how to write a general summary for a resume

24 Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

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.

Watch: Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

10 resume summary examples:.

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.

14 Resume Summary Examples for Various Industries

Compassionate and effective 5th-grade teacher with experience overseeing the classroom and preparing lessons. Extensive experience encouraging students through positive reinforcement and motivational techniques. Collaborate well with school administration and other members of the teaching team. Ensure all students meet learning requirements, including literacy, social, and arithmetic skills.

2. Teacher’s Assistant

Goal-oriented teacher’s assistant with ten years of experience working with elementary school children. Aid teachers with lesson planning, classroom settings, and group instruction. Model positive behavior and maintain order in the classroom. Willingness to take on additional responsibilities to meet learning objectives.

Tech Industry

3. computer programmer.

Innovative computer programmer with a proven track record of writing high-quality code and supporting team needs with subject matter expertise. Adept in multiple programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and C++. Ability to troubleshoot complex programming issues with inventive solutions. 

4. Cybersecurity Analyst

Dedicated cybersecurity analyst with ten years of experience in online security research, execution, planning, and maintenance. Proven track record of identifying business risks and proactively resolving them. Experience designing and instituting layered network security for large-scale organizations. Train users and other staff members on IT safety procedures and preventive techniques.

Skilled healthcare professional with ten years of experience in patient care, diagnosis, and providing appropriate treatments and medical services. Manage medical staff and resolve complex medical cases with maximum efficiency. Communicate the patient’s condition and treatment plan in easily understood terminology. Remain current with the latest advancements in medicine and research to ensure patients receive proper care.

6. Registered Nurse

Seasoned registered nurse offering comprehensive patient care in emergency room settings. Experience handling diverse patient populations and caring for various conditions. Proven leadership managing nursing teams and other staff. Focus on enhancing patient care and satisfaction through empathetic communication and excellent customer service. 

7. Digital Marketing Manager

Forward-thinking digital marketing manager experienced in all facets of digital marketing, including social media management, PPC advertising, SEO, and email marketing. Proven experience creating comprehensive marketing plans that improve lead prospecting and enhance brand awareness. Up to date with the newest tools available for digital marketing campaigns.

8. Marketing Analyst

Industrious marketing analyst well-versed in analyzing marketing campaign analytics and making recommendations to improve performance. Collaborate with account managers and use KPI metrics to explain the results of marketing initiatives. Meticulous with a strong work ethic and robust communication skills.

Food and Service Industry

Experienced wait staff member capable of managing orders, processing payments, and upselling menu items. Ensure restaurant guests feel welcome with attentive service catered to their needs. Remain current on updates to the menu and assist guests with selecting orders to meet their dietary requirements. Maintain a positive attitude and focus during busy restaurant periods.

10. Hotel Receptionist

Friendly hotel receptionist with extensive experience handling guest check-ins, check-out, and payments. Facilitate a positive guest experience with polished customer service skills and a readiness to address common inquiries and complaints. Collaborate well with other hotel team members, including executive administration and on-site restaurant staff.

Business/Office Jobs

11. financial analyst.

Highly motivated financial analyst with a proven track record of recommending appropriate financial plans based on financial monitoring, data collection, and business strategizing. Experienced in qualitative and quantitative analysis, forecasting, and financial modeling. Excellent communication skills for building and fostering long-term business relationships across the organization.

12. Tax Accountant

Experienced tax accountant with ten years of experience preparing federal and state tax returns for corporations and partnerships. Monitor changes in laws to ensure the organization properly complies with reporting requirements. Assist with tax audits, ensuring the team receives proper supporting evidence for tax positions. Analyze and resolve complex tax issues. Look for available tax savings opportunities for corporations with an aggregate savings of $500K last year. Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.

Sales and Customer Service

13. sales representative.

Enthusiastic sales representative with expertise in identifying prospects and converting qualified leads to paying customers. Provide quality customer service and contribute to team sales success. Offer exceptional communication skills and seek to understand client needs before making the appropriate product recommendations. Continually meet and exceed sales goals. Leverage extensive knowledge of available products to provide appropriate client solutions and enhance customer loyalty and retention.

14. Customer Service Associate

Knowledgeable customer service professional with extensive experience in the insurance industry. Known as a team player with a friendly demeanor and proven ability to develop positive rapport with clients. Maintain ongoing customer satisfaction that contributes to overall company success. Highly articulate, with a results-oriented approach that addresses client inquiries and issues while maintaining strong partnerships. Collaborate well with the customer service team while also engaging independent decision-making skills.

Now you have 24 professional resume summary statements and some 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:

• Read the employer’s job description. Your career summary shouldn’t be a long list of everything you’ve done; it should be a refined list of skills and experiences that demonstrate you’re a fit for their job.
• Mention your current job title if relevant. One common way to begin your resume summary is to state your current job title.
• Explain how you can help employers achieve their goals or solve their problems.
• Consider using bold text to emphasize one or two key phrases.
• Include any relevant metrics and data like dollar amounts, years of experience, size of teams led, etc. This helps your resume stand out.
• Focus on making the employer want to read more. The goal of your resume summary isn’t to show everything you can do, but to grab their attention and show enough that they continue reading.

Creating a Customized Resume Summary

While general summaries are appropriate when applying for jobs requiring similar skills and experience, a customized resume summary can enhance your chances of moving on to the next step in the hiring process. 

That’s because most companies use automated tracking systems (ATS) to review submitted resumes for content directly related to the job posting. If you use keywords and natural language phrases in your summary that interlink to the job description, you’ll have a much higher chance of passing the ATS review.

Let’s look at an example of a resume summary that is customized for the specific job description below:

“Highly motivated social media specialist with strong project management skills. Creative marketer skilled in crafting innovative social media campaigns that resonate with a target audience. Regularly develop compelling copy and social media content to enhance lead generation and brand awareness. Detail-oriented with extensive project management skills that ensure proper prioritization of tasks and projects. Work with various social media management and analytics tools to examine results and make adjustments as necessary.”

This summary directly addresses the key points in the job description but rewrites them so the customization is natural and flows well. It’s personalized for the open role and uses similar terms with a few strategically placed keywords, such as “social media content” and “project management.”  

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.

Examples of Bad Resume Summaries

Now that we’ve seen a few exemplary resume summaries, let’s look at some that you should avoid at all cost.

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors

“Experienced cashier who knows how to run the register cash. Responsible with the money and can talk with the customer. Knows when to stoc up the invenory and checks it all the time. Can count change and run credit card tranactions. Get the customer happy by good service. I am always cheerful and organized.”

Why this resume summary is bad:

If you read the summary carefully, you’ll notice several spelling errors. The words “stock,” “inventory,” and “transactions” are all spelled wrong. Grammatical errors make the summary choppy and difficult to follow (“Get the customer happy by good service”).  A summary like this probably won’t fly with a company looking for a detail-oriented cashier responsible for managing in-person sales.

2. Lacks Relevant Keywords

“Talented worker with experience managing a team of staff. Creative and responsible with knowledge of organizational processes. Can keep up with the busiest of environments. Stays focused when at work, ensuring prompt task completion. Dependable and willing to collaborate with a team to get things done.”  

In this example, the chef doesn’t use keywords relevant to cooking, restaurants, or kitchens. The summary is very generic and can apply to nearly any job. A manager who receives the application isn’t likely to understand what value the candidate can bring to the restaurant.  To fix the summary, the applicant must rewrite it to include relevant keywords and phrases. 

3. No Numbers to Quantify Achievements

“An experienced and hardworking manager ready to align procedures for maximum revenue and profits. Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in higher sales and better customer satisfaction. Collaborate well with sales team members, ensuring they have the resources and knowledge to support customer purchases and inquiries. Develop strong rapport with clients and maintain ongoing relationships.”

This isn’t a terrible summary for a sales manager, but it has room for improvement. For one, the first two sentences essentially duplicate each other, mentioning an aptitude for improving processes with the objective of higher sales. The other issue is a lack of quantifying achievements. 

The applicant mentions they have a proven record of increasing sales, but they could strengthen the summary by quantifying their results. For example, they might say, “Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in a 25% increase in sales over the past year.” The quantifier provides additional credibility. 

4. Not Targeting the Specific Job

“Looking for work in a role that requires great customer service, project management, and communication skills. Able to collaborate with people from diverse and varying backgrounds. Highly organized and reliable worker with a strong work ethic. Responsible and reliable worker you can count on.”

While the candidate lists various skills they have, including customer service and project management, there’s no indication of prior roles held or what position they’re applying for. The summary could apply to numerous positions in a variety of industries. To improve the resume summary, the applicant must specify the job they’re applying for and indicate their prior experience in a similar role, if they have any.

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!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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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 use a similar format when writing my opening statement for my coverletter. How do you recommend differentiating the two? Or is it ok to use largely the same language?

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.

Comments are closed.

77+ Resume Summary Examples [& How-to Guide for 2024]

Most companies get hundreds or even thousands of applications monthly.

Hiring managers don’t have the time to read each resume in detail, so they usually end up scanning it for five to six seconds.

So, unless your resume manages to grab the hiring manager’s attention in those few seconds, they’ll just toss your application aside and move on to the next one.

That’s why, you want to make sure that the hiring manager can instantly tell that you’re the right candidate for the job before they even read your resume in depth. 

This is where writing an attention-grabbing resume summary comes in!

In this guide, we’re going to cover: 

• What Is a Resume Summary?
• Tips for Writing an Effective Resume Summary 
• 77+ Convincing Resume Summary Examples

Let’s dive in.

This guide is part of our larger resume series. If you want to start from the basics, take a look at our comprehensive guide on how to make a resume .

What Is a Resume Summary? 

A resume summary is a section that summarizes your resume’s contents. It’s placed in your resume’s header, close to your 

contact information , and it’s the first thing hiring managers see when they look at your resume.

When done right, your resume summary serves as a snapshot of your entire career. It shows that you’re a qualified candidate in less than five seconds, and it gets the hiring manager interested in reading the rest of your resume.

So, what makes a resume summary effective?

A good resume summary is two to four sentences long and includes:

• Your years of experience and job title
• Some of your biggest achievements to date
• A couple of your most essential skills that are relevant for the role

Let’s look at an example:

• Detail-oriented Technical Writer with 7+ years of experience in writing end-user documentation, specializing in user help guides. Excellent writing, analytical thinking, research, and time management skills. Rewrote over 80% of user help guides for 30+ products at Company X, resulting in a 42% decrease in product-related customer support calls.

New to resume-making? Give our resume summary video a watch before diving into the article!

When Should You Use a Resume Summary?

Hiring managers skim through resumes before deciding to read them, so candidates who grab their attention from the start stand a better chance of grabbing their attention. This is why you should always include a brief paragraph in your resume header that summarizes your strengths as a candidate.

Depending on your experience level, you can choose between a resume summary or a resume objective .

Resume objectives focus on professional goals, skills, and motivation for applying for the job, so they’re perfect for students, recent graduates , and other entry-level workers.

A resume summary, on the other hand, is perfect for seasoned professionals, as it focuses more on your past work experience and how it relates to the job you’re applying for. So, if you already have some work experience, we recommend sticking to a resume summary.

If you’re embarking on a career change , on the other hand, you can choose between a resume summary or a resume objective, depending on how your previous skills and work experience relate to the job.

When you’re making your resume, write your resume summary last. Creating a resume summary is much easier once you’ve already finished up your work experience section! 

5 General Resume Summary Examples

There are different aspects of your professional background that you can focus on when writing your resume summary.

Let’s look at some examples and what they do right:

• A hard-working bartender with over five years of experience providing professional service at various bars across Brooklyn. I have received the Hospitality Skill Certification for Bartenders and I know how to make over 200 alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Seeking the Head Bartender position at Bar X, where my skills and beverage knowledge can be leveraged to offer customers the highest quality of service.

Above all, this resume summary shows how experienced the candidate is. Their main selling point is their vast bartending knowledge, followed by an impressive bartending qualification and customer service skills .

• Communicative financial analyst, specializing in informative and persuasive financial presentations, cost accounting, and team management. Master’s Degree in Finance and two related certifications from the Corporate Finance Institute. Extensive experience with a variety of software programs, including SQL, Equitrak, and Lawson.

What sticks out the most in this resume summary is the candidate’s educational background and certifications. It matches the field they’re applying for, and their knowledge also extends to the most important professional software.

• Human Resources Manager with 7+ years of experience seeks to improve overall efficiency at XYZ Office. Career highlights include handling all employee relations in a 75-employee finance firm, reducing recruitment lead time by 35%, and increasing employee retention by 17%.

In addition to the candidate’s long professional experience, the most impressive part of this resume summary is their achievements . The candidate also made sure to quantify their professional accomplishments, which gives you credibility and shows you know what you're talking about.

• Detail-oriented receptionist with 4+ years of experience in customer service. Efficient in performing the administrative and front-desk tasks of large-scale offices. Fluent in Norwegian, English, Spanish, and Swedish. Proficient in MS Office Suite and ZenDesk.

This resume summary shows off the candidate’s key skills, including language proficiency , extensive customer service experience, and computer skills .

• Hard-working and passionate Secondary Social Studies teacher with 10+ years of experience in creating positive environments in which teenagers can learn and grow. Incorporates interdisciplinary knowledge into the classroom to engage students of all learning orientations. 

This candidate mentions they have more than a decade of work experience , but the main takeaway is what they can do on the job. The hiring manager who reads this resume summary can immediately see what this applicant can bring to the team.

How to Write a Resume Summary

Now, let’s get down to business – how can you write a resume summary that’s guaranteed to catch the hiring manager’s attention?

Let’s start with the basics. Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Experience. If you have a lot of relevant professional experience, you should summarize it. This may include your job titles and years of experience in the field. (e.g., “Facebook marketer with 5+ years of experience..." )
• Skills. Mention your areas of expertise, specializations, certifications , and/or skills. (e.g., “Experienced in managing Facebook ad accounts and SEO copywriting..." )
• Achievements. Add one or two impressive achievements to show what you can do. (e.g., “Managed over $100,000 in marketing budget over several accounts and reduced annual company costs by 16%.” )

The next step is to take your resume summary from good to great by following these expert tips:

#1. Tailor Your Resume Summary

You could be an excellent candidate with tons of work experience, but if your resume summary isn’t tailored to the job ad, the hiring manager probably won’t be impressed.

If the hiring manager doesn’t see your value in the first seven seconds of reading your resume , you probably won’t get them to give it a second glance.

This is where tailoring your resume summary comes in. Just reference the job description to make sure your work experience, skills, and achievements all match what the employer is looking for in a candidate.

Let’s go over it in detail.

Imagine you’re applying for this specific job:

The ad tells you exactly what the company is looking for in a candidate.

So here’s what a resume summary tailored to this ad might look like:

• Professional marketer manager with 5+ years of experience in digital marketing. Social media marketing experience, including Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn advertising. Experience in managing an account with a monthly budget of $30,000. B.A. in marketing management. Fluent in German. 

By carefully tailoring your resume summary to the ad and mentioning what the company is looking for, the hiring manager will be hooked! They’ll immediately think, “This is the right person for the job!” and read the rest of your resume in detail.

Tailoring your resume summary to the job description can also help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems that companies use to filter through resumes. This is software that scans applications and disqualifies candidates who don’t mention specific skills or add enough keywords from the job description throughout their resume, so the more you tailor your resume to the job, the better your chances!

#2. Quantify Your Achievements

Your resume summary is supposed to be brief, which means you’re not supposed to list all your achievements. So, make sure to mention the ones that are most relevant and impactful for the role you’re applying for to pique the hiring manager’s attention.

The best way to back up your accomplishments is by providing concrete data.

Quantifiable achievements are instantly more credible and more likely to leave a good impression than vague statements. 

Let’s compare:

• Helped customers sign up on our platform.
• Onboarded 100+ customers to our SaaS platform with a retention rate of over 75%.

See the difference? In fact, the first example sounds more like a responsibility than an achievement.

Here’s what this applicant's entire resume summary would look like:

• Customer service representative with 5+ years of experience in telephone customer service, tech support, and customer care. Familiar with Intercom, Drift, and several other customer service software solutions. Handled up to 100 calls daily with a retention rate of over 75%. 

In some fields, there aren’t many achievements that you can mention. For example, saying that you served 50 people a day isn’t an achievement if you're a server. Don’t fret! In such cases, it’s OK to stick with your key responsibilities simply.

#3. Use Power Words and Action Verbs

Saying you’re a “team player” who was “responsible for” this or “managed” that is boring.

To stand out from every other applicant using the same words, you need to use the right action verbs and power words .

These words can make your skills and achievements pop, and the hiring manager will appreciate that you’re going the extra mile to describe your experience.

Let’s compare how the same sentence with and without power words plays out:

• Spearheaded Company X’s content marketing operations.
• Responsible for content marketing at Company X.

While both of these sentences say the same thing, the first one makes you seem more competent and implies initiative and leadership skills. The second just comes off as passive.

To drive the point home, here’s what a resume summary looks like packed with action words:

#4. Follow Our Formula

When you get down to writing your resume summary, you might still not be sure where to start or what to add.

Don’t worry!

We have a tried and tested formula that you can follow to write the perfect resume summary.

77+ Convincing Resume Summary Examples (For Different Fields)

Need inspiration to write your resume summary? No sweat!

We’ve curated a list of 77+ resume summary examples for different professions to help inspire you.

Sales and Customer Service Resume Summary Examples

#1. sales associate resume summary.

“Enthusiastic and knowledgeable sales associate specialized in upselling furniture and dealing with customer objections. Proven 2-year track record of success at Company X, having exceeded department KPIs by 40-50% for 6 months in a row.”

Read the full sales associate resume example here.

#2. Account Manager Resume Summary

“Client-oriented account manager with a successful track record in the oil industry. Managed accounts worth over $500K while working with clients such as BP and Lukoil.”

#3. Software Support Specialist Resume Summary

“Software support specialist with 5+ years of experience in providing support and assistance to clients, managing user accounts, and recruiting and hiring new IT support interns. Built customer relationships and trust with 20+ B2B clients. Skilled at simplifying complex problems, making it easy for non-technical specialists to solve IT issues.”

#4. Customer Service Representative Resume Summary

“Dedicated and trustworthy customer service specialist with four years of experience in online software troubleshooting, tech support, and customer care. Experienced in using Intercom and Drift. Received an average 87% customer satisfaction rating to date, 15% higher than the company average.”

Read the full customer service resume example here.

#5. Cashier Resume Summary

“Reliable and detail-oriented cashier. Skilled at mathematics, thinking on my feet, and solving any potential customer issues that arise without help from management. Experience in training and onboarding 3+ new cashiers at Company X.”

Read the full cashier resume example here.

#6. Retail Manager Resume Summary

“Retail Manager with 5 years of experience managing mid-sized retail stores. Increased store revenue by 15% through effective team management and customer engagement strategies. Proficient in inventory control, merchandising, and staff training. Looking to leverage retail management expertise in a larger, high-volume store setting.”

Read the full retail manager resume example here.

#7. Barista Resume Summary

“Passionate Barista with 2 years of experience in specialty coffee shops. Known for crafting signature beverages and maintaining high standards of customer service. Consistently received positive feedback for friendly demeanor and quick, accurate order fulfillment.”

Read the full barista resume example here.

#8. Server Resume Summary

"Dedicated Server with 3 years of experience in fast-paced dining environments. Skilled in order accuracy, multitasking, and providing exceptional customer service. Recognized for ability to maintain composure and efficiency during peak hours."

Read the full server resume example here.

#9. Waiter Resume Summary

“Positive and friendly waiter with 3 years of experience working at a fast-paced Italian restaurant. People skills with a proven ability to upsell alcohol, desserts, and appetizers to customers. Memorized restaurant’s wine stock and accompanying meals to the T.”

Read the full waiter resume example here.

#10. Front Desk Agent Resume Summary

“Front Desk Agent with 4 years of experience in the hospitality industry, excelling in customer service at busy city-center hotels. Skilled in handling reservations, guest inquiries, and providing travel recommendations. Committed to enhancing guest experiences and maintaining a high standard of service.”

#11. Housekeeper Resume Summary

“Hard-working house-keeper with 5+ years of experience. Past experiences include working as a housekeeper in hotels as well as private residences. Proven time-management skills and deep familiarity with all cleaning materials and tools.”

#12. Line Cook Resume Summary

“Line Cook with 3 years of experience in high-volume kitchens. Efficient in meal preparation and plating, with a focus on maintaining quality and speed. Trained in various cuisines and knowledgeable about food safety standards.”

#13. Restaurant Manager Resume Summary

“Professional restaurant manager with a strong interest in providing the highest standards of customer service and ensuring customer satisfaction. Skilled at reducing staff turnover, conflict resolution, marketing, and upselling techniques. Increased restaurant revenue by 20% through advertising lunch menu and word-of-mouth strategies.”

#14. Bar Manager Resume Summary

“Experienced Bar Manager with 7 years overseeing busy urban bars. Successfully increased annual sales by 20% through innovative marketing and menu redesign. Expert in inventory management, staff training, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for patrons. Seeking to bring leadership and efficient operational skills to a high-end establishment.”

Read the full bar manager resume example here.

Administrative and HR Resume Summary Examples

#15. receptionist resume summary.

"Organized Receptionist with 3 years of experience in corporate and medical office settings. Efficient in managing multiple phone lines, scheduling appointments, and providing administrative support. Known for a welcoming demeanor and effectively handling client inquiries."

Read the full receptionist resume example here.

#16. Recruiter Resume Summary

"Communicative professional with 5+ years of experience in recruitment. Worked with every part of the recruitment process, including sourcing, vetting, and onboarding of candidates. Passionate about IT recruitment, having worked as a tech recruiter at Company X. MBA from University X."

Read the full recruiter resume example here.

#17. Human Resources Specialist Resume Summary

“Human Resources Specialist with 6 years of experience focusing on employee retention and satisfaction. Implemented employee engagement programs that increased retention rates by 25%. Skilled in conflict resolution, performance management, and creating positive work environments. Dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and employee development.”

Read the full human resources resume example here.

#18. Office Manager Resume Summary

“Office manager with 5+ years of experience in controlling inventory, ordering and tracking new supplies, developing procedures and training material for staff. Strong communication skills, organized, with a track record of success.”

Read the full office manager resume example here.

#19. Secretary Resume Summary

“Professional Secretary with 4 years of experience in fast-paced legal and corporate environments. Proficient in document preparation, managing executive schedules, and coordinating meetings. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, ensuring efficient office operations.”

#20. Executive Assistant Resume Summary

“Accomplished executive assistant with experience in providing support to a high-level CEO and other executives for 4 years. Helped with everything from customer support to data entry and preparing well-researched documents. Skilled at time management, proficient in MS Office and Adobe Photoshop.”

Read the full executive assistant resume example here.

#21. Administrative Assistant Resume Summary

“Experienced administrative assistant seeking to leverage advanced administrative skills for improved efficiency at Media XYZ. 5+ years of industry experience includes decreasing data entry mistakes by 23%, decreasing negative feedback by 11%, and giving insights into creating paperless office environments.”

Read the full administrative assistant resume example here.

#22. Data Entry Resume Summary

“Data entry clerk with 3+ years of experience in verifying complex data, maintaining databases, and producing monthly reports using advanced Excel functions. Known for quick typing skills, eye for detail, and the ability to keep clients and employers happy.”

Read the full data entry resume example here.

Finance Resume Summary Examples

#23. accountant resume summary.

“Licensed Certified Public Accountant with 10+ years of experience in budget analysis, financial audits, and forensic accounting. Created financial reports within a five-person finance team and managed a $500,000 budget. Over the two years working there, helped cut annual company expenses by 15%.”

Read the full accountant resume example here.

#24. Financial Analyst Resume Summary

“Dedicated financial analyst with a track record of successful investments. 5+ years of experience in investment banking, with a focus on the oil industry. Responsible for analyzing potential investments, as well as conducting industry, market, and company-specific research. MBA in Finance.”

Read the full financial analyst resume example here.

#25. Bank Teller Resume Summary

“Bank teller with 2+ years of experience in client-facing roles at Bank X, where I handled customer transactions, cross-selling bank products, and keeping customers happy by providing a professional and efficient service. Followed strict and safe deposit box operations guidelines and processed 100+ customer transactions daily.”

Read the full bank teller resume example here.

#26. Banker Resume Summary

"Experienced Banker with 5 years of expertise in personal and small business banking. Managed a portfolio of high-value accounts, increasing client satisfaction and financial performance. Skilled in financial advising, loan processing, and risk management. Committed to helping clients achieve their financial goals with tailored solutions."

Read the full banker resume example here.

Business Resume Summary Examples

#27. business analyst resume summary.

“Solutions-driven business analyst with over 5 years of experience in consulting businesses and analyzing their operations. Previous experience in working with Consulting Company X and Consulting Company Y. Strong understanding of digital transformation. Improved a client company’s processes by taking them online, which improved manufacturing output by 3%.”

Read the full business analyst resume example here.

#28. Business Development Manager Resume Summary

"Dynamic Business Development Manager with 7 years of experience in identifying and pursuing new market opportunities. Led initiatives that resulted in a 30% increase in annual revenue. Strong background in strategic planning, client relations, and market analysis. Proven ability to drive business growth and forge strong partnerships.”

Read the full business development manager resume example here.

#29. Project Manager Resume Summary

“Project manager with a proven track record of working with agile and waterfall project management methodologies. Managed 5+ teams of software projects over the past 3 years. Basic understanding of several programming languages, including Java, React, and NodeJS.”

Read the full project manager resume example here.

Marketing and Advertising Resume Summary Examples

#30. marketing executive resume summary.

"Accomplished Marketing Executive with 10 years of experience in developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies in the technology sector. Led campaigns that increased brand awareness by 40% and consistently exceeded sales targets by 15-20%. Expertise in digital marketing, market research, and team leadership. Committed to driving market growth and enhancing brand positioning for leading tech companies."

Read the full marketing executive resume example here.

#31. Marketing Manager Resume Summary

“Marketing manager with 4+ years of experience in a corporate environment. Good eye for design, with experience in creating marketing materials with Canva. Intermediate copywriting skills, having worked on the company website, flyers, and several other content pieces.”

Read the full marketing manager resume example here.

#32. Social Media Marketing Manager Resume Summary

“Creative social media manager with 2+ years of experience and a passion for boosting brand awareness and customer engagement. Skilled in copywriting and basic graphic design tools. Personally started and grew a Facebook page for my consultancy brand from 0-1,000+ in just a month. Looking to help Company X establish an online presence and increase their social presence.”

#33. Content Marketer Resume Summary

“Accomplished professional with 3+ years of experience in marketing, content writing, and outreach. Experience in writing for high-authority publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and more. Looking to help Company X increase their online presence and generate more leads through content.”

