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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?
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:
- Who can benefit most from including in a resume.
- How to write a resume summary using our bulletproof formula.
- Examples of over 25 best summaries for resumes.
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 .
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:
- Describe your strong character traits in just a couple of words.
- Mention your current job title and professional experience.
- Say how you want to help the employer achieve their goals.
- Add info on your key achievements to prove you can deliver results when hired.
- Limit it to 3 or 5 sentences and use numbers whenever possible.
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:
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:
- Self-motivation and cheerful personality aren’t stray buzzwords but address the employer’s specific needs as outlined in the job offer.
- Mentioning 2+ years of experience isn’t random either as the employer has specific expectations.
- Navigating websites and resolving product and service issues are listed among the most essential responsibilities, and that’s why this is also present in the summary.
- The following sentence Eager to support BookMe in building an impeccable reputation online by providing top-class customer support , not only mentions the employer by name (thereby personalizing the intro) but also makes a specific reference to the employer’s goals and vision as outlined in the job offer’s summary.
- The final sentence of the resume summary is packed with the candidate’s related professional achievements —and offers hard evidence that everything that came before isn’t a fairy tale.
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:
- [adjective(s)/strong character trait(s)]: Self-motivated and cheerful…
- [your job title ]: …customer service professional…
- [your experience]: …with 2+ years of experience helping customers navigate websites and resolving product and service issues…
- Eager to support…
- [company name]: …BookMe…
- [what you want to help the employer achieve and how you want to do it]: …in building an impeccable reputation online by providing top-class customer support…
- [your key achievement(s)]: …Received 98.9% positive ratings at GHI Inc where customer retention for my regular call-ins was 25% above the company average.
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 .
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:
- Make sure everything you say there addresses the employer’s specific requirements for the position as outlined in the job offer itself.
- Look for the words describing character traits and use them to describe yours.
- Examine what the employer wants to achieve and mention how your skills and experience will help them get where they want.
- Include resume action words for added impact.
- Use numbers to quantify your achievements and translate your core competencies into tangible results.
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.
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:
- Other jobs you had
- Education (incl. school projects, coursework, etc.)
- Volunteer work
- Commendations from superiors
- Freelance work
- Hobbies and interests
- Personal projects
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:
- Internship experience
- Relevant projects
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.
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:
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:
- Strong personality/character traits (e.g. dynamic, meticulous, insightful, etc.)
- Professional title and experience (e.g. project manager with 5 years of experience.)
- Value proposition (e.g. eager to help ABC Inc. boost sales numbers, etc.)
- Quantifiable key accomplishment(s) (e.g. saved USD 500K in one fiscal year etc.)
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:
- Start with an introductory sentence that mentions your job title and years of experience.
- Add 2 or 3 of your best achievements to date. Include numbers to quantify your accomplishments, e.g. improved sales by 15%. Numbers draw the eye!
- Use action verbs to make your summary more dynamic and impactful.
- Offer to use your expertise to achieve a specific goal for the company. Tailoring your resume in this way significantly boosts your chances of an interview invite.
- Make sure to mention the company you’re applying to by name: targeted resumes are always better than generic ones.
- Weave in a few of your key professional skills relevant to the job ad—they can serve as your resume keywords .
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.
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How to write a resume that will get you the job you're looking for? This step-by-step guide will show you the best resume examples, and you can write a resume in a few easy steps.
How to Make Your Resume Stand Out: Real Examples for 2023
You feel your resume isn’t good enough to beat the competition. And you’re not alone. See these transformations of Zety readers’ resumes and learn how to fix yours.
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How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement
A resume summary or career profile is a brief statement at the top of your resume. If you are a career changer or have many years of experience, craft a powerful summary to highlight your accomplishments and skills. Show the employer, at a glance, why you’re qualified for the job!
