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Professional Resume Summary Examples (25+ Statements)

Professional Resume Summary Examples (25+ Statements)

Your resume is a biopic and you need to sell it with a great trailer: a professional resume summary statement. But what exactly is a resume summary?

Maciej Duszyński, CPRW

As seen in:

A resume summary is a professional statement at the top of a resume. It describes the candidate's relevant experience, skills, and achievements. The purpose of this career summary is to explain your qualifications for the job in 3-5 sentences and convince the manager to read the whole resume document.

And you're about to learn how to nail it.

In this guide we'll show you:

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here .

Summary of a Resume Example

Sample resume made with our builder— See more resume samples here .

Before we look at some more detailed resume tips , have a look at those universal resume summary statement samples.

General Resume Summary Examples

Experienced PMP with a background in law and 7+ years experience growing revenue for a Massachusetts-based electronics firm. Seeking to leverage leadership expertise as project manager for Paylocity. Guest speaker at the Northeast Lean Conference in 2014.

Detail-oriented Civil Engineer and PE with 5 years of experience and a zest for solving complex problems. Seeking to use proven project management and design skills to improve quality, cost and time metrics for NEP Engineering.

Receptionist with over 5 years' experience working in both the public and private sectors. Diplomatic, personable, and adept at managing sensitive situations. Highly organized, self-motivated, and proficient with computers. Looking to boost students’ satisfactions scores for ABC University. Bachelor's degree in communications.

The two sections below will show you exactly what a resume summary is, who it is best for, and how to write yours step by step.

But if you’d rather skip these and get straight to the resume summary examples for 25+ professions, you can simply click on the industry in the table of contents below.

Resume Summaries for All Types of Jobs—Table of Contents:

Office and administrative jobs.

Administrative Assistant

Receptionist

Executive Assistant

Office Manager

Sales and Customer Service

Customer Service

Sales Associate

Education and Teaching

Social Worker

Medical Careers

Medical Assistant

Financial Analyst

Food Service

General business jobs.

Project Manager

Data Analyst

Business Analyst

Human Resources

Technical Careers

Software Engineer

Engineering

General Labor

Housekeeping

Why a Career Summary?

Let’s rehash the definition—What is a professional summary on a resume?

A career summary is a short introduction placed at the top of a resume. It highlights relevant experience, professional accomplishments, and skills. It’s your career condensed into a few paragraphs. The purpose of a career summary statement is to make the hiring manager read on.

Your entire resume needs to include relevant experience , accomplishments , and skills . And that suggests that the summary should also highlight qualities related to the duties and responsibilities listed in the job description.

So what about entry-level resumes or career-change resumes ? Should the candidates writing them simply skip this profile section entirely?

If your experience is limited, you’d be better off writing a career objective as it highlights your skills, rather than experience.

Sounds like you? Learn about your alternative option for a resume intro here: Career Objective Samples for Your Resume

That being said—

We’re living in times when definitions are becoming fuzzy, clear-cut career paths are becoming a thing of the past, and employers expect fresh grads to already have some work experience .

This last point, in particular, has resulted in more and more students, entry-level candidates, as well as career changers to opt for a resume summary rather than objective anyway.

That’s why, apart from all the examples for experienced candidates, in the examples below you'll find an entry-level resume summary, a college student resume summary, and a resume summary for career changers, too. It's actually one of the most flexible resume sections .

Think an introductory paragraph isn’t ideal to top your resume with? There’s another option for your resume introduction , check it out here: Summary of Qualifications on a Resume

You can also add even more impact with a resume title .

How to Write a Resume Summary

We'll show you how to introduce yourself , but if you're pressed for time use our builder.

You'll get pre-written resume summary statements available at a single click. Pick and choose, customize, and be done in seconds.

Here's how to write a resume summary:

But this won’t help you much if you approach writing a resume summary from the wrong side.

And every good resume summary has the same starting point—

The job offer.

In a moment you’ll see why. But first—

A sample job offer:

sample job offer

The example below shows how a resume summary for this particular job offer could look.

Resume Summary Example

Self-motivated and cheerful customer service professional with 2+ years of experience helping customers navigate websites and resolving product and service issues. Eager to support BookMe in building an impeccable online reputation by providing top-class customer support. Received 98.9% positive ratings at GHI Inc. where customer retention for my regular call-ins was 25% above the company average.

What is it exactly that makes this example resume summary so effective?

And, to be honest, if you were to memorize just one thing after reading this article, it should be this:

Always tailor your resume summary to a specific job offer.

When you put the sample resume summary above next to the job offer it’s been written for, you’ll quickly notice how aligned they are:

See how it works?

Here’s the secret:

Treat the job offer as the ultimate cheat sheet for your career summary (as well as the rest of your resume.) It’s not only where you can find all the skills and work experience the employer requires but also where you get ideas about the best keywords for your resume .

Let’s hold on to this last thought for a second. 

Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS software to initially screen the candidates’ resumes.

How does the ATS work? Well, we have an entire article on how to make an ATS resume that explains the details, so here’s just the basic idea—

ATSs look for keywords in your resume and compare them to the original job posting.

If they can’t find the words they’re looking for, they’ll reject your resume. Even if you’re perfectly qualified.

This is why relevance is so important, and why you should start writing your resume from… reading the job offer.

Pro Tip: The only way for you to write a perfectly tailored resume summary is by applying for the jobs you’re qualified to do. If you’re picking random offers, several bad things may happen. First, your job hunt may last forever. Second, you may start lying on your resume . Third, you’ll never be able to tailor your entire resume to the job offer.

If you’re asking yourself:

Do I have to write the resume summary from scratch each time I reply to a different job offer?

The answer is yes, but—

It doesn’t have to be that hard if you know the secret formula.

Here it is:

[ adjective(s)/strong character trait(s) ] [ your job title ] [ your experience ] . Eager to support/help/assist/etc.  [ company name ] [ what you want to help the employer achieve and how you want to do it ] .  [ your key achievement(s) ] .

And this is how it works in practice:

You can copy-paste this formula for your personal statement into a new document and start filling in the blank spaces. And obviously, you can modify it any way you wish.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building professional resume template here for free .

Create the perfect resume

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

But remember:

Don’t put random things there.

The key to writing the best resume summary is being specific .

If you don’t give details, or just write the things you think make sense but you don’t really check them against the job offer, you’ll end up with a resume summary that will look OK. 

But will have absolutely no impact.

Like this one:

Bad Example of a Resume Summary

In and of itself, the resume summary example above doesn’t look that bad, does it? It even kind of follows the formula laid out several paragraphs above.

So why is it a bad resume example ?

First off, it’s highly unlikely it would go past the ATS screening stage as it lacks relevant keywords.

Second, if this was the only resume summary the recruiter would have to read, they could even invite you for an interview. But—

An average job offer attracts about 30 resumes according to Jobvite , so the only reaction this resume summary would get is a smirk.

It’s vague, generic, doesn’t offer any numbers that quantify the candidate’s achievements, and is all about what the candidate wants.

It’s one big, resounding no.

Pro Tip: When writing your resume summary for the US employers drop all personal pronouns. Don’t write sentences that read I am a qualified customer service rep… Instead, write Qualified customer service rep… This is the standard style for resume writing in the US. If you’re looking for a job in the UK, though, full-sentence structures, such as I am a qualified… are perfectly acceptable.

To sum up, when writing a resume summary statement:

And one more thing—

Write your resume summary at the very end, once your entire resume takes its final shape.

This way it will be much easier for you to cherry-pick all the most important details you need to include in a well-written resume summary statement.

How to write a resume summary: visual example

Apart from a summary, there are quite a few more things to add to your resume to boost your chances of getting hired. Read our guide and make sure you don’t overlook anything: What to Put on a Resume (20+ Good Things You Should Include to Win)

Resume Summary Examples for Most Common Careers

Resume summary statements on first job resumes are no longer considered a mistake.

Well, more and more entry-level candidates already have work experience under the belt.

Here’s an example of what a resume summary example for entry-level positions can look like:

Resume Summary Example: Entry-Level Candidate

Passionate analyst with a strong background in management and communication. Seeking to improve the grasp of key business indicators for ABC Inc. As a business writer for DEF Inc., increased employees’ understanding of key metrics by 25%. My Google Slides presentation of DEF’s corporate values was transformed into a webinar that got 3,000+ views.

To make things super clear:

For entry-level candidates, the distinction between a summary and an objective may become somewhat blurry. Remember: a career summary focuses on your relevant professional experience whereas a career objective highlights your skills.

That being said, t doesn’t matter if you’re writing an entry-level resume summary or objective for your personal profile .

What matters is—

You must never come across as underqualified.

So, take a long hard look at yourself, and see which of your past gigs could be relevant in the context of the job you’re applying for. Consider things like:

The example above is based entirely on the candidate’s unpaid internship experience. 

Would you have guessed?

If you have no previous experience, maybe it’s a good idea to start with an internship? Learn how to write an internship resume from our dedicated guide.

Or if you need more detailed advice on writing a resume for a junior position, head straight to our guide: Entry-Level Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Resume Summary Example for Students

Meticulous and motivated student working towards a BA in Marketing at UC Berkeley (GPA 3.8). Eager to join ABC Media as a Junior SEO Researcher to help produce data-driven outreach marketing campaigns that will boost the company’s online presence. Previous 3-month internship experience with data-driven outreach marketing. Analyzed 10,000+ URLs to identify the top 100 domains from which the company wanted to win backlinks.

As a student of fresh grad, you don’t have to be green behind the ears either.

If you’ve had some work experience, make sure your college student resume summary shows it. Just like you see in the example above.

Apart from your internship experience, the resume summary for students can mention such things as your:

If you need more detailed information, read our guide: College Student Resume: Sample & Full Writing Guide

Business Executive Summary Resume Example

Driven and well-organized e-commerce executive with 7+ years of experience. Passionate about developing new businesses and planning marketing strategies. Seeks to boost and redefine ABC Inc.’s KPIs. At DEF Inc. increased revenue by 30%, boosted ROI 40% YOY, slashed yearly costs by 25%. At GHI Inc. expanded business by 80%.

An excellent resume summary is part and parcel of any seasoned pro’s resume. 

Remember this, though:

If your executive summary for a resume is irrelevant to the job offer—

It will have zero impact.