#34. SEO Specialist Resume Summary

“Results and data-driven SEO specialist with experience in keyword research, developing and marketing evergreen content, and increasing overall website rankings. Freelancing for over 2 years. Grew Company X from 50,000 daily visits to 100,000 within a year by creating long-form content and conducting backlink outreach.”

Read the full digital marketing resume here.

#35. PPC Specialist Resume Summary

“Data-driven SEM professional with 5+ years of experience with Google Analytics, AdWords, Google Display Ads, and Facebook/LinkedIn Ads. Managed a monthly advertising budget of $50,000 over 4 clients.”

IT and Software Development Resume Summary Examples

#36. it specialist resume summary.

“Competent IT specialist with 5+ years of experience working with Windows Server 2016. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert. Advanced knowledge in SQL, C++, Bash, and Linux.”

Read the full IT resume example here.

#37. Software Engineer Resume Summary

“Results-oriented software engineer with a focus on the design and implementation of relational database systems. 8+ years of experience in developing cutting-edge engineering solutions with a wide range of eCommerce and technology features. Skilled in agile processes, backend and frontend development, and creating eCommerce websites that integrate with Paypal, Stripe, and other payment APIs.”

Read the full software engineer resume example here.

#38. Cyber Security Resume Summary

"Cyber Security Specialist with 6 years of experience in threat analysis and network defense. Implemented security protocols reducing data breaches by 40% at TechSecure Inc. Certified in CISSP and experienced in cybersecurity technologies including firewalls and endpoint security. Eager to bring advanced threat detection and mitigation strategies to XYZ Cyber Solutions."

#39. Web Developer Resume Summary

"Dynamic Web Developer with 3 years of experience in designing and developing user-friendly websites. Proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React. Developed an e-commerce site that increased client sales by 30%. Looking to contribute innovative and efficient web solutions at CreativeWeb Studios."

Read the full web developer resume example here.

#40. Computer Scientist Resume Summary

“Creative and people-oriented computer scientist with up to 2 years of working with tech startups. Advanced knowledge of software design principles and agile development principles. Led and managed a team of five in developing new software from concept to delivery.”

Read the full computer scientist resume example here.

#41. Data Scientist Resume Summary

“Business-minded data scientist with a demonstrated ability to deliver valuable insights via data analytics. 10+ years of professional experience in working with CEOs and VPs of Fortune 500 companies. Deep understanding of statistical models, algorithms, and multivariate analysis.”

Read the full data scientist resume example here.

#42. Data Analyst Resume Summary

“Detail-oriented data analyst passionate about helping businesses grow. Former small business owner. Conducted research using three different focus groups and increased sales by 10% over 4 months. MBA recipient with strong technical skills in data mining and data, survey creation, and quantitative methods.”

Read the full data analyst resume example here.

#43. DevOps Engineer Resume Summary

"DevOps Engineer with 8 years of experience in automating and optimizing mission-critical deployments. Led a team that reduced deployment times by 50% through CI/CD pipeline enhancements. Skilled in cloud technologies and infrastructure as code with certifications in AWS and Terraform. Committed to improving operational efficiency at XYZ Tech."

Read the full DevOps engineer resume example here.

#44. AI Engineer Resume Summary

"AI Engineer with 4 years of experience specializing in machine learning and natural language processing. Developed AI models that improved customer interaction accuracy by 35% for a leading tech firm. M.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence. Passionate about deploying cutting-edge AI solutions at AI Innovators Inc."

Read the full AI engineer resume example here.

#45. Java Developer Resume Summary

"Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions."

Read the full Java developer resume example here.

Health and Medicine Resume Summary Examples

#46. nurse resume summary.

“Registered nurse specialized in psychiatric nursing. Developed strong psychiatric evaluation and treatment planning skills after 5 years of working at Hospital X. Experienced in administrative work, management, and training new employees.”

Read the full nurse resume example here.

#47. Medical Assistant Resume Summary

“Certified Medical Assistant with 10 years of experience in working in a fast-paced environment, handling confidential paperwork, administering medication, and providing quality patient care. Proven ability to create positive rapport with patients, family, and staff. Completed and submitted clinical documentation following hospital regulations and experience in supporting diagnostic and technical treatment procedures.”

Read the full medical assistant resume example here.

#48. Dental Assistant Resume Summary

“Licensed dental practitioner with 4+ years in helping dentists prepare, perform, and document procedures. Strong hand-eye coordination, with skills in 4-handed dentistry and working with patients.”

#49. Dentist Resume Summary

"Experienced Dentist with 10 years of practice in general and cosmetic dentistry. Committed to providing exceptional patient care, demonstrated through a consistent record of patient satisfaction and successful dental procedures. Proficient in the latest dental technologies and techniques, including digital radiography and CAD/CAM dentistry, with a strong focus on preventive care and oral health education."

Read the full dentist resume example here.

#50. Pharmacist Resume Summary

"Detail-oriented Pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in retail and hospital settings. Proven ability in medication therapy management and pharmaceutical care, with a track record of efficiently managing prescription processing and patient counseling. Skilled in utilizing digital prescription systems and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of drug interactions and healthcare regulations."

Read the full pharmacist resume example here.

Creative Resume Summary Examples

#51. graphic designer resume summary.

"Senior graphic designer with 6+ years of experience in website design and branding, across a wide range of industries. Extensive experience in multimedia, marketing, and print design. Highly skilled in communications, digital storytelling, and Adobe Creative Suite."

Read the full graphic designer resume example here.

#52. UI/UX Designer Resume Summary

“Proactive UX designer with 5 years of experience in delivering enjoyable web and mobile products for the FinTech industry. Designed UI, UX, and marketing materials for 6 apps and 3 games at Company X, 2 of which were featured in Apple’s App Store. Skilled with Sketch, and Adobe Creative Suite.”

#53. Product Designer Resume Summary

“Creative designer with 7 years experience in product design, packaging, and graphic design. Expertise in new product design, brand identity, and market research. Created and launched a new line of award-winning tableware that generated over $1 million in sales the first year.”

#54. Creative Director Resume Summary

“Experienced creative director, with 10+ years of experience in the advertising industry. Over the past 3 years, managed 2 separate creative teams, creating video ads for company clients. Worked with some high-profile clients, including IBM and Phillips.”

#55. Game Designer Resume Summary

"Innovative Game Designer with 5 years of experience in creating engaging and immersive gaming experiences. Led a team that developed 'AdventureQuest,' a game that won 'Best Mobile Game' at the Indie Game Awards and achieved over 500,000 downloads within the first year. Skilled in gameplay mechanics and story development, with proficiency in Unity and Unreal Engine. Dedicated to crafting games that resonate with players, combining artistic vision with user-friendly design."

Read the full game designer resume example here.

#56. Animator Resume Summary

"Creative Animator with over 8 years of experience in 2D and 3D animation, specializing in character and environmental animation. Proficient in using Maya, Adobe After Effects, and Blender, with a strong background in motion graphics and visual effects. Known for delivering high-quality animations under tight deadlines, contributing to successful animated features and advertising campaigns."

Read the full animator resume example here.

#57. Illustrator Resume Summary

"Award-winning Illustrator with a decade of professional experience, recognized for innovative and impactful visual storytelling. Recipient of the 'Illustrator of the Year' award at the Global Art Forum, with a portfolio that includes book illustrations, advertising campaigns, and digital content."

Read the full illustrator resume example here.

#58. Photographer Resume Summary

"Professional Photographer with a Master's in Fine Arts and 6 years of experience in commercial and portrait photography. Known for a unique aesthetic that combines technical skill with artistic creativity, resulting in visually stunning compositions. Holds a certification in digital photography from the Professional Photographers of America, with a portfolio that has been featured in several national photography exhibitions."

Read the full photographer resume example here.

#59. Actor Resume Summary

"Versatile Actor with 3 years of experience in commercials and television, known for a dynamic range that adapts seamlessly to varied roles. Strong background in stage combat and period drama. Proficient in multiple dialects and expressive character portrayal, enhancing authenticity in every performance."

Read the full actor resume example here.

#60. Writer Resume Summary

"Professional Writer and Blogger with 2 years of experience, specializing in lifestyle and travel content. Successfully increased blog readership by 40% over two years and contributed featured articles in 'Traveler's Digest' and 'Modern Living' magazines."

Read the full writer resume here.

#61. Editor Resume Summary

"Dedicated Editor with 10 years of experience in translated literature, focusing on Mandarin and Cantonese works. Expertise in preserving the original tone and cultural nuances, ensuring translations resonate with English-speaking audiences. Collaborated with acclaimed authors from China and Hong Kong, contributing to over 30 translated novels. Committed to bridging the gap between Eastern and Western literary worlds through meticulous and sensitive editing."

Read the full editor resume example here.

Education Resume Summary Examples

#62. professor resume summary.

"Distinguished Professor with 15 years of experience in higher education, specializing in Modern Literature. Published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and 3 books, receiving the Excellence in Research Award twice. Secured $500,000 in research grants and led multiple international academic collaborations. Committed to fostering critical thinking and research skills in students, enhancing the academic prestige of the department."

Read the full academic CV example here.

#63. Teacher Resume Summary

“Dedicated Teacher with 4 years of experience in elementary education, specializing in innovative teaching strategies. Implemented a project-based learning approach that increased student engagement by 30%. Eager to bring creative teaching methodologies and a passion for educational excellence to School ABC, contributing to student development and academic success.” 

Read the full teacher resume example here.

#64. Tutor Resume Summary

“Experienced Tutor with 2 years of expertise in mathematics and science, adept at simplifying complex concepts. Consistently helped students improve their grades by an average of one full letter grade.”

#65. College Student Resume Summary

"Proactive College Student majoring in Business Administration with strong leadership skills, demonstrated through roles in student government and the debate team. Organized multiple campus events, enhancing student engagement and participation. Seeking to apply organizational and communication skills in a professional internship, contributing to company projects while gaining hands-on experience."

Read the full college freshman resume example here.

#66. High School Student Resume Summary

"High School Student with 3+ months of experience as a cashier. Excellent time-management and communication skills. Actively involved in extracurricular activities, demonstrating strong teamwork and responsibility. Looking to join Retail Store X as a part-time sales representative."

Read the full high school resume example here.

Other Resume Summary Examples

#67. architect resume summary.

"Professional and creative architect with 10 years experience in developing construction drawings, 3D models, and doing design rendering. Served as a project architect at company X and won an honorable mention as a staff architect at XYZ Construction Awards 2023."

Read the full architect resume example here.

#68. Electrical Engineer Resume Resume Summary

"Electrical Engineer with 4 years of experience in power systems and automation. Holds a Master's in Electrical Engineering and a certification in PLC programming. Proven expertise in designing and implementing efficient electrical solutions for industrial applications."

Read the full electrical engineer resume example here.

#69. Interior Designer Resume Summary

"Creative Interior Designer with 3 years of experience, recognized for increasing client satisfaction by 30% through innovative design solutions. Portfolio includes residential and commercial projects, with a focus on modern and sustainable designs. Skilled in AutoCAD and 3D visualization, transforming client visions into reality."

Read the full interior designer resume example here.

#70. Construction Project Manager Resume Summary

"Construction Project Manager with a decade of experience in overseeing large-scale commercial and residential projects. Proven track record of completing projects on time and within budget, reducing costs by 20% on average. Skilled in team leadership and effective communication. Committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality."

Read the full construction project manager resume example here.

#71. Operations Manager Resume Summary

"Dynamic Operations Manager with 2 years of experience in streamlining processes for increased efficiency. Expertise in supply chain management and cost reduction strategies."

Read the full operations manager resume example here.

#72. Event Planner Resume Summary

"Seasoned Event Planner with 5 years of experience, successfully organized over 100 corporate and private events. Increased event attendance by 40% through innovative marketing strategies. Excited to bring expertise in event coordination and vendor relations to XYZ Celebrations."

Read the full event planner resume example here.

#73. Warehouse Worker Resume Summary

“Seasonal warehouse worker with experience working for Supermarket X and Supermarket Y. Diligent, organized, and very hard-working. Previous experience working in the service industry for 2+ years.”

Read the full warehouse worker resume example here.

#74. Welder Resume Summary

"Skilled Welder with 7 years of experience in MIG, TIG, and arc welding. Proficient in reading blueprints and maintaining high standards of safety and quality."

Read the full welder resume example here.

#75. Real Estate Agent Resume Summary

"Experienced Real Estate Agent with 6 years in residential and commercial property sales. Achieved a 25% year-on-year increase in sales volume. Known for excellent negotiation skills and a deep understanding of market trends."

Read the full real estate agent resume example here.

#76. Flight Attendant Resume Summary

"Dedicated Flight Attendant with 1 year of experience, fluent in Spanish and French. Excelled in providing top-notch customer service, contributing to a 15% increase in passenger satisfaction. Fluent in English, French, German, and Arabic. Eager to bring customer care expertise to Airline XYZ."

Read the full flight attendant resume example here.

#77. Paralegal Resume Summary

"Paralegal with 3 years of experience in corporate law, proficient in legal research and document drafting. Certified in legal software applications, enhancing case management efficiency."

Read the full paralegal resume example here.

#78. Social Worker Resume Summary

"Compassionate Social Worker with 6 years of experience in child and family services. Successfully managed caseloads of up to 50 people, improving service delivery by 20%. Skilled in crisis intervention and developing tailored support plans for diverse case needs."

Read the full social worker resume example here.

Resume Summary FAQs

Do you still have some questions about resume summaries? Check the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

#1. How Do You Write a Resume Summary with No Experience?

If you have no work experience whatsoever, you should write a resume objective instead of a resume summary.

A resume objective is also a brief paragraph that goes at the top of your resume. However, instead of focusing on your professional experience and accomplishments, it highlights your career goals, aspirations, skills, and academic achievements.

If you have any informal experience that’s relevant to the job, such as volunteer work or relevant coursework , you can still write a resume summary to highlight why you’re a great candidate.

#2. How Do I Start My Resume Summary?

The best way to start your resume summary is by writing down your job title and exact years of experience. You can also add an adjective that describes your strongest character traits or work ethic.

To make this easy, try this formula:

[Adjective/character trait] [job title] [your experience]. Looking to help/support/apply/assist/etc [employer’s name] [describe how you can be of help to the company]. [Your top achievements/qualifications]. 

#3. How Long Should My Resume Summary Be?

The resume summary should be brief and attention-grabbing. Ideally, it should be between two and four sentences long.

Its goal is to provide a snapshot of your career that can captivate the hiring manager into reading more.

If you want to give the employer more details and elaborate on why you’re the best candidate for the job in your own words, you can also write a cover letter to complement your resume.

#4. Should a Resume Summary Be Written in the First or Third Person?

As a general rule, your resume should avoid using first-person pronouns . This includes your resume summary.

That said, the third person sounds too impersonal – as if somebody else wrote the resume summary instead of you. Luckily, there’s a neat trick you can use to make your text flow better—just get rid of the pronouns altogether.

This way, instead of writing, “She is a marketer with 5+ years of experience in XYZ,” you can write, “Marketer with 5+ years of experience in XYZ,” and get your point across just as effectively.

#5. Should You Always Use the Same Resume Summary?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t use the same resume summary when applying to different jobs.

Your resume summary should be tailored to the specific job ads and reflect how you can meet the company’s unique needs. If your current resume summary can be applied to different job applications, it isn’t as effective and tailored as it should be.

When writing your resume, go through the job ad for the specific position and try to include the skills or qualifications the employer is looking for. Make sure to also mention any relevant experience and your top achievements, and you’ll have the perfect resume summary.

#6. What Are Other Names for a Resume Summary?

Across the internet, you might find different names for what we’re calling a resume summary in our article. Some of these names include:

• Resume profile
• Career summary
• Personal statement
• Qualifications summary
• Summary of experiences
• Summary of qualification

If you’re heading for a career in academia, a “personal statement” means something different. Check out our detailed guide to writing an academic personal statement to learn more!

Key Takeaways

And that’s our full guide to writing a resume summary!

Hopefully, now you feel more confident about adding this finishing touch to your resume.

Before we go, let’s recap everything we covered about writing resume summaries:

• A resume summary is a two to four-sentence long paragraph that tells the hiring manager your key selling points. These can include your years of experience, exact job title, relevant skills, qualifications, and impressive achievements.
• If you don’t have any work experience, you can opt for a resume objective instead. This way, you can focus more on your professional goals and motivation for applying.
• The goal of a resume summary is to catch the hiring manager’s attention. Do this by tailoring your resume summary to the job ad and addressing what the company needs in a candidate.
• Back up your achievements with data whenever possible. Mentioning the exact numbers, dates, and results makes you seem more credible.
• Use power words and action verbs instead of generic descriptions to make your resume summary pop.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• 27 Great Resume Summary...

27 Great Resume Summary Examples to Get Hired

20 min read · Updated on August 06, 2024

Your resume summary is the first impression you make on potential employers, so it's crucial to get it right

In this article, you'll learn how to write the ultimate resume summary that will grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. You'll discover what makes a good summary and what to avoid, as well as how to sell yourself effectively to potential employers.

You may be wondering: what exactly is a resume summary and how do I write one? We'll answer these questions and provide examples of professional summaries for various industries.

By the end of this article, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to create a standout resume summary that will help you to land your dream job.

What is a resume summary?

To understand a resume summary, it's important to understand the challenge that good summaries are designed to overcome. Employers who are looking for new hires often need to compare many dozens or even hundreds of resumes to find the best candidates for the job. Few hiring personnel have the time needed to thoroughly examine every single resume that they receive.

Instead, employers typically spend no more than five or six seconds scanning any given resume. If a resume manages to capture their interest in those few seconds, they'll take the time to read it in greater detail. 

However, if your resume doesn't grab their attention, it's likely to be rejected without any further examination. So, the challenge is to find a way to quickly earn the reader's interest and inspire them to read the rest of the document.

That's where your resume summary comes into play. As you'll see from our resume summary examples, a good summary is the resume equivalent of a salesperson's elevator pitch. 

This brief statement should highlight your experience and job title, one or two key skills, and a couple of your most prominent achievements. When your summary is crafted well, it will provide the employer with a quick overview of your potential value as a new hire.

Once you've written your summary, you should place it right after your contact information and resume headline , so that it's the first thing employers see. If you've done your job properly, that summary will be compelling enough to make the reader want to learn more about the type of value you can bring to the job.

How should you start a resume summary?

After your headline, you should include a brief opening statement that summarizes who you are. This statement should be concise and compelling, and it should clearly communicate your unique value proposition. Here are some examples of strong opening statements:

Innovative Marketing Manager with over five years of experience in developing and executing successful campaigns for Fortune 500 companies

Results-driven Sales Executive with a proven track record of exceeding revenue targets and building strong client relationships

Skilled Customer Service Representative with expertise in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and communication

Tips for writing a resume summary

To make sure you get your summary spot on, follow our top tips:

Be specific

When writing a resume summary, it's essential to be specific and quantify your achievements wherever possible. Instead of saying, "Experienced marketing professional," try saying, "Experienced marketing professional with expertise in managing successful social media campaigns, resulting in increases of up to 30% in website traffic."

This provides concrete evidence of your skills and demonstrates your value to potential employers.

Reflect on your career

When it comes to writing a strong resume summary, you should engage in some self-reflection. Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take some time to think about your key skills, experiences, and achievements. This will help you to identify the most important information to include in your summary. Review your past roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments, and think about how they relate to the job you're applying for. Ask yourself:

What have I achieved in my career?

What skills have I developed?

What makes me stand out from other applicants?

Identify your key skills

One of the most important things to include in your resume summary is your key skills. These are the abilities that set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers. Begin by making a list of your top skills, then prioritize them based on relevance to the job you're applying for.

Highlight your relevant experiences

Next, think about relevant experiences that you can include in your summary. This includes any previous jobs or internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities that have given you valuable experience. Consider what you've learned and achieved in each role and how that relates to the job you're applying for.

You should focus on what is most relevant to your target job. Here are some examples:

Proven ability to increase sales revenue by 20% year on year

Expertise in project management and team leadership

Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365

Confident working with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders

Keep it concise

Remember, your resume summary should be concise and to the point. Stick to the most important information and avoid filler words or irrelevant details. A good rule of thumb is to keep your summary to 3-5 sentences.

Use action verbs

When describing your experiences and achievements, use strong action verbs and adverbs to convey a sense of accomplishment and momentum. For example, instead of saying, "Responsible for managing social media accounts," say, "Successfully manages social media accounts."

Quantify your achievements

Wherever possible, use numbers and statistics to quantify your achievements. This provides concrete evidence of your skills and demonstrates your value to potential employers. For example, instead of saying, "Helped to increase sales," say, "Helped to increase sales by 20% in the first year."

Tailor it to the job

Make sure your resume summary is tailored to the job you're applying for. This means highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role. Look at the job description and identify the key requirements, and then make sure your summary addresses these points.

Professional resume summary examples

Since there's nothing quite like seeing an example of a great summary, we've compiled twenty-seven great resume summary examples that you can use as inspirational templates for your own perfect resume . Below, you'll find summary examples for a variety of different job roles, including:

Customer Service Representative

Sales Representative

Marketing Manager

Project Manager

Software Developer

Human Resources Manager

Graphic Designer

Registered Nurse

Financial Analyst

Administrative Assistant

Data Entry Clerk 

Business Analyst

Operations Manager 

Mental Health Counselor

High School Teacher

Event Manager

Digital Marketing Manager

Content Marketer

SEO Specialist

Bank Teller

Software Support Specialist

Data Scientist

Dental Assistant

1.     Customer Service Representative resume summary example

"Highly motivated Customer Service Representative with 5 years of experience in delivering service excellence. Skilled in conflict resolution and problem-solving, resulting in a 95% customer satisfaction rate. Proven ability to multitask in fast-paced environments while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's experience and skills while also showcasing their relevant achievements in ensuring customer satisfaction. It mentions how much experience they have and calls out a measurable success.

2.     Sales Representative resume summary example

"Dynamic Sales Representative with a track record of exceeding sales quotas by 20%+. Proficient in consultative sales techniques and relationship building. Exceptional communication and negotiation skills with the ability to close deals."

Why it works : This summary provides a quantifiable achievement to show the candidate's success in their previous sales roles while also highlighting their key skills in relationship building and communication.

3.     Marketing Manager resume summary example

"Strategic Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns across multiple channels. Skilled in market research and analysis, campaign optimization, and team leadership. Proven track record of driving revenue growth and increasing brand awareness."

Why it works : This summary emphasizes the candidate's experience and leadership skills while also showcasing their ability to drive results through successful marketing campaigns. The candidate has also demonstrated their ability to grow revenues and raise brand awareness.

4.     Project Manager resume summary example

"Accomplished Project Manager, with confidence in leading cross-functional teams and managing project timelines, budgets, and resources. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders. Proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's extensive project management experience and emphasizes their ability to successfully deliver projects while working with multiple stakeholders.

5.     Software Developer resume summary example

"Innovative Software Developer with 5+ years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex software applications. Skilled in programming languages including Java, Python, and C++. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in Agile environments to deliver high-quality code on time."

Why it works : This job seeker has taken the time to highlight some of the technical skills they possess, while emphasizing their ability to work in Agile environments. They also call attention to the fact that they can take a software development project from design to implementation.

6.     Human Resources Manager resume summary example

"Experienced Human Resources Manager specializing in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management. Skilled in developing and implementing HR policies and procedures that align with business objectives and values. Proven track record of building and managing high-performing teams."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's experience in various HR functions and emphasizes their ability to build and manage teams. It also shows that they can perform managerial functions like developing policies and procedures.

7.     Graphic Designer resume summary example

"Creative Graphic Designer with particular expertise in developing and executing visually stunning designs for print and digital media. Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud, with a focus on typography and layout. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously."

Why it works : This summary works well because it showcases their technical skills and experience while also emphasizing creativity and an ability to work collaboratively.

8.     Registered Nurse resume summary example

"Compassionate Registered Nurse with over 10 years' experience in providing high-quality patient care. Skilled at patient assessment, medication administration, and treatment plan development. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with patients and their families."

Why it works : This summary emphasizes the candidate's clinical and patient care experience and highlights their key nursing and interpersonal skills.

9.     Financial Analyst resume summary example

“Detail-oriented Financial Analyst with a strong background in financial modeling, data analysis, and forecasting. Combines advanced Excel skills with the ability to create and manage financial reports. Able to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.”

Why it works : This summary showcases the applicant's specific skills and experience in financial analysis and highlights their proficiency in Excel, a crucial tool for the role.

10.  Administrative Assistant resume summary example

“Skilled Administrative Assistant with 8 years of experience in administrative support and office administration. Resilient, detail-oriented, and able to work under extreme pressure in a team environment. Excellent interpersonal, client management, and interdepartmental liaison skills. Committed to successful management of multiple simultaneous projects, strict adherence to deadline requirements, and accurate maintenance of schedules, meeting obligations, and records.”

Why it works : An Administrative Assistant wears many hats and experiences many challenges. This resume summary covers a lot of ground to demonstrate that the candidate understands those obstacles and knows how to overcome them.

11.  Data Entry Clerk resume summary example

“Task-driven and results-oriented professional with more than 10 years of experience in data entry, project coordination, and customer service. Uses interpersonal skills including effective communication to build rapport and positive relations with customers, gather vital information, and ensure rapid and accurate entry of data into designated software programs.”

Why it works : This resume summary is effective because it gets right to the heart of the job: dealing with customers and entering data into databases. The candidate also emphasizes their results-focused mindset, project skills, and key soft skills.

12.  Business Analyst resume summary example

“Results-driven Business Analyst with a proven record in expanding profitability by 55% in the retail industry.  Confident carrying out data-focused analysis that provides key insights and recommendations for growth strategies. Strong interpersonal and team building skills, innovative approach to problem-solving , and resolute commitment to efficiency and productivity.”

Why it works : Business analysis is all about using data and research to deliver key insights that result in improved operations and greater business success. This summary hits all the right notes as it focuses on key skills, a solutions-oriented mindset, and notable achievements that reflect real value for employers.

13.  Operations Manager resume summary example

“Results-oriented Operations Manager with more than 10 years of supervisory experience in high-level operational environments. Adept at coordinating both large and small teams, outside consultants, and mid-level management personnel. Successfully introduced Lean manufacturing principles that reduced costs by 32% via waste elimination and process revitalization.”

Why it works : This candidate's summary emphasizes key skills that the employer wants to see in any managerial candidate, while also showcasing their knowledge of best operational practices and a commitment to cost reduction.