Resume Profile Guidelines
General guidelines to keep in mind:
- Keep your profile short. Two to five phrases written in a bulleted form or brief paragraph will do. Think of the summary as a snapshot of your skills, accomplishments, and knowledge.
- Label your profile professionally: Summary of Qualifications, Career Profile, Career Highlights, Professional Summary, or just Summary or Profile.
- Place your profile section at the top of your resume page, above your work history, so that the employer can see it when they first review your resume.
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:
- Accomplished Marketing Executive with over 10 year experience in…
- Fully knowledgeable in…
- Experience managing professional staff including…
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:
- Time Management
- Relationship Building
- Public Speaking
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.
- For tips on resume structure and content read through Writing a Resume: Getting Started and Resumes with Impact: Creating Strong Bullet Points
- For detailed instruction, view the webinars on Writing a Results Focused and Targeted Resume and How to Perfect Your Professional Narrative
Related Resources
Writing a Resume: Getting Started
If you’re applying for an internship or job, attending a networking event, or seeking a volunteer opportunity, chances are you’ll need a resume. We’ll walk you through the basics.
Resumes with Impact: Creating Strong Bullet Points
How can you make your resume stand out to an employer? This resource will help you learn how to use the STAR method to develop strong bullet points that highlight your skills and accomplishments relevant to a position.
How to Explain Employment Gaps
Learn tips to address employment gaps on your application materials and in interviews.
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Best CV Personal Profile Examples
What is a CV personal profile?
A personal profile, also known as a CV summary, is the opening statement of your CV. It is a short introduction which outlines your personal characteristics, telling the prospective employer what kind of a person you are, the attributes and qualities that you possess and the work experience that you have.
How to write a CV profile statement from scratch
When writing your personal profile, ensure it is:
- Short (no more than 6 lines);
- Relevant to the job you are applying for, and;
- Contains some real-world examples .
Be bold, be confident and talk about yourself in a positive way.
Your personal profile is not the place to be humble; it is your chance to be noticed and tell the potential employer exactly who you ‘really’ are and what you can do for them.
Warning: Do not go ‘over the top’ and give the impression that you are either very arrogant or simply too good to be true! Keep it balanced and realistic, bearing in mind the needs of the employer.
Click here if you want to see a bad example of a personal profile.
What information to include on a personal profile
The purpose of your personal profile is to concisely present your skills, qualities, work experience, and your career goals and ambitions. Consequently, you can mention anything from the following categories when constructing your personal profile:
Personal Qualities
- Self-motivated
- Having an eye for detail
- Management skills
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Design skills
- 5 years experience in …
- Excellent track record of …
- Extensive background in …
- Previous work experience in …
An ideal statement should have at least one example for each of these three categories.
How long should my profile statement be?
There are no set rules about the length of a personal profile, however, it is highly recommended to keep it ideally within the 50/80-words boundary (no longer than six lines). The reason for this is because employers, in the first instance, tend to scan CVs rather than extensively read it. Keeping it short and to the point increases the chances that they will actually read it.
Furthermore, as the total length of a CV is only 2 A4 pages long, having a short statement frees us valuable space for other key sections of your CV such as the work experience, education and skills sections .
Winning personal profile CV examples from all job sectors
Business management cv profile.
- The candidate mentions their key personal skills and qualities that are relevant and important when managing a business.
- The candidate mentions their relevant work experience in the field, indicating that they are able to work within multiple job sectors.
IT CV profile
- The candidate correctly highlights their areas of expertise, such as designing websites, networking and managing databases. It is clear from these examples that the individual has a broad understanding of IT and would be able to work on a wide range of IT projects.
- The candidate reassures the prospective employer that although they are working in a very technical field, they have the ability to work with a wide range of people. Interpersonal and communication skills are key to any job.
Student CV profile
- The above personal statement is clear and informative, making it clear that the applicant is a student, currently completing their university degree, and are looking to work part-time in the industry.