For more details on writing a business executive resume, go to Executive Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Resume Summary for a Career Change

Determined software engineer, eager to use C# and Java skills to support ABC Inc. in delivering programming excellence and clean code. Developed a total of 15 mobile and web apps. Collaborated on 5+ projects on GitHub, tested, and debugged 15+ applications. Contributed to developing back-end code for over 30 e-commerce websites.

As a career changer, you want to show how your past experience relates to the new position you’re seeking.

The sample above comes from a part-time freelance software engineer who wants to start a full-time career as a programmer in a large organization.

If your experience isn’t as relevant to the job you’re applying for as your skills, a resume objective could be just the solution you need.

Resume summary examples

For more details on writing a job-winning career-change resume, go to Career Change Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Resume Summary Examples for 25+ Professions

In this last section, you’ll find a collection of professional summary resume samples for all types of jobs.

Mind you, though.

You have to rewrite your professional summary on a resume every time you’re answering a different job offer.

Because if it’s not relevant to the position you’re pursuing, it will get you nowhere.

That said—

Still, it’s always so much easier to write when you have a reference point in the form of a good resume summary example for your profession.

For your convenience, we grouped all the examples into industries.

Plus—

Each resume summary example comes with a link to an in-depth resume writing guide for this very job title.

Administrative Assistant Resume Summary

Dedicated senior administrative assistant with over 7 years of professional experience. Organized travel plans and schedules of 5 senior executives whilst doing general office admin duties. Eager to help ABC Inc. with managing appointments and communications. Also, skilled in accounting and ready to assist in bookkeeping. Devised and implemented 3 office initiatives that helped the company save over USD 10,000 a year.

For more details, go to Administrative Assistant Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Receptionist Resume Summary

Agile and well-organized receptionist with 6+ years of professional experience in the private and public sectors. Skilled at dealing with sensitive situations and keen to support ABC Inc. with organizational, diplomacy, and communication skills. At DEF Inc., implemented a CRM system with reporting capabilities that contributed to cutting costs by up to 25%.

For more details, go to Receptionist Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Executive Assistant Resume Summary

Dependable and devoted executive assistant with over 7 years of professional experience. Keen to support ABC Inc. with excellent organizational and analytical skills. At DEF Inc. optimized travel costs and effectively slashed them by over 30%. Also, saved USD 500K a year by redesigning and implementing a modernized call system.

For more details, go to Executive Assistant Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Office Manager Resume Summary

Dynamic office manager with over 7 years of professional experience. Seeks to leverage top-notch managerial and organizational skills to boost efficiency at ABC Inc. Managed a team of 5 office assistants in a high-volume retail business. Grew the number of new contracts by 30% a year, and reduced lead times by 45%. Optimized office supplies spending and saved over $50,000 per year.

For more details, go to Office Manager Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Resume Summary for Customer Service

Energetic and optimistic customer service representative with over 3 years of professional experience assisting customers in solving complex issues. Keen to support ABC Inc. in becoming a market leader through proven customer support skills. Awarded  Consultant of the Month  three times. Helped reduce First Response Time by 20% within the first quarter of employment.

For more details, go to Customer Service Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Sales Resume Summary

Determined retail clerk with over 4 years of professional experience. Eager to help ABC Inc. boost its KPIs through outstanding customer loyalty-building and sales skills. Constantly received upwards of 90% of positive customer reviews and achieved 30% above average repeat customer scores. Also, runs a popular unboxing channel on YouTube with over 3K of monthly views.

For more details, go to Retail Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Sales Associate Resume Summary

Insightful sales associate with 5+ years of professional experience in online and print media. Eager to boost DEF Inc’s revenue by at least 40% over the next fiscal year. In previous positions, exceeded quarterly sales targets by 10% every quarter. Maintained a customer retention rate of 90% YOY thanks to which won  Salesman of the Year Award  in 2018.

For more details, go to Sales Associate Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Cashier Resume Summary

Likable cashier with over 5 years of professional experience. Seeks to utilize top-class organizational and attention to detail skills to boost efficiency at ABC Inc. At DEF Inc., awarded  Employee of the Month  four times in a row for accuracy and efficiency. At GHI Inc., worked a streak of 450 days with no sick leave and a 30% higher accuracy score than peers.

For more details, go to Cashier Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Social Worker Resume Summary

Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 7 years of professional experience. Eager to help ABC Center’s clients through first-class treatment plan development and assessment skills. At DEF Center devised 35+ plans for treatment and cooperated with 40+ clients to achieve their goals with a 90% success rate in under nine months.

For more details, go to Social Worker Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Teacher Resume Summary

Dedicated secondary education teacher with over 8 years of experience in devising individualized curricula within state standards. Eager to join ABC School to utilize expert knowledge of English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching methodology, including project- and content-based instruction. Prepared 300+ students for international language certifications with a 99% pass rate.

For more details, go to Teacher Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Nursing Resume Summary

Bilingual Pediatric Registered Nurse with 10+ years of professional experience in the ICUs and PICUs of community hospitals. Keen to join the ABC Hospital staff to leverage top-class management experience and patient care skills as a Pediatric RN at DEF Hospital. Thanks to a deep knowledge of hospital procedures and high standards of service consistently scored over 90% in compliance rate assessments.

For more details, go to Nursing Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Medical Assistant Summary for a Resume

Certified Medical Assistant with over 5 years of professional experience. Eager to use impeccable patient care skills to support excellence at ABC Med. At DEF Med, received 99% positive reviews. Reduced the number of errors by 22% and saved USD 70,000 a year thanks to a good understanding of EHR.

For more details, go to Medical Assistant Resume Sample and Complete Guide

CNA Resume Summary

Dependable multilingual CNA (BLS and CPR certified) with over 10 years of experience in various healthcare settings. Seeks to utilize proven managerial and patient advocacy skills at ABC Medical Center. At DEF Care Home managed a team of 7+ CNAs. Also, developed and implemented a set of procedures that reduced medication administration errors down to 0.1%.

For more details, go to CNA Resume Sample and Complete Guide

Accountant Resume Summary

Disciplined and persistent senior CPA with over 6 years of professional experience. Eager to employ proven account reconciliation and IT skills at ABC Inc. In previous roles, improved DEF Inc’s cloud-computing practices that led to saving as many as 800 hours yearly. Identified and eliminated an issue that saved almost $1 million per year.

For more details, go to Accountant Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Financial Analyst Resume Summary

Chartered Financial Analyst with over 7 years of professional experience. Seeks to leverage budgeting, cost, and revenue-maximizing expertise for ABC Inc. At DEF Inc. saved USD 3.5M through identifying low-margin transactions. Also, optimized pricing policy at GHI Inc. that boosted customer retention metrics by up to 40%.

For more details, go to Financial Analyst Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Bartender Resume Summary

Charismatic bartender with over 6 years of professional experience working at high-end clubs in large metropolitan and seaside areas. Thanks to exceptional memory, rapport-building, and storytelling skills achieved a 20% boost in up-selling to all patrons. Holds a Bartending Certificate valid in the vast majority of states.

For more details, go to Bartender Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Server Resume Summary

Dependable and friendly server with over 3 years of experience waiting on guests at ABC Restaurant. Eager to join DEF Restaurant to offer its guests exquisite dining experience. Served up to 80 guests nightly and made sure all the dishes were delivered in a timely manner.

For more details, go to Server Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Project Manager Resume Summary

Seasoned IT PMP with a degree in law and 8+ years of professional experience in growing revenue for a fin-tech company. Keen to leverage leadership and managerial expertise as a project manager for ABC Inc. Executed a lean training project that led to cutting costs by up to 40% in 6 months.

For more details, go to Project Manager Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Data Analyst Resume Summary

Disciplined and insightful data analyst with 6+ years of experience analyzing business processes. Eager to leverage big data interpreting and visualizing skills at ABC Inc to drive growth and boost sales results. In current role, identified a major bottleneck, reduced operating costs by over 20%, and saved upwards of USD 500,000 a year.

For more details, go to Data Analyst Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Business Analyst Resume Summary

Skilled business analyst with a Ph.D. in Computer Science and 6+ years of professional experience. Seeks to employ top-class managerial and analytical skills at ABC Inc. In previous roles, grew warehouse profitability by 30% for a Fortune 500 retail company. Also, conducted in-depth business process analyses that increased revenue by 23%.

For more details, go to Business Analyst Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Human Resources Resume Summary

Meticulous and efficient HR manager with 7+ years of experience. Eager to boost employee retention for ABC Inc. In previous positions, increased employee retention by 20% YOY. Cut recruitment lead time by 30%. Also, improved employee effectiveness by up to 20% and boosted participation in training by 15%.

For more details, go to Human Resource Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Software Engineer Resume Summary

Dynamic and creative software developer with over 5 years of experience in producing robust code for high-volume companies. Eager to support the dev team at CDE Inc. with top-notch coding skills. In previous roles, doubled code-efficiency of ABC Inc., and increased customer retention by 30% among others.

For more details, go to Software Engineer Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Engineering Resume Summary

Ingenious and determined mechanical engineer with over 10 years of experience. Seeks to use first-class production design and process skills to push forward manufacturing excellence at ABC Inc. Boosted production efficiency by 25% at DEF Inc. and consistently delivered to customer needs at over 20% under budget.

For more details, go to Engineering Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

IT Resume Summary

Likable and dedicated IT consultant with over 5 years of experience in a fast-paced fin-tech company. Eager to offer superb analytical and computer skills to help ABC Inc grow its client base. In previous roles recognized for top company-wide quality satisfaction rating (over 99%). Also, reduced client wait time by 20% and boosted client satisfaction ratings by more than 40% in a single quarter. 

For more details, go to IT Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Warehouse Resume Summary

Qualified warehouse associate with over 7 years of experience. Eager to join ABC Inc. to deliver top KPIs and impeccable organizational skills. As a DEF Inc. warehouse associate achieved picking-packing speeds and efficiency in top 96%. Five-time winner of the DEF Inc. picker of the month.

For more details, go to Warehouse Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Housekeeping Summary for Resume

Well-organized housekeeping supervisor skilled in deep and daily cleaning. Eager to join the ABC Hotel to help maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and organization. In previous roles, managed six housekeeping staff members at the DEF Hotel and contributed to boosting positive customer reviews by over 45%. Identified and resolved a recurring issue with guest room air conditioning that saved USD 300K.