14.  Mental Health Counselor resume summary example

“Compassionate Mental Health Counselor with more than a decade of experience addressing mental health issues and behavioral concerns. Proven success in both individual and group counseling environments, assisting clients in gaining insight and understanding of their unique conditions. Specialized focus on working with young adults and families, with an emphasis on addressing substance abuse root causes and other social factors involved in mental health.”

Why it works : This resume summary is notable for citing important skills like empathy and compassion. It also focuses attention on the candidate's experience in dealing with common mental health concerns and hints at their preferred approach to assisting patients.

15.  High School Teacher resume summary example

“Dynamic high school teacher with 12 years of experience developing approved curricula for more than 500 students in grades 9-12. Proven track record of helping students to achieve a 98% passing rate in both Western Civilization and World History instruction. Actively engaged in every aspect of education, at the district, local, and parent-teacher level.”

Why it works : This candidate's resume summary highlights their vast experience, while illustrating their success in ensuring that their students learn what they need to know to pass the class. They also demonstrate their commitment to the educational process by highlighting their involvement in every area of education.

16.  Accountant resume summary example

“Diligent and detail-oriented CPA with seven years of experience in accounting, process improvement, and problem-solving. Skilled at identifying inefficiencies and using reporting to offer insights that can guide employers to better practices and greater profitability. At XYZ Corp., identified labor usage inefficiency that motivated management to introduce new scheduling that eliminated $300,000 in labor waste.”

Why it works : In addition to highlighting a wide range of valuable skills, this candidate also focused on a quantifiable achievement that illustrates real value. This type of summary would certainly capture a hiring manager's attention and make them want to read more!

17.  Event Manager resume summary example

“Resilient and creative Event Manager with 6 years of corporate experience. Detail-oriented perfectionist with experience in project management, team leadership, and customer relations. Successfully organized and executed more than 40 major business conferences, hosting thousands of guests. Major clients have included three Fortune 500 firms with multi-million-dollar event budgets.

Why it works : As Event Managers go, this one has certainly made the rounds. That summary of achievements highlights their ability to manage even large-scale events, dealing with every aspect of the project. How could a serious hiring manager not want to learn more about this candidate?

18.  IT Manager resume summary example

“Dedicated IT Manager with significant experience in an innovative and growing tech firm. Skilled leader with experience in systems analysis, database architecture, problem-solving, and troubleshooting. Superior client satisfaction rate of more than 99%. Created and implemented IT troubleshooting process that reduced internal client service time by 30%.”

Why it works : This IT professional focuses attention on their key leadership skills , while also mentioning the hard skills that any hiring manager is likely to be looking for. There's also a nice nod to their history of satisfying clients, as well as a notable and measurable achievement.

19.  Product Designer resume summary example

“Innovative Design Engineer with 5 years of experience in the development of products and packages. Skilled in market research, brand development and alignment, and design elements. Led team of seventeen Designers in the creation of industrial products that yielded $20 million in sales in the first month after launch.”

Why it works : This resume summary uses some important keywords, action verbs, and descriptive language to describe the candidate's key skills and experiences. It also cites an impressive product design achievement, along with real numbers that showcase value.

20.  Content Marketer resume summary example

“Creative marketing professional with 7 years' experience as a Content Marketer. Skilled writer who understands how written communication empowers business growth and expansion. Expertise in development of compelling content that drives activities across multiple media channels. Adaptable , detail-oriented, and focused on a brand-building approach to content strategy that drives real results. Developed a cross-platform content strategy that boosted sales conversion rates by 37%.

Why it works : This Content Marketer focuses on their key skills and keen insights into how content impacts business profitability. They even included a measurable result that demonstrates their focus on adding value to their employer's bottom line.

21.  SEO Specialist resume summary example

“Results-focused SEO expert with 6 years of experience in keyword mastery, the promotion of sustainable content, and growing organic website search engine rankings. Proven track record of SEO success, using content development and link outreach to expand website traffic activity from 10,000 daily visitors to more than 2,000,000 per year.”

Why it works : Many hiring managers may not fully understand SEO, but they will understand the need to get more eyes on their digital content. This candidate speaks to that need by focusing on website rankings, content, and overall web traffic - while including a quantifiable achievement that demonstrates their ability to make things happen.

22.  Copywriter resume summary example

“Website Copywriter with 5 years of experience in developing content that creates real conversions. Cross-channel expertise including website content, advertising, newsletters, press releases, email, and podcast / video scripts. Proven track record of increasing social traffic by 36% and driving a 22% boost in landing page conversions.”

Why it works : This candidate's summary is focused not only on the type of things they write, but how those content pieces directly contribute to the company's online presence and sales conversion rate. This illustrates the writer's understanding of how their work aligns with their employer's business needs and goals.

23.  Bank Teller resume summary example

“Empathetic and personable Bank Teller with more than 4 years of experience in client interactions at First Bank. Detail-oriented customer management approach, focused on superior customer experiences and client retention. Strict adherence to bank policy, including safety deposit guidelines, customer account security, and due diligence. Efficiently and effectively processed more than 200 client account interactions each day.”

Why it works : For a Bank Teller, much of the role's value lies in the employee's ability to serve as the face of the branch. This summary is effective because it showcases the Teller's knowledge of bank procedures, while also highlighting their commitment to creating an excellent customer experience.

24.  Software Support Specialist resume summary example

“Problem-solving Software Support Specialist with 8 years of experience in customer-facing user assistance. Provided key problem resolution services for hundreds of customers, with a focus on maximizing their satisfaction with the company to increase loyalty and retention. Experienced in both customer and B2B interactions, with a specialized talent for explaining technical problems in language that is easily understood by the average layperson.”

Why it works : This resume summary focuses not only on the candidate's specialized skills in solving computer issues, but also highlights their ability to simplify their explanations to customers.

25.  Data Scientist resume summary example

“Committed Data Scientist focused on analytical insights that can drive company growth and development. More than eight years of experience providing data-driven analysis to Fortune 500 executives, based on comprehensive statistical models and detailed historical data patterns. Successfully provided insights and recommendations used to increase company profits by 32% over a two-year period.”

Why it works : Data science may not seem like the most exciting field, but hiring managers are always on the hunt for candidates who understand why data matters. This candidate's focus on providing insights that can translate into real value for the employer is something that is likely to earn a hiring manager's interest.

26.  Dental Assistant resume summary example

“Dental Assistant with 5 years of experience with patient preparation, processing, and administrative support. Keen attention to detail and a commitment to dental health and aesthetics. Skilled in dental impressions, hands-on assistance during procedures, x-rays, and record maintenance. Fully committed to developing rapport with patients that creates a welcoming environment and a joyful experience.”

Why it works : This candidate's resume summary not only highlights key Dental Assistant requirements, but also conveys their personal approach to teamwork and patient care.

27.  Architect resume summary example

“Creative Architect experienced in high-end architectural design and development oversight. Ten years of proven success in creating sustainable designs that earn rave reviews and commendations from clients. Skilled in adapting to new challenges and working under pressure to achieve every client's vision. Consistently produces designs and project plans that come in on time and under budget, at 10%-30% less cost than industry competitors.”

Why it works : In this summary, the candidate highlights key skills that employers will want to see, while also emphasizing quantifiable results that demonstrate competitive value for the employer. They also showcase their ability to not only design architectural structures but to do so with a conscious awareness of critical factors like budgetary concerns, deadlines, sustainability and market competition.

Bonus: how to write a resume summary if you have no experience

Of course, it's also important to know how to write a resume summary if you have no experience. Here's a quick resume summary example that you can adapt if you are just entering the job market:

“Recent Marketing graduate, seeking an entry-level position to kickstart a career in the field. Demonstrated strong leadership and teamwork skills gained through involvement in various extracurricular activities, including volunteering at local events and leading group projects. Proficient in Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud. Passionate about using marketing strategies to create engaging content and drive brand awareness.”

Why it works: This summary works because it highlights the candidate's relevant hard and soft skills and qualifications, even though they don't have direct career experience. The use of action words such as "demonstrated" and "proficient" shows the candidate's confidence in their abilities, which can be attractive to potential employers, showcasing the candidate's potential for success in an entry-level marketing role.

Key takeaways

A well-written resume summary can make a significant impact on a job application. A good summary should highlight relevant skills and experiences, use clear and concise language, and avoid unnecessary information. Feel free to customize any of the resume summary examples we've provided to help ensure that your resume captures the attention of potential employers.

We know it can be difficult to condense a whole career full of skills and achievements into a paragraph of only a few sentences. If you're unsure about the document you've crafted, why not send it for a free resume review by our team of expert resume writers? 

Recommended reading:

Ask Amanda: How Are a Resume Objective and a Resume Summary Different?

How to Write a Standout Career Summary

Business Acumen: What It Is and How You Can Showcase It On Your Resume

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

Resume summary examples: how to write one and samples you can use, a resume summary is not meant to simply summarize things already on your resume. here's what you should do instead, with examples approved by hiring managers and practical templates and examples you can copy to get you started..

🔍  Search for a summary by job title

Search for a job title or industry. You can also leave this blank and scroll through 250 summaries below.

☞  or choose from popular keywords:

Customer service, business development, account manager, what is a resume summary.

A resume summary is a short section at the top of your resume. The purpose of a summary is to highlight something that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for but isn’t included elsewhere in your resume, like transferable skills or a context that makes your accomplishments stand out. Despite the name, it isn’t supposed to simply summarize the information already in your resume.

Who needs a resume summary?

A resume summary is completely optional, but it can be beneficial in a number of situations.

People with a lot of experience

It can be a struggle to summarize 15+ years of work experience in a way that’s concise enough not to make a recruiter’s eyes glaze over without leaving out valuable accomplishments. If you have extensive relevant work experience, use your resume summary to distill the key elements. Think of it as the highlights reel of your resume.

People who are changing careers or job titles

If you’re changing careers completely, a resume summary is the best way to briefly contextualize your experience, highlight your transferable skills, and explain why you’re a good fit for the position — especially if those things aren’t obvious from the body of your resume.

The same thing applies if you’re pivoting to a new role within your current industry or career. You don’t want a hiring manager assuming your skills aren’t relevant or that you’re simply applying for every job you can find, so use your summary to demonstrate why that isn’t the case.

For a more detailed guide to resume summaries for career changers, check out How to Write a Resume Summary if You’re Changing Careers .

If the job is looking for something specific

If the job description asks for anything specific or particularly unusual and you fit the bill, emphasize that in your summary. This could be anything from experience with startups (e.g. small knit, cross-functional teams) to specific qualifications (e.g. CFA Level 3).

Do you need a resume summary?

Probably not! Most people don’t need a resume summary. Remember that your resume should already be a succinct summary of your work history and achievements — if yours is self-explanatory or less than a page long, there’s no need to re-summarize it again at the top. Unless you fall into one of the categories discussed above, or your situation is otherwise unique, your resume is probably enough on its own.

If a summary doesn’t add anything to your resume , or is just restating information that’s already included elsewhere, leave it out.

If you’re a student or recent graduate , or otherwise don’t have a lot of work experience, you’re unlikely to need a resume summary.

The same thing applies if your work history is self-explanatory and doesn’t need clarification. A summary doesn’t add anything to your resume simply by existing, so only include one if it’s actually necessary.

How to write a resume summary

Here's a quick step-by-step guide to get you started:

• Lead with the job title. If you're applying for a job as a project manager, that's how you should describe yourself, regardless of your past experience.
• Describe the scope of your experience, including how many years' experience you have and the size of businesses you've worked for.
• Choose a standout accomplishment that's relevant to the job you're applying for.
• Include metrics — this moves the line from 'bragging' to 'demonstrable experience.'
• Mention 2-3 key skills that match the job description.
• Include any specific highlights from your resume that show why you’d be a great fit for the position.
• Run your resume through a free resume checker to see how well your summary scores.

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Resume summary examples.

Ready to write your own resume summary? To make it easier for you, here are some templates you can follow and examples of what your summary should look like in action. There are a ton of examples in the rest of this page - we'll start with generic templates, then move to templates for each kind of career level, and then examples by job title.

Let's start with an annotated example to help guide you through the rest of the examples.

Resume summary templates by career level

Let's first through some generic resume summary templates you can use as a foundation for your own summary. You can apply them to a reume for any job title or industry.

Template 1: Executive Resume Summary

This is a basic but effective resume summary. It’s short and easy to read, while briefly explaining your background, experience, and what you can bring to the company. This is a good option if you want to emphasize your relevant skills.

Template 2: Conventional Resume Summary

This is an alternative way to format your summary. It’s less conversational and more results-focused, which works well if you have a few particularly impressive accomplishments you want to highlight.

Resume summary examples by job title

Training manager, microbiologist, site reliability engineer, internal audit, learning and development, medical billing, construction manager, talent acquisition, it specialist, security manager, civil engineer, special projects, vp of marketing, process specialist, reporting analyst, program analyst, environmental scientist, vice president of operations, virtual assistant, director of marketing, recruiting coordinator, maintenance technician, sales associate, electronic technician, network engineer, customer success, correctional officer, content writer, video editor, procurement, system engineer, program manager, sql developer, training and development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, project administrator, market researcher, c-level and executive, respiratory therapist, data mining, actuarial science, full stack developer, quality engineer, care coordinator, technical support, solutions engineer, site manager, production planner, software architect, merchandising, dental assistant, policy analyst, biomedical engineer, implementation specialist, project coordinator, case manager, cyber security, radiologic technologist, medical technologist, director of analytics, revenue cycle, mechanical engineer, system administrator, research assistant, sales leader, machine learning, social media manager, relationship manager, safety engineer, c, c++, and c# developer, etl developer, brand strategist, communications, director of information technology, intelligence analyst, makeup artist, advertising, data analyst, front end developer, service desk, supply chain, python developer, social worker, packaging engineer, instructional design, security analyst, digital marketing, cloud developer, director of engineering, platform engineer, engagement manager, software tester, loss prevention, automation engineer, interior design, integration architect, manufacturing engineer, planning engineer, environmental engineer, data specialist, sales engineer, brand ambassador, product owner, administrative assistant, payroll specialist, java developer, growth marketing, product manager, credit analyst, demand planning manager, architecture, project engineer, underwriter, inventory manager, chief of staff, industrial engineer, real estate agent, cloud engineer, office manager, account executive, digital media, sales manager, sales executive, business intelligence, change management, investment banking, production assistant, gig economy, marketing executive, materials engineer, business analyst, financial controller, service technician, digital transformation, audio engineer, desktop support, ux designer, data governance, chief digital officer, pharmacy technician, data modeling, executive assistant, contract specialist, supply chain planner, hotel manager, finance executive, continuous improvement, content creator, design director, vp of finance, financial advisor, accounts payable, software developer, creative director, data scientist, collections specialist, warehouse manager, quality control, diversity and inclusion, production manager, finance director, php developer, health and safety, event coordinator, director of product management, public policy, purchasing manager, operational excellence, marketing manager, plant manager, data engineer, graphic designer, director of software engineering, digital strategist, art director, technical writer, scrum master, technology director, human resources (hr), network administrator, orientation leader, administrative coordinator, sharepoint developer, financial analyst, claims adjuster, cost analyst, administration, clinical research, back office, materials management, risk management, fundraising, business owner, campaign manager, operations manager, legal assistant, loan processor, ux researcher, project leader, software engineer, web developer, inside sales, engineering manager, equity research, director of operations, occupational therapist, director of sales, project manager, sales coordinator, game design, electrical engineer, solutions architect, brand manager, senior executive resume summary example #1.

We discussed how senior level hires can use an executive resume summary to emphasize their most impressive and relevant accomplishments. Here are a few examples of how to do it in action.

This example serves as a good high-level overview of your experience. There’s an opportunity for you to mention one or two of your most impressive accomplishments and it provides a useful context for the body of your resume. Here it is in text format if you'd like to copy this into your own resume to use as a starting point:

Resume Summary Example #2

This example is good because it focuses on concrete data and achievements. Remember, the more quantifiable your achievements are, the more likely they are to land with a hiring manager. Here's the example in text format in case you'd like to use it in your own resume:

Mid-Level Jobseeker Resume Summary Example #1

If you’re a mid level hire, a resume summary can help set you apart from entry level applicants by highlighting a few notable skills or accomplishments and providing important context.

This example makes the extent of your previous experience clear to a hiring manager. It emphasizes a couple of noteworthy accomplishments that may set you apart from other mid level hires and might otherwise have gotten lost in the body of your resume. If you'd like to use this in your own resume summary, here it is in text format that you can easily copy-and-paste:

This example briefly provides the context for your resume and hones in on your most impressive achievements. The bullet point format and focus on hard numbers make it easy for a hiring manager to read and quickly digest. Here it is in text format:

Career Changer Resume Summary Example

A resume summary is particularly important if you’re changing careers. You don’t need to go into detail about why you’re changing careers, but briefly mentioning any relevant training or certifications is a good idea, alongside the transferrable skills you’ll bring to the role. If you're changing careers, make sure to see more summary examples for career changers .

Resume summary tips

Keep it short.

Your resume summary should be 3-6 lines long, or around 100-200 words. Less is more — hiring managers will skim over long chunks of text, so don’t be tempted to go over. The quicker and easier your summary is to read, the more chance it’ll make an impact. If you feel like you need more space to write about yourself, that’s what your cover letter is for.

Tailor your resume summary

Even more so than your resume, you must tailor your summary to each job you apply to. Here are a few ways you can do that:

Mention specific technical skills the job requires. If you’re applying for a job that requires a particular skill or qualification that you have, make sure you highlight that. But keep it specific! If you’re applying for a data science role that requires Python, explain how you’ve used Python in the past. Don’t include every programming or technical skill you have, or it’ll look like you’re using a scattershot approach and may overshadow your actual relevant experience. Doing this will also help you get past the applicant tracking systems , or resume screeners, which scan your resume for specific keywords.

Review the job description. Using specific language from a job description in your resume summary can make you look like a good fit, as long as you don’t overdo it. If a job description mentions leadership, describe the size of the teams you’ve led. If they want someone with entrepreneurial flair, mention a project where you demonstrated initiative. This doesn’t necessarily have to be work-related — personal projects can fit, too, as long as they highlight that specific skill or quality.

Be specific and results-oriented. The more specific you are about your accomplishments, the more impressive they’ll be. Use hard numbers wherever possible. Don’t just write “experienced in managing teams” or “increased revenue.” Quantifiable achievements like “managed teams of 5-20 people” or “drove $100,000 in incremental revenue” are more meaningful.

Avoid buzzwords

Phrases like “hardworking,” “team player,” and “attention to detail” have no place on your resume. Anyone can claim to have excellent communication skills — prove it by mentioning that your email campaign resulted in a 30% increase in repeat customers. Remember: Show, don’t tell.

Write your summary last

The goal of your summary is to provide a brief introduction and context for the body of your resume. Focus on writing your resume first — once you’ve nailed it, it’ll be much easier to fill in the summary section.

People applying for remote jobs

If you’re applying for a fully remote position, it can be helpful to note that in your summary. Specifying that you’re only applying for remote work can weed out positions that are only partially or temporarily remote. And if you have experience with remote work in that past, mentioning some of your remote achievements can demonstrate that you’re just as effective when working from home.

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30 Resume Summary Examples + How to Write One in 2024

• Understand the Resume Summary
• When to Use a Resume Summary
• How to Write a Summary
• 30 Resume Summaries
• Resume Summary Recap

It’s the backbone of your job hunt, but it can be frustrating to figure out what goes into a good resume .

And one of the murky areas that hopeful applicants wrestle with is whether to include a summary or objective statement in their resume. When every bit of space on your resume is invaluable, how do you know when a summary or objective is essential?b

If you’re already a pro, head to the best AI resume builder  to build your resume before moving on to making a cover letter , or you can customize the resume below. Otherwise, join us, and we’ll clear away the confusion and give you 30 summary statement examples you can make your own.

Real Estate Agent Resume

What is a Summary on a Resume?

The summary of your resume should give a quick “snapshot” of your best qualifications, which you’ll later emphasize and quantify with your skills and experience. Your summary offers an overview of which qualifications make you the perfect fit for the job:  So, focus on the highlights of your career.

You want your summary to emphasize your  history of accomplishments and excellence , leveraging that information to demonstrate how you’ll benefit the company and enhance the position for which you’re applying. Your summary should be attention-grabbing and immediately show why you’re the ideal hire!

Is a resume summary the same as a career objective?

You may wonder whether a resume summary and a  career objective  serve the same purpose—and whether they’re interchangeable. There’s plenty of overlap between resume objectives and summaries, thus muddling the waters. 

These key differences will help you simplify and clarify a confusing topic:

Summaries are great if:

• You have extensive, quality experience
• You’re staying within your field or branching out to something similar
• You have some impressive metrics to share

Objectives are better if:

• You’re a new graduate
• You’re changing careers or breaking into the field

Wait! Is the summary the same as a summary of qualifications?

The lesser-known summary of qualifications is not quite the same as a resume summary! While your summary should describe your qualifications and relevant history in a couple of concise sentences, a summary of qualifications is more technical and usually presented in a bulleted list. The summary of qualifications lets you work in some ATS-friendly keywords and then dazzle a recruiter with metrics, accomplishments, and skills.

It’s usually recommended to keep your list of qualifications to three to six bullet points, limiting each to one or two lines. But this format eats up space on your resume quickly! So, it’s best to replace your resume’s summary or objective with a summary of qualifications if you have a long, complicated history of experience in your field and need to emphasize the highlights of your background at a glance.

Know When to Use a Resume Summary

A resume summary is  often best suited to applicants with 10+ years of experience, although standalone accomplishments  can  be equally powerful . 

If you’ve achieved an unusual level of expertise or racked up an impressive list of accomplishments during a shorter time, consider including a summary!

Our simple  free resume templates  make it easy for you to add or remove information and manipulate sections for personalization without affecting the overall layout of your resume. If you work with a resume template through a word-processing program, like the creative  Google Docs resume templates  we designed, making edits can throw everything off kilter, often causing you to start from scratch to correct the problem.

Indicators that a summary would fit nicely on your resume:

• You’ve worked long enough (10+ years) that you should condense the highlights of your career
• You have an eye-catching list of accomplishments and quantifiable achievements
• You’ve worked with big-name companies or prestigious projects
• You’ve advanced quickly within your field during an unusually short time

If the list above feels intimidating, circle back to the original question of whether a summary enhances your resume.

Indicators to exclude the summary & let your skills & experience speak for themselves:

• You’re a new graduate who hasn’t had time to build much experience 
• Your previous work experience has been somewhat run-of-the-mill
• Your background and qualifications look somewhat generic or bland once written 
• You haven’t had many opportunities that resulted in quantifiable achievements

If you can relate, your resume will be strongest if you drop the summary entirely. Instead, lead with your skills and emphasize dependability, ambition, and potential in your experience section.

How to Write a Resume Summary

If you’re bracing yourself for the process of honing your summary, don’t worry! It’ll be a breeze if you follow our tried-and-true formula and keep our handy tips in mind as you write.

Follow our resume summary formula

The process is as easy as: X + Y + Z = Attention-snagging summary!

X = Your characteristics and personality traits Y = Years of experience and quantified success/results Z = How these results apply to the specific job role

Consider this resume summary for a programmer:

You can pinpoint each element when you break this summary down:

X = Inquisitive, driven, and eager Y = 8+ years of experience, a client base of 100+ people, and a savings of 725+ manual hours Z = Specific programming skills like Python and jQuery that will enhance performance within the position

Our best resume summary tips

Now, we’ll unpack some tips to help you nail down the perfect summary to jumpstart your resume:

• Summary length:  Limit your summary to two or three sentences.
• Keywords:  Consider job-specific keywords that the ATS scans for as well as keywords that will hook recruiters.
• Quantify your claims:  When you list accomplishments and achievements, back them up with hard facts! Data like improvement percentages, customer satisfaction metrics, and client base numbers will boost your credibility.
• Tailor summaries to specific positions:  You never want your summary to feel generic, so look for specific requirements in the job description that you can respond to with relevant details from your own experience.
• Grammar and mechanics:  Proofread carefully for spelling and punctuation errors, and keep a close eye on grammar. It’s also ideal to avoid informal contractions and opening sentences with “I.” Your summary should immediately spotlight your professional value—so keep sentence structure concise and use “my” when presenting your skills.

Don’t worry if this is a little overwhelming at first glance!  Save your summary for last,  even though it appears first. Once your other sections are fine-tuned, it’ll be easier to pinpoint choice details to fill in the formula and complete your perfect summary. (And who says you have to nail your summary the first time you write it?! Go through as many iterations as you need when you  outline your resume .)

The good, the bad, and the ugly resume summary

So, what do these concepts look like in action? Take a look at this example of an excerpt from a digital marketing manager’s job description:

As a digital marketing marketer, you will plan, oversee, manage, and implement our brand’s digital marketing campaigns. You will:

• Plan each digital marketing campaign and delegate tasks in a team setting
• Oversee and evaluate the quality of digital marketing materials
• Analyze campaigns and identify how to improve performance

What kind of summary works for this job description? We’ll take it from bad to best.

I graduated with a marketing degree last year and did lots of group projects. I know how to structure a market campaign and read analytics.

Why it’s ugly:  There’s zero personality here. The claims are not only weak and vague, but there’s nothing quantifiable to back them—let alone any indication of managerial skills. Even though the summary addresses some details from the job description, they’re too generic. 

My degree in marketing makes me a great fit for this position. I can use my communication and analytical skills to help your team create great ad campaigns. I’m also familiar with Google Analytics and LinkedIn and have worked with several teams.

Why it’s bad:  While this summary addresses skills and teamwork experience more effectively, the tone still lacks the gusto that most managerial roles require. The first sentence takes up space while offering too little information, and the second two are redundant and unenthusiastic.

Ambition, creativity, and a BA in marketing empowered me to gain 6+ years of experience with a digital marketing team and boost website traffic by 67%. My proficiency in Microsoft Excel, SEO, and KPI tracking enable me to plan, create, and analyze advertising campaigns. My well-honed strategies and communication skills will elevate Nestlé USA’s marketing team to new heights.

Why it’s best:  This summary completes the formula! You can see personality, experience, and quantifiable claims coupled with the applicant’s skills that fit the exact job description. Dynamic, powerful verbs such as “boost,” “create,” and “empowered” also suggest this applicant is qualified for an advanced role.

30 Resume Summary Examples to Inspire You + Why They Work

You’ve got the basics down; now you’re ready to take inspiration from these 30 professional resume summary examples across different professions. As you check them out, keep our key formula in mind. Before you know it, you’ll have a starting point for your own incredible summary.

We begin many of these with a quick list of key points in the job description, so you can see how each summary is carefully customized to the role.