- It is always a good idea, as the candidate has done in this example, to clearly mention your availability for work and also the reasons for why you are seeking work. “Making money” is not a good enough reason for an employer to give you a job. The candidate has mentioned that they wish to put into practice what they have learned and make a positive contribution to the employer.
HR CV profile
- The candidate highlights that they have previous work experience in Human Resources (HR), making them familiar with the payroll systems and employment law. Additionally, they indicate some personal qualities (such as interpersonal skills and being sensitive to people’s privacies) which would be highly beneficial for the role that they are applying for.
Manager CV profile
- The candidate not only states that they have three years’ of experience in management but they also mention the positive contribution that they made to that organisation. In this case, it was a significant improvement in the performance of the team that they were managing.
Sales/retail CV profile
- Just by looking at the profile statement of this individual, we can conclude that this person has thorough experience of sales and is able to handle the various aspects of the selling process. Additionally, their promotion indicates that they are a high achiever.
Teaching CV profile
- In just a few lines, the candidate demonstrates a great deal of compassion, empathy and care for young people and their futures. This level of care and concern, along with an enduring passion for teaching, are the key ingredients of being successful in any teaching careers.
- The candidate indicating that they are able to work with young children from all backgrounds and walks of life. This is important, especially when living in today’s multicultural and diverse societies.
Engineering CV profile
- The candidate correctly highlights their previous work experience and areas of expertise. This makes them look like a very competent and accomplished chemical engineer, increasing the chances of being invited for an interview.
Designer CV profile
- This is an effective statement because the candidate highlights their valuable 1st class degree in Graphic Design and previous work experience in the design industry. Additionally, the candidate makes mention of their personal qualities, such as having the ability to think outside the box, to further indicate their suitability for the job.
Hospitality CV profile
- The above is an excellent example of how profile statement should be constructed; it contains references to their previous work experience in the same industry, personal qualities that are relevant to the job (e.g. having a passion for food and socialising with people) and their job achievements (e.g. winning an award). Any employer reading this statement will have to think twice before they put it in the rejection pile!
Admin CV profile
- The candidate mentions their previous work experience project management and providing administrative support to businesses.
- This admin personal statement clearly demonstrates that the individual is aware of all the challenges that administrators face; working in a busy working environment, handling multiple projects simultaneously, prioritising tasks and achieving the highest standard of work.
Customer service CV profile
- The candidate indicates that they are able to resolve customer enquiries and complaints face-to-face, over the phone or via email. This ability enables them to work in a variety of different job settings, i.e. a call centre, on the shop floor or at a desk.
- Their statement contains a tangible example of accomplishment (i.e. successfully resolving 150 customer enquiries or complaints).
Media CV profile
- The candidate has included many examples of their previous work experience and competencies in the field. Any employer interested in hiring an experienced camera operator will most certainly be impressed and continue reading the remainder of their CV.
Healthcare CV profile
- The candidate highlights that they are able to work with a variety of different people, something which is essential as physiotherapists will be working with people from all backgrounds and ages.
- The statement includes personal qualities that are important to have as a physiotherapist, such as being caring and friendly. Although some careers advisors do not recommend generic words such as ‘caring’ and ‘friendly’, it is nevertheless recommended to include them if they truly reflect your personality and if the rest of the personal statement contains specific information which is not generic in nature.
Writer CV profile
- This profile is short and punchy, increasing the chances that it will be read in full by the prospective employers
- The candidate highlights their career achievements by stating that their works have been accepted and published by leading newspapers and magazines – a testimony to the high quality of their work.
Science CV profile
- This statement is short and to the point; highlighting all the important information such as the candidates work experience, expertise and some personal qualities and characteristics.
Do I need to include a personal statement on my CV? No, it is entirely optional to include a personal profile on your CV. However, it is generally recommended to include one, particularly as it serves as a little “About me” section at the top of your CV. Every written document has an introduction, why shouldn’t a CV?