For more details, go to Housekeeping Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

Your job title is not on this list? We’ve got you covered! Go to Free Resume Examples for 99+ Jobs and find a complete guide for your exact profession.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.  Here's what it may look like:

matching set of resume and cover letter

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Here’s a short recap—

Writing a Resume Summary in a Nutshell

The most effective resume summary follows this pattern:

Do you have any questions? Would you like to share your advice on writing an effective resume summary? We’re always happy to hear from you. Give us a shout out in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions about Resume Summary Examples

What is a summary on a resume.

A summary of qualifications on a resume (also called a resume profile or resume introduction ) is a short, introductory paragraph that sums up your best professional achievements and your motivation . Its purpose is to catch the reader’s attention and immediately show your value to recruiters, hopefully convincing them to read on. No matter which resume format you decide to use, your resume summary should always go near the top of the page, below the resume header . If your resume template features a sidebar rather than a header, put the summary statement at the top of the main column.

How to write a resume summary?

Here's how to write a professional summary for a resume:

Our resume builder can help you write a job-winning resume summary quickly and easily, with drag-and-drop, ready-made phrases and built-in expert resume tips to guide you every step of the way.

How do you write a summary for a resume with no experience?

If you’re making a resume with no work experience , such as a recent grad resume , consider writing a resume objective instead of a summary . A resume objective is basically a beginner summary for a resume: it too aims to show your skills and catch the reader’s attention, but it does so using your academic achievements and transferable skills rather than work experience. Objectives also work well for career-change resumes .

How to start a resume summary?

Writing a resume summary can be tricky, so we recommend doing it last. Complete your other resume sections first , with particular focus on work experience . Then, read through your resume and highlight the most important facts that you can use to compose a summary. You can start your summary with an adjective that describes your approach, such as Creative , Driven , Data-oriented , etc. For more inspiration, see our list of words to describe yourself .

How long should my resume summary statement be?

A good summary for a resume should be a short paragraph, around 2 to 4 sentences . This means you should include only key facts, providing more details in the body of your document. For more information, see our guide on what a resume should look like .

Where can I find more resume summary examples?

You can browse our directory of resume examples for free—there, you’ll find a  resume example for 500+ specific jobs . Just pick your profession to see professional summary examples (and/or objectives) written by our career experts. Each sample comes with a writing guide, so you can learn exactly how to write a resume for your profession or experience level.

Maciej Duszyński, CPRW

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How to write a resume personal statement

Rolf Bax

What is a resume personal statement?

A resume personal statement expresses who you are, where you’ve been, and sometimes where you plan to go next right at the top of your resume.

Everyone has different circumstances, so the personal statement helps to orient a potential future boss in terms of what they are about to read in the resume. Think about what you would like to share that matters to you. This space is particularly useful if you are changing industries, coming back in to the employment market or looking for a promotion. Your shop window starts here. The personal statement may be the only thing than an employer reads.

The resume personal statement hooks in a reader, influencing them to read more. So, how do you write a resume personal statement that is both natural and grabs an employer’s attention? Offer them a brief insight into who you are and why you would be a fantastic hire. So what do you write in a personal statement for a job?

This guide will cover:

The personal statement format

The personal statement is a short paragraph that sits right below your contact information at the top of a resume. It sums up your experience, goals and skills with confidence. Think of your resume’s personal statement like an extended tagline for your career. A resume personal statement should include:

This may seem like a lot to cram into 200 words but perfecting your elevator pitch shows that you have a firm grasp of why your experience, goals, and skills make you the perfect fit for the job. Go all out to make this as fitting for each role as possible. Too often candidates come up with what they see as the perfect introduction to them and forget about how a hiring manager for each specific role might read it. Be flexible with the personal statement. It might not present the very best version of you - it should present the best version of you for this particular role.

This brief introduction is only a short piece of text, it is not disruptive and in many cases even serves as a welcome addition to what is otherwise a dry and impersonal document. It should be clear to you by now how we feel about the personal statement: Include it, especially because it allows you that bit of creativity that may make all the difference. Adopt a coversational tone and consider using the first person for these few lines. Third person (past tense) is standard for resumes, but if you want to go personal, this is where to do it.

How do I start my personal statement? How do you not start a personal statement? Even with a personal statement of 3-4 lines, sometimes the first sentence is the hardest. Even the first few words can have a disproportionate effect on how your personal statement is viewed. Your starting "hook" should make your fit with the role clear and specific. Use an example that is as unique to you as possible - you have to make your future employer sit up and pay attention. The first word of your personal statement should never be "I" - a great resume explores the potential of a common partnership and should not be a uni-directional monologue.

Align your resume’s personal statement with the job description

The hiring manager delicately chose every word in their job description. Gather clues from its tone, which skills they highlight, and any hints that point toward their dream employee. One of the top resume tips from HR managers is to include relevant keywords specific to the job posting itself as well as the actual wording of the job title.

What would this job description look like in 3 - 4 sentences? What keywords, skills, and tone would the job description have?

While still sticking to the facts about who you are and your experiences, your resume personal statement should highlight as many similarities with the job description as possible. When the hiring manager reads the first few sentences in your resume, they feel like you are exactly the person they were describing when they wrote the job description.

Position of the personal statement

Recruiters still prefer to see a candidate's personal details at the top (or running along a column on either side) of the resumes that cross their desk. This allows them to quickly search through the resumes that Applicant Tracking Systems have sorted into their virtual “yes” pile. You do not want your (relatively modern) personal statement to get in the way of this tradition. 

The best place to put your statement is after your personal details (if they are at the top) and before your employment history section. Remember that the length of your resume is important. If you have already been very selective and cannot possibly leave out any more information and if adding your personal statement means your resume spills over onto a third page, you may consider not including your statement for the position in question. This ensures you comply with the unwritten rule that a resume should not be longer than two pages.

What is a good personal statement length? 200 words is the maximum suggested length, but if you go with one powerful sentence that you want the hiring manager to remember for the rest of the interview process, then why not? Less is more, but you have to be confident in your application to go with this option.

Plan to write your resume personal statement last

Instead of getting stuck at the beginning trying to write the perfect statement, skip this section and jump right into your employment history first. Once you’ve added your relevant work experiences, take a look at your keywords, phrases and skills from your past positions.

Your complete work history and the job description for the job you want are the foundations for your personal statement. By writing your resume personal statement last, it should be easier to get started once you have the right inspiration.

It might be the case that you leave a certain number of lines for the personal statement on your resume and write an individual statement for each role. You will often have a public version of your resume that is accessible on job boards (etc), so there should still be an "ideal" personal statement version.

How do I write a resume from scratch? While it is good advice to write the resume personal statement after your have written the resume itself (giving your brain a chance to ponder your true highlights), starting writing a resume is a mammoth task in itself. There are many useful pieces of advice when sitting down to write a resume, but for me, the key is to think about the reflecting the combination of what you are good at, what you enjoy and how those things will contribute to the direction of your career. For sure, be honest about your experience, but there has to be a creative flavour of ensuring that your past adequately reflects where you want to go.

Check out resume personal statement examples

Before you dive into writing, get a sense for different rhythms and layouts by checking these resume personal statement examples. How do you write a good personal statement?

Let's start with the basics. Since every person is unique, all personal statements should be unique too. You should, therefore, resist the urge to (largely) copy someone else's existing statement. This is the only spot on your resume to let your voice be heard, so try to write something that would prompt a friend to exclaim, “That sounds like something you’d say!” while, of course, keeping it professional.

Example. Innovative Executive Assistant with 10+ years of experience with global financial firm assisting a team of three C-Level directors. Expertly coordinate travel, manage large-scale expense reports, and streamline communication and calendars across departments..Seeking an Executive Assistant role with the Resume.io team to expand my office management career and thrive in an environment that requires independent problem-solving skills and focus under short deadlines.

The example above does the following things:

Here are a few more resume personal statement examples:

Experienced Digital Marketing Manager with five years of expertise in heading up a global firm. Increased inbound leads by 500% and raised online sales from 100,000 annually to over 2 million in a three-year period. Looking to grow career by applying skills to the Resume.io marketing team.

Straight to the point and accomplishment focused, without the use of “I”. Now let’s look at a less effective example:

I have worked as a Digital Marketing Manager for five years. During this time I have been an important and hard-working member of the team and showed my ability to work under pressure to deliver on company targets. I am looking to bring my skills to a new role in digital marketing.

Generic and ignores accomplishments. Also, too many uses of “I” in a passive voice.

Next is an example of a personal statement that focuses more on career objectives . A career objective can be used as a way to get across your skills and experience, without the personal bit. It’s a good option if you’re an entry-level candidate or college graduate without a lot of experience in the industry you’re applying for. The idea is, because you don’t have the relevant experience to talk about, you pull skills and experience from other areas of your resume so you can show you have what it takes.

Keep your career objective brief — 2-3 sentences max — following the same rules as the personal statement.

Content writer with three years' experience in a large e-commerce company. Delivered content that grew brand social presence to over 700,000 across three channels and improved email open rates by 48%. Looking to further career by joining the Resume.io as an SEO Executive.

See how it uses transferable skills? Combining these with numbers makes them all the more impressive.

And a less effective resume personal statement example:

I am a content writer looking to secure a role as an SEO Executive. While I have no experience in this field and am a dedicated individual and a keen learner. My enjoyment of how search engines work will help me excel in your company.

There’s not enough here to capture attention and it doesn’t sell transferable skills. Whichever type of opening statement you go for, if you have numbers to show, make them count.

Writing your personal profile resume

Always write the first draft of a personal profile resume without editing. Don’t worry about length or word choice in the first pass. Brag about yourself, be proud of your accomplishments , and add in all of your most impressive stats.

Some of the best writing happens without editing too soon, so don’t worry about sounding over the top or egotistical, that’s what editing your personal profile resume is for. If the goal is to get 3 - 4 perfect sentences, it’s likely your first draft will be closer to 6 - 8, maybe even longer. Then consider which parts are closest to helping you get the job and cull the rest. It might seem brutal, but brevity is critical at the top of your personal profile.