1. Accountant resume summary

Accountant job description  key points :

• Adept at creating and managing financial documents
• Maintaining ledger entries and monthly budgets
• Detailed error checking and problem-solving
• Auditing and document collection
• Mentorship and training skills

Accountant resume summary :

Why this resume works

• The applicant’s ambitious yet matter-of-fact personality is evident in a way that reinforces their desire to take an active leadership role in the accounting field.
• The solid metrics of a CPA certification and an improvement percentage also quantify the applicant’s selling points.
• And lastly, the focus is on more advanced skills instead of entry-level basics. 

Need more help? Our  accountant resume guide  and  accountant cover letter examples  have you covered from top to bottom.

2. Attorney resume summary

Attorney job description  key points :

• Adept with communication and navigating client consultations
• Familiarity with litigation and a strong ability to adapt to changing legislation
• Strategic, analytical thinking, and strong ethical problem-solving skills
• Preparing, customizing, and checking legal documents
• Forewarning clients of potential obstacles and helping them understand their options

Attorney resume summary :

• The candidate immediately demonstrates an ambitious personality alongside a quantifiable accomplishment.
• Next, the more in-depth set of abilities highlights a well-rounded approach to legal success—ending on a strong note with specific examples of how they’ll benefit the law firm.

If you need more guidance on your  attorney resume  or  attorney cover letter , we can show you the way regardless of your experience level.

3. Business analyst resume summary

Business analyst job description  key points :

• Analytical and quick, adaptive thinking patterns
• Basic IT abilities in Microsoft Excel, SQL, Google Sheets, and Agile Development
• Superior communication and interpersonal/soft skills
• Meticulous attention to detail with an ability to deliver precise reports/data and advice

Business analyst resume summary :

• The formula is all here—personality with a spotlight on skills that apply directly to the job position—and the applicant dives right into measurable achievements.
• While technical skills are touched upon, broader qualifications and personal traits that mesh with the company take the spotlight.

Take your career documents to the next level with comprehensive guidance on your  business analyst resume  and  business analyst cover letter .

4. Customer service resume summary

Customer service job description  key points :

• Impeccable communication, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills
• Flexibility, adaptability, and reliability
• Task organization and prioritization
• Personable and an affinity for welcoming customers/patrons
• Basic technical/computer skills while monitoring metrics and applying them to better meet company goals

Customer service resume summary :

• This summary would be ideal for a candidate looking to progress to a more managerial customer service role since it offers quantifiable results alongside a strong demonstration of a go-getter personality.
• The applicant also included their experience alongside relevant skills, finally tying everything in with the specific company’s goals.

If you’re  building a resume  for the first time, glancing through our  customer service resume  guide will steer you in the right direction before you transition to your  customer service cover letter .

5. Data analyst resume summary

Data analyst job description  key points :

• Analytical and strategizing skills
• Strong ability to identify trends and problems quickly
• Organization, planning, and communication
• Collaborative and team-based abilities
• Technical database management and basic understanding of key languages like Python and Oracle

Data analyst resume summary :

• A data analyst’s job is highly technical, so it’s ideal to dive right into metrics and list several hard skills in your summary.
• While you can still find personality traits and evidence of soft skills in a team setting, this summary is more focused on measurable, results-driven improvements that the applicant can provide.

You’re in good hands (this is not a plug for Allstate, by the way) with our  data analyst resume  guide if you need some solid examples. Chances are you’ll need a  data analyst cover letter  to go with your resume; we’ve got that handled, too.

6. Data engineer resume summary

Data engineer job description  key points :

• Technical skills like database and development programming languages
• Strong ability to develop, optimize, and maintain database software
• Attention to detail, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Advanced understanding of data pipelines and infrastructures
• Adaptive ability to support stakeholders and executive teams’ data infrastructure needs

Data engineer resume summary :

• As a data engineer, this applicant emphasizes leadership qualities, showing a desire for advancement with metrics to corroborate previous accomplishments.
• You can also see technical skills presented strategically to demonstrate the applicant’s skills in light of the job description.

Start your  data engineer resume  with the right  resume template  that speaks to you and your dream role. Besides a resume summary, know what else requires good writing? Yeah, your  data engineer cover letter .

7. Data scientist resume summary

Data scientist job description  key points:

• Second-nature understanding of the Scientific Method and algorithms
• Advanced ability to organize unstructured data and information
• Clear communication alongside translating large volumes of data into easily-comprehensible business insights
• Improve data quality and streamline/implement pricing models
• Integrate stakeholder input and collaborate on constant, adaptable business model improvements

Data scientist resume summary :

• This applicant demonstrates a driven personality with a highly analytical mindset and scientific background.
• You also get a realistic idea of how they’ll use their skills to produce quantifiable results—and benefit the company.

Looking for more resources? We can help you with the entirety of your  data scientist resume  and help you understand the nuances of writing a  data scientist cover letter .

8. Graphic designer resume summary

Graphic designer job description  key points :

• Attention to detail and a solid understanding of design theory for both print and digital applications (colors, typography, shapes, composition, etc.)
• Technical expertise with digital illustration/editing programs
• Understanding of marketing strategy, advertising techniques, and social media
• Excellent communication with clients and team members

Graphic designer resume summary :

• The candidate’s bright personality shines here, quite impactful for a creative field when backed by quantifiable examples of success.
• Teamwork abilities and experience with digital marketing also take center stage, demonstrating a balance between creativity and organized planning. 

Choose a  well-designed resume template  for your  graphic designer resume , and find a matching template to boost your confidence when it comes to your  graphic designer cover letter , too.

9. Human resources (HR) resume summary

Human resources (HR) job description  key points :

• A knack for facilitating communication between peers and departments
• Ability to update company policies, benefits, employee records, and payroll
• Proactivity when it comes to helping employees understand company policies
• Performance reviews, conflict resolution, de-escalation, and corrective action
• Assist with managing meetings and fostering employee communication and trust

Human resources (HR) resume summary :

• Soft skills are important in HR, especially when addressing sensitive topics, so this applicant’s focus on the personal side of company policies is wise.
• Even so, they still supply a strong metric for previous success and specify how their traits would fit the job position.

Don’t miss our complete  HR cover letter guide , and we share what works and what doesn’t on the rest of your  human resources (HR) resume .

10. Nursing resume summary

Nursing job description  key points :

• Fast, effective communication and task implementation
• Collect patient data such as medical history, current conditions/medications, and updates
• Critical thinking and decision-making abilities regarding when to treat patients vs. when to consult doctors/supervisors for guidance
• Organizational skills and ability to interpret patients’ information, adhere to treatment plans, adjust treatment plans as needed, and administer medications
• Tactfully and kindly discuss care options with patients and families

Nursing resume summary :

• This candidate’s caring, clear-headed personality shines, and they provide an empirical metric for their experience.
• Additionally, you can easily find specific examples of crucial skills that will help them perform efficiently in any fast-paced nursing position.

The roles are endless when it comes to the medical field, so make sure you’re on the right track with your  nursing resume  as well as when it comes to  writing your nurse cover letter .

11. Operations manager resume summary

Operations manager job description  key points :

• Excellent leadership and administrative capabilities
• Analytical thinking and organizational skills
• Ability to manage communication and efficiency among departments
• Adept at hiring, training, and optimizing schedules for employees
• Oversee/analyze production methods, performance, quality assurance, and related data, relying on Salesforce and Tableau

Operations manager resume summary :

• The applicant’s focused and driven personality is evident in the way they immediately showcase their lengthy experience and various aspects of their managerial prowess!
• You also see a success metric right away alongside technical skills aligned with the job description.

Your  operations manager resume  is sure to shine when you consider our  top resume tips ; then, you’ll be primed to write your  operations manager cover letter .

12. Product manager resume summary

Product manager job description  key points :

• Strong ability to analyze product quality from manufacturing to end-of-life
• Firm understanding of company goals and the ability to align products with those goals
• Superior communication and collaboration among cross-functional teams
• Skillfully interpreting data from Google Analytics and various other sources, leveraging it for improved production/distribution strategies
• Ability to analyze KPIs and identify areas for improvement

Product manager resume summary :

• As with any management-focused job description, the emphasis on strategizing and collaborative analysis here are ideal—and the technical skills balance out the interpersonal abilities well.
• The quantifiable improvement in feedback also strengthens this summary! 

Our  product manager resume  guide will ensure your resume is in tip-top shape from resume summary to  resume format . If you’re resume’s already a success, don’t forget about your  product manager cover letter .

13. Program manager resume summary

Program manager job description  key points :

• Planning, initiating, and implementing plans to achieve company goals and complete project portfolios
• Excellent management, leadership, and communication 
• Proactively motivate a team to carry out program activities
• Budgeting, organizational, and strategy-building skills
• Ability to analyze metrics of program success, such as KPIs and satisfaction rates, to identify areas for improvement

Program manager resume summary :

• Talk about detail! We can see several metrics here coupled with an energetic and goal-oriented personality.
• Additionally, these metrics and traits skillfully imply the exact set of abilities this job position requests.

Sail through the rest of your  program manager resume , and don’t forget to check it against our  AI-powered resume tool  before you draft the perfect  program manager cover letter .

14. Project manager resume summary

Project manager job description  key points :

• Excellent team management skills and a strong ability to facilitate collaboration and team cohesion
• Creativity and adaptability in project planning, budgeting, and implementation
• Ability to bridge the gap between project teams and company executives or clients to provide updates and results
• Organization, time management, and attention to codes and policy compliance
• Skillful preparation and management of briefing materials, progress tracking, and reports/reviews that can be leveraged for future improvements

Project manager resume summary :

• This job role is all about results, so leading with personality traits and metrics that support the candidate’s ability to yield these results is ideal.
• Accentuating what the applicant can offer this particular company is also a great move!

PMs, we see you! Peruse our  project manager resume examples  for support and inspiration, and sail through your  project manager cover letter , too.

15. Recruiter resume summary

Recruiter job description  key points:

• Excellent soft skills, including strategic communication. Ability to foster positive relationships with both applicants and staffing agents while managing client and candidate expectations
• Ability to gather information and quickly assess candidates
• Efficiency under pressure when working with high-priority or time-sensitive hires
• Strong ability to gauge talent/potential during interviews
• Develop/update job descriptions, requirements, proposed pay, and benefit plans

Recruiter resume summary :

• This summary concisely highlights the blend of personality traits and interpersonal skills that this applicant offers.
• The candidate still supplies a quantifiable example of their success and relevance, too.

You know all about the job hunt, but we get that you need help with your  recruiter resume , too. When it comes to  writing a resume  or your  recruiter cover letter , we’ll share all we know.

16. Sales resume summary

Sales job description  key points :

• Effective communication, persuasion, negotiation, and people-reading skills
• Ability to answer/field questions or find information quickly
• Time management and organization skills
• Preparing sales contracts, reports, and presentations
• Following up to ensure customer satisfaction, obtain payments, or promote new plans, services, or products
• Understanding and furthering company programs and specific sales objectives

Sales resume summary :

• You can witness plenty of beneficial personality traits here!
• Plus, the candidate’s experience is evident in the skills they highlight—and they specifically speak to the value they’ll offer the company.

Sell your career documents and snag your dream role with our resources for your  sales resume  and  sales cover letter .

17. Scrum master resume summary 

Scrum Master job description  key points :

• Excellent ability to lead, communicate, and collaborate with a team to meet goals while maintaining Scrum values
• Thorough understanding of Agile frameworks and ability to coach teammates in Agile
• Adaptability in fixing errors and problem-solving with strong recovery skills to keep the focus on sprint goals
• Use metrics and stakeholder/team feedback to ensure optimal product quality
• Organization, coordination, and task prioritization

Scrum Master resume summary :

• We clearly see experience, educational, and technical qualifications here.
• Personality shines through while demonstrating a clear understanding of the job role and, of course, everything ties in with the target company at the end.

Scrum Masters, we know you appreciate a logical and organized approach, so start by exploring our  resume examples  and diving into what works on the  best Scrum Master resumes . We can also teach you how to tackle your  Scrum Master cover letter  with ease.

18. Social media manager resume summary

Social media job description  key points :

• Familiarity with social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and the ability to maintain responsiveness on all channels
• Quick adaptability to changing social media/market trends and current events
• Adept at monitoring KPIs, SEO performance, and other metrics and assessing the effectiveness and potential improvements
• Ability to collaboratively plan and implement campaigns by creating, posting, and managing original content with the use of Hootsuite

Social media manager resume summary :

• It’s all there—experience, an ambitious, confident personality, credibility-boosting metrics, and highly relevant skills.
• The applicant also provides compelling insight regarding their approach to the company’s success.

As a social media guru, you have an eye for details, which is why you’ll appreciate our free and  creative Word resume templates  as you finish building your  social media manager resume  and writing your  social media manager cover letter .

19. Software engineer resume summary

Software engineer job description  key points :

• Engineering-focused educational background in math or computer science
• Technical experience with tools like C++, Java, Unix, database and cloud storage, etc.
• Strong ability to navigate, explain, and lead the entire software development lifecycle
• Solid understanding of the best software engineering practices with a focus on scalability, quick problem-solving, and information management
• Application infrastructure and design skills that mesh well with speed/optimization

Software engineer resume summary :

• There’s tons of personality here along with strong metrics that demonstrate the applicant’s skills.
• And while there’s a clear mention of technical skills, the strategic thinking of an engineer takes the spotlight, showcasing the ability to expertly handle advanced roles.

If your  software engineer resume  needs a facelift, consider one of our  free resume templates . Remember that your  software engineer cover letter  can make a great first impression.

20. Teacher resume summary

Teacher job description  key points :

• Supervisory and communication skills with the ability to process student feedback and customize lesson plans
• Ability to maintain leadership of the room and engage students with lessons 
• Planning and preparing lessons, assignments, and educational materials
• Updating grades frequently, providing thoughtful feedback, and modifying work for struggling students
• Provide insight, advice, and encouragement regarding students’ future career paths

Teacher resume summary :

• The conversational yet professional tone is ideal for a teacher delineating a diverse and adaptable skillset and backing it up with a quantifiable metric.
• The applicant’s best traits practically demonstrate themselves!

Along with your  teacher resume , your  teacher cover letter  should also be top of mind.

21. Server resume summary

22. Nanny resume summary

23. Data Entry resume summary

24. Marketing resume summary

25. Teacher Assistant resume summary

26. Caregiver resume summary

27. Social Worker resume summary

28. Dental Assistant resume summary

29. Front-End Developer resume summary

30. Web Developer resume summary

Resume Summary Recap & Your Next Steps

You’ve made it to the end, but don’t feel too overwhelmed or get lost in the weeds while striving to pinpoint the best parts of your experience and skillset to include in your summary! Return as often as you need to the summary examples above, and don’t hesitate to draw inspiration from our  resume examples . 

When you start writing your summary, keep our formula in mind:

X + Y + Z = Success!

X = Your characteristics/personality Y = Experience and quantified success/results Z = How your accomplishments apply to the specific role

Carefully read every job description while you search, and tailor your resume summary to each listing. The extra effort and finishing touches will show!

Remember it’s easiest to write your summary once you’ve drafted the rest of your resume , so you can get crackin’ in our  resume builder  for an interactive, intuitive solution. And if you like the resume below, you can start customizing it right away. So, here’s to your success. We’re cheering you on! 

When crafting your document, be sure to include specific information from the job ad but only if you actually have that experience. Because the ATS will automatically search for appropriate keywords and phrases, you can readily find what employers are searching for in other resumes and the ad for the job you’re applying for. Also, look at other ads for similar positions to find industry-specific keyword information to include.

Senior Financial Analyst Resume

15 Amazing Resume Summary Statement Examples for Job Seekers

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

Updated 6/9/2022.

What is the best way to start my resume? How do I get the attention of the hiring manager? Is there something specific I should be doing? These are questions we have all asked ourselves at one point or another. Fortunately, there’s mainly one answer: use a resume summary statement.

So, how do you create an amazing professional summary for a resume? Well, looking at some outstanding resume summary examples is typically a good place to start. If you want to make sure your resume is in the best shape possible, here’s what you need to know about the resume summary statement.

Understanding the Resume Summary Statement

So, what exactly is a resume summary statement? Well, according to the folks at The Balance Careers :

“A resume summary statement is a brief list or a few sentences at the top of your resume (after your contact information) that highlights your qualifications for a job.” That’s a good way to look at it.

And, what about the purpose of a resume summary? Well, they go on to add that resume summaries allow “the person reviewing your resume… to view your most important attributes at a glance.” In the end, that’s really what it’s all about.

A resume summary statement is similar to an objective statement in that it is a quick way for a job seeker to catch a hiring manager’s attention by summarizing critical information in an easy-to-read format. Now, a “Resume Objective” and “Resume Summary Statement” are two very different things and should not be confused. However, they serve a similar purpose, acting as an introduction.

Resume statements essentially are just a few short, well-worded, well-targeted sentences that summarize your skills and experiences. Sometimes called “Qualification Summaries” or even just “Competencies,” these two or three sentences can, when done right, give you a real advantage in the hiring game.

You may be wondering, “Why do I need a resume summary when they can just read my application?” Well, mainly because hiring managers may receive dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes.

In the end, hiring managers don’t have time to read every application word-for-word. Instead, they skim key areas looking for the right details, giving each resume an average of just six to seven seconds of their time before making an initial determination.

Usually, the resume summary statement is a part they always read. It showcases the best of what you have to offer, giving them critical insights upfront. That’s why getting your professional summary for your resume right is essential.

How to Write a Great Resume Summary Statement

So, how do you write a great resume summary statement? Well, as with much of your job search, it all begins with research. You need to make sure that you’re maximizing your potential, so the more you know, the better.

The goal is to get your statement distilled down into two or three laser-focused sentences that the hiring manager will consider relevant. To make that happen, go back and look at the job you’re applying for and determine your target audience. Re-read the job description, keeping your eyes open for key phrases and words.

• Who are they looking for?
• What do they want that person to bring to the table? What value can they provide?
• What would l look for in a hire if I were the one posting this job?

Once you identify those things, it’s time to figure out how you fit into them.

What are your top selling points? Find three or four things that define you as a professional, are unique to you, and involve skills you enjoy using. If you include things you’re good at but hate doing, you could find yourself only attracting interest on jobs that leave you stuck doing them again.

After that, see if you can identify any problems this position solves. Can you showcase value in that specific area?

As your summary starts to take shape, compare it to the job description and the company’s mission and values. How does your summary align with what the company is after? Keep rechecking as you adjust, ensuring it’s really on point by the time you’re done.

Now, there are also things you shouldn’t put in your statement. For example, proficiency in software that practically everyone knows – like Microsoft Office – isn’t ideal in your resume summary. Similarly, certain cliché adjectives, like ‘results-oriented,’ ‘hardworking,’ ‘innovative,’ and ‘motivated’ are also no-nos.

Now that we’ve looked at what to include and what NOT to include, it’s time to start writing your own resume summary examples.

Start out your statement by being specific! Make sure it’s tailored to not only the position but the company as well. Are you applying to five jobs? You should have five objective statements. Ten jobs? Ten statements, and so on.

Focus on how you’re a benefit to the company, not how the company can benefit you. Keep it valuable; make sure you point out what you bring to the table. Also, keep it short and sweet.

Finally, always open your statement with your title (or, for recent graduates, your degree earned). Why? Because you want to let whoever is reading the resume know at a glance exactly who they’re dealing with.

Remember, there are lots of people applying for these jobs, and the last thing you want to do is get lost in the shuffle. Plus, if the job is specifically looking for someone to fill a role and you’re already doing that role at another job, you’ve just ensured that the hiring managers take a second look at your resume!

Resume Summary Examples

Are you looking for more inspiration? Here are a few resume summary statement examples that you can use as a starting point.

Just remember, don’t use them verbatim. You want to tailor these statements to the needs of the company you are interviewing with, and you can’t do that if you use these word-for-word.

Still, these resume summary examples will get you moving in the right direction. Here are 15 examples of a professional summary for a resume, each aligned with different careers and various experience levels.

1. Newly-Minted Nursing Assistant

Certified nursing assistant with training in vital sign monitoring, patient examinations, wound dressing, patient records, and phlebotomy. Graduated at the top of the class, passing the exam with a score in the top 1%. Completed internship in a fast-paced, local clinic, offering exceptional patient care and consistently exceeding expectations.

2. Recent Engineering Graduate

Engineering Graduate with leadership training and experience with academic training at the University of Montana. Proven skills in project management, organization, and research with a background in office administration and organization. Able to provide employers with administrative support and professional communication skills.

3. Restaurant Shift Lead

Shift lead with 3+ years at a fast-paced, high-end dining restaurant with proven leadership capabilities. Experience overseeing teams of 12+ in a high-energy, customer-focused environment. Skilled at schedule management, conflict resolution, and adapting to ever-changing priorities.

4. Digital Marketing Professional

Digital marketing specialist with 2+ years of experience working at a high-volume firm focused on consumer food products. Skilled at creating content across several leading platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Helped launch TikTok for an emerging beverage brand, securing 10,000 followers in just three months. 

5. Administrative Office Manager

Current Administrative Office Manager. Versatile, reliable, and efficient with 8+ years of experience supporting managers and executives in high-paced environments. Diversified skills include client relations, human resources, recruiting, project management, and administrative support. Excellent phone and digital communication skills.

6. Call Center Representative

Call center representative with 4+ years of experience in a high-volume environment, handing upward of 100 contacts daily. Supported both sales and technical support departments, securing an average customer satisfaction rate of 92% across both areas.

7. IT Specialist Pivoting to New Field

Proven IT Specialist with experience in start-ups as well as established operations leveraging expertise in organization, computer networking, and problem-solving to provide exceptional user support and assistance in resolving conflict. Experience includes managing sensitive materials and providing after-hours support for clients.

8. Architectural Project Coordinator

Architectural Project Coordinator with over fifteen years of experience. Versatile, bilingual professional with management experience ranging in size from small private projects to full-scale multi-million-dollar high profile corporate construction projects. Ability to oversee and manage hundreds of individuals while ensuring timely completion of project deadlines, all while remaining on or under budget.

9. Recruiter

Recruiter with 8+ years of experience in a large industrial environment with fluctuating, seasonal needs. Organized and coordinated large-scale hiring events, securing 20 new hires for seasonal positions in just three days. Overall time-to-hire reduced by 56%, while new hire quality improved by 31%.

10. Sales Manager

Experienced sales manager in the retail industry with strengths in customer service, sales, and negotiations. Proven skills in marketing, advertising, product integration, and promotions. Successful in developing strategies that have resulted in an over 20% increase in new customers. Instrumental in developing an incentives rewards program with a repeat customer success rate of over 45%.

11. Warehouse Manager

Reliable warehouse manager with 12+ years of experience overseeing operations and supervising teams of 10 or more. Leadership, coaching, and delegation skills. Certified heavy equipment operator, including forklift and scissor lift.

12. Project Manager

Project Manager with 10+ years of experience specializing in web production, education publications, public outreach, and consumer packaging. Professional, creative, and flexible with proven analytical skills. Adept at researching and crafting award-winning marketing campaigns for a wide variety of clients and products.

13. Data Analyst

Data analyst with 6 years of experience providing data-driven insights, creating critical reports, and supporting strategic operational objectives. Adept at both written and verbal communication, including explaining complex technical information in a simplified manner. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Analytics.

14. Social Worker

Bilingual licensed social worker with more than 9 years of experience focused on geriatric care, serving as an advocate while providing counseling, coordinating care, and supporting families. Managed average caseload of 32 clients, collaborating with a multi-discipline team to ensure positive outcomes and provide holistic care.

15. Sales Department Executive

Sales executive with 11+ years of leadership experience. Rejuvenated underperforming department, boosting sales by 82% within 12 months. Strategic-minded and action-oriented, adept at finding scalable solutions designed to promote revenue growth and reduce expenditures.

Putting It All Together

So, there you have it. Use the tips and resume summary examples above to create the perfect start to your application. Just remember that the most important thing for you to do is spend the time researching the company you are interviewing with and tailor your summary to the company. That way, you can stand out as an exceptional candidate.

FREE : Resume Summary PDF Cheat Sheet

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In it you'll get word-for-word sample resume summaries covering a variety of positions you can use right away .

CLICK HERE TO GET THE RESUME SUMMARY CHEAT SHEET

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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How to write a resumé summary (with examples)

When applying for jobs, you’ll want to take every chance you have to stand out from the crowd. Adding a resumé summary to the top of your resumé can help interviewers get a quick snapshot of who you are and why you’d be great in their team. But what if you’re not sure how to write a resumé summary? 

In this article, you’ll find a step-by-step guide of what to include, what to leave out and how to nail your resumé summary so it lands you an interview.

What is a summary for a resumé?

A resumé summary is a short statement at the top of a resumé that outlines key experiences, roles and achievements. Its purpose is to highlight at a glance why you’re the ideal person for a specific job and what you bring to the table. 

It can often be confused with a career objective . What’s the difference between a career objective and a resumé summary? A career objective outlines the future you’re hoping to achieve, while a resumé summary is an overview of your career so far. 

Understanding your target audience

Before writing your resumé summary, you should first identify your target audience, i.e. who will be reading and vetting applications. Think about what role they’re likely in, such as team leader or HR manager . Then consider what they may be looking for and what would stand out to them. Then, tailor your resumé summary to suit. 

For example, if a job ad implies the application will be going to a manager of a team or department, they will likely be looking for skills and experience, in addition to teamwork and communication skills . Meanwhile a HR manager or recruitment agent might have a checklist of technical skills that directly relate to the job. 

Key elements of a professional summary for resumé

With your target audience in mind, it’s time to move onto the main elements of your resumé summary. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

• The length.  Keep your professional summary short, clear and concise, ideally one to three sentences. 
• The tone and style. The tone and style of your professional summary should be consistent and align with the rest of your application documents. 
• The use of keywords.  Your professional resumé summary should include keywords of the skills and experience you have that match those in the job ad. You can bold them to make them really stand out to the interviewer.
• The structure.  A resumé summary is typically one to three sentences outlining your key skills, experience and qualifications that align with the job ad. 

How to write a resumé summary

Here are some practical tips on how to write a resumé summary that will highlight your skills and catch the interviewer’s eye. 

• Start with a hook – a relevant qualification or unique skill – to capture the reader’s attention.
• Highlight your key skills and achievements, matching them to the job description.
• Include metrics or data-driven evidence of your accomplishments, such as percentage increases in performance, sales figures or the number of people you managed.
• Showcase your unique value proposition – what you believe you can offer that no one else can.
• Ensure you have proofread your summary so it’s free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Quick tip:  Write your resumé summary in the first person ( “I led a team of five” rather than “[Your name] led a team of five”.) In the rest of your resumé, omit pronouns altogether ( “Led a team of five” . “Increased sales by 23%” .)