Can I use the first person tense in my statement? Yes, the first and third person tenses are both fine to use – but not both. Decide on the one tense and stick to it.
Where should I include the profile statement on my CV There is no fixed place in which you should put your personal profile. Some candidates place it at the bottom of their CVs. Ideally, you should position it at the top of your CV.
What is the most important thing to include on a personal profile? Real-world examples and tangible performance indicators, for example; increased sales by x percent, managed x number of people, won such-and-such awards, improved productivity by x percent, etc. These types of information are highly valuable, as opposed to saying that you are the “best salesperson in the country” and not backing it up with any evidence!
Need help with other sections of your CV?
While you’re still here – don’t forget to check out our amazing How to write a CV guide for more practical tips on writing your perfect CV or this useful resource.
Working on your CV? Awesome!
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+40 Resume Summary Examples [+How-to Guide]
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:
- What Is a Resume Summary?
How to Write a Resume Summary
- 40+ Convincing Resume Summary Examples
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.
A good resume summary is two to four sentences long and includes information on:
- Your years of experience and job title
- 2-3 of your biggest achievements to date
- 1-2 of your top skills (that are relevant for the role)
For example:
- Detail-oriented Technical Writer with 7+ years of experience in writing end-user documentation, specializing in user help guides. Excellent writing, analytical thinking, research, and time management skills. Rewrote over 80% of user help guides for 30+ products at Company X, resulting in a 42% decrease in product-related customer support calls.
New to resume-making? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!
5 General Resume Summary Examples
- Hard-working bartender with over five years of experience providing professional and interpersonal service at various bars across Brooklyn. I have received the Hospitality Skill Certification for Bartenders and I know how to make over 200 alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Seeking the Head Bartender position at Bar X, where my service skills and beverage knowledge can be leveraged to offer customers the highest quality of service.
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.
- Communicative financial analyst, specializing in informative and persuasive financial presentations, cost accounting, and team management. Master’s Degree in Finance and two related certifications from the Corporate Finance Institute. Extensive experience with a variety of computer applications, including SQL, Equitrak, and Lawson.
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.
- Human Resources Manager with 7+ years of experience seeks to improve overall efficiency at XYZ Office. Career highlights include handling all employee relations in a 75-employee finance firm, reducing recruitment lead time by 35%, and increasing employee retention by 17%.
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.
- Detail-oriented receptionist with 4+ years of experience in customer service. Efficient in performing the administrative and front-desk tasks of large-scale offices. Fluent in Norwegian, English, Spanish, and Swedish. Proficient in MS Office Suite.
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.
- Hard-working and passionate Secondary Social Studies teacher with 10+ years of experience in creating positive environments in which teenagers can learn and grow. Incorporates interdisciplinary knowledge into the classroom to engage students of all learning orientations.
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.
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:
- Your experience summary , which includes your job titles, years of experience in the field, and, optionally, one or two of your most significant skills (e.g. “Facebook marketer with 5+ years of experience…”).
- Your general experience , such as your areas of expertise, specializations, and the sorts (e.g. “Experienced in managing Facebook ad accounts …”).
- Your top achievement(s) in the present or previous positions (e.g “Managed over $100,000 in marketing budget over several accounts”).
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.
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:
- Professional marketer manager with 5+ years of experience in digital marketing. Social media marketing experience, including Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn advertising. Experience in managing an account with a monthly budget of $30,000. B.A. in marketing management. Fluent in German.
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:
- Onboarded 100+ customers to our SaaS platform, with a retention rate of over 75%.
Or this one:
- Helped customers sign up on our platform.
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:
- Customer service representative with 5+ years of experience in telephone customer service, tech support, and customer care. Familiar with Intercom, Drift, and several other customer service software solutions. Handled up to 100 calls daily with a retention rate of over 75%.
In some fields, there aren’t many achievements that you can mention. For example, saying that you served 50 people a day isn’t an achievement if you're a server. Don’t fret! In such cases, it’s OK to stick with your key responsibilities simply.