Polish your personal statement and experiment

Once you’ve narrowed your focus, use the following questions to help you review your work and edit your statement:

Is my first sentence clear and concise? The opening line should state your position and use strong, enthusiastic language to hook in the reader. It often includes years of experience as well.

Is it direct opposed to passive? A strong sense of self comes through in a personal statement. Instead of sentences that begin with “I believe I am…” or “I enjoy…” be bold. Get right to the point and take ownership of your skills.

Does it include objective information? For this one, try to get inside the hiring manager’s mind. If you were filling this role, what boxes would you need to check off? The second and third sentence often include specific skills, facts or figures to support this need.

Does it read naturally? Even with all these specifics, the statement should still be easy to understand and have a natural rhythm when read aloud. Cut out any jargon that acts as filler or that changes your tone. Formality may vary from company to company, but personal statements should always reflect the type of employee or person you are.

What are three tips for writing a personal statement?

Common mistakes in personal statements

When writing your personal statement, beware of platitudes. These are clichéd expressions that have become meaningless from overuse. They induce recruiters to roll their eyes and move on to the next candidate. Think of such terms as “an administrative jack-of-all-trades” or “a cog in the wheel’ and being ready for a “new challenge.”  Definitely avoid this list of human resources’ most hated resume phrases. 

Try to be original in your choice of words and ask a friend or family member to take a critical look at your personal statement when you are done. By the way, you should always have someone proofread your entire resume when you think you are ready to send it.

Some people call their personal statements " resume objectives ." This is something else entirely. A resume objective is required when a candidate needs to project their hopes for their next role that differe from their previous experience a little. This objective can then be used to outline the motivations behind a career change and is also common with early-career professionals. 

Does a personal statement need a title? Some resume templates might call the opening statement a summary and others may exclude a description entirely. Either option is fine as employers are conditioned to expect a few lines at the to of a resume to serve as a headline for your job application.

What do employers expect from your resume opening statement?

Sometimes it is useful to consider job seeking activity from the point of view of the end hiring managers. External recruiters are important people to impress, but it is the employers that will be making the ultimate hiring decision. They will be reading lots of resumes, so what would they want to read in your resume opening statement?

Key takeaways

Think of your CV personal statement as the first 2 minutes of an interview—whether on the phone or in person. The HR manager asks you to “tell me a little about yourself,” and you have a quick minute to set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Similarly, the CV personal statement should include:

Crafting a personal statement for each role will cause some serious thought. What is your essential fit for the role that will make a hiring manager sit up and think "wow, I need to have them on my team?" What would you want to read if you were in their shoes. You will definitely have lots to say, but keep it simple and powerful.

One more good CV statement example:

Expert SEO copywriter with a decade of B2C and B2B experience across three industries. Versatile in writing social, website and long-form copy to convey each brand’s unique tone and message. I cultivated 15 new clients in two years and grew readership by over 200%. I am now seeking to expand my editing and content creation expertise in a Marketing Manager position.

Once you’ve mastered writing your CV personal statement, this clear sense of who you are and what you want will prepare you to pitch yourself during interviews.

The Great Resignation Letter Generator

+40 Resume Summary Examples [+How-to Guide]

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Most companies these days get hundreds or even thousands of applicants every month.

Since hiring managers don’t have the time to read each resume in detail, they usually end up scanning them for 5-6 seconds.

Unless the resume manages to grab the hiring manager’s attention in those 5-6 seconds, they’ll simply discard the resume and move on to the next applicant.

Want to make sure that the recruiter reading your resume can instantly tell that you’re the right candidate for the job? 

You’ll need to create a convincing resume summary !

Done right, your resume summary will serve as a snapshot of your entire career. It’ll show that you’re a qualified candidate in less than 5 seconds and get the recruiter to deep-dive into your resume.

Want to learn more about resume summaries, including how to make yours as effective as possible? Read on!

In this guide, we’re going to cover: 

How to Write a Resume Summary 

And more! Let’s dive in. 

What Is a Resume Summary? 

A resume summary is a resume section that summarizes the contents of your resume. Placed right under or next to your contact details , it’s the first thing hiring managers see when they lay eyes on your resume. 

resume summary

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

For example:

New to resume-making? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!

5 General Resume Summary Examples

Why this resume summary is effective: It highlights how experienced the candidate is, it mentions their qualifications, and it shows what they can bring to the table.

Why this resume summary is effective: It focuses on the candidate’s strong points that are relevant to the job, their related education and certifications, and their knowledge of the most important professional software. 

Why this resume summary is effective: It mentions the candidate’s long professional experience, their quantifiable professional accomplishments , and what they can do for the company. 

Why this resume summary is effective: It shows off the candidate’s key skills, including their language proficiency and computer skills and their extensive customer service experience. 

Why this resume summary is effective: It highlights the candidate’s key skills and work experience and it focuses on showing the hiring manager what they can do for their future employer. 

job search masterclass novoresume

And now for the good stuff - how can you make a resume summary that’s guaranteed to catch the hiring manager’s attention? 

Let’s start with the basics. The first thing you need to do is mention the following:

resume summary tips

Now, to take your resume summary from “ good ” to “ great ,” follow our tips below!

#1. Tailor Your Summary to the Position 

You may be an excellent candidate with plenty of work experience , but if your achievements are not relevant to the position (or if you don’t know how to highlight your relevancy in your resume summary), the hiring manager may never know. 

This is where resume tailoring comes in. Tailor your resume summary to the job description and you can rest assured the hiring manager’s interest will peak. 

Here’s how to do resume tailoring the right way.

Let’s assume that you’re applying for this job.

how to tailor the resume summary

As you can see for yourself, the job ad tells you exactly what kind of candidate the company is looking for. A tailor resume summary might look like the following: 

See what we meant by tailoring? You mention most (if not all) of the must-haves from the job description in your resume summary. This pretty much just screams out “I’m the right person for the job!”

Tailoring your resume summary to the job description can also help you pass Applicant Tracking System software that companies use to filter through resumes. Such software often disqualifies candidates that don’t mention specific skills and keywords from the job description throughout their resume, so the more you tailor your resume to the job, the better your chances!

#2. Make Your Achievement(s) Quantifiable 

Since you have very limited space in your resume summary to list one or two of your top achievements to date, you want to make sure they’re as impactful as possible. 

And the best way to do that? Add numbers and data to back them up!

Quantifiable achievements are instantly more credible and likely to leave an impression than simply claiming that you achieved something. 

Judge for yourself—would you be more impressed by this achievement: 

Or this one:

The difference here is that the first sentence actually sounds like an achievement, whereas the second one sounds more like a responsibility. 

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

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

Another thing - you want to make your resume summary as vibrant and captivating as possible by using power words and action verbs . 

A hiring manager that reads hundreds, if not thousands, resumes daily, won’t be too impressed if you use the same words that everyone else does to frame your experiences and achievements. 

“Responsible for,” “managed,” “team player” ...yawn. 

Action verbs and power words, on the other hand, can really make your achievements and skill pop. Not to mention, the hiring manager is likely to appreciate that you put in the effort to go the extra mile and present yourself as creatively as possible. 

If you don’t believe us, check for yourself how a sentence with and without power words plays out: 

See? While both of these sentences say the same thing, the first one makes you seem much more competent.

Here’s a resume summary that incorporates this tip just right: 

resume summary with action verbs and power words

#4. Follow Our Formula

Struggling to make your resume summary compelling?

Worry not, we have a rock-solid formula that you can follow to the T! 

It goes as follows:

resume summary formula

Using this easy resume summary formula in combination with our easy-to-use resume builder resume builder will get you a modern, professional, and visually-appealing resume in no time! 

40+ Convincing Resume Summary Examples (For Different Fields)

Do you need some inspiration before creating your own resume summary? 

Check our comprehensive list of over 40 resume examples, broken down field-by-field: 

Office / Administrative Jobs Resume Summary Examples

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.”

Click here for the full office manager resume example .

Office Assistant Resume Summary 

“Experienced office assistant seeking to leverage advanced office 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.”

Click here for the full office assistant resume example .

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.”

Click here for the full executive assistant resume example .

Marketing Resume Summary Examples

Social media marketing manager resume summary.

“Creative social media manager with 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.”

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.”

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. As a freelancer, I grew Company X from 50,000 daily visits to 100,000 within a year by creating long-form content and conducting backlink outreach.”

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.”

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.”

Click here for the full marketing manager resume example .

Copywriter Resume Summary

“SaaS copywriter specialized in improving landing page conversions. 4+ years of experience in delivering clear and compelling copy. Experienced in A/B testing software, including Firebase and Optimizely. Increased conversions at Company X by 15% in the first two weeks by creating and testing 3 new landing page variations.”

Business and Management Summary Examples

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.”

Click here for the full project manager resume example .

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%.”

Click here for the full business analyst resume example .

Human Resources Resume Summary

“HR 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.”

Finance and Accounting Resume Summary Examples

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.”

Click here for the full finance analyst resume example .

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%.”

Click here for the full accountant resume example .

Bank Teller Resume Summary

“Bank teller with 2+ years of experience in client-facing roles at Bank X, where I was handling 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.”

Click here for the full bank teller resume example .

Data Entry Clerk 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.”

Click here for the full data entry clerk resume example .

Food and Service Industry Resume Summary Examples

Restaurant manager resume summary.

“Professional bar manager with a strong interest in providing the highest standards of customer service and ensuring customer satisfaction. Skilled at reducing staff turnover and upselling techniques. Increased bar revenue by 20% through advertising featured cocktails and word-of-mouth strategies.”

Click here for the full restaurant manager resume example .

Waiter/Waitress 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, dessert, and appetizers to customers. Memorized restaurant’s wine stock and accompanying meals to the T.”

Click here for the full waiter/waitress resume example .

Bar Manager Resume Summary 

“Professional bar manager with 5+ years of experience managing big teams and providing customer satisfaction. Skilled at conflict resolution, time management, and marketing. Certified Brand Manager.”

Click here for the full bar manager resume example .

Sales and Customer Support Resume Summary Examples

Sales associate resume summary.

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

Click here for the full sales associate resume example .

Customer Service Specialist 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.”

Click here for the full customer service specialist resume example .

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.”

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. Talented in simplifying complex problems, making it easy for non-technical specialists to solve IT issues.”