Writing a resumé summary with no experience

If you’re writing a resumé summary with no professional experience, you should focus on your soft skills and technical skills. You may have more than you think! 

Research the job you’re applying for and see what additional skills may help you, outside of what’s mentioned in the job ad. This could include things like computer proficiency, basic coding, customer service skills and more. Even if you’re still in school, you’ll likely still have teamwork and other soft skills you can mention. 

Resumé summary examples

To get you started, here are some resumé summary examples. Take note of the format: lead with the strongest statement, use specific data (where possible), include your most relevant skills, and be sure to personalise your summary before sending it to a potential employer.

Entry-level resumé summary ideal for a first job

I am a proactive and confident person looking for a casual customer- service position in Darwin. Through my studies I have developed strong communication and interpersonal skills. I am a people-person and eager to be in a role that allows me to help people every day.

Resumé summary for recent graduates

Data-focused computer science and business graduate with experience in app development and marketing. My first project app surpassed 2,000 downloads in 30 days, and I’m excited to build off this achievement and further develop my skills with a business that prioritises agile development and app innovation. 

Resumé summary for experienced applicant 

Accomplished in-house  marketing director with a proven track record of executing successful results-driven campaign strategies. Have led multiple regional and global campaigns in my 12 years in the automotive industry. 

Tailoring your resumé summary to different industries

Resumé summaries can easily be adapted to suit any industry or job. It’s all about focusing on your key skills and what you can bring to the role. You can use these personal summary resumé examples as ideas for your own, swapping out the titles and experiences as you need.

Resumé summary for a teacher

Dedicated and passionate educator with over 5 years in early-years development, focused on fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment. Proven expertise in curriculum development and pioneering new teaching methods for students with learning challenges. 

Career summary for a tradesperson 

Multi-skilled tradesperson with 12 years of experience in carpentry, project management and commercial fit outs. I have completed more than 120 projects on time and on budget, have mentored several apprentices and have supervised teams on multiple job sites. 

Professional summary for a customer service person

I am a results-oriented customer service professional with more than three years in big box retail. Over the past year, I have been awarded staff member of the month twice, and have more than 20 mentions in Google reviews for providing outstanding customer support.

Tips for optimising your resumé summary for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Some organisations will use an ATS (or Applicant Tracking System) to help them manage the hiring process more efficiently. ATS software collects information from applications and filters them for the most relevant applicants. From there, employers will often take the filtered piles and begin their own screening. 

As a job applicant, you can optimise your resumé for ATS. Some tops ways to optimise your application include:

• Use standard fonts (such as Arial) to ensure your resumé is easy for the software to read.
• Use clean formatting with no charts, tables or graphics, as this may impair the ATS from properly reading your application.
• Use an ATS-friendly template.
• Include keywords in your resumé that match the job ad.
• Stick to standard heading names, like Work Experience, Education and Skills to ensure your information is read correctly.
• Proofread your resumé, as ATS may not be able to read typos, missing crucial information.

A business likely uses an ATS if its careers page has you fill out a series of forms, the job application has a long URL or it is a very large corporation. 

The dos and don'ts of resumé summary writing

By now, you should know the basics of writing your career summary, but these quick dos and don'ts of resumé writing can help make sure you get every detail right.

Best practices for writing a resumé summary

Writing a good resumé summary helps capture the attention of employers. Here are some best practices to keep in mind.

• Keep it clear and concise. Only include your key skills, qualifications and experience.
• Start with a strong statement. Your opening sentence should hook the reader by showing how you’re a good match for the role.
• Quantify achievements.  Use specific data, examples of how you have used your skills and knowledge, and what results you achieved.
• Include keywords.  The skills and experience in your career summary should reflect those mentioned in the job ad.

Most importantly, don’t overthink it. If you had to sum up your entire career in a sentence or two, what would you say? How would you highlight your skills and achievements? That should give you a good idea of what to write. 

Common mistakes to avoid when writing a resumé summary

Some top mistakes to avoid when writing a career summary for your resumé include:

• Being too general.  Your summary should be specific to your skills and how you’ve used them in the past.
• Being too long. Remember: a resumé summary should only be one to three sentences long. It’s a summary, not a cover letter.
• Lack of personalisation. Every resumé summary should be personalised to the job ad and industry.
• Using exaggerated language. Avoid exaggerating your skills and accomplishments – you may need to qualify your skills in a job interview (and eventually in the job role).
• Not proofreading. Mistakes in your resumé are the biggest giveaway that you lack attention to detail, so proof, proof and proof again!

Remember: your resumé summary is often the first impression a potential employer has of you, so it's crucial to make it impactful and tailored to the specific job you're applying for. With employers and hiring managers filtering through multiple resumés, a well-written resumé summary is the thing that could make you stand out.

The most effective resumé summaries should somewhat mirror the job ad, while highlighting specific career achievements and data that reinforce why you’re the perfect fit. It should also be free of errors, clearly formatted and optimised for ATS. If you’ve aligned your summary with the job ad, you’ve given yourself an even better chance of getting a callback.

What is the ideal length of a resumé summary?

The ideal resumé summary should be one to three sentences. It’s a snapshot of who you are and what you have to offer. Make sure to keep it concise, with only relevant information, enticing the employer to read your full application. 

Should I include my career objective in my resumé summary?

Adding a career objective to your resumé is a personal preference and is not required. But using an objective statement can help immediately draw attention to specific skills, experience or other credentials that will help you stand out from the crowd. It can also be beneficial if you need to address a career change, location change or gaps in your resumé .

How do I tailor my resumé summary to different job postings?

To tailor a resumé summary to different job postings, read the job ad carefully and review your resumé to ensure you are highlighting the desired skills and experience. These skills, qualifications and expertise should be front and centre, and quick to absorb for the reader. 

Can I use the same resumé summary for different job applications?

You should ideally have a different resumé summary for different job applications. Read the job ad carefully and align your skills and experience with the qualities they are looking for, to help you come across as the perfect candidate.

How do I make my resumé summary stand out from the competition?

Some top ways to help your resumé summary stand out from the competition include:

• Personalise your summary to the job ad
• Include impressive data
• Match your skills and experience closely to those mentioned in the job description
• Keep it concise – less than three sentences
• Ensuring it is free of errors

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40+ Resume Summary Examples (+ How to Write One)

A resume summary is a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) right at the top of your resume. It describes your key skills and achievements from your professional experience and demonstrates to potential employers why hiring you would benefit them.

Often ignored and underutilized, this little excerpt can literally give hiring managers all the reasons they need to hire you. The rest of your resume just needs to prove the points you listed there 😉.

Here’s what a good resume summary example looks like (we’ll break it down in a second):

An Operations Manager with 6+ years of experience in the email marketing industry. Specialized in directing and coordinating production and implementation of email marketing campaigns and automation. Overhauled customer segmentation and sending strategies, resulting in an average of 49% revenue boost for 20+ clients. Looking to fine-tune EmaiEra’s operations and increase efficiency and revenue through tried-and-tested, advanced email marketing strategies.

⚠️ If you have little to no professional experience, it’s better to write a resume objective statement, which focuses on what you want to achieve in the new role. To learn how to write a resume objective, check out this article: 60+ Resume Objective Examples (with Writing Guide and Tips) .

If you’ve got some work experience under your belt, keep reading and you’ll find:

• Picture-perfect resume summary examples for the most common professions (yours included).
• A bulletproof formula for writing resume summaries hiring managers want to read.
• Actionable tips to help you take your summary from generic to job-winning in a matter of minutes.

How to Write a Resume Summary

Here’s how to write a resume summary in 6 easy steps:

• Open with a strong trait, job title, and years of experience
• Highlight your key skills
• List your most important achievements
• Connect past experience with the prospective company
• Tailor each resume summary to a specific job offer
• Write your resume summary statement last

To write an informative and professional summary for a resume, you’ll pretty much have to follow this formula (or its slight variations):

[Your position + years of experience + industry]. [General experience + key skills]. [Your biggest achievements (quantitative or qualitative)]. [How you can contribute to the company you’ve applied for].

For instance:

[Position + experience + industry]: A Senior Customer Happiness Officer with 8 years of experience in the B2B sector.

[General experience + key skills]: Highly developed communication and problem-solving skills; excels at ensuring high customer satisfaction rates.

[Biggest achievements (quantitative or qualitative)]: At Spinfluence, increased customer satisfaction rates by 27% in 2021 by developing and implementing a new operational policy.

[Potential contribution]: Excited about joining Omnilert and leading customer service initiatives to boost satisfaction rates and company reputation.

Let’s dissect this formula.

1. Open with a strong trait, job title, and years of experience

Carefully choose a trait that is important to your role but that’s also genuinely a part of your professional self. Follow with your current job title and years of experience to build some authority.

You can also add the industry you’re working in, for more context.

2. Highlight your key skills

Think of the skills you possess which are also needed for the position you’re applying for. If you’re new to the industry, try to find a set of transferable skills that could be relevant.

3. List your most important achievements

Don’t just say it, prove it! Mention your biggest achievements that are testaments to the key skills you listed.

Remember that recruiters and HR managers know what each position’s duties are. For example, if your position is Business Development Representative, they’ll know what you do. But in order to show them how well you do it, you need to include achievements. Stray away from listing duties, such as “Responsible for cold calling” and focus on achievements such as “Generated X% increase in yearly sales through renewed contracts”.

Treat this part as a summary of qualifications and accomplishments.

4. Connect past experience with the prospective company

Find a way to emphasize how your past experience and expertise will translate into success for the prospective company.

Don’t focus on what you need from a position/company; focus on what you’re bringing to the table and how you can contribute.

5. Tailor each resume summary to a specific job offer

This is one of the most important things to remember.

You need to update your entire resume (resume summary statement included) each time you apply for a new position.

This is because each job ad contains specific information and keywords relevant to the job opening. You need to make sure you include those keywords and make your resume summary relevant to the position. (We’ll touch on this later in greater detail.)

6. Write your resume summary last

It will be easier for you to create your entire resume first, and write the resume summary statement once you’re done with all other sections.

Through this bird’s eye view, you’ll get a better understanding of your career so far; thus, it’ll be easier to extract the key skills and achievements that will make you relevant and desirable for the role.

Let’s come back to the resume summary example we showed you in at the beginning of this article and see what’s good about it.

An Operations Manager with 6+ years of experience in the email marketing industry. Specialized in directing and coordinating production and implementation of email marketing campaigns and automation. Overhauled customer segmentation and sending strategies, resulting in an average of 49% revenue boost for over 20 clients. Looking to fine-tune EmailEra’s operations and increase efficiency and revenue through tried-and-tested advanced email marketing strategies.

Here’s why it checks all the boxes:

✔️ The candidate opened with their position, years of experience, and industry (they’d get bonus points for mentioning a strong trait, for example, “A highly organized Operations Manager” — but this works too).

✔️ The candidate highlighted key specializations and hard skills which tell us more about their day-to-day duties in the role (operations manager is a broad term and listing key skills makes it easy for recruiters to find out what the role is focused on).

✔️ The candidate listed some of his key achievements that tell us how good they are in their role. They were specific about what exactly was changed and what impact it had on the results. They also used quantitative achievements (49% revenue boost for over 20 clients) to paint a more precise picture.

✔️ The candidate placed focus on a company they’re interviewing for, briefly mentioning how they can contribute to its success.

Take a look at a bad example now:

An experienced, hard-working content writer. Skilled at writing appealing copy for clients. An avid reader. I’d love to join Big Interview and expand my writing skills.

Let’s dissect it:

❌ Saying “hard-working” and “experienced” without providing additional information (years of experience and industry) certainly won’t leave a strong impression on a recruiter.

❌ The candidate did try to introduce their strong areas (“Skilled at writing appealing copy for clients”), but the statement fails to convey meaningful information: what does “appealing copy” mean? Is it long-form or short-form copy? Educational or promotional? How do they know it was appealing? What type of clients?

❌ The candidate placed useless information in the resume summary (an avid reader). While it may be connected to the role itself (you can’t be a good writer unless you read a lot), in this case, it makes no sense to include it because it’s general and meaningless.

❌ Finally, the candidate doesn’t focus on what they can do for the company. Instead, they focus on themselves and what they need. In addition, the candidate used personal pronouns (I), which is a big no-no.

If the candidate was a bit more specific and informative, and if they adjusted their resume summary to the requirements listed in the job ad, the qualifications summary would look something like this.

A hard-working Content Writer with 5+ years of experience in the HR industry. Skilled at writing long-form, educational copy for the US’s top 10 largest HR firms. Winner of the 2019 Best Content Marketing Award by FindBestSEO. Looking to contribute to Big Interview’s content strategy with superb writing, editing, and SEO skills.

The candidate made sure to include all the relevant information (years of experience, industry, type of content, type of clients, achievements/awards, and how they can contribute to the company).

Looking for examples for your position and industry? Keep reading!

Resume Summary Examples for All Careers and Industries

Below, you’ll find resume summary examples for different industries and professions. Here’s a list of summaries so you can quickly find what you’re looking for.

Resume summary examples by industry:

Sales and customer support resume summaries:

Customer service

Business development representative, call center representative, real estate agent.

Healthcare resume summary statements:

Medical assistant

Dental assistant, pharmacy technician, esthetician.

Retail professional resume summaries:

Retail professional

Retail manager, security guard.

Tech resume summary statements:

Software engineer

Hospitality and service resume summaries:

Receptionist

Food delivery driver, housekeeper.

Business and finance resume summary statements:

Operations manager

Human resources professional, senior-level executive, financial analyst.

Marketing resume summaries:

Project manager

Account manager, product designer.

Administrative resume summaries:

Administrative assistant

Executive assistant.

Professional resume summaries for other jobs:

Social worker

Truck driver, police officer, construction manager, warehouse worker, resume summary example for students, resume summary example for career change, sales and customer support resume summaries.

Adaptable Customer Service professional with 4 years of experience working in call centers. Proven ability to create positive interactions and find the right customer solutions at the right time. Successfully handled 20 client accounts and maintained a success rate of 98%. Looking to join Shopsterfy and create memorable customer experiences and increase customer loyalty.

Motivated business development representative with 7+ years of experience in the education industry. Secured a $2.1M contract in the previous role and boosted company revenue by 42%. Seeking to contribute to Skillful Communication’s revenue with extraordinary marketing and sales knowledge and skills.

Efficient customer service representative with 4+ years of experience in call centers. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with exceptional customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills. Handled 100+ calls on a daily basis with a consistent customer satisfaction rate of 94%. Excited to join Adecco and help with inbound call handling and helping customers solve issues quickly and efficiently.

Ambitious real estate agent with 10+ years of experience in commercial and residential properties. Extensive experience with renting and selling properties, as well as handling administration and paperwork. At DetroHomes, helped increase annual sales by 37% through strategic negotiations and lucrative marketing strategies. Eager to join Century21 and expand streams of revenue through superb sales and marketing skills.

Healthcare resume summary statements

Diligent medical assistant with over 15 years of experience in private and public hospitals in Europe. Skilled at assisting doctors with office management, setting up and nurturing patients, and record keeping. Supported the adoption of quality control procedures and increased customer satisfaction by 31%. Looking to join MedStar Hospital Center and contribute to service quality with excellent medical and people skills.

People-oriented, registered ER nurse with over 18 years of experience. Skilled in burn unit, ICU, and ER. Treated over 50,000 patients during a long career, and helped manage hospital scheduling systems, increasing efficiency by 27%. Looking to join Clearwater Lake General Hospital and contribute with extraordinary medical and problem-solving skills.

Meticulous dental assistant with 9 years of experience in public and private dental clinics. Assisted with different dental procedures and surgeries, skilled at endodontics, sterilization, and keeping medical records. Implemented a new organizational program and increased the weekly number of patients by 15%. Increased customer satisfaction by 51% through a patient-oriented approach and detailed procedure explanations. Excited to join Alpha Dental Care and help the new team set procedures in place and develop a reputation as a top dental expert in the county.

ASHP-accredited pharmacy technician with 2+ years of experience. Skilled in pharmacy law and ethics, healthcare systems, and pharmaceutical calculations. Extensive experience with prescription and insurance-related issues, as well as purchasing/inventory control. Scored a 95% success rate in the 2021 Masters Pharmaceutical customer questionnaire. Looking to join McKesson Corp and increase sales and customer satisfaction with superb customer service and pharmaceutical knowledge.

A licensed esthetician and cosmetologist with 10+ years of experience working in wellness centers. Skilled in providing hair, nail, and skin treatments, with a special focus on microdermabrasion, chemical peelings, and microneedling. Consistently maintaining a 97% customer satisfaction score at Escape Wellness center and successfully onboarding and training new employees. Looking to contribute to the White Lotus studio with exceptional beauty service skills and knowledge.

Retail professional resume summaries

Friendly retail professional with 5 years of experience. Thrives in a customer-focused, fast-paced environment. With exceptionable sales skills, increased BakerStreet’s sales by 25% in Q3 2022. Looking to join Zara’s retail team and contribute to customer satisfaction with excellent customer service and communication skills.

Dedicated and energetic cashier with over 15 years of experience. Provides customers with prompt, courteous service and product assistance. Helps around 5,000 customers a day. Seeking to join Target and provide its customers with impeccable service with efficiency, punctuality, and professionalism.

Customer-oriented Retail manager with superb organizational skills and 9+ years of experience. Skilled in customer service, store management, and employee training. Increased monthly sales by 27% in Q3 2022 at WaiWai and decreased employee turnover by 14% by implementing a new reward and development program. Excited to join Sephora to analyze sales trends and increase profit, customer, and employee satisfaction.

Dependable security officer with 9 years of experience creating a safe environment for employees and customers in retail properties. Skilled in non-violent crisis management and conflict resolution. Oversaw a 3-story facility with 100+ employees and zero safety incidents in the last 6 months. Looking to join Aventura Mall and contribute to property safety with impeccable security operations and surveillance skills.

Tech resume summary statements

Experienced and detail-oriented QA Tester with a BA in Computer Science. 5+ years of experience in the SaaS industry, including software testing and managing a team of 3 people. Possess a holistic view of the development process. Looking for new ways to employ software testing and analytical skills and deliver value to Skillful Communications through a DevOps role.

Passionate software engineer with 7+ years of experience in software development and leading a team. Works with Java, JavaScript, SQL Server, and No SQL. Consistently ensured 99% on-time delivery and project completion. Eager to join Skillful Communications Inc. and build impressive interviewing solutions for users around the world.

Hospitality and service resume summaries

Dependable and pleasant receptionist with more than 10 years of experience in the commercial sector. Offers friendly, professional, and effective assistance. Winner of the 2013 Commercial Receptionist of the Year Award. Helped revamp the Genevius hotel organization and scheduling system, increasing accuracy and efficiency by 29%. Seeking to contribute to Hilton’s guests’ exceptional experience with admirable hospitality and assistance skills.

Professional and friendly bartender with 7+ years of experience in prestigious U.S. and European bars and nightclubs. Extensive knowledge of drink mixology, specialized in rum and gin-based cocktails. Winner of the 2019 U.S. Bartender of the Year award. Excited to join BuenaVistaBar’s team and build its reputation through quality service and customer-oriented approach to work.

Dedicated hostess with an MA in Hospitality Management and 8 years of experience. Delivered outstanding customer service and managed reservations and schedules. Increased Moon’s customer base by 28% in 2021. Excited to join The Pearl and build its reputation and customer satisfaction through outstanding customer care and organization.

Responsible and punctual food delivery driver with 1+ years of experience. Thorough knowledge of DOT rules and regulations and experience with meeting deadlines in fast-paced organizations. Employee of the month three times in a row at Index Pizza. Looking to maintain high customer satisfaction and build Smash Pizza’s brand recognition through responsible work and customer focus.

Trustworthy and hardworking housekeeper with 15+ years of experience working in hotels and private residences. Responsible for impeccable general sanitization and upkeep of residents’ bedrooms and common spaces, as well as for the hotel laundry operation. Excited to join Hilton’s team and maintain flawless cleaning standards and exemplary customer service.

Business and finance resume summary statements

Operations Manager with 6+ years of experience in the email marketing industry. Specialized in directing and coordinating production and implementation of email marketing campaigns and automation. Overhauled customer segmentation and sending strategies which resulted in an average of 49% revenue boost for over 20 clients. Looking to fine-tune EmailEra’s operations and increase efficiency and revenue through tried-and-tested, advanced email marketing strategies.

Dependable, resourceful HR professional with 5 years of experience. Skilled at talent acquisition and retention, payroll, and tax data. Created a new Talent Development program that decreased employee churn by 38% in the past 3 years at Verticorn. Looking to join Adsite and expand and retain the team through remarkable people management skills.

Proven leader of U.S. and international sales organizations with over 15 years of experience. Expert in developing successful growth strategies and training both individual representatives and team leaders in product benefits and customer service techniques. Effectively manages P&L on multimillion-dollar, multi-product lines of business.

Ethical and experienced accountant with 11 years of experience in public accounting and financial auditing. Skilled in data management and analysis, bookkeeping, tax accounting, and budgeting. Managed grants totaling over $15M annually and improved internal processes, resulting in a 42% efficiency increase in financial reporting. Enthusiastic about continuing great work at a financial consumer startup like MerchIX.

Organized and reliable financial analyst with 3 years of experience. Skilled in financial analysis, reporting, and forecasting. At Essentix, increased company revenue by 38% through comprehensive cost analysis. Seeking to apply extraordinary analytical and data skills and help Skill Inc. increase revenue and market share.

Marketing resume summaries

Highly organized Project Manager with 7 years of experience. Excellent planning, time management, and problem-solving abilities. Through successful branding initiatives and outstanding organizational skills, helped increase Adler’s market share by 17%. Looking to join Sellesto’s Product team and help increase market share and company revenue.

Responsible and data-driven account manager with 7 years of experience in marketing agencies. Superb email marketing and SEO skills. Excellent communicator, highly organized, and able to coordinate the team and accomplish targets on time. At Werilex, managed 5 key accounts with a 95% customer satisfaction rate and increased yearly sales by 37% through renewed contracts. Looking to join Agencylytical to ensure client satisfaction and build strong relationships that will result in new customer acquisition.

Dedicated senior product designer with 8+ years of experience working in the education industry. Skilled in visual and user interface design, information architecture, and UX research. Leading a multidisciplinary team of 8 in charge of developing and testing layouts, interfaces, and functionalities. Created modeducate.com, a language learning website with over 70k monthly users. Looking to join Peoplio and help develop a superb applicant tracking system with strong integrative thinking and UI/UX skills.

Passionate copywriter with 5+ years of experience in the HR industry. Skilled at writing short-form, promotional copy for the U.S.’s top 10 largest HR firms. Winner of the 2020 Best Copywriting award by CopyCatNet. Looking to contribute to Big Interview’s content strategy with superb writing, editing, promotional, and SEO skills.

Administrative resume summaries

Reliable and organized Administrative Assistant with strong organizational abilities and in-depth understanding of corporate policies and procedures. Highly developed interpersonal skills. Boosted team productivity by 48% through smart time and task management. Wants to join Skill and help support the team with outstanding organizational and operational abilities.

Adaptable executive assistant with 3 years of experience working for a startup tech company. Highly developed organizational and time management skills. Assisted C-level executives, oversaw internal and external communications, and supported daily administrative and operational initiatives. Boosted office productivity by 28% by applying a new set of operative procedures and client protocols. Wants to join RoarEight’s team and apply superb organizational and business skills.

Professional resume summaries for other jobs

Driven biology teacher with 9 years of experience in teaching middle schoolers. Skilled at and passionate about teaching and engaging students through different pedagogical methods, and improving their knowledge and social skills. A member of the school board and a winner of the Teacher of the Year Award 2021. Would love to expand duties and take on challenging responsibilities with vigor and superb pedagogical skills at Bloomington High School.

Committed social worker with a BA in social work and 7+ years of experience working with teenagers with behavioral challenges. Proven ability to cooperate with and create high-quality programs for teenagers with Oppositional defiant disorder, Attention deficit hyperactivity, and conduct disorders. At Children’s Services Council of Sweetwater County, implemented 30+ treatment plans and coached 30+ teenagers. Enthusiastic about joining County-Santa Clara Social Services and helping with the Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) program.

Hard-working truck driver with 12 years of experience driving local, regional, and over-the-road routes. Highly experienced with several types of ELD devices, such as Samsara, Omnitracks, and Gorilla Safety. Proven track record of timely and accident-free deliveries with a 92% customer satisfaction rate. Winner of the TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award 2018. Excited to join LDL Freight and contribute to timely and safe deliveries throughout the U.S.

Reliable law enforcement professional with 20 years of experience. Extensive expertise in ensuring public safety, enforcing the law, preventing crime, supporting citizens, and looking into accidents. Created and implemented a community policing program involving municipal resources and allied agencies, which resulted in a 15% decrease in the crime rate in Leavenworth. Wants to join Seattle Police Department and contribute to a peaceful and safe community with outstanding communication skills and a strong work ethic.

Nurturing, trustworthy nanny with 5+ years of experience and expertise in creating a safe and supportive environment for children to grow. Especially focused on physical activity and music education. Provided daily nanny care and pedagogical efforts to 3 families, with a 100% satisfaction score and letter of recommendation from each.

Diligent construction manager with 9+ years of experience in commercial and residential construction companies. Excels at construction supervision and management, workflow and project scheduling, Critical Path Methods (CPMs), and project funding. Managed successful completion of 120+ commercial and residential properties with no cost overruns and no safety incidents.

Responsible warehouse associate with 11 years of experience with parcel packing and distribution, as well as record-keeping. At Walmart, consistently maintained speed and accuracy and kept records 95% organized. Looking to join RedBubble’s warehouse team and contribute with superb coordination, organizational, and reporting skills.

Dedicated recent graduate with MA in English Language and Literature. 5+ years of writing experience for various types of content, including descriptive, analytical, persuasive, and critical content. Winner of the Alexander Rose Memorial Award for Excellence for Creative Writing in 2021. Looking to gain practical experience and contribute to Big Interview’s content team with superb research, writing, and editing skills.

Former English teacher with 10+ years of experience teaching elementary and middle school children. Strong command of the English language, including grammar, vocabulary, and writing. Shifting my professional focus to content writing in the advertising industry. Bringing along impeccable English skills, as well as research skills and basic SEO knowledge.

How to Tailor Your Resume Summary to the Job Ad

You can’t write a single resume summary statement and use it across multiple job applications (it’s lazy and won’t get you far). The key thing to do is adapt your resume summary to every single job you’re applying for .

There are 2 main reasons to do this:

• Depending on the position at hand, you won’t always highlight the same things in your qualifications summary.
• A personalized summary statement will signal to the hiring manager that you went the extra mile to give them a special treatment.