#3. Use Power Words and Action Verbs
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:
- Spearheaded Company X’s content marketing operations.
- Responsible for content marketing at Company X.
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:
#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:
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:
- Describes your skills, educational background , and certifications that are’s relevant to the job you’re applying for.
- Mentions your purpose and motivation for applying .
- Explains how you’re going to help with the job.
Essentially, the focus is more on your motivation than your experience.
Here’s an example of a resume objective done right:
- Results-driven computer science student from University X passionate about developing user-friendly software applications. Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to perform well in a team. Seeking to help Company Y develop their product as a software engineer , as well as grow and develop my own skills as a coder.
Writing a Resume Summary: Recap
To recap everything we just covered, here are the best practices for writing a resume summary:
- Start off your resume summary by mentioning your job title and years of experience, your general expertise, and one or two of your top accomplishments.
- Tailor your resume summary to the job you’re applying for. Consider rewriting it for each job ad so that it’s tailored exactly to what the company is looking for.
- Include achievements instead of responsibilities when possible.
- Try to make your achievements as quantifiable as possible. Mention the exact numbers, dates, etc.
- Include any skills you possess that are relevant to the job. Rule of thumb, pick them up from the job description.
- Use power words and action verbs to make your resume summary really pop.
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:
- Your experience summary (how many years, doing what, etc.)
- Your general experience (more specific skills, what’s your focus)
- Your top achievements (career highlights, including quantifiable change and data)
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 Professional Resume Summary? [+Examples]
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.
- What to do when you don’t have any experience in the field?
- What are a resume objective and a resume profile?
- Examples of professional summaries from real professionals.
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:
- Resume summary
- Qualifications summary
- Resume statement
- Heading statement
- Competencies
- Career summary
- Experience summary
- Personal statement
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.
While many people still don't include the resume profile section in their resumes, it's a mistake. But why is it a mistake?
- You want to grab the recruiter's attention from the get-go.
- You'll make their life a bit easier because you'll immediately tell them who you are.
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
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:
- Write other resume sections, and then write your professional summary last. It’s surprisingly easy once you’ve already written other sections of your resume. All you have to do is cherry-pick the most impressive facts and stats.
- Pick the essential keywords from the job listing, so you can tailor your summary. Start with the job listing that made you apply for the job. Carefully reread it and find the most important keywords. These are the nouns or phrases that best describe the job position, related skills, as well as the ideal candidate. Before you begin to write, think about how they intersect with your own skills and experiences. In this way, you also have a higher chance to get through the ATS systems which companies use.
Once you start writing:
- In the first bullet point, write your professional title. Don’t forget to add the number of years of experience. You want to communicate your professional identity immediately. You can also write it in bold. It can look something like this: “Certified Project Management Professional with over 4 years of experience”.
- Pick the 3-4 most impressive parts of your resume and reword them into snappy bullet points. Tease your potential employer into reading further. Did you earn a recognition for the best customer service? Or hit 95% of sales targets for five consecutive years? These are the things that deserve a mention at the top of your resume!
- Translate each achievement into numbers. Each bullet point should contain at least one piece of quantifiable data. Use percentages, numbers, or impressive sales figures. It gives the hiring manager a better idea of how you performed in your previous jobs. Numbers attract attention. Take advantage of that.
- Sum up what you have to offer. Instead of saying what you want, keep in mind what they want. Make clear what values you can bring to the company. Look for common threads in your work history and for skills that apply most to the job.
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.
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.
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:
- State your field of study, degree, and GPA (if it’s above 3.0).
- Mention relevant skills gained in internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work.
- Add related coursework or school projects.
- Also, try to translate your most notable achievements into numbers. Maybe you were on the student council. You can mention how you received 800 votes and helped organize 5 large school events that were attended by 2,000 students.