Cashier Resume Summary

“Reliable and detail-oriented cashier. Skilled at 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.”

Click here for the full cashier resume example

Technical Resume Summary Examples

Computer science 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.”

Click here for the full computer science resume example .

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.”

Click here for the full IT resume example .

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.”

Click here for the full software engineer resume example .

Data Analyst Resume Summary 

“Detail-oriented data analyst passionate about helping businesses grow. Former small business owner where I 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.”

Click here for the full data analyst resume example .

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.”

Click here for the full data scientist resume example .

Medical Resume Summary Examples

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.”

Click here for the full nurse resume example . 

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 in accordance with hospital regulations, and experience in supporting diagnostic and technical treatment procedures.”

Click here for the full medical assistant resume example .

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.”

Graphic Design Resume Summary Examples

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.”

Click here for the full graphic designer resume example .

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.”

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.”

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.”

Other Resume Summary Examples

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 2016.”

Click here for the full architect resume example .

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.”

Click here for the full warehouse worker resume example .

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.” 

When to Use a Resume Summary? 

When building a resume, you can either include a resume summary or a resume objective as your career summary.

Both are meant to summarize your strengths as a candidate, depending on where you are in your career.

Your resume objective describes your professional goals for the job you’re applying for. Unlike the resume summary, you don’t include work experience here, making the resume objective the perfect choice for college students , recent graduates , entry-level workers, or career changes. 

A good resume objective does three things:

Essentially, the focus is more on your motivation than your experience.

Here’s an example of a resume objective done right:

Writing a Resume Summary: Recap

To recap everything we just covered, here are the best practices for writing a resume summary: 

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! 

FAQs on Resume Summary 

Still have some questions about resume summaries? Check the FAQ section below:

1. How do you write a summary for a resume 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 2 or 4-sentence-long paragraph that goes at the top of your resume. However, instead of focusing on your professional experience and accomplishments, it highlights your career goals and aspirations, skills, and/or academic achievements.

As such, a resume summary is better suited for candidates writing a resume with no experience in a specific field, such as students, recent graduates, or people changing careers. 

2. How to start a resume summary?

The best way to start your resume summary is by listing your experience summary, meaning your job title and your years of experience, along with one or two of your strongest character and professional traits.

A formula you can use to make starting (and finishing) a resume summary super easy is:

[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 statement be?

A resume summary shouldn’t be longer than your average paragraph, meaning two to four sentences long at the most. 

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

Your resume summary, just like the rest of your resume, should be written in the third person. That said, you can get rid of the pronouns to make the resume flow better.

For example, instead of writing “she is a marketer with 5+ years of experience in social media marketing and creative writing,” you’d write “Marketer with 5+ years of experience in social media marketing and creative writing.”

5. Should you always use the same resume summary?

The last thing you want to do is use the same resume summary for all your job applications.

For your resume summary to be effective, it should be tailored to the company’s needs for each specific position. This means that even if you’re applying for jobs in dozens of companies you’re not very familiar with, it’s good to check the job ads in detail to understand what the company is looking for, and then tailor that resume summary to those requirements (if you’re actually qualified, that is). 

6. What are other names for resume summary?

Some other names for the resume summary section are career summary, personal statement, qualifications summary, summary of experiences, and summary of qualifications. 

Key Takeaways

To recap, the aim of a resume summary is to summarize your career highlights and important achievements to date in 1-3 sentences.

If you have any relevant work experience - then you should use a resume summary, instead of an objective.

An effective resume summary typically follows the following structure:

The goal of your resume summary is to catch the HR manager’s attention. If it’s relevant, they’re bound to read the rest of your resume.

Looking for extra career advice? Be sure to check out our career blog for more practical and actionable advice.

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How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement

Woman writing on a form

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

Resume Profile Guidelines 

General guidelines to keep in mind: 

How To Create Your Profile

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

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

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

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

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

Career Profile 

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

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

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

Additional Resources

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

Related Resources

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Writing a Resume: Getting Started

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Resume Summary Statement Examples and Writing Tips

Alison Doyle is one of the nation’s foremost career experts.

how to write a personal summary for a resume

What is a Resume Summary Statement?

What is an executive resume summary.

How Long Should a Resume Summary Statement Be?

Resume Example With a Summary Statement

Resume summary statement examples.

What's a summary statement, and when should you include one on your resume? Also known as a summary of qualifications or a  resume profile , a summary statement gives the hiring manager, at a glance, a synopsis of your professional qualifications.

When writing a resume summary statement, be sure to include concrete information on how you have added value to companies and helped to transform departments or organizations. This will show the hiring manager that you would be an asset to the company.

Here's advice on how to write a resume summary statement, what to include, and examples to review.

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. It showcases your most important credentials, and is listed above your employment history. The person reviewing your resume will be able to view your most important attributes at a glance.

A resume summary is sometimes referred to as an executive summary, especially for upper-level positions. An executive summary highlights your most relevant skills, qualifications, and achievements.

An executive resume summary statement is even more critical for advanced positions since prospective employers will be primarily focusing on and comparing the track record of success that candidates have developed in similar roles.

Resume Summary Statement vs. Resume Objective

A resume summary statement is not the same as a resume objective. Both are a few sentences long, and are located at the top of one’s resume. However, a  resume objective  statement tends to focus more on your own interests as a job seeker—it emphasizes what you are looking for in a job or company.

A resume summary statement, on the other hand, communicates what you can bring to the table in the targeted role. It is a way to “sell yourself” to the employer.

Benefits of a Resume Summary Statement

There are a number of benefits to including a summary statement in your resume. The main benefit is that it helps your resume stand out. When hiring managers are reading through dozens, even hundreds, of resumes, they often skim through each and miss information. By beginning with a statement that concisely describes why you are qualified, you are more likely to get a closer look.

However, just writing a resume summary statement does not guarantee that employers will be interested in your resume.

You need to make sure your resume summary statement concisely demonstrates why you are an ideal candidate for the specific job and company.

The summary statement should be approximately two to four lines and speak to your professional background only. Do not address any outstanding circumstances ( employment gaps , change of career, personal experiences, etc.). A cover letter is an expanded version of the statement that will allow your personality to shine through.

What to Include in a Resume Summary Statement

Your summary statement is often the first item read on a resume, so you want to get to the point: why should a company hire you? In about one to four sentences, highlight your most relevant strengths,  skillset , and core competencies that are unique to you as a candidate.

In particular, demonstrate how you would add value to the company. Have you saved money for a company in the past? Did you streamline an administrative process? Include skills and experiences that will impress the employer, using specific percentages, numbers, or dollar amounts to quantify your achievements.

Be sure to tailor your resume summary to the specific job listing.

Look at the listing, and try to incorporate  keywords  from the listing in your resume summary. This will help the employer see how you are a good fit for the job.

In a resume summary statement, avoid skills that are commonplace (for example, avoid mentioning Microsoft Office), or overused words (such as "multitasker" or “team player”). Try to use  action words  to demonstrate your achievements.

To recap, you want to include the following elements in your statement:

This is a resume example with a summary statement. Download the resume template  (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or read the example below.

Resume Example With a Summary Statement (Text Version)

Matthew Applicant 900 Basil Street Boyton Beach, FL 33426 123-456-7890 matthew.applicant@email.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY 

Certified Workforce Development Professional / Career Specialist offering experience providing tailored career counseling, coaching, and job seeker services. Work well with clients from all walks of life to identify values, develop possible career paths, and design effective job search strategies. 90% successful employment placement rate. Proficient with database programs including Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.

Key Skills Individual Employment Plans Resume Writing Assistance Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills Analysis Labor Market Intelligence Goal Setting / Interest Inventories Professional Networking Strategies Career Portfolios Training Programs.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Workforce Investment Act Career Specialist ( February 2020 - Present) Arbor Education and Training, Boynton Beach, FL

Promoted to provide career management services to the universal population, assessing job readiness and preparing clients for entry / re-entry into the workforce. Duties include intake, interviewing, eligibility verification, referrals to supportive services and employer services, career coaching, and job search and orientation / classroom instruction. Serve as client liaison with instructors, businesses, and other client resources.

Eligibility Career Specialist ( November 2018 - January 2020) Arbor Education and Training, Boynton Beach, FL

Conducted intake interviews and administered screening forms to ascertain client eligibility for public assistance services. Provided initial and follow-up support to clients, scheduled eligibility review dates, and resolved eligibility issues. Meticulously maintained documentation in database and hard copy case files. Provided referrals to community-based partners and agencies.

B.A., Business Administration 2018 Fort Lauderdale College, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Florida Certified Workforce Professional Certified Professional – Job Seeker Services 2019 Dynamic Works Institute, Rockledge, Florida

Citizen Contact Skills Institute of Government, Palm Beach Community College, Lake Worth, Florida

ASSOCIATIONS Dynamic Works Institute – DWI National Association of Workforce Development Professionals NAWDP South Eastern Employment and Training Association - SETA

CEO Hands-on executive officer known for strategic and focused approach, with extensive accolades for limiting risk, creating lean teams, and establishing creative strategies for optimizing internal operations, financial returns, external customer service, and output.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL  Multi-faceted, efficient, and reliable administrative professional with 10+ years of experience supporting executives, sales personnel, and managers to improve internal operations for small businesses.

Proficient in CRM applications and design programs. Diversified skill set covering administrative support, client relations, writing, human resources and recruiting, account management, and project management. Excellent interpersonal, phone, and digital communication skills.

PARALEGAL Self-driven, detail-oriented professional leveraging advanced analytical and research talents to excel within an intellectually demanding Paralegal role with an established law firm.

Legal Administration : Utilize Paralegal training and proven research and writing skills to ensure the timely drafting and submission of legal documents. Unparalleled grammatical and editing skills.

Communications / Client Relations : 10 years' experience working directly with clients from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds to define individual needs, assemble personal histories / career backgrounds, convey project statuses, and formulate strategic presentations. Easily instill trust and confidence in clients stressed by challenging work environments and life events; handle private client data with 100% confidentiality and integrity.

Information Management : Swiftly master and apply business and online technologies and proprietary databases / content management systems. Technical proficiencies include MyCase Legal Practice Management Software, Best Case Bankruptcy Software, and Clio.