Here’s how to tailor your summary for a resume to match the job ad:

Let’s analyze this job ad for a Content Manager role.

• The key requirements are listed in 8 bullet-points.
• It will be difficult for your resume summary to refer to them all, so the first thing to do is try to identify the most important ones and group them into categories.
• The first bullet-point is all about long-term strategic planning. The second one is about overseeing a team of writers and owning content production timelines. The third one deals with content recycling and repurposing (also mentioned later). The following few bullet points refer to editorial and SEO tasks like creating briefs, quality assurance, proofreading, editing, and SEO-based strategy. Finally, you would be required to track and provide reports to higher management.
• Based on this, your summary should contain the following: experience with content strategy, content repurposing, and SEO, proven editorial skills, ability to work with multiple writers, provide feedback and own the content calendar

Here’s a resume summary example you could write:

A HubSpot and SEMRush-certified Content Manager with 5 years of experience in leading a 6-member content team. Skilled in creating quarterly SEO and content strategies, editing, and reporting. Increased DR by 5 and grew organic traffic by 64% over a one-year period. Looking to join Toggl to help achieve new organic milestones through content.

Now let’s do the same for a level-1 Customer Service Representative.

Judging by the job description, you need to:

• Have a near-native knowledge of English and be great with MS Excel and Word
• Be comfortable speaking to customers
• Know when and how to escalate
• Be assertive enough to provide process improvements and give feedback
• Have great organizational skills and keep the systems up-to-date

Here’s how you could pitch yourself in a resume summary:

A recent college graduate with exceptional communication and problem-solving skills. MS Office and CAE certified. Member of the college debate team with an average score of 73 points. Looking to join Company X and create memorable customer experiences and increase customer loyalty.

Key Takeaways

Finally, here are crucial things to have in mind if you’re wondering how to write a professional summary for a resume:

• Follow the formula: your position and years of experience, followed by key skills and biggest achievements. Close with how you will contribute to the company.
• Keep it short and focus on key skills and quantifiable achievements.
• Optimize your resume summary (but really your entire resume) for each new role you apply for; focus on key words and responsibilities from job ads and try to incorporate them throughout the resume.
• Consider writing the resume summary last, after you’re done creating and optimizing the rest of the resume. It’ll give you the big picture and you’ll know exactly what to include.
• Finally, good luck!

What’s the difference between a resume profile and a resume summary?

Resume profile, profile statement, and a resume summary all do the same thing – highlight key points from your career in a few sentences at the top of your resume. The resume profile is often used as an “umbrella” term for the paragraph at the top of a resume (both a resume summary and a career objective). A summary clarifies your entire resume in a short paragraph or 3–4 bullet points. A profile is usually more focused on your accomplishments and quantifiable results.

How to write a professional resume summary if you have no experience?

In the resume intro, it’s best to list your academic, internship, or volunteer experience. Even if you don’t have relevant work experience, you surely have transferable skills, training, and qualifications that go well with this position. You can also include any certifications you obtained. Don’t forget to include your interests and soft skills such as communication, teamwork, or problem solving. If you’re not experienced, it will make more sense to write a resume objective instead of a summary.

How long should my resume summary be?

A resume summary should be a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) and placed at the top of your resume. It should focus on your key skills and achievements from previous professional experience and act as your elevator pitch to signal the employer that you’re worth considering.

Do I need to put a “Summary” headline above my resume summary?

No, it’s not required, even if other resume sections may have headlines. You may want to do it for consistency and to make your resume more scannable.

What elements to include in a resume summary?

You should start with a bold statement that will include a job title and years of experience. Next highlight your key skills, and list your proudest accomplishments. Make sure that the experience you mention is relevant to this company and this role. Don’t forget to tailor your resume summary to a role you’re applying for.

Do I have to put a resume summary statement in my resume?

You don’t have to, but you should. Resume summaries are the best place to communicate your qualifications quickly, clarify things from your resume, and use all the keywords that the ATS may scan your resume against. Especially if you’re a career changer, the resume summary statement is a great place to explain why your transferable skills matter.

Can I use pronouns in my resume summary?

There’s no need to use pronouns in your resume summary because it’s evident that the skills and qualifications you’re describing are about you. You want to start the phrases with action, power verbs to showcase your skills and key accomplishments.

Maja Stojanovic

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How to Nail an Impressive Beginner Resume Summary (With 20+ Examples)

3 key takeaways 

• What a summary for beginners is 
• Key components of a summary for an entry-level resume 
• A step-by-step guide for creating your summary and how to use the free Teal AI Resume Builder (+ Examples) 

Jumping into the job market with limited experience can feel overwhelming. But remember: everyone starts somewhere! And you have a unique blend of passion, potential, and skills.

Now, the challenge is showcasing these strengths effectively. Enter the beginner resume summary.

A good resume summary for beginners isn't just about listing anything and everything you've done to fill space; it's about turning your relevant skills, life experience, and enthusiasm into a narrative of ambition and potential.

Understanding a resume summary for beginners

As you start your job search and professional journey (whether this is your first entry-level job or you're transitioning careers into a new and exciting field), it's key to understand an entry-level summary.

While the essence remains the same as a traditional professional summary—offering a snapshot of who you are as a professional—the approach and emphasis differ.

What exactly is an entry-level resume summary? 

An entry-level summary is a concise overview of your budding professional potential. 

Unlike a seasoned professional's overview, which might be more of a vast track record of achievements, an entry-level summary shines a light on your potential, transferable skills, and enthusiasm to grow and adapt. 

Remember, it's not about the number of years you've spent in the industry but the value and fresh perspective you bring to the table.

(If you want to get an idea of what summaries look like when you're slightly more experienced, check out these 80+ resume summary examples for some insight and inspiration.)

The purpose of an entry-level summary 

At the heart of your summary lies one resume objective: capturing a recruiter or hiring manager's attention. 

In a market where top talent is everywhere, a well-crafted beginner summary can be your ticket to standing out. It serves as your voice, communicating your differentiated potential and ambition—even if you don't have a decade of work behind you.

This section of your resume also becomes a canvas to paint your transferable skills. Think about those group projects during college, that volunteer stint at a local shelter, or even a hobby where you sharpened a particular skill set. All these experiences, when articulated in a way applicable to the role you're applying to, become relevant.

Your summary also sets the stage for what's to come in the rest of your document. A compelling intro piques interest and gives context, especially using a tailored approach to align with specific roles. This attention to detail ensures that the subsequent sections of your resume—whether education, projects, or other experiences—become even more relatable and impactful.

Why a beginner needs a tailored resume summary

Everyone is eager to land a role in a dynamic and competitive job market. But standing out, especially when you're just beginning, is both a challenge and an opportunity.

Remember that unique blend of passion, potential, and skills that you bring to the table? This is where they're crucial. But to truly make them shine, they need the right context.

You need to tailor your resume to the role you're applying for. Every time.

Crafting a resume summary tailored to every role and job title you apply for isn't just a task; it's a strategy. You're letting prospective employers know, "I might be starting out, but I'm packed with potential."

Making a beginner's resume stand out

A beginner's resume isn't just about highlighting your “newbie” status. More importantly, it's about aligning your strengths and experiences to the specific roles you're targeting so you stand out. 

A beginner's tailored resume summary is your chance to grab attention and rise above the generic. It's your platform to communicate that while you may lack years of experience, you more than makeup for it with your other knowledge, skills, and adaptability.

Incorporating key language from the job description, hard skills (computer languages or tools you're familiar with), and soft skills (like collaboration or problem-solving) will help you stand out by telling a compelling story: "I understand the role and my skills—even with a lack of professional experience—perfectly complement your needs."

Key components of beginner resume summaries

Now, let's get into the actual summary itself. An entry-level position summary requires a strategy; part of that strategy is understanding the building blocks of effective resume content.

Keep it relevant

As a beginner or career transitioner, you might not have years of job-specific experience, but you do have transferable skills and life experiences that are equally valuable.

Highlight soft and hard skills for your resume to show that you're not just a fit but the right fit. (As long as those skills and any experience align with the job description.) 

For example, let's say one requirement of a job ad reads something like this:

"Create creative assets such as graphics, illustrations, technical explanations, templates, layouts, and visual standards for marketing activities across multiple channels, including the website, social media, team merch, email campaigns, blogs, and more." 

A beginner resume summary example could be: 

"As a recent college graduate with a BS in Graphic Design, I spearheaded a final class project designing a variety of creative assets, resulting in a 20% increase in online engagement for our mock brand campaign. I'm skilled in crafting graphics, illustrations, and templates using Adobe Suite. I'm also well-versed in tailoring content for channels like websites, social media, and email campaigns to relevant audiences. With a passion for visual storytelling, I'm eager to contribute to marketing initiatives and replicate my academic successes in a professional setting."

A narrative that resonates is concise. 

Think about it; just like the rest of us, a hiring manager has limited time. Your goal is to grab attention and draw them in while providing enough context to make the rest of your resume sections relatable and impactful. 

An effective beginner resume summary is brief but brimming with information and impact—think somewhere between 3-5 sentences, max.

Personalize by tailoring 

Your summary should echo the job ad of the role you're applying for. These details signal that you've done your homework and that your skills (and any experience) align. 

Use a professional tone

While being genuine (and true to your character) is essential, using a formal and polished tone ensures you're taken seriously right from the start.

Step-by-step guide to writing an entry-level resume summary

Whether you're creating a resume for a first job , a recent graduate, or transitioning careers—as an entry-level job candidate—you might not have a lot of professional experience achievements to pare down. 

And because of this, the steps you’re going to take to create your professional summary are slightly different than someone with 15 years of relevant work experience.

Step 1: Conduct a self-assessment

Start by considering your professional skills, certifications, and experiences relevant to the industry and type of role you're targeting. 

• Education : Reflect on the highest academic level you've reached. Were there specific courses or projects that stood out? Consider their scope and outcomes.
• Experience: If you have previous experience that doesn't align with the role you want, are there components of it that do? (For example, did you lead a team? Did you use a specific tool or software?) 
• Metrics : A good summary incorporates metrics. So think of elements in terms of numbers and data during your self-assessment. Quantify your accomplishments wherever possible. Did a significant project from your studies earn a good grade? If you collaborated across teams in any of your previous roles, how many?
• Transferable Skills : From personal projects and internships to volunteer work and part-time jobs, you likely used skills (like flexibility, active listening, communication, or storytelling).

Beyond traditional full-time work experience, consider the soft skills (or interpersonal skills) you've gained over time and how they apply to entry-level jobs. 

To do a little bit of introspection and self-awareness work, take Teal’s Work Style Assessment . This is a quick self assessment to unlock your tailored career insights and help you build your confidence in your career journey.

By the end of this step, you should have an inventory of your skills (and your relevant qualifications, too)

Step 2: Do your research

To tailor your resume summary effectively, you need a deep understanding of what an employer is looking for.

Deep dive into the job description : Consider what the employer truly values beyond the surface-level responsibilities. Is it innovation? Teamwork? Efficiency? What impact do they want to see? Identify the core themes.

Spot industry-specific keywords : These are the terms that recur frequently in job descriptions in your target field. They might pertain to specific tools, methodologies, or soft skills in high demand.

Pro Tip : Streamline the research process using the Teal Job Application Tracker . The Job Application Tracker highlights the hard and soft skills as well as other key language from the job description.

By the end of step 2, you'll have a clear map of what your prospective employer needs, helping you to craft a strong resume summary that resonates.

Step 3: Draft your entry-level resume professional summary

Creating the perfect beginner resume summary is kind of like writing a compelling story about your professional journey. Here's how you can shape that narrative.

Start with a strong opening 

Your first sentence sets the tone for your entire summary. Make it impactful and reflective of you. 

Some strong opening lines for an entry-level resume summary can look like this: 

"Recent Marketing graduate from the University of Texas with a passion for digital strategies, equipped with a strong foundation in data analytics and social media optimization, eager to contribute to a forward-thinking advertising agency."

"Current Computer Science sophomore at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a keen interest in artificial intelligence and hands-on experience in Python programming, seeking an internship opportunity at TealHQ and contributing to tech startup growth."

"Seasoned English educator with 7 years of classroom experience, well-versed in modern teaching methodologies and a strong advocate for integrating e-learning platforms, ready to transition into the EdTech sector to drive innovative curriculum design."

"Recently completed a two-year apprenticeship in carpentry, where I honed skills in custom furniture design and installation, and am eager to apply this hands-on expertise in a dynamic interior design firm."

"Diligent high school junior with a strong work ethic and leadership experience as Student Body Treasurer, seeking an opportunity to contribute to and learn from The Rotary Club while balancing academic commitments."

Seamlessly integrate keywords 

Keyword stuffing—excessive, forced keyword repetition—is quickly evident to hiring managers and recruiters. 

Use the industry-specific keywords you've identified as long as they're applicable, but make sure they flow naturally within your summary. Forcing them can make your narrative sound fake and hard to read. 

For example, rather than saying something like:

"Digital marketing graduate, skilled in SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, digital campaigns, email marketing, and Google Analytics, seeking a digital marketing role to boost SEO and social media marketing with my content marketing and email marketing skills." 

Try something like:

"As a digital marketing graduate, I've honed my SEO and content creation skills while gaining hands-on experience with email campaigns and performance tracking via Google Analytics. I'm eager to join a dynamic team where I can enhance online visibility and engagement through innovative strategies."

The second version maintains the spirit of the original by emphasizing core competencies, but it does so without sounding redundant. 

Highlight your strengths with authenticity

While putting your best foot forward is crucial, it's also equally as important to be honest. 

Discuss your strengths confidently, but avoid embellishments. Remember, the best summaries are genuine and resonate with the reader because of their authenticity. 

In short? Don't risk compromising your professional integrity by exaggerating your capabilities. 

By the end of this step, you'll have crafted a tailored resume summary that showcases your potential as an entry-level candidate while aligning with your target job's requirements.

Step 5: Format, review, and refine

Creating a resume with no job experience requires careful attention to detail. And perfecting your beginner summary is probably going to take few revisions.

• Check format and length : Make sure your summary is easily readable and fits within a concise 3-5 short sentences.
• Proofread : Spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can leave an unintended negative impression. Always double-check for mistakes.
• Get feedback : A fresh pair of eyes, whether from peers, mentors, or professionals in your desired field, can offer valuable insight.
• Adapt and tailor : Remember, one size doesn't fit all. Adjust your summary to resonate with the specific role and company you're applying to.

And, just like that, you have a killer entry-level resume summary.

How to use Teal to write your beginner summary—faster

With the right tools and resources, creating a resume (and more specifically, the summary) for an entry-level role becomes more straightforward and the output more effective.  

With the Teal AI Resume Builder , you can consistently generate and refine your summary (and entire resume!) for every job application you submit.

With Teal, you can quickly and easily write a resume summary following the directions above. Or you can use the built-in AI resume summary generator and create one with the click of a button.

Teal's generative AI pulls keywords (like technical skills, soft skills, and other important language) from the job description and details from your own skills, certifications, education, and other professional experience to create an effective, tailored summary statement every time.

Beginner resume summary examples

Before you write your own resume summary, to get a feel for how some fantastic entry-level resumes start, take a look at these entry-level resume examples below.

High school student examples

"Dependable and enthusiastic high school junior with a passion for childcare seeking a role at a daycare. Proven track record of providing safe, nurturing care to children of all ages, with experience working as a babysitter for multiple families. Skilled in creating engaging activities and promoting positive social interactions to support children's growth and development. Certified in CPR and First Aid."

"Hardworking and reliable high school sophomore seeking a role in a restaurant or cafeteria setting. Strong communication skills, as evidenced by my role leading the student council team of 7, with the ability to engage effectively with customers and colleagues. Looking for an opportunity to develop skills and grow in the food service industry."

College student examples

"College student pursuing an Associate of Arts degree, eager to contribute analytical and critical-thinking skills within the non-profit sector. I orchestrated an impactful campus environmental sustainability project, driving a 15% reduction in waste and demonstrating a commitment to social and ecological causes. Proficient at conveying intricate concepts to diverse audiences, evident from a history of strong peer feedback. I've also volunteered over 200 hours for community-based organizations."

"Motivated biology student (expected graduation 2024) with a passion for science education seeking an opportunity to contribute to educational initiatives at Elliot Middle School. Proficient in designing and delivering engaging presentations on scientific topics and creating and implementing dynamic science curricula. I've also consistently improved student comprehension and interest, evidenced by a 25% increase in workshop participation and experienced informal and formal learning environments. I'm an Excellent communicator, adept at translating complex scientific concepts into accessible language for "learners of all ages.

Internship example

"Excited to secure a Social Media Manager internship at Stella; my academic projects showcase creative content skills. I'm proficient in social media tools, and my knack for engaging posts is amplified by teamwork. With my own personal engagement growth of 25% across platforms, I'm eager to deliver the same results at Stella."

Explore these example resumes for social media managers for even more summaries.

Recent college graduate examples

"Highly organized and dedicated paraprofessional with an associate's degree in education and a paraprofessional license. Skilled in providing academic and behavioral support to students with diverse needs, including those with disabilities and special needs. Experienced in implementing individualized education plans (IEPs) and behavioral plans to support student success. Able to work effectively with teachers, administrators, and parents to support student progress and growth."

"Recent psychology graduate with a strong passion for community-based mental health seeking to leverage academic training and volunteer experience in a challenging and fulfilling role. Skilled in crisis intervention, counseling, and group facilitation, with a proven track record of building rapport and fostering trust with clients. A compassionate and empathetic team player committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those struggling with mental health issues."

Master's program application example

"Motivated and detail-oriented bachelor's degree holder in psychology seeking admission to a master's program in psychology. Strong academic background in psychology, with a solid understanding of theories, concepts, and research methods. Demonstrated ability to apply psychological principles in real-world settings through internships and research projects. Passionate about advancing my knowledge and skills in the field of psychology and dedicated to pursuing a career in research or clinical psychology."

Recent master's graduate example

"Highly motivated finance professional with a master's degree in finance and a strong background in financial analysis, forecasting, and modeling. Skilled in using quantitative methods and financial software to analyze data and make strategic recommendations. Proficient in financial reporting and compliance, with a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and standards."

Administrative summary example

"Highly organized and detail-oriented individual with a proven track record of providing administrative support in a fast-paced environment. Proficient in utilizing various office software, including MS Office and Google Suite, to manage calendars, schedule appointments, and organize documents. Skilled in handling a wide range of tasks, including data entry, file maintenance, and correspondence. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues and clients."

Career transition example

"A driven and organized Marketing Generalist with a strong foundation in data analysis and KPI development, I'm looking to transition into an entry-level Customer Success role. I'm highly skilled in developing KPIs to monitor data, increasing customer engagement and satisfaction, and successfully onboarding customers. With a track record of achieving a 15% increase in customer retention through targeted marketing strategies, I am motivated to utilize my expertise to drive customer success and enhance the overall CX at SavTech."

See more examples of summaries in these customer success manager resumes .

Apprenticeship example

"Motivated and dedicated individual seeking an HVAC apprenticeship position to develop skills and gain experience in the field. Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills, with experience in electrical wiring and troubleshooting. Familiar with HVAC systems, including installation, maintenance, and repair of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. Experienced in reading and interpreting technical manuals and blueprints. Skilled in utilizing various hand and power tools to complete projects. Proficient in maintaining a safe work environment and adhering to safety protocols."

Digital assistant example

"Newly trained digital assistant with a recent certification in Virtual Assistance from Prestige Online Academy. I successfully managed a mock project during my training, coordinating tasks and communication for a virtual team of 15, using tools like Microsoft Office Suite, G Suite, and Asana. As a clear communicator, both written and verbal, with an attention to detail, I have a 95% accuracy rate in task management."

Bank teller example

"Motivated and customer-focused individual seeking an entry-level bank teller position. Excellent math skills with the ability to accurately count and manage large amounts of money. Skilled in providing exceptional customer service and resolving customer complaints in a timely and professional manner. Proven ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines. Eager to learn and grow in a fast-paced banking environment."

Frontend engineer example

"Energetic Frontend Engineer with expertise in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, I successfully designed and implemented a responsive web application during my capstone project, which garnered a 98% user approval rating for usability and responsiveness. My engineering skills are complemented by strong teamwork and problem-solving capabilities—highlighted in feedback from my professors as exceptionally collaborative and innovative."

For more entry level positions resume examples, check out these examples of frontend engineer resume samples .

Create your entire entry-level resume with Teal

A well-crafted beginner's resume summary serves as your introduction, giving potential employers a snapshot of everything you offer. It's your chance to tell a story and differentiate yourself from other candidates. And while constructing this summary might seem tricky, tools like Teal's AI Resume Builder can be invaluable. 

Use the AI technology integrated within Teal's AI Resume Builder to generate professional summaries (and bullet points, cover letters, and more!) directly within the Teal platform. Teal makes it easy to create and curate multiple versions of your resume, tailoring each one for the position you're applying to.

With the right emphasis on personalization, relevance, and a clear showcase of your unique blend of skills, you're setting the stage for a strong first impression. 

Dive into the professional world or a new industry confidently, knowing that your summary, with the help of Teal, offers a compelling introduction to your true potential. 

Get started with Teal today !

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key elements to include in a beginner resume summary when you have no work experience, how can i tailor my entry-level resume summary to a specific job description, can i include soft skills in my beginner summary for a resume, and if so, which ones are most impactful.

Kayte Grady

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How To Write A Resume Summary That Works In 2024 (8+ Examples)

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Here's a scary fact – your resume summary can make or break your chances of winning a job interview.

Because your resume summary is the very first thing employers read to see if you're qualified for the role or not.

But there's some good news too…

Most job seekers do a  terrible  job of leveraging their resume summary. They use outdated methods which don't work in today's market.

That creates an opportunity for you!

While they're all stuck using old school tactics, you're here reading this article which is going to teach you a brand new approach to the resume summary that's crazy effective in today's job market.

Here's what we're going to cover:

Why Most Resume Summary Advice Doesn't Work Anymore

• A New, Highly Effective Resume Summary Format Called The Highlight Reel
• 8+ Examples of Highlight Reel Resume Summaries For Different Jobs, Industries, and Levels of Experience

By the end of this post, you're going to know exactly how to blow the competition out of the water and start landing more job interviews.

If you go looking for resume advice these days, you'll typically see people advocate for two types of introductions: Resume Summaries and Resume Objectives.

Each camp will tell you why their method is best, along with why the other method is outdated and doesn't work. But here's the real truth.

Both traditional resume summaries and traditional resume objectives don't work for today's job market.

Let's break down why neither work very well.

The Problem With Traditional Resume Summaries

A traditional resume summary is when the candidate writes a paragraph-style statement about their experience and skills. It will typically look something like this:

Traditional Resume Summary Example Results-oriented account management professional with 4+ years of experience building relationships with clients in order to help them achieve their goals.

Problem #1: Paragraph-style anything on a resume is the fastest way to losing your reader.

Recruiters are scanning resumes super fast (the typical figure is a six second scan per resume !). They don't have time to read through an entire paragraph.

Problem #2:  Traditional resume summaries typically include fluffy buzzwords and jargon, but no real results.

According to a recent study we performed on 125,000 resumes , over half of candidates didn't include a meaningful amount of measurable metrics / results on their resumes.

When no one's including the outcomes of their work, everyone's simply summarizing their actions. Anyone can perform actions, but hiring managers want to see results!

The Problem With Traditional Resume Objectives

The second popular option is the traditional resume objective . Historically, resume objectives are a statement about your goals for employment. It might look something like this:

Traditional Resume Objective Example Seeking a position at [Company] where I can bring my 10+ years of SaaS sales experience to a growing, fast paced team in the healthcare technology space.

Unfortunately, this is even worse than the summary example I shared above. Why?

Problem #1: Traditional objective statements are only focused on you.

Here's some tough love. Companies don't  really  care about your background. They care about what you can do for them in terms of value, and your background is just one way for them to try and gauge that.

When you only focus your resume on yourself, you're going to lose out to candidates who show the company that they understand their needs / goals and have a plan to help.

Problem #2:  Resume objectives don't illustrate any real value to the hiring team.

Because these objectives are statements about what  you  want, what type of job  you're  looking for, there's no real room to showcase real world results or value.

The truth is, the hiring team doesn't care nearly as much about the job you're interested in compared to the value you'll bring to the table for them.

At this point, it'd be natural if you're saying,  “Well, if a resume summary and a resume objective don't work, what the heck am I supposed to do? Isn't this an article on resume summaries?”

That's exactly why I want to introduce you to a brand new way of thinking about your resume summary:

Introducing A New, Highly Effective Resume Summary

If we want to win in today's job market, we need to take a modern approach to our materials — including our resume.

What most job seekers don't understand is that their resume is a marketing document.

It's a piece of collateral aimed at selling somebody (the employer) on the value and services that you bring to the table!

If we want to write a job-winning resume , we need to do four things:

• We need to give the reader the information they're looking for as quickly as possible
• We need to make that information as compelling as it can possibly be
• We need to make that information as easy as possible to consume
• We want the reader to feel like the information was hand crafted just for them

Neither the traditional resume summary nor the traditional resume objective cover these bases, which is why I invented a brand new way to start your resume.

“Highlight Reels” Are The New Resume Summary

I discovered this new form of resume summary after sending in hundreds of applications with the traditional stuff and getting rejected from all of them.

When I tested this new “Highlight Reel” resume summary, everything changed. My interview rate skyrocketed and I was actually able to get in the door for jobs I was excited about!

The Highlight Reel is exactly what it sounds like.

It's a section at the top of your resume that allows you to pick and choose the best and most relevant experience to feature right at the top of your resume.

It's essentially a highlight reel of your career as it relates to this specific role! I like to think about it as the SportsCenter Top 10 of your resume.

The Highlight Reel resume summary consists of 4 parts:

• A relevant section title that ties your experience to the role
• An introductory bullet that summarizes your experience and high level value
• A few supporting “Case Study” bullets that illustrate specific results, projects, and relevant experience
• A closing “Extracurricular” bullet to round out your candidacy
• Let's break down each one.

Part #1: A Relevant Section Title

The first part of the Highlight Reel resume summary is the section title.

This is going to be the title of this section, similar to how you've titled your experience section something like “Work Experience” and your education section “Education.”

But we're going to make things personal…

Instead of using some boring title, we're going to show the reader that we are the  exact  candidate they are looking for!

By weaving the job title for our target role into the title of our resume summary section! We'll do that using the following formula:

[Job Title] Summary

For example, if your target role is Business Development, your resume summary section should be titled  Business Development Summary.

If your target role is in graphic design, your resume summary section should be titled  Graphic Design Summary.

If your target role is in software engineering, your resume summary section should be titled  Software Engineering Summary.

You get the point.

