district while increasing customer satisfaction by 5% each year.

Warehouse Manager Resume Summary

Results-driven Warehouse Manager with 11+ years of experience driving process efficiency and operational excellence. Proven success in reducing costs, improving inventory turns, and enhancing performance through system enhancements. Adept at implementing and managing inventory audits/cycle counts, multinational logistics, and supply chain strategies.

Skills summary (2 examples)

If you have extra space on your resume and want to make your introduction stand out even more, you can try writing a skills-focused summary for your resume.

Using bullet points and bolded skills , this type of professional summary achieves the same effect as a good 3-sentence resume summary but adds a nice visual element with the bolding.

Nursing Skills-Based Resume Summary

Caregiving: Provide quality health care in a 20-patient ward, including daily monitoring, recording, and evaluation Communication skills: Interface daily with 7 team members concerning patients’ treatments Empathetic: Commended 3 times for ability to deliver bad news to patients and their family members Knowledgeable: Graduated Sacramento State Nursing program with 3.9 GPA

Hair Stylist Skills-Based Resume Summary

How to write a resume summary

Whether you’re an experienced manager or have no work experience, we’ll show you exactly how to write a professional resume summary that showcases your ability to succeed in your field. Alternatively, use a professional resume summary generator to have one made for you.

If you have experience

Writing a professional resume summary with more than a few years of work experience is simple. For any mid or high-level position, your summary should be three sentences (but you can add more if you have other related details to highlight):

Resume summary example (experienced)

An example of a professional resume summary from an experienced candidate

Why this is a good example of a resume summary

This manager resume summary example effectively summarizes the candidate’s most important experience from the very first sentence. Without relevant experience, it’s nearly impossible to land work as a manager. This opening line quickly establishes the candidate as both experienced and qualified.

After describing a major career highlight that proves they can make a valuable impact in a higher-level role, this veteran sales manager includes a relevant certification and touches upon their major industry-related skills. In three quick sentences, the employer knows that this candidate is:

If you have no experience

No experience in your field or industry? You can still write a good summary for a resume by using the following 2-3 sentence structure:

Summary for resume example (no experience)

A resume summary statement example written by someone with no work experience

After reading this resume summary, it’s clear that even with no professional experience, this candidate is qualified to work in any entry-level job that requires writing skills and a strong work ethic.

And if this applicant’s degree isn’t relevant to the job they’re applying for, writing is still a transferable skill that applies to other fields (like marketing, for instance). Any company looking for an inexperienced but hardworking and capable writer would be drawn to this candidate because of their professional summary.

Need help getting ideas for your no-experience resume summary? Check out these resources and mix them into your own writing:

Click to rate this article

Written by Conrad Benz

Conrad Benz is a Digital Media Specialist & Resume Expert at Resume Genius, where he helps countless job-seekers craft standout resumes and launch their careers. His... more

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