Key Strengths : Finely-tuned analytical skills with a dedication to expanding subject knowledge and workplace competencies through continuing research and training; willingly assume extra responsibility to ensure optimal and timely project execution. Type 80 wpm with perfect accuracy.

REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR 15 years of successful sales management experience within the consumer products industry. Lead by example in motivating sales teams to unprecedented YOY gains.

PROJECT MANAGER Seasoned project manager with 5+ years of print project management experience and knowledge of web production obtained from positions in educational publishing and consumer packaging. Creative problem solver who has consistently completed projects on time and within budget. Employed a customer-focused approach which increased repeat business by 15% over the prior cycle. Reduced employee turnover by 35% and retained all top-performing staff members.

This list of professionally written resume samples includes templates you can download to create your own resume.

How to Make Your Summary Statement Stand Out

SHOWCASE YOUR STRENGTHS: Use your resume summary statement to highlight the strengths that set you apart from your competition, demonstrating how you would bring value to an employer’s organization by listing specific contributions.

PROVIDE QUANTIFIABLE ACHIEVEMENTS: Increase the persuasive force of your resume summary statement by using percentages, impressive sales figures, or numbers to quantify specific professional achievements.

USE A RESUME SUMMARY STATEMENT INSTEAD OF AN OBJECTIVE: Resume summary statements are more effective than objective statements because they focus on an employer’s needs rather than on what you, as a job candidate, want for yourself. 

CareerOneStop. " Headline and Summary ."

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How to Write a Professional Resume Summary? [+Examples]

Kaja Jurčišinová — Staff Writer

Do you want to land more job interviews? The easiest way to achieve this is by attracting a recruiter’s attention straight away by summarizing the highlights of your career right at the start of your resume — in a section called the resume summary. 

The purpose of this resume section, which is also known as a professional summary or resume statement, is to create a good first impression. It sums up your work experience , skills, and achievements into a short and concise sales pitch where you are the product. 

Do it well, and your future employers will be more inclined to read the rest of your resume.

Without further ado, let’s show you how to write an exceptional professional summary that will not only get you to more job interviews but will also help you land a job. 

This guide will show you:

What is a professional summary?

Why do you need a professional summary, how to write a professional summary.

TL;DR video guide: How to write a professional summary for a resume 

A professional summary gives the hiring manager a quick overview of your skills and achievements without them having to dive into the rest of your resume. It sits at the top of your resume, beneath your name and contact information. You can think of it as a teaser for the rest of your resume.

It should sum up your top skills, experiences, and achievements as they pertain to the job description.

Take a look at the sample below to see what it looks like in practice: 

The professional summary section is also known as a: 

However, don’t mistake a professional summary for a resume objective or profile . We’ll discuss the differences between them later in this guide. 

How long should a professional summary be? 

Generally speaking, a resume summary should be quite short. The most common length is 3-5 sentences or bullet points. It shouldn't be longer than 5-6 concise bullet points , but it also shouldn't be shorter than 2 bullet points. 

You can also replace the first bullet point with a short introductory paragraph that includes your job title, years of experience, and specialization. 

professional summary on a resume

While many people still don't include the resume profile section in their resumes, it's a mistake. But why is it a mistake?

The thing is, recruiters are busy people , they go through dozens, sometimes hundreds of resumes before they can find a few qualified candidates. 

Do you know what this means? Shortcuts. At first, recruiters will be skimming resumes in search of specific keywords and phrases that align with what the company is searching for.

That’s why you want to include the best resume summary you can come up with because a good summary section consists of nothing but these juicy bite-size phrases and keywords that a recruiter can spot at a glance. 

In short, a professional summary allows you to turn a recruiter's time limitation into an advantage. 

Christy's word of advice

While recruiters are indeed busy, did you know that the information that recruiters only give each resume 6 seconds of their time isn't true? 

“This one's a little bit of a myth. It takes about six seconds to screen the resume for the key information that I'm looking for, such as location, summary, keywords, or if there's a skills section. Within this time frame, I should be able to get a feel for who you are and what you're looking for. But it's mainly about six seconds for me to pick out the basic information I need. It doesn't mean that I'm going to spend just six seconds on it or that I won't continue reading after. ” —   Christy Morgan , Kickresume's Resident HR Expert

resume summary kickresume

As we said before, a good professional summary should compel an employer to read the next section of your resume — that’s all. If it manages to do that, then it has accomplished its purpose. 

However, doing this is easier said than done, as it can be tricky to cram the most exciting bits of your career into a 3-5 bullet points summary. 

Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to craft an impressive resume summary.

Before you start writing:

Once you start writing:

How to use keywords in a resume summary

A professional summary can do more than catch the attention of the recruiter. It can also make your resume more ATS-friendly. 

It's a great place where you can squeeze in one or two ATS-friendly keywords , and it will still look natural.

Such keywords can be your industry-relevant hard skills, previous job positions, notable clients, certificates and courses from notable institutions, or a note-worthy university (if you recently finished your degree). 

Moreover, you should add keywords and relevant skills from the job listing.

Don't get too creative with the heading, though. While replacing the professional summary headline with “Snapshot” sounds great, ATS doesn't know what it means and therefore wouldn't recognize it.

summary resume example

Professional resume summary examples for most common careers

Now that you know the ins and outs of writing a resume summary, here are a few examples that can inspire you when writing your summary:

Professional summary example for customer service

Performance-driven and motivated customer service rep offering 4+ years of relevant experience. Eager to join the Techia team and contribute to the growth of the company. In the previous role, the ability to make customers comfortable and relaxed allowed for 98% customer service survey results and had 25% more sales than the average employer. 

Professional resume summary example for retail

Dedicated and hard-working storekeeper with a Business Administration degree. Eager to bring my strong attention to detail and accuracy to J&R inc. Adept at communicating with vendors and suppliers, coordinating various business operations, and maintaining documents and files in order. In the past jobs brought an extra $50k of sales per quarter and increased customer satisfaction by 20%. 

Professional summary example for nursing resume

Motivational and resourceful Orthopedic Nurse with 10 years of experience with in-depth knowledge in trauma recovery, aggressive pain management techniques, and post-surgical recovery. Especially proficient in providing external fixation care and continuous motion therapy along with neuromuscular status monitoring. Committed to work as an orthopedic nurse for people who are struggling with mobility issues due to accidental injuries and degenerative disease affecting bones and muscles.

Professional summary example for administrative assistant

Self-driven and accurate Executive Assistant skilled at performing various office/administrative duties, such as coordinating meetings, maintaining calendar and schedule, filing documents, and managing company correspondence. Highly self-motivated with a solid work ethic and multitasking abilities.

Professional summary example for data analyst

A graduate in Information Systems with two years of hands-on data analytics experience. Passionate about working with large amounts of data and to turn this data into information, information into insight and insight into business decisions. I also have a keen interest in the field of data visualization and am fascinated by the power to compress complex datasets into approachable and appealing graphics.

Professional summary example for warehouse worker

Hard-working and dedicated Warehouse Worker with 2+ years of extensive experience in inspecting incoming shipments, preparing and processing orders, and performing various administrative duties. The Employee of the Month Award winner with a strong attention to detail and accuracy and determination to achieve exceptional results. Offers excellent time management skills and important ability to work independently or in a team.

Professional summary example for receptionist 

Customer-oriented and performance-driven Front Desk Assistant skilled at performing various administrative tasks, improving all office processes and procedures, and providing support to Office Managers. Great communicator with a Business Administration degree from a well-known university and an exceptional ability to remain calm in stressful situations. Possess well-developed communication skills and excellent time management abilities.

Resume summary example for management

A Project Manager with 16 years of experience in IT projects. Responsible for the management of teams of up to 15 direct and 7 indirect employees. Has High level knowledge in project execution using best practices of waterfall and agile methodologies. High level knowledge of Jupyter Notebook, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Word. 

Professional summary example for project manager

Logistics & Planning PMO for Anheuser-Busch InBev with +7 years of experience in Supply Chain Operations & Project Management. Lived and worked for ABI in 6 cities in past years, managed +300 direct & indirect employees and +0.5 billion BRL over the years. At ABI experienced the routines in breweries operations & urban distribution. As Project Manager build the Zone Logistics Project area for ABI LAN, being responsible for 4.0 Supply Chain, integrating the technologies WMS, YMS, TMS and Tracking.

Resume summary example for stay-at-home mother

Performance-driven and knowledgeable Stay At Home Mother skilled at conducting detailed market research, developing new sales tools, creating reports, and promoting products and services. Certified Marketing Management Professional with an extensive knowledge of multiple marketing software programmes, great communication skills, and excellent teamwork abilities. Currently looking for any Marketing related remote part-time job.

Professional summary example for student

Self-driven and knowledgeable computer science student with demonstrated experience in developing user-friendly software applications, coding and testing features, and providing engineering support. Oracle Certified Professional with extensive knowledge of multiple programming languages and software development tools, excellent problem-solving skills, and ability to perform well in a team.

fresh graduate resume summary example

How to write a resume summary if you're a fresh graduate/student?

If you’re a student or a fresh graduate, you probably don’t have much to brag about in your resume yet.

But that’s true only to some extent. Even as an entry-level candidate, you already have at least some experience and skills. You just have to find the right way to articulate them.

What’s more, it’s quite likely that the other candidates are just as inexperienced as you are. After all, experienced professionals rarely apply for entry-level positions. 

Because of that, your primary goal is to stand out and make the employer remember you . And you can do that even if your experience is limited.

It’s not like you’ve just spent most of your life at school and learned nothing. You just need to understand how your studies intersect with the job’s requirements.

 Here’s how you can write your professional resume summary as a student/fresh graduate:

In the end, a fresh graduate resume summary should look a bit like this: 

Hired by Bupa — Business Administration Intern

How to write a resume summary as an experienced professional?

If you have 10 to 15 years of professional experience under your belt, you’ve probably developed a long list of job-related accomplishments. Your qualifications summary is the ideal place to showcase the most impressive of them. 

On the other, with that extent of experience, it may be quite challenging to pick and choose the right information for your professional summary. 

So what should you do? 

For instance, are you an experienced sales and customer service professional? Sell it. Mention how you developed strategies that resulted in an over 15 % increase in new customers. Or how your rewards program reached a customer success rate of over 45 %. Numbers can be much more persuasive than words . 