Now, when that recruiter or hiring manager looks at your resume, the very first thing they'll see is the job title they're hiring for.

That's an immediate check in the qualifications box!

Part #2: An Introductory Bullet That Summarizes Your Experience And Value

Now that we've hooked the reader with our section title, it's time to give them a summary of who we are and what we bring to the table.

The very first bullet in your Resume Summary should tell your reader:

• Your area of expertise / background (i.e. Sales Leader, UX Designer, Customer Success Manager)
• Your total years of experience in the field
• A value-driven pitch that tells them the type of value that you've brought to previous companies and clients

Your Area of Expertise

In the first part of this bullet, you want to show the reader that you are who they're hoping you are. In other words, if they're looking for a Software Engineer, you want to tell them you're a Software Engineer.

If they're looking for a Results-Oriented Sales Leader, you want to tell them that you're a Results-Oriented Sales Leader.

The best place to find this information is by looking in the job description and mimicking the language they use. For example, check out this job posting from Google:

We'd want to include “Sales Manager” in our bullet, then we'd also way to pay attention to supporting language like “customer retention,” “customer relationship management,” etc. for our value-driven pitch too.

Your Total Years of Experience

Next, you want to summarize your experience in a field.

Most jobs have a number listed on the job description (e.g. 8+ years of experience in ______.). If you show the reader you meet that criteria right off the bat, you appear more qualified and have a better chance of hooking them in to read more.

Your Value-Driven Pitch

Finally, you want to sell your reader on the value you bring to the table.

The best way to do this is by telling them how you've helped previous companies in the past (and doing it in a way that resonates with their goals).

Let's use the above Google Sales Manager job description as an example. It says that the ideal candidate, “[knows] how to craft a compelling case for sticking with Google products” and that they “work with companies of various types–local and international, big and small.”

If you have a track record of great retention with those types of companies, your value-driven pitch might be,  “driving award-winning retention for cloud products with clients ranging from SMBs to F500s.”

This is your chance to show the company you have experience delivering the exact results they're looking for — and you have the data to back it up!

Pro Tip: Your introductory bullet, including the value-driven pitch, should act as the 10,000 foot view of your experience. You want to sell people on the overarching value you've delivered with big, impressive results — then you can break down the details in your Case Study bullets.

Part #3: Supporting “Case Study” Bullets

Now that we've introduced the reader to our overarching value, it's time to get to the details.

Case Study bullets let you flesh out the experience that you summarized in your introductory bullet. You want to aim to have 2-3 of them in your resume summary.

In the example above, my introductory bullet talks about driving eight-figure growth for technology companies in the Ad Tech space.

That means my Case Study bullets should provide two or three specific examples of eight figure growth in that space!

How To Write A Great Case Study Bullet

Case Study bullets are the meat of your resume summary. They're the specific value that's going to help you stand out from the competition…If you write them correctly.

See, most people make the mistake of summarizing their experience with their bullets. They talk about the actions they took, but they don't focus on the results that stemmed from those actions.

If you want to win out, you need to know how to write a killer Case Study bullet!

The good news is, we've created a free tool called ResyBullet.io to help remove the guesswork and make writing bullets easy. Here's how it works:

• Copy a bullet from your Resume Summary
• Go to ResyBullet.io and paste your bullet into the text field
• Analyze your bullet to see your initial score (out of 100)
• Rework your bullet to match the feedback from the tool

Now all you have to do is rinse and repeat for all of the Case Study bullets in your resume summary!

Part #4: A Closing “Extracurriculars” Bullet

The last bullet in your resume summary is your opportunity to include anything else that might be valuable, but wasn't included in your bullets above.

Here are some good examples of things you can include:

• Awards you've won
• Languages you speak (if you speak multiple languages)
• Non-role related teams you lead (volunteering, culture, etc)
• Side projects that relate / add value to your target role
• Skill building you're working on

The goal of the Extracurricular bullet is to add additional value that helps round out your experience as a candidate.

In my resume summary example, I mentioned two awards that I'd won in my last bullet:

That sums up the four major parts of a job-winning Highlight Reel. Now let's take a look at some examples of this resume summary style for different roles.

Highlight Reel Resume Summary Examples

Here are 3 examples of resume summaries to help you visualize what this style of summary looks like for different roles and different goals:

Example #1: Partnerships Manager Resume Summary

In this example, we have a Partnerships Manager with 3 years of experience managing partnerships in the ad tech space. Here's what their summary might look like:

Partnership Management Summary

• Partner Manager with 3+ years of experience driving eight-figure growth for ad tech companies like Microsoft, Google, & Hubspot
• Manage $20M+ book of partners, including two largest revenue generating partners in global book of business at Microsoft
• Prospected, negotiated, and closed 8 new partnerships worth $15.2M in ARR for Google
• Maintained average quota attainment of 120% across 2 years at Microsoft

Example #2: Graphic Design Resume Summary

In this example, we have a Graphic Designer with a decade of experience creating visuals for companies in the fashion industry. Here's what their summary might look like:

Graphic Design Summary

• Graphic Designer with 10+ years experience creating results-driven graphics and promotional materials for clients like Chanel, Gucci, American Eagle, Ralph Lauren, & more
• Managed a team of 15 designers to produce entire portfolio for 2018 Victoria's Secret fashion show
• Spearheaded GDUSA award-winning image campaign for Zara
• Co-Founder of  Girls Who Design,  a community that aims to empower women in design to share their stories and support one another

Example #3: Data Science Resume Summary

In this example, we have a Data Scientist with 6 years of experience in the eCommerce industry. Here's what their resume summary might look like:

Data Science Summary

• Data Scientist with 6+ years experience using Big Data to drive a better customer experience and higher sell thru rates for eCommerce sites
• Spearheaded cost-per-lead analysis modeling, resulting in predictive resource allocation system that led to 67% increase in revenue with a 23% decrease in cost-per-lead
• Generated audience analysis for digital ad campaigns, resulting in hyper-focused targeting that reduced cost-per-acquisition by 44% for eCommerce platform

Tools & Languages: Python, SQL, R, Tableau, & Power BI

Example #4: Career Changer Resume Summary (For A Transition Into UX Design)

In this example we have someone who is trying to make a total career change! They're aiming to transition from a consulting role into User Experience Design with no prior experience. Here's what their resume summary might look like:

UX Design Summary

• UX Designer with a background of 5+ years in management consulting, working with clients like GE, Cisco, and IBM
• Developed case study for AirBnB highlighting 3 search functionality changes that could increase bookings by a projected 17% ( Link Here )
• Developed case study for Harry's Razors highlighting 4 UX changes that would improve checkout flow and increase conversion rates by a project 27% ( Link Here )
• Currently enrolled in General Assembly's User Experience Immersive Bootcamp (Graduating April 2023)

Key Resume Summary Takeaways

Whew! We covered a LOT of information in this article. I hope you feel like you have a better sense of how to structure your resume summary for the modern job market.

In summary, here are the key points we talked about:

• Old school resume summaries and objectives don't work anymore
• The Highlight Reel is the modern approach that works in today's market because it allows you to fully personalize your resume
• The Highlight Reel consists of a title, an introductory bullet, 2-3 case study bullets, and a closing extracurricular bullet
• Writing compelling, value-driven bullets is the way to hook your reader from the get go

Now that your resume summary is taken care of, you can upgrade the rest of your resume with this guide on writing a job winning resume !

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Austin Belcak

Austin is the founder of Cultivated Culture where he helps people land jobs without connections, without traditional experience, and without applying online. His strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, & Fast Company and has helped people just like you land jobs at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Twitter, & more.

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• CV and Cover Letter
• 27 great CV summary examples...

27 great CV summary examples to get hired

15 min read · Updated on April 19, 2024

Draw your readers in and leave them wanting more!

Every CV needs a great professional summary. But what exactly is it and how do you write one? This guide will give you the lowdown on how to go about it, along with 27 CV summary examples to cover pretty much every eventuality, across an array of industries and titles.

What is a professional summary?

A professional summary is an overview of your experience , qualifications, achievements , and skills that proves you're the right fit for the job. It's your first introduction to the hiring manager or recruiter, so it needs to hook them in, giving them a compelling reason to read the rest of your CV - and hopefully invite you to interview!

On average, a hiring manager will spend about 6 seconds on the first scan of your CV, so your summary needs to make an impact from the get-go. Therefore, it should contain your most compelling selling points, presented in alignment with the requirements of the role you're applying for.

Where should I place the professional summary?

The summary should be placed at the top of your CV, directly under your name and contact details, so it's the first thing a hiring manager reads. Remember, you need to grab attention from the start, so the most important information about you should be in the top third of the first page.

What should my professional summary look like?

Don't be tempted to write a long, detailed professional summary - it's called a summary for a reason! A solid wall of text, or several paragraphs, can be off-putting - especially when the recruiter is skimming through to get a flavour of the applicant before moving on to the next CV.

As a general guide, 4-6 sentences is plenty. A professional summary is usually no more than 100 words or 5-6 lines. Use a standard, sans-serif font - they're easiest to read on a screen, as well as looking clean and modern - and make sure the font size isn't uncomfortably small. You can bullet-point the summary if you prefer, but a short paragraph is more conventional.  

Normally, a professional summary for a corporate role would be written in the silent third person e.g. “ specialises in payroll administration.” If you find this style too awkward or impersonal, first-person summaries are increasingly accepted such as, “ I specialise in payroll administration ,” but they're not standard practice quite yet.

Top tip: Add a header - either “Professional Summary” or “Professional Profile” - in the same style as the other headers on your CV. Clear headers are important as they allow the ATS to categorise the information it receives.

How do I start writing a professional summary?

It helps if the rest of the CV is written before starting the summary. It may sound counterintuitive, as the summary goes at the beginning, but by writing the bulk of the CV first, you'll have spent time analysing your relevant skills, responsibilities, and achievements, so will have a better idea of where your strengths lie and what you want to emphasise.

Highlight key requirements from the job advert that are applicable. These are the points you want to use in your professional summary. It's a good idea to identify keywords from the job description and reflect these back in the summary. This makes it obvious that you meet the company's requirements and makes your CV easier to find in searches.

Top tip: Imagine you're recruiting for this role. What would you want to see in the summary? Aside from someone who ticks the boxes for performing the role, you'll be expecting a well-presented summary that is on-point, easy to read, and gives that little bit extra beyond the basics.

By this stage, you should have some coherent notes on the key points you want to include.

What should I include in my professional summary?

The job description should give you a good idea of what the company is looking for. You need to craft a professional summary that shows how YOU are the ideal candidate. Easier said than done, right?

Here are a few tips of what to include:

Your job title - if it aligns to the role you're applying for

The sector you work in

What you specialise in

Your unique selling point (USP)

Examples of recent key achievements

Skills you have that they need

The value you can offer to the company

How do I pull my professional summary together?

With a good idea of what to include and how your expertise fits into the role, you're ready to put pen to paper - or rather fingers to keyboard!

Form your notes into positive, concise sentences. Use keywords from the advert to pick out relevant, justifiable points from your career, combining them into compelling sentences that will impress a hiring manager. Play around with the wording, the examples, and the order until you're happy that you've perfected your elevator pitch .

Top tip: Show the end result to a trusted friend or colleague, alongside the job advert, and ask for constructive criticism.

Don't expect to get it right the first time - you may find that you come up with some knock-out phrases or sentences that you ultimately decide not to use. Store them away though, as they may come in handy for a later application. Remember, every summary should be tailored to the role you're applying for.

CV summary examples for multiple jobs

Here are 27 professional summaries, covering various roles and situations, that show how to do it right.

CV summary example for a mid-career professional

An ambitious Bodywork Technician, with a strong background in the motorsports sector. Possesses expertise ranging from severe crash repair to custom projects and fabrication of bespoke body parts. A respected and professional leader, able to manage and train teams to achieve improvements in performance and productivity. Confident when streamlining processes and developing systems that enable business growth, having overseen a 54% increase in repair volume over 8 months.

CV summary example for a DE&I Manager

An accomplished Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Manager, able to develop innovative strategies and business plans. Enables businesses to achieve greater inclusion and diversity by influencing, engaging, and training stakeholders at all levels. Possesses proven success in facilitating long-term culture change across global businesses. Specialises in gender equality, neurodiversity, mental health, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

CV summary example for a Construction Manager

A motivational, adaptable, and determined Construction Manager who effectively combines robust planning and operational capabilities with the energy and drive to consistently deliver projects on time without compromising on quality. Fosters beneficial relationships due to highly developed communication qualities. Possesses over 19 years of experience inspecting and managing sites, and remains at ease handling projects valued at up to £5m .

CV summary example for a Healthcare Practitioner

A perceptive and resilient Healthcare Practitioner, passionate about delivering the highest standard of patient care while building cohesive teams using effective motivational qualities. Displays a calm and professional attitude during emergencies and flourishes in challenging environments. Encourages patients to self-manage their lives and wellbeing while having the confidence to reach out for help when needed. Offers over 20 years of providing effective healthcare interventions across a diverse range of community settings.

CV summary example for a Doctor

A dedicated and compassionate GP with a commitment to the development and improvement of standards within medical practice. Demonstrates strong clinical skills, with the proven ability to assess and investigate patients' symptoms and make decisions on the most appropriate treatment. Trustworthy and diligent, possesses the drive to deliver the highest standard of patient care at all times. Combines a natural flair for working calmly under pressure with the motivational skills to ensure the team pulls together at all times.

CV summary example for a Marketing Associate

A creative and resourceful Marketing Associate, with multi-sector experience, who is adept at revitalising brands while increasing margins and maximising on profitability. Incorporates the full marketing mix, with expertise in traditional marketing, PR, digital, online marketing, social media, product marketing, and branding. Focused on client needs.

CV summary example for a Scientist

A highly motivated, productive Scientist working within chemical research and development at ABC Inc. Showcases a robust knowledge of the pharmaceutical aspects of the drug development process, from hit identification to process development and manufacture. Passionate about providing drugs that can improve the lives of patients. Adept at working to specific client deadlines by capitalising on impeccable planning skills.

CV summary example for a Customer Service Representative

A reliable, efficient, and enthusiastic Customer Service Representative who engages easily with the public while displaying acute attention to detail and organisational skills. Diligent and proactive, thrives in a team environment and adopts a hands-on approach when tackling set tasks. A fast learner with the flexibility to adapt to different circumstances.

CV summary example for an IT Specialist

A conscientious and meticulous IT Specialist, experienced in successfully infiltrating and adding new workstreams to IT infrastructure. With strong leadership and motivational qualities, is proficient at marrying business objectives with technical solutions to fulfil client requirements. A competent strategist, with established troubleshooting skills and an analytical mind.  

CV summary example for a DevOps Engineer

A dependable, diligent, and analytical DevOps Engineer with expertise and in-depth knowledge of IT infrastructure and resolving support issues. Possesses a great aptitude for moving a project forward while remaining mindful of, and exceeding, client expectations. Quick to familiarise with the latest technology and industry developments while displaying innovative and creative solutions to arising issues.

CV summary example for an Office Manager

A structured, accomplished, and versatile Office Manager, expert at using a pragmatic manner to embed and implement strategies that meet corporate objectives. Takes a confident approach to all tasks, and is adept at maximising on efficiencies to achieve set goals. Excels when adapting to different environments and gains the confidence of colleagues and stakeholders alike. Showcases 20 years of experience supporting management teams within corporate and educational sectors.

CV summary example for a Personal Assistant

A supportive, proactive, and articulate Personal Assistant with outstanding administrative and organisational skills. Works effectively within a team, and well as independently, demonstrating the motivation and multi-tasking abilities required to meet demanding deadlines while maintaining the highest of standards. Bilingual and competent, exceeds expectations in an international environment while delivering under pressure.

CV summary example for a Project Manager

A focused, versatile, and collaborative Project Manager, with expertise in leading teams and improvement initiatives through the lifecycle of a business, from innovative start-ups to established organisations. Adept at spearheading teams of local and international staff by providing motivational goals. Encourages input from stakeholders, ensuring they are fully informed every step of the way.

CV summary example for a Business Analyst

A logical Business Analyst, quick to assimilate information accurately, excels when working in a structured project environment, and is adept at translating business requirements into technical formats. Possesses over 10 years of experience in analysis and design within financial services. Capitalises on self-taught qualities to drive forward on business aims and objectives.

CV summary example for an Accountant

A conscientious and tenacious Accountant with a flair for analysing pertinent data. Continuously strives for, and achieves, outstanding work with accurate attention to detail. Displays a logical and analytical approach to solving problems while performing well within a productive team environment.

CV summary example for a Teacher

An inspirational Teacher with 12 years of experience teaching Maths and PE, combined with extensive knowledge of supporting pupils with SEND. Demonstrable record of helping pupils progress and achieve their potential while simultaneously providing a positive learning experience for all, proven by SATs results improving by 45% in 2022/23.

CV summary example for a Restaurant Manager

An adaptable and innovative Restaurant Manager, with an extensive background in the hospitality sector. Passionate about delivering outstanding customer service while ensuring the achievement of corporate objectives. Proven record of running a successful restaurant, achieving a Michelin Star, while nurturing and growing revenue. Capitalises on international experience across China, the Middle East, and South America. Increased customer satisfaction from 41% to 79%.

CV summary example for a Residential Manager

A committed and focused Residential Manager in the healthcare management sector, with adaptable skills and a positive attitude. Consistently delivers on targets and KPIs, with the added emphasis on maintaining exceptional patient and family care. Constantly promoted throughout an impeccable 13-year career overseeing primary care services. Continually reflects on performance in order to improve.

CV summary example for a Waitress / Waiter

An experienced and personable Waitress with over 4 years of experience providing outstanding table service at prestigious establishments in London and York. Secured Employee of the Month 3 times within 9 months. Played a key role in customer satisfaction levels rising from 63% to 84% over a 12-month period.

CV summary example for a Journalist

A multi-faceted and tenacious Journalist with a natural flair for reacting quickly and accurately to breaking news stories. Possesses over 25 years of experience producing and presenting current affairs programmes, with 14 of those at the BBC. Adapts easily to shifting circumstances, showcasing advanced communication qualities along with the production of innovative ideas that has increased audiences threefold.

CV summary example for a Client Service Director

An award-winning, innovative, and credible Client Service Director with extensive experience dealing with global brands including Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, McDonald's, Heineken, and BP. Showcases an exceptional ability to transform businesses into revenue-growing operations, proven by increasing growth by 32%. Combines a natural instinct for developing and expanding businesses along with the drive to deliver a clear vision on how to achieve outstanding client service.

CV summary example for a HR Generalist

A CIPD-qualified HR Generalist with a proven track record of designing and implementing highly effective HR strategies to drive process improvement and cultural change. Initiates employee engagement plans that reduce attrition by 74% and retain talent during periods of growth and downsizing. Key areas of expertise include leading negotiations with trade unions, establishing HR policies, and implementing robust training and coaching strategies to drive continuous improvement.

CV summary example for a Sales Associate

An articulate, persuasive, and personable Sales Associate with exemplary customer service skills and the enthusiasm to undertake challenges. Demonstrates advanced negotiation techniques, illustrated by securing £60,000 in revenue from a business project, winning it from a competitor.

CV summary example for an Architect

A creative and perceptive Architect with in-depth experience and knowledge of major design developments of neighbourhoods and mixed-use development. Prioritises elements that contribute to an improved quality of living while maintaining close attention to detail. Achieves a clear balance between commercial acumen and social / environmental responsibility. Offers over 20 years of experience heading up a multitude of high-end projects for urban development.

CV summary example for a Warehouse Operative

A conscientious and versatile Warehouse Operative, accomplished across the manufacturing environment, often exceeding set targets and deadlines. Thrives under pressure, with key assets of attention to detail and a robust work ethic. Works efficiently and accurately to clearly defined instructions.

How to write a CV summary with no experience

If you're entering the job market for the first time , or have limited experience, you may feel that none of this relates to you. Don't panic. You can still present a compelling professional summary that wins over recruiters.

Your CV doesn't need to focus solely on paid work experience. You almost certainly have experience from other parts of your life that you can draw on. Extracurricular clubs and activities, the Duke of Edinburgh award, voluntary work, pocket money jobs, school, or college responsibilities all count, because they'll have given you valuable employability skills. This is by no means an exhaustive list - there are many ways of developing skills. You just need to think about what you've done!

Use the CV summary example below for inspiration, but make sure you create an original that's as unique as you are.

CV summary example for Students

I am a mature GCSE student, with excellent communication and problem-solving skills, developed over time as a Student Mentor. My customer service skills have been invaluable when pet-sitting for neighbours - I've received great feedback and repeat business. I always aim to surpass expectations, making me an ideal representative for your business. I am ready to take on a new challenge and would love the chance to further enhance my skills.

How do you write a professional summary for a career change?

When you want to change direction in your career, it can be difficult to match previous experience to your desired position. In this case, it's best to focus on transferable skills in your summary, explaining how these will benefit the new company. You can also highlight your ability to consistently deliver results for a business, ensuring that your summary doesn't include any industry-specific terminology that could alienate your reader.

CV summary example for a career changer

A commercially astute leader, keen to transition from warehouse management to project management. Combines a natural aptitude for building relationships with a proven ability to control costs. Recently delivered a warehouse reconfiguration project within very demanding deadlines, with no negative impact on customer service. Currently working towards PMP certification.

Summary of key points

Your professional summary should:

Sit at the top of your CV

Have a clear heading

Be concise and to the point

Align with the job advert

Highlight your achievements and value

Avoid clichés

Include relevant keywords

Done well, your professional summary should grab the hiring manager's attention and persuade them to progress your application. If you want some constructive feedback on your professional summary, why not submit it for a free CV review ?

This article was originally written by Jen David and has been updated by Elizabeth Openshaw. 

Recommended reading:

How to make any job sound impressive on your CV

Why a professional CV writer can show you off - better than you can

What is a skills gap and how to address one - explained in 5 steps

Related Articles:

How to demonstrate teamwork skills on your CV (with examples)

Writing a 16-year-old's CV: tips & examples

How to list publications on a CV (with examples)

See how your CV stacks up.

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How to Write a General Resume for Multiple Positions

11 min read

A great resume outline is the jumping off point for a great resume!

Faced with a blank sheet of paper or, more likely, a blank Word document, deciding how best to fill it with a compelling summary of your career can seem a bit overwhelming. Fret not. With the help of our guide to creating an effective resume outline, you’ll soon be well on the way to a document you can be proud of. 

Why use a resume outline?

The easiest way to banish fear of the blank page is to start getting an outline together in the form of headings and ideas. Creating a resume outline is not only an easy way to get started and get those cogs turning, it will also help you to visualize how the final document will look and to decide what information you need to prioritize. With a good structure in place, filling in each section becomes a doddle. 

Let’s start creating the outline that will steer you towards a strong and engaging resume. 

Five sections you need in your resume outline

We’ll start with the sections that every resume needs. Then, we’ll move onto some additional sections which you may or may not choose to include, depending on your personal circumstances. 

Professional Experience

Education  

As the name suggests, the header goes at the very top of your resume. You’ll need to include these elements: 

Name: You can use your preferred first name (for example Andy rather than Andrew) and your surname. No need to include middle names unless you particularly want to

Postnominals: If you have any letters after your name, for example fellowship of an industry body, add them here. Usually, first degrees aren’t included. 

Title or headline: Use your current or target job title to provide an immediate reference for what you do, or create an engaging headline to grab attention.

Phone number: Just your cell phone number is fine here - there’s no need to add a landline and certainly no need to add a work number. Don’t forget to check your voicemail message to ensure it’s appropriate for recruiters and hiring managers!

Email address: Add your personal email address - ensuring it sounds professional, of course.

Location: Resumes are no longer expected to include a full mailing address, but your city, state and zip code are still required. For international job hunts, state and country is sensible, alongside a note that you’re willing to relocate.

Social links: If you have a LinkedIn profile or professional portfolio, it helps to include a link as part of your contact details. Don’t share personal social media accounts though - keep those for friends and family. 

The Profile, also known as a Summary , is your elevator pitch. Rather than just regurgitating a dry summary of your career, aim for a short, dynamic paragraph that makes it clear how you can contribute to the business and succeed in the advertised role. Aim to answer: 

What do you do?

What are your areas of expertise?

What is your biggest achievement in your current role?

How can you add value to the reader’s business?

Here’s an example, so that you can see the style to aim for: 

“An innovative HR professional, specializing in delivering global change and transformation programs.  Combines a successful record in process improvement and cost reduction with expertise in outsourcing, shared service delivery, business partnership and organizational design. Recently saved $500,000 annually by outsourcing headcount to low-cost markets. Committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, learning and development.” 

Resume objective statements are considered outdated now, as they focus on what you want rather than what you offer. There’s no need to include an objective in your resume outline. 

Also known as the Core Competencies section, this is where you add your key skills in a short list. There’s no need to write long sentences or paragraphs here - the aim is to enable recruiters to see what you offer at a glance, whilst also adding some role-specific keywords that will help your resume to pop up in recruiter searches. Aim for around 8-12 skills here. For example: 

Program Management   |   Project Management   |   Change Management   |   Business Transformation   |   Financial Management   |   Leadership   |   Budget Control   |   Risk Management   |   Stakeholder Engagement

Now we get to the main event. This section is where you’ll detail your career history. When you’re creating your resume outline, you’ll start with your current, or most recent, job first, working backwards in time as you move down the page. For each role, add a subheading containing: 

Your job title

Name of the company employing you

Your dates of employment (just months and years)

The location of the job (just the city - or “remote” if you didn’t work on site)

Below this subheading, you’ll describe the remit of the role in a couple of sentences and add a bulleted list of quantifiable achievements. Repeat the same structure for each role you’ve held in the last 10-15 years. 

The last compulsory section when preparing your resume outline is the Education section. A recruiter or hiring manager will expect to see: 

The subject of your qualification (for example, English Language)

The level of your qualification (for example, BSc degree)

The awarding institution (for example, Stanford University)

The year you completed the degree

If you’ve been to university, there’s no need to add any earlier qualifications. Again, you’ll want to write in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent qualification. 

Optional sections to include in your resume outline

Now you know what’s expected of every resume, let’s explore some additional sections that you could add to your resume outline to strengthen your application. 

Early Career Summary 

Professional Development

Volunteering

Technical Skills 

Personal Projects

Hobbies and Interests

As it’s standard to only include the last 10-15 years of your career history in detail on your resume, you may need to add an Early Career Summary. This only needs to include the job title and employer name for each role, enabling you to show your career progression without wasting a lot of space on historic detail that is unlikely to be relevant to the roles you’re applying for now. 

Professional Development 

If you graduated from university a while back, you may have taken some courses or completed internal training since then. Employers always like to see a commitment to professional development, so list these courses and certificates on your resume. 

An interest in social causes is always a great positive on a resume. If you’re a recent graduate, a career changer, or someone with minimal work experience, this section could take up the majority of your resume. If you’re an executive with a strong career behind you, this section might not necessitate more than one line. Decide how much space to allocate based on how relevant the skills and experience are to your current career aspirations. 

Technical Skills

Anyone looking for a career in IT, as well as anyone using specialist tools in their role, would do well to consider a Technical Skills section outlining which software, hardware, apps and tools they can confidently use. Not only does this provide the opportunity to add more valuable keywords, it also shows off your competency. 

If you’re lucky enough to speak a foreign language, this is definitely a skill worth adding. Even if knowledge of the language isn’t a requirement of the specific role you’re applying for, we’re working in a connected world where employers will appreciate staff who can communicate with colleagues, suppliers and customers across the globe. Remember to include your level of fluency, too. 

Personal projects

Students or career changers may find that they don’t have enough professional experience to create a strong application. In that case, leaning on projects completed outside of work can provide the proof of skills and dedication that will bolster the application. There’s no need for great detail - just a brief outline that will prompt interviewers to discuss the projects further. 

In a similar vein to personal projects, hobbies and interests can provide the opportunity to highlight skills that may not be coming through elsewhere on the resume. While “watching television” and “socializing” aren’t going to impress, if you have a pastime that will support your candidacy it’s certainly worth mentioning. 

How to create a resume outline using these sections

So now we’ve covered which sections you should include, how can you use them to create a resume outline? 

Add headings

For every section, create a heading. This will make your resume easy for your reader to navigate. It should stand out from the body text, so make sure it’s in a larger font - consider bold text or a different color too, although remember that you’re aiming for a professional look. Another popular choice is to break up sections with a horizontal line across the page. 

Your header section does not need a heading - you can simply use your name. 

Ensure consistency 

Create every heading in the same style, including font, color, alignment and size. This will ensure your resume looks professional and show your attention to detail. 

Consider spacing 

An easy-to-read resume balances engaging content with white space. Rather than cramming in as much as you can, use an outline that focuses on presenting the information clearly. While you need plenty of white space and a font that isn’t too tiny to read, remember that you also need to keep your resume short and to the point - ideally no more than two pages . 

Free resume outline example 

Now you know the theory, let’s see how this could look in practice. We recommend creating your resume outline in Word, rather than Google Docs, as it’s still the most popular format. Here’s an example resume outline that just needs to be completed with the applicants’ details: 

Alternative resume outlines 

Above, we’ve focused on a simple resume outline that would be suitable for someone continuing in their established career path. In that case, the Header, Profile, Skills, Experience, Education, Further Details format is usually the best option. 

But not everyone will be continuing in an established career. Switching the order of sections on your resume outline is fine if it serves your purposes better. For example: 

Resume outline for college students and recent graduates: With minimal, if any, relevant professional experience, it’s helpful to put the focus on education by placing this section directly below Key Skills. A Hobbies and Interests section could also be valuable in this situation. In that case, the resume outline could look like this: 

Resume outline for career changers: As any professional experience isn’t likely to be very relevant, career changers can benefit from an extended Key Skills section and by positioning Volunteering and Personal Projects above a shorter Professional Experience section. Again, hobbies and interests could support the application. An example of a suitable resume outline could be:

Resume outline for IT professionals: As technical knowledge is critical in these roles, IT professionals may want to position their Technical Skills section in place of the Key Skills section near the top of the resume. The resume outline would run as follows: 

As you can see, while certain sections are required as best practice, you can switch around the order of these sections on your resume outline to best serve your purposes. Remember that the point of a resume is to effectively sell your skills, experience, and qualifications to a potential employer so, while your resume should always begin with a Header and Profile, you can promote your most persuasive sections to a higher position.

A strong outline results in a strong resume

Having developed a strong resume outline that emphasizes your suitability for your target role, all that remains is to fill in the details. It may take some time, but with a good outline to focus your thinking you’ll soon be ready to take the next step in your career. 

Would you like an expert opinion on your resume before you send it out into the world? Why not request a free resume review from the team at ZipJob? With their advice, you’ll be able to add the finishing touches and apply for roles with confidence. 

Recommended reading: 

Writing an Outstanding Resume with No Experience (+ Examples) 

The Best Fonts and Size to Use on a Resume

Beginner's Guide to How to Write a Resume

Jen David, Editor & Content Writer, Jen David, Editor & Content Writer

Jen David has been writing CVs since 2010 and is the founder of CV Shed . She has worked with clients in numerous industries and at all stages of their careers, from students through to senior executives of global businesses. She loves producing polished, focused CVs that appeal to both human recruiters and applicant tracking systems, enabling her clients to take the next step in their careers. Jen has written and edited numerous articles for publication on industry-leading job boards.

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How to Write a Summary for an Article: 5 Simple Steps

• Written by Yumna
• Updated on: August 16, 2024

Struggling to craft concise, engaging article summaries? This guide will teach you how to write clear summaries that capture the essence of any article. Learn how to efficiently digest information and save time with practical tips to enhance your understanding quickly!

What is a Summary?

A summary is a condensed version of a text that captures the essential points of a piece of writing. You can write a summary from articles, books, reports, and more. It gives readers a quick overview of the main ideas without revealing all the details, helping them save time and understand the core message of any kind of writing. Much like there are different types of writing, there are even different types of summaries as well:

Descriptive Summary

A descriptive summary gives an unbiased overview of the main ideas and key points of a text without any evaluation or interpretation. It simply presents the content so readers can understand the essential information without reading the entire document. Commonly used in book reviews, article summaries, and educational materials.

Critical Summary

A critical summary goes further by evaluating and analyzing the original text. It highlights strengths, weaknesses, and may include the writer’s personal opinions. This type of summary is useful for academic and professional purposes, offering an in-depth analysis of the text’s effectiveness and relevance.

An abstract is a concise summary used mainly in academic writing, such as research articles or theses. It includes the main objectives, methods, results, and conclusions of the research. Abstracts help readers quickly determine the relevance and value of a scholarly work and are often found in journals and academic databases.

Executive Summary

An executive summary provides a brief, comprehensive overview of a business report, proposal, or document. It is designed for executives and decision-makers, offering key findings and recommendations without the need to read the full report. Executive summaries are crucial in business contexts where quick, informed decisions are required.

5 Easy Steps to Write a Summary

Summarizing doesn’t have to be a frustrating battle. With these 5 easy steps, you’ll be crafting clear, concise summaries that allow you to grasp any article’s core objective and message.

Step 1: Skim and Scan the Article

The first step is to learn how to skim or scan an article quickly. This initial step helps you get a quick understanding of the article’s main ideas. Skimming and scanning are not just about rushing through words; they are strategic reading methods that save time and enhance comprehension. By quickly going over the text, you create a mental framework that primes your brain, making it easier to absorb more detailed information when you read the article thoroughly later.

This approach also guides your focus, allowing you to pinpoint important sections. Thus, when you return for a closer reading, you can allocate more attention to the crucial parts of the text, ensuring you grasp the most important elements effectively.

1. Skimming:

• Read the title, introduction, headings and subheadings, topic sentences, and the conclusion.
• Briefly look at any visuals (graphs, charts, images) and their captions, as they often provide quick summaries of data.
• Focus on getting a general understanding of the article’s focus, purpose, and the flow of ideas

2. Scanning

• Look for specific keywords related to your reason for reading the article. These might be research terms, names, dates, or any information central to your purpose.
• Scan for sections or paragraphs that seem especially relevant to your task.

Step 2: Read the Article Thoroughly

Once you’ve captured the gist of the writing you need to summarise, the next step is to read the piece thoroughly. This is the most time consuming step of the process, and here’s what you need to do as you read:

• Annotate Activel y: Highlight key sections, add margin notes with your thoughts, questions, or summaries of main points. This helps you engage with the text.
• Question as You Read : Don’t passively take in information. Ask yourself questions like, “Why is the author bringing this up?”, “Do I agree with this logic?”, “How does this connect with other things I know?”.
• Utilize Resources : Use a dictionary or reliable online sources to clarify unfamiliar technical terms or concepts crucial to your understanding.

Things to Consider

• Article Type : Adapt your strategy slightly depending on whether it’s a research article, news piece, or opinion essay. Focus on different elements accordingly (methodology vs. main events vs. line of reasoning).
• Your Purpose : What do you need from the article? This will guide what you pay closest attention to.

Step 3: Identify the Main Points of the Article

In order to write an effective summary, it is crucial to identify the main points of the article. Doing so ensures that your summary captures the essence of the article and effectively communicates its core message.

What to do:

• The Essence of the Article : Understanding the central theme or thesis is crucial for identifying the main points of the article. By analyzing the introduction and conclusion, you can determine the overarching message the author is conveying.
• Extracting Key Ideas and Arguments : Once the essence is clear, extract the key ideas and arguments that support the main message. Look for recurring themes, important theories, or notable findings to highlight the most significant aspects of the article.
• Include Supporting Evidence and Examples : recognize the supporting evidence and examples used by the author, such as data, studies, or real-world cases. Incorporating these elements in your summary provides credibility and context to the main ideas.

How to find them:

• Revisit your Notes : Examine any highlighting, underlining, or margin notes you made while reading.
• Summarize Sections : Try to distill the essence of each major section into a single sentence. This can help clarify the key point / message of each section.
• Consider the Author’s Purpose : What are they trying to convey with this article? What is the objective?

Step 4: Write the First Draft

The goal of the first draft is to turn your understanding of the article into a rough outline of your summary. Here’s the approach:

1. Start with the Basics : Begin with a sentence or two that includes:

• Article title
• Author’s name
• The central argument or thesis of the article

2. Follow the Author’s Order : Outline the key supporting points in roughly the same sequence that they appear in the original. This keeps your summary logically aligned with the source.

3. Paraphrase in Your Own Words :

• Rephrase the article’s ideas rather than copying sentences directly.
• Use different vocabulary and sentence structures to show your understanding.

4. Connect with Transitions : Use transitional words and phrases for a smooth flow:

• “Additionally…” “Moreover…” (to add points)
• “However…” “In contrast…” (for different perspectives)
• “For instance…” “This is shown by…” (to give examples)

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Length is Key : Your first draft might be slightly too long. That’s okay! Revision will help you refine it for brevity.
• Don’t Stress Perfection : The goal at this stage is to get the main ideas down in a cohesive way. You’ll have time to polish phrasing later.
• Cite the Source : Make sure to mention the full title of the article and its author within your summary.

Step 5: Revise and Edit the Summary

After writing the first draft of your summary, the final step is to revise and edit it. By refining your summary, you can create a polished and professional piece that captures the essence of the original article.

Revision: Focus on the Content

• Accuracy Check : Thoroughly compare your summary to the source article. Ensure you’ve faithfully captured the author’s thesis and supporting arguments. Avoid introducing any of your own interpretations or biases.
• Length and Conciseness : Is your summary significantly shorter than the original? Can you further condense wording or combine ideas for brevity without sacrificing essential meaning?
• Coherence : Critically assess if your summary reads logically from beginning to end. Are ideas connected with appropriate transitions, and is the relationship between the main points and supporting details clear?

Editing: Focus on the Mechanics

• Proofreading for Errors : Meticulously address issues like typos, misspellings, incorrect grammar, and punctuation. Read your summary slowly and carefully to catch mistakes your eye might usually skip over.
• Clarity and Styl e: Evaluate your sentence structure and word choice. Eliminate unnecessary words or phrases, aiming for sentences that are both clear and engaging to read.
• Reading Aloud : Reading your work aloud helps you identify awkward phrasing or areas where you can further improve the flow of your writing.

How Can Summarization Be Used In SEO?

Summarization plays a crucial role in enhancing the discoverability and visibility of a website’s content in search engines. Here are some ways how summarization can improve the discoverability of a website’s content:

• Improved Readabilit y: Summaries provide a clear and concise overview of content, making it more readable for users and search engines. This clarity can reduce bounce rates and increase engagement metrics.
• Featured Snippets : Search engines often display summarized content as featured snippets at the top of search results. By crafting effective summaries that answer common queries, websites can increase their chances of appearing in these prominent positions, driving more organic traffic.
• Keyword Optimization : Summaries can include strategic keywords related to the main content of the page. This helps search engines understand the relevance of the page to specific search queries, improving its ranking potential for those keywords.
• Enhanced User Experience : Ensuring a positive user experience can lead to longer on-page dwell times and increased interaction with the website, both of which contribute positively to SEO rankings.
• Cross-Linking Opportunities : Summaries can serve as anchor points for internal linking strategies within a website. This interlinking structure helps distribute link equity and authority throughout the site, improving overall SEO performance.

Addlly AI: The Best AI-Powered Summarization Tool

Elevate your content writing strategy with Addlly’s AI Overview, a powerful tool designed to simplify your content writing and summarization needs. With AI Overview, you can transform complex text into clear, concise summaries, enhancing productivity and comprehension. Addlly’s platform provides:

• AI Overview for Article : Effortlessly transform any article from a URL link into digestible copy and summarize it in one click. This feature ensures that you get the most important points without losing valuable information, saving you time and improving your efficiency.
• AI Overview for E-commerce : Provides comprehensive and insightful summaries of products, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions. This feature is essential for reducing bounce rates and increasing conversion rates, as it enables customers to quickly understand product benefits and features.

Key Benefits of Using Addly AI Overview

• Versatile Input Options : Provide either a URL or PDF for Addlly AI to analyze and summarize. You can even generate a summary of an article you create on Addlly.
• SEO-Friendly Output : Addlly AI helps you create summaries that are not only informative, but also optimized for search engines, increasing the visibility of your work.
• Customization : Control the length of your summary and adjust parameters to prioritize core ideas or include contextual details, tailoring the output to your specific needs.

The ability to write a concise and useful article summary is invaluable. Mastering this skill not only helps you save time but also enhances your ability to communicate key ideas effectively. Summaries are not just beneficial for personal productivity, they play a crucial role in improving search engine visibility through SEO practices, and ensuring that audiences find your content helpful and engaging.

Utilizing technology and tools like Addlly.ai can further streamline this process, ensuring your summaries are clear, focused, and impactful. Try Addlly AI Overview today and boost your productivity!

In my role as a Marketing Executive at Addlly AI, I primarily focus on design aspects that enhance our marketing efforts. My responsibilities include developing visually engaging content that aligns with our brand identity and resonates with our target audience. I collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure that our marketing materials not only convey our message effectively but also leverage design principles that enhance user experience.

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Materials Planner Resume: Job Description, Sample & Guide

Create a standout materials planner resume with our online platform. browse professional templates for all levels and specialties. land your dream role today.

Are you looking for a materials planner resume example to help you create a standout application? A materials planner is responsible for coordinating the materials and resources needed for production, ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently. In our resume example article, we provide a sample resume for a materials planner, along with tips and advice on how to tailor your resume to highlight your skills and experience in this field.

We will cover:

• How to write a resume , no matter your industry or job title.
• What to put on a resume to stand out.
• The top skills employers from every industry want to see.
• How to build a resume fast with our professional Resume Builder .
• Why you should use a resume template

What does a Materials Planner do?

• Develops and maintains a materials plan based on production schedule and inventory levels
• Ensures timely delivery of materials to support production
• Monitors and tracks inventory levels to prevent shortages and excess stock
• Collaborates with suppliers to negotiate pricing and delivery terms
• Works closely with production and warehouse teams to optimize materials flow
• Analyzes data and forecasts to make informed decisions on materials procurement
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• Logistics Coordinator Resume Sample

What are some responsibilities of a Materials Planner?

• Forecast and plan material requirements based on production schedules
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials
• Monitor inventory levels and track material usage
• Work with production teams to identify and solve any material supply issues
• Analyze data and trends to optimize inventory levels and minimize stockouts
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve material planning processes
• Manage material ordering and procurement processes
• Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures related to material planning

Sample Materials Planner Resume for Inspiration

Personal Details

• Name: John Doe
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 123-456-7890
• Address: 123 Main Street, City, State, Zip

John Doe is an experienced and detail-oriented Materials Planner with a strong background in inventory management and supply chain coordination. He has a proven track record of optimizing procurement processes and ensuring materials are available for production while minimizing unnecessary inventory costs.

Work Experience

Materials Planner , ABC Manufacturing, City, State

• Oversee the procurement and inventory management of materials for production
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure timely delivery
• Analyze demand forecasts and production schedules to create accurate material plans
• Implement lean inventory practices to reduce excess stock and minimize carrying costs

Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management, XYZ University, City, State

• Proficient in ERP systems such as SAP and Oracle
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills

Certifications

• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
• APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
• English (fluent)
• Spanish (basic)

Resume tips for Materials Planner

Creating a perfect, career-launching resume is no easy task. Following general writing rules can help, but it is also smart to get advice tailored to your specific job search. When you’re new to the employment world, you need Materials Planner resume tips. We collected the best tips from seasoned Materials Planner - Check out their advice to not only make your writing process easier but also increase your chances of creating a resume that piques the interest of prospective employers.

• Highlight your experience in material planning and procurement
• Showcase your proficiency in utilizing MRP and ERP systems
• Demonstrate your ability to optimize inventory levels and reduce costs
• Emphasize your skills in negotiating with suppliers and managing vendor relationships
• Include any certifications or training related to supply chain management or materials planning

Materials Planner Resume Summary Examples

A Materials Planner resume summary or objective is crucial for showcasing your relevant experience, skills, and career goals to potential employers. It provides a concise overview of your qualifications and helps to grab the attention of hiring managers. The resume summary highlights your accomplishments and areas of expertise, while the objective communicates your career aspirations and what you can bring to the role. For Example:

• Experienced Materials Planner with strong proficiency in inventory management and supply chain optimization
• Demonstrated success in forecasting material requirements and implementing cost-effective procurement strategies
• Proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of materials
• Skilled in analyzing demand patterns and identifying opportunities for process improvement
• Detail-oriented professional with expertise in ERP systems and supplier relationship management

Build a Strong Experience Section for Your Materials Planner Resume

Building a strong experience section for a materials planner resume is essential as it showcases the candidate's relevant skills, expertise, and accomplishments. This section provides a comprehensive overview of the candidate's work history, demonstrating their ability to effectively plan and manage materials, optimize inventory levels, and drive cost savings. A robust experience section can help employers understand the candidate's qualifications and suitability for the role, improving their chances of securing a job interview. For Example:

• Managed inventory levels and forecasted material demands to ensure production schedules were met.
• Developed and maintained relationships with suppliers to negotiate pricing and lead times.
• Analyzed data to identify cost-effective solutions for material procurement and inventory management.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to address material shortages and plan for future needs.
• Reviewed and approved purchase orders and monitored delivery schedules to prevent production delays.
• Utilized ERP systems to track inventory levels, monitor material usage, and generate purchase orders.
• Implemented lean manufacturing principles to optimize material flow and reduce waste in the production process.
• Identified opportunities for process improvements and cost savings related to material planning and procurement.
• Participated in supplier audits and evaluations to assess performance and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Provided training and guidance to junior team members to develop their skills in material planning and procurement.

Materials Planner resume education example

A Materials Planner typically needs a bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, logistics, or a related field. Additional qualifications such as certification in production and inventory management (CPIM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) may also be beneficial. Practical experience in inventory management, forecasting, and procurement processes is also essential for this role. Continual learning and professional development in the field of materials planning are also key to success in this career. Here is an example of an experience listing suitable for a Materials Planner resume:

• Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management, XYZ University
• Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
• Advanced Diploma in Materials Management (ADMM)

Materials Planner Skills for a Resume

It is important to add skills for a Materials Planner resume as it demonstrates the ability to effectively manage and organize materials, understand supply chain processes, and utilize various software and inventory management tools. These skills are essential for success in the role and can showcase qualifications to potential employers. Soft Skills:

• Effective communication
• Time management
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail
• Organizational skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Analytical thinking
• Critical thinking
• Conflict resolution
• Inventory Management
• Supply Chain Analysis
• Forecasting and Planning
• Production Scheduling
• Procurement
• Quality Control
• Data Analysis
• ERP Systems
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Cost Reduction

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Materials Planner Resume

In this competitive job market, employers receive an average of 180 applications for each open position. To process these resumes, companies often rely on automated applicant tracking systems, which can sift through resumes and eliminate the least qualified applicants. If your resume is among the few that make it past these bots, it must still impress the recruiter or hiring manager. With so many applications coming in, recruiters typically give each resume only 5 seconds of their attention before deciding whether to discard it. Considering this, it's best to avoid including any distracting information on your application that could cause it to be thrown away. To help make sure your resume stands out, review the list below of what you should not include on your job application.

• Not including a cover letter. A cover letter is a great way to explain why you are the best candidate for the job and why you want the position.
• Using too much jargon. Hiring managers do not want to read a resume full of technical terms that they do not understand.
• Omitting important details. Make sure to include your contact information, educational background, job history, and any relevant skills and experiences.
• Using a generic template. Take the time to customize your resume to the job you are applying for. This will show the employer that you are serious about the position.
• Spelling and grammar errors. Always double-check your resume for typos, spelling mistakes, and grammar errors.
• Focusing too much on duties. Make sure to include accomplishments and successes to show the employer that you are a great candidate.
• Including personal information. Avoid including any personal information such as age, marital status, or religious beliefs.

Key takeaways for a Materials Planner resume

• Demonstrated experience in materials planning and inventory management
• Proficient in using MRP and ERP systems
• Strong understanding of supply chain processes
• Ability to analyze data and create accurate demand forecasts
• Proven track record of optimizing inventory levels while maintaining on-time delivery
• Effective communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Experience in supplier relationship management and procurement
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Adaptable and able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities

How To Summarize A Story

How to Summarize a Story | A Complete Guide

Published on: Aug 19, 2024

Last updated on: Aug 18, 2024

People also read

Have you ever read a great story and wished you could tell your friends about it quickly without missing the best parts?

Summarizing a story is a handy skill that allows you to share the main idea and key events without all the extra details. Whether you need to do a book report for school or just want to tell a friend about an awesome story you read, knowing how to summarize can make things easier and more fun.

In this blog, we’ll learn the steps on how to summarize a story in English. We'll break down the process into simple actions, like identifying the main idea and focusing on the most important parts. 

By the end, you’ll be able to summarize any story with confidence. Let’s dive in!

What is the Summary of a Story?

A summary of a story is a brief and concise version of the original tale that captures its main points and essential elements. 

Instead of recounting every detail, a summary focuses on the core aspects such as the plot, key characters, main events, and the overall message or theme of the story.

A good summary should give the reader a clear idea of what it's about and why it's interesting, all without spoiling the ending or getting lost in too many details.

Key Elements of a Story

To create a great summary, it's important to understand the key elements that make up a story. Here are the main components you should focus on:

Steps to Prepare for Summarizing a Story 

Before start writing a summary of a story, it's essential to prepare effectively. Here’s how you can get ready to create a concise and accurate summary:

• Read the Story Thoroughly: Begin by reading the story carefully from start to finish. This ensures you understand all the details and variations, which are crucial for an accurate summary.
• Take Notes: As you read, note down important points, key events, and notable quotes. Highlight sections that reveal the main plot, major characters, and the story's resolution.
• Identify Key Elements: Determine the essential components of the story—plot, characters, setting, conflict, resolution, and theme. Understanding these elements will help you focus on what’s most important in your summary.
• Highlight Main Ideas: Look for the central idea or message of the story. This will be the backbone of your summary and should reflect the core of the story.
• Organize Your Thoughts: Arrange your notes and observations in a logical order. This helps in structuring your summary so it flows smoothly from beginning to end.

How to Write a Summary of a Story 

After doing the necessary preparation, follow these steps to craft an effective summary: 

Step #1: Start with a Strong Opening 

Begin your summary with a sentence that introduces the story's title, author, and main idea.

For example, "In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, a miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas through supernatural visits from three spirits."

Step #2: Outline the Main Plot 

Briefly describe the key events of the story. Focus on the main sequence of events, including the beginning, major turning points, and the conclusion. 

Keep it concise—highlight only the essential parts.

Step #3: Introduce Key Characters 

Mention the main characters and their roles in the story. Include the protagonist, antagonist, and any other significant figures. 

For example, "Ebenezer Scrooge is the protagonist who transforms, while the ghosts serve as guides to reveal his shortcomings and potential redemption."

Step #4: Explain the Setting 

Briefly describe the setting, including the location and period. This helps readers understand the context of the story. 

For example, "The story is set in Victorian London during the Christmas season, highlighting the contrasts between Scrooge’s cold, lonely home and the warmth of Christmas festivities."

Step #5: Discuss the Conflict 

Summarize the main conflict or problem that drives the story. Explain the struggle faced by the protagonist and how it affects the overall plot.

For example, "The main conflict is Scrooge’s internal struggle with his greed and lack of compassion, which affects his relationships and his view of life."

Step #6: Conclude with the Resolution

Describe how the conflict is resolved and what happens at the end of the story. This gives a complete picture of the story’s outcome. 

For example, "Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning with a renewed spirit of generosity and kindness, making amends with those he has wronged and embracing the true spirit of Christmas."

Step #7: Summarize the Theme

Briefly mention the underlying message or theme of the story. This adds depth to your summary and helps readers grasp the story’s broader meaning.

For example, "The theme of A Christmas Caro l revolves around redemption and the transformative power of compassion and generosity."

Step #8: Keep It Concise 

Aim for conciseness. Your summary should be short but comprehensive, capturing the essence of the story without unnecessary details.

So, following the outlined steps, the complete summary of A Christmas Carol is as follows:

Do's and Don'ts of Writing a Summary of a Story

To help you craft an effective summary, here are some important tips on how to summarize a story and some mistakes to avoid:

How To Summarize A Story - Examples 

To illustrate these summarization techniques, here are some examples of how to summarize a story based on classic children's stories:

Little Red Riding Hood (Summary of Story for Kids)

Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Summary of Story for 4th Grade)

The Tortoise and the Hare (Summary of Story for 5th Grade)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Summary of a Storybook)

All in all, summarizing a story is a crucial skill that helps you convey the main points clearly and concisely. Remember to use your own words, keep it brief, and stay objective. 

With these techniques, you’ll be able to summarize stories accurately and engagingly for any audience.

But if you want AI to help you summarize your stories, you can always try our Summarizer for free! 

MyEssayWriter.ai offers a range of other tools as well including AI essay writer - free essay maker . 

So, why wait? Explore the website today! 

Caleb S. (Mass Literature and Linguistics, Masters)

Caleb S. is an accomplished author with over five years of experience and a Master's degree from Oxford University. He excels in various writing forms, including articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As a valued author at MyEssayWriter.ai, Caleb assists students and professionals by providing practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style enhancement.

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