Also, always remember to use action words and relevant keywords.

Here’s a professional summary resume example from an experienced professional: 

HubSpot — Director of Business Development Resume Summary Example

How to write a professional summary if you’re changing careers?

As a career changer , try to show how your past experience relates to the position you’re applying for or how it can help your future employer grow.

Are you a software developer who wants to work with a new programming language, let’s say Python? You can mention how you’ve already developed 7 mobile apps using JavaScript and HTML. Even something as small as completing a Python online course on CodeAcademy can work wonders.

But if you still feel like you don’t have any relevant job experience, consider writing a resume objective instead. Instead of past achievements and experiences, it highlights your transferable skills and motivation. Moreover, it explains why you seek to switch to a different industry.

On the other hand, make sure that you have absolutely no other solution, as a resume summary always makes a better impression than a resume objective . To learn more about a resume objective just scroll to the following chapter. 

Here’s an example of a professional summary for someone changing careers:

How to write a professional summary for a resume with no work experience? 

A lot of people with no work experience default to writing a resume objective because they think they have nothing to summarize.

However, this usually ends up backfiring as the resume objective brings little to the table. That’s because the resume objective’s main focus is on you as opposed to a professional summary which focuses on solving the needs of a company.

Also, writing a summary objective can make you appear more inexperienced than you truly are. 

Instead, as someone with no work experience, you can write a professional summary by including: 

In addition, if you have volunteered or interned, know that regardless of whether they were paid or not, they're still considered work experience. As the skills and knowledge gained as a volunteer or intern can be quite valuable to an employer. 

With that said, here’s an example of a professional summary for someone with no work experience:

People United Foundation – Fundraiser Volunteer 

what is a resume objective

Resume summary vs resume objective and resume profile

While these terms are often interchangeable, a resume summary, a resume objective, and a resume profile are all slightly different things. Scroll below to see how. 

What is a resume objective?

First of all, a resume objective isn't the same thing as a resume summary. They share several common features but each serves a different purpose.

Like a resume summary, a resume objective also sits at the top of your resume. Though, it’s a bit shorter — usually about one to two sentences long . 

The biggest difference is that instead of your past accomplishments, it details your future goals.

Although a resume objective might not help hiring managers decide whether you’re qualified enough to solve their company’s problems, it may help you shift their attention away from your lack of experience.

With that said, resume objectives are a bit old-fashioned as they used to be more common in past. So it should only be written as a last resort.

resume objective sample

What is a resume profile?

Most people think that the resume profile and resume summary are the same exact thing. And they aren't that wrong. 

However, there are some slight differences between the two. 

A resume profile tends to be a little longer than a resume summary. Still, you should try to keep it under 500 characters. Additionally, while a resume summary is simply a condensed version of your resume placed at the top of it, a resume profile focuses more on your professional accomplishments and successes. 

Still — a resume summary and a resume profile are basically the same thing. So don't worry too much about the difference between the two. Just make sure you'll include either of them in your resume. 

Final tips and tricks

We've already mentioned almost everything you need to write an effective professional summary. These are some of the final tips that didn't fit anywhere else in this guide:

FAQ: How to write a professional resume summary 

How to write a resume summary.

Write your professional summary last. It’s surprisingly easy once you’ve already written other sections of your resume. In the first bullet point, include your job title and years of experience. Then cherry-pick the most impressive achievements and cram them into 4–5 bullet points.

There are some slight differences between a resume profile and a resume summary. A resume profile tends to be a little longer than a resume summary. Still, you should try to keep it under 500 characters. A resume profile also focuses more on your professional accomplishments and successes than a resume summary. 

This article was recently updated. The original article was written by Noel Rojo in 2021 .

Kaja Jurčišinová — Staff Writer

Kaja Jurčišinová

Kaja Jurcisinova is a fresh graduate and a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

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How to Write a Resume Summary Statement

how to write a personal summary for a resume

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

In this article, we’ll walk you through:

When to use a resume summary

How to use keywords in a resume summary

Key Takeaways

how to write a personal summary for a resume

Download free resume templates

What is a resume summary?

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

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

List of when to use resume summary

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

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

Resume Summary vs Resume Objective

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

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

Example: 

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

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

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

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

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

Read more : Resume Objective vs Summary

Example resume summary statement

Benefits of a resume summary statement

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

1. You get noticed more quickly

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

2. You sell your strongest attributes and top achievements

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

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

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

How to write a summary on your resume

Steps on how to write a great resume

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

An effective resume summary follows this formula:

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

1. Research the company you want to work for

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

Here are a few questions to consider:

2. See how you fit into the job

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

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

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

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

Other important notes to nail your resume summary

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

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

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

Here are nine examples of resume keywords :

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

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

How long is a summary?

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

Professional Resume Summary Examples

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

Resume summary examples for students

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

Bad Example: 

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

Good Example:

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

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

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

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

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

Bad example:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bad Example:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are references to help you build a strong resume:

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

how to write a personal summary for a resume

Resume Summary Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a summary on a resume.

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

Should you include a resume objective?

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

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

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

For example:

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

For this career statement, you simply say:

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

Where does a resume summary go on a resume?

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

Should you always use the same resume summary?

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

How long is a summary on a resume?

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

What is a summary of qualifications?

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

What are the other names for Resume Summary?

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

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

Here are important pointers:

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35+ Resume Summary Examples [How-To Guide + Tips]

Kellie Hanna

A resume summary sits at the very top of your resume and is your first chance to make a great impression with a hiring manager. You’ve got to start strong when writing your resume. Don’t worry — we’re here to help!

In this guide, we’re laser-focused on the professional summary for a resume. We will cover:

How to write a summary for a resume

Resume Summary

We’ll inspire you with several resume summary examples for top industries, job titles and experience levels, and provide writing tips.

Click one of the categories below to jump to a specific section of this guide:

Table of Contents

What is a resume summary?

Resume summary examples based on work experience, professional summary examples for top jobs.

Resume summary examples for top industries

Resume summary examples key takeaways, resume summary faq.

A resume summary — also called a professional summary or resume summary statement — is a brief rundown of your experience and top skills that sits at the top of your resume template .

Use this valuable real estate to highlight your top achievements, including your years of experience and the valued skills from the job description that apply to you. For a good resume summary, it must be tailored to the job and no more than five concise sentences long.

Let’s use this job ad for a social media manager as an example:

Resumes Summary

A tailored summary for a resume might look like this:

The bolded words are keywords and phrases found in the job description. This is an exercise you should do for every job you apply to, so you must customize your resume summary each time. Then, your resume’s work history and skills sections should complement your summary on your resume.

This resume summary statement doesn’t work for several reasons: it’s not tailored to the job, it doesn’t give enough detail, and it doesn’t include keywords and phrases from the job description.

Pro tip You should use a professional summary for a resume only if you have several years of experience in the same industry. If you’re a first-time job seeker or changing your career, use a resume objective statement instead.

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Now that you’ve seen some of our best resume summary examples, you’ve probably got a good idea what a resume professional summary looks like, and you’re ready to write your own. The following three tips will help you write a good summary for a resume that grabs attention.

Condense the details and be consistent.

When you begin writing your resume summary, remember: less is more. A professional summary for a resume only needs to be three to five sentences long. You should also write using the first-person point of view, but omit pronouns like “I,” “she” or “they” to help save some valuable writing space.

Highlight your top qualifications.

Make a strong first impression by writing your most valuable skills and highlighting your relevant work accomplishments , as the professional summary examples below do. You want to get the hiring manager’s attention and intrigue them to continue reading the rest of your resume.

Make adjustments based on your career level.

Students and job seekers who are just graduating from college or don’t have much work experience should include information on their resume summary statement about what type of job they’re seeking and what their goal is with this potential new job. If you have plenty of experience, however, there’s no need to include a career objective here.

For some jobs, you might benefit from emphasizing how much work experience you have in your resume summary, especially if the job description has a minimum experience requirement or you are applying for a managerial position.

The following examples show how to best highlight your work experience level in your resume summary.

2 to 5 years of experience resume summary example

Web designer

6+ years of experience resume summary example

Management experience resume summary example

Project manager

Acute care nurse

Committed and empathic acute care nurse with 12 years of hands-on experience in critical care facilities. Provide complex clinical assessments, diagnostic testing and medical therapy for patients with various acute illnesses. Comfortable relaying difficult information and providing emotional support to families. Highly proficient in case management, medication administration and patient education.

Detail-oriented accountant with over eight years of effectively maintaining accurate accounting information for large-scale financial organizations, including central banks, credit unions and investment companies. History working as part of the financial team to manage diverse financial functions, PMT, tax management and reporting. Highly analytical professional with extensive knowledge of Excel and QuickBooks.

Accounting manager

A dedicated and reliable accounting manager with 12 years of experience and extensive knowledge of federal and state tax laws. Utilizes a proactive approach to problems and practices prudent financial management. Motivational and ethical leader with a proven ability to build strong teams with high retention rates.

Responsible and compassionate caregiver who understands how to balance patients’ and organizations’ needs. Experienced in medication distribution and able to follow medical instructions precisely. Certified for basic first aid and CPR. Adept at monitoring each patient’s health and providing a gentle approach to patients’ needs.

Hardworking and detail-oriented cashier with expertise in drawer management, POS systems, refund handling and inventory control. Multitasking and reliable professional with skills in customer service, promoting sales, keeping the store organized and processing transactions. Creative and attentive problem-solver committed to enhancing customers’ experience.

Civil engineering intern

Driven civil engineering student with hands-on experience in construction and in-depth knowledge of civil engineering principles and tools. Dedicated worker with outstanding communication skills. Bilingual in Chinese and English.

Construction worker

Reliable construction worker with experience in residential and commercial construction projects for over 18 years. Exceptional problem-solver adept at plumbing and carpentry specializing in roof repairs and installation. Safely operates various heavy-duty construction equipment and certified with OSHA’s Safety and Health Fundamentals Certificate.

Cosmetology student

Multifaceted cosmetology student with experience coloring, styling and cutting hair; performing pedicures and manicures, and recommending on-trend beauty treatments based on individual client needs. Demonstrated ability to exceed salon sales goals and build strong relationships with clients.

Data entry clerk

Data entry clerk with three years of experience accurately maintaining records and updating account information for financial services firm. Razor-sharp eye for detail and adept at Microsoft Word and Excel. Continually seek ways to improve processes and develop solutions across all departments.

Skilled doctor who champions family-focused care willing to go the extra mile to provide complete service. Diagnoses and educates patients about medical concerns while implementing evidence-based treatment plans. Skilled in working under pressure assessing conditions, conducting tests and performing minor procedures.

Entertainment director

Creative director with 10 years of hands-on filmmaking experience in a variety of productions. Diligent and technologically savvy leader with high standards for impeccable results. Adept at story pitching, video production, script review and budgeting. Empathic advocate for creative and production staff.

Massage therapist

Attentive and knowledgeable massage therapist with five-year track record of solid customer service and a knack for building relationships. Experienced in a wide range of massage techniques, including deep tissue, Shiatsu and trigger point.

Licensed nanny with a background in education and child care. Works diligently to identify and eliminate behavioral and educational issues. Incorporates stimulating activities, such as grouping games and writing stories into daily routines to promote healthy mental and social development. Certified in first aid and CPR, and dedicated to creating safe, inclusive and engaging learning environments for all children.

Nursing aide

Organized and dependable nursing aide successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Skilled in patient care, transportation and equipment assembly. Familiar working in highly stressful and hectic environments and managing disoriented and combative patients.

  Operations manager

Results-oriented operations manager offering 18 years of high-level experience supervising workover and completion operations. Familiar with human resources and adept at directing the work of completion consultants and completion supervisors in operation functions, including inventory management and warehousing. Directly trained and managed six supervisors while leading a total staff of 75 team members — successfully introducing lean manufacturing to increase productivity and cut completion costs.

Outside sales representative

Motivated and accomplished outside sales representative adept at building relationships with customers, negotiating deals and closing sales. Detail-oriented self-starter with a track record of exceeding sales goals.

Payroll specialist

Highly communicative and customer service-oriented payroll specialist with more than eight years of expertise in auditing payroll data and processing garnishments. An action-oriented professional with skills in ADP processing and Kronos. Process and transmit payroll for over 3,000 employees, in multiple states, on a biweekly and weekly basis. Employees paid include hourly, salary and union.

Personal trainer

Enthusiastic NCSF Certified Personal Trainer and business owner with seven years of experience teaching senior clients balance and functional skills. Additional expertise in youth athletic conditions with focus on strength training. Strong background in personalized and one on one and group training.

Receptionist

Outgoing and friendly receptionist delivering customer service and administrative excellence, including clerical support and public interaction. Excels in calendar management, Google Calendar, Microsoft Surface Studio, scheduling, data entry and database administration. Capable of answering and quickly redirecting up to 100 calls per day, accomplishing business goals.

Registered nurse

Qualified registered nurse experienced in providing professional nursing care to patients, including assessing needs, planning, implementation and evaluation of care.

Passionate about improving patient satisfaction and adapting to continuous health system changes. Acts as liaison between patient and providers.

Retail sales associate

Energetic retail sales associate with excellent customer service, leadership and teamwork abilities. Proficient at merchandising and display, product knowledge, processing cash and cards transactions and boosting sales. Confident and persuasive with strong attention to detail and the ability to engage diverse customers and enhance brand loyalty and satisfaction.

Sales representative

Organized and hardworking sales representative with a solid history of exceeding sales goals, growing business and expanding territories. Experienced in project management, account service, lead prospecting, strategic planning, network development and retention strategies. Accomplished negotiator with excellent customer service, research and conflict-resolution skills. Focused on maximizing efficiency and sales success.

Social worker

Compassionate and driven social worker with solid experience working with a broad range of groups, ages, ethnicities and different socioeconomic backgrounds. Skilled in case management, crisis intervention, data collection and management, referral and networking, and family reunification. Licensed social worker (LCSW) with expertise in Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP) and a deep understanding of human behavior to provide guidance to clients and communities in need.

Hardworking and passionate teacher with experience in classroom management, professional development and project planning covering a wide range of subjects. Clear and effective communicator highly skilled at motivating students through positive encouragement and reinforcement of concepts via interactive classroom instruction and innovative lesson planning. Successful in helping students develop strong literacy, numeracy, social and learning skills.

Write the perfect resume summary statement with our Resume builder

Let us do the work for you with our Resume Builder. All you have to do is choose a professionally designed resume template, plug it into our builder and use our expertly crafted phrases and content suggestions to highlight your qualifications. You’ll have a polished resume in minutes!

Our resume generato r is easy to use and offers step-by-step guidance to help you write a professional and effective resume.

The builder features:

Pro tip A professional resume template can help get your resume past applicant tracking system (ATS) software because they ensure your resume is properly formatted and easy to scan.

Write a compelling resume summary with inspiration from our extensive library of resume examples . With more than 1,000 samples to choose from, you’re sure to find one that works for you!

Accounting resume examples

Administrative resume examples, billing collections resume examples, business operations resume examples, customer service resume examples, entertainment resume examples, fitness & nutrition resume examples, medical resume examples, nursing resume examples, social services resume examples, teaching resume examples.

Let’s summarize what we’ve learned:

A resume summary is a short paragraph consisting of three to five sentences at the top of a resume. It tells employers at a glance what you offer in the form of your relevant experience, top skills and professional achievements.

Do you need a summary on a resume?

You should include a summary on a resume if you have work experience because when written well, they grab recruiters’ and hiring managers’ attention and make them want to learn more about your job qualifications.

What is a good summary for a resume?

A good resume summary highlights your most relevant job qualifications compellingly, so employers want to learn more about you.

What should a resume summary include?

A professional summary for a resume should summarize your experience and qualifications for the target job.

You might include:

How to write a resume summary for a career change?

If you’re changing careers, you probably don’t have much work experience in your new field, so it’s better to write an objective statement than a resume summary. A resume objective allows you to briefly describe your goals for the career change and emphasize transferable skills which fit your new career path.

For example:

Kellie Hanna

Content strategist, career advice expert.

Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.

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15 Awesome Resume Summary Examples

A resume summary is a bit like your calling card: a few sentences that tell people who you are, what you do, what you've accomplished , and what makes you a star. This summary (also called a career summary ) lives at the top section of your resume; it can be a short paragraph or a series of bullet points. Recruiters and hiring managers look to it to determine whether or not they should invest their precious time into reading the rest of your resume. We’ve got some resume summary examples to show you how to write one of your own.

But why would you even need to spend precious resume real estate on something that's seemingly redundant? After all, your resume includes the pertinent skills and qualifications that should determine whether or not you're a viable candidate. Simple answer: Hiring managers and recruiters are very busy. Like, really busy.

Think of a resume summary as a movie preview. Why watch an entire 90-minute movie to decide whether or not it was worth your time and attention when you can watch a 2-minute clip? Now you get it.

Here are some resume summary examples for a variety of industries that can show you the kind of information that will grab hiring managers' and recruiters' attention and make them want to know more about you.

Resume Summary Examples

Account manager.

Specializing in the Financial Services Sector Goal-driven, award-winning account manager with repeated success generating company-leading revenues on a nationwide scale. Offer a record of multimillion-dollar revenue generation, #1 sales distinction and quota-surpassing results in selling complex mortgage and commercial-lending products.

Build long-term client relationships through "hands-on" approach and commitment to service.

Bank teller

Experienced bank teller known for delivering friendly service and personalized attention to all customers. Contribute to achieving branch sales goals by recommending products and services that meet customer needs. Solid knowledge of banking regulations and compliance matters; adhere to security and compliance procedures for protection of cash and other assets.

Senior Care … Assisted Living … Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care

Dedicated and compassionate provider of elder care,companionship and comfort for senior citizen residents of assisted living and memory care communities. Patient, personable and professional in responding to resident needs, with a gentle touch and caring attitude centered on treating all with dignity and respect.

Customer service representative

Providing Exceptional Service ... Building Loyal Relationships ... Solving Problems ... Increasing Sales

Data analyst

Highly analytical and process-oriented data analyst with in-depth knowledge of database types; research methodologies; and big data capture, curation, manipulation and visualization. Furnish insights, analytics and business intelligence used to advance opportunity identification, process reengineering and corporate growth.

Graphic designer

Highly creative and multitalented Graphic Designer with extensive experience in multimedia, marketing and print design. Exceptional collaborative and interpersonal skills; dynamic team player with well-developed written and verbal communication abilities. Highly skilled in client and vendor relations and negotiations; talented at building and maintaining "win-win" partnerships. Passionate and inventive creator of innovative marketing strategies and campaigns; accustomed to performing in deadline-driven environments with an emphasis on working within budget requirements.

Mechanical engineer

Medical receptionist

Patient-focused, detail-oriented and computer-savvy medical receptionist. Personable and courteous in all interactions with patients and team members and skilled at anticipating physician and practice needs.

Mature, dependable and high-energy nanny with a passion for childcare excellence. Valued by client families for warmth, professionalism, dedication and excellent judgment. Provide parents with an unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of their children.

Operations manager

Profit-driven and process-oriented manager of multimillion-dollar manufacturing operations and top-producing teams (150+ direct/indirect reports). History of strengthening compliance; improving processes; and elevating output, quality, customer satisfaction and employee morale to all-time bests. Relied on to drive top-line and bottom-line gains regardless of supply chain challenges, production-line issues and/or union obstacles.

Public relations

Ambitious and driven public relations strategist with extensive experience directing PR campaigns in both agency and in-house settings. Proven success developing, managing and implementing media strategies and measuring results across traditional media and digital channels. Bring to the table a strong network of global media contacts.

Registered nurse

Social media manager

Champion of social media tools and technologies, with a track record of creating and implementing successful social media campaigns. Work closely with clients to develop and execute a proactive, social content calendar, managing all phases digital marketing initiatives from concept through delivery and optimization.

Social worker

Get Your Resume Reviewed

These resume summary examples are a great start to creating a winning job application. But what else can do you to make sure all the right pieces are in the proper places? Simple: Get a free resume review from Monster . Within two business days, we'll return your resume and show you where there's room for improvement. That way, you can feel confident that you're presenting your most professional self to employers.

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