In the end, a fresh graduate resume summary should look a bit like this:
Hired by Bupa — Business Administration Intern
- An adaptable and responsible graduate seeking an entry-level position in the Business Analytics market, Business Consultancy or Financial market.
- My double degree in Business and Law and my previous job as a financial controller have provided me with a well-rounded background and enabled me to develop an analytical/logical approach to tasks, software skills, and the ability to work under pressure.
- In short, I am reliable, hard-working with strong attention to detail and eager to learn about new technologies and business issues. I am able to work well both on my own initiative and as a part of a team. I’m also able to travel abroad.
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?
- Start by carefully rereading the job advertisement.
- Highlight any skills you already possess that match this job offer.
- See if you can think of any past accomplishments that show how you successfully used those skills in your previous job.
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
- Passionate Business Amplifier.
- Thrives in complex market segment entry and sales and marketing launch plans for technical products and services. Founder of the highly-impactful "HubSpot for Veterans" initiative.
- Proven Growth Consultant and Entrepreneurial Coach for over 200 organizations. Advocate of lean startup and data-backed strategy.
- Leadership spans career with direct application towards startups, Techstar accelerators, corporate business development, and government. ROI-focused relationship builder.
- Lifelong teacher and learner: Startup Institute, Techstarts, HubSpot Partner programs.
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:
- Marketing professional with over three years of experience in digital advertising, aiming to transition from marketing to human resources
- Certified Human Resources Assistant with a working knowledge of all software programs needed for the position such as Bamboo HR and Zenefits.
- Was in charge of recruiting and supervising summer interns and co-managing marketing budgets.
- Won the Employee of the Month Award for completing all assigned tasks and projects in a timely manner.
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:
- Your education level;
- Adjectives that emphasize your work ethic (such as competent, decisive, and accountable);
- Relevant skills gained at school, volunteering , or internships;
- Professional hobbies (for example if applying for an IT position, include that app side project you worked on).
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
- Resourceful and talented fundraiser who uses new forms of technology and existing techniques to help raise money for organizations and groups.
- Experienced in raising funds for various charitable and nonprofit institutes.
- Adept at researching and presenting an array of innovative fundraising ideas to a variety of donor audiences.
- Keen negotiator with exceptional communication time management and networking abilities.
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.
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:
- Emphasize proven experience. Instead of simply listing your skills , mention your previous accomplishments. For example, it’s much more impactful to say that you had your articles published in Forbes than to plainly claim that you’re a skilled writer.
- Try to avoid using the word “I” . It's not really necessary, especially if you write in bullet points.
- Structure it well. Take it from a professional writer — bullet points are a godsend when you need to structure your text clearly without giving it too much effort. Not only will they naturally order your resume statement into clearly delineated logical parts, but they'll also make it look good and read well. Also, make sure to write your current job title in bold.
- Keep it short. Your summary shouldn’t be longer than 5 short sentences (or bullet points). Having a long summary sort of defeats the point of having a resume summary at all. Don’t add random things. The key is to be specific.
- Read it after yourself. When you’re finished writing, read through your summary from the perspective of a hiring manager, asking “Why should we hire you?” .
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
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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25 Resume Profile Examples: Profile Summary For Any Job
I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.” Patrick I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George
1. What is a Resume Profile and what should you include in it?
2. resume profile examples you can copy and use, customer service representative, it project manager, sales representative, computer science professional, graphic designer, marketing manager, administrative assistant, software engineer, web developer, chartered financial analyst, substitute teacher, registered nurse, pharmacy technician, it specialist, computer science intern, operations manager, executive assistant, devops manager, product manager, call center specialist, 3. write a resume profile statement that gets noticed, how to write a profile for a resume, don’t write your resume profile first, 4. power up your resume profile with accomplishments, what to put in profile section of resume, resume profile entry-level achievements, was it interesting here are similar articles.
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35+ Resume Summary Examples [How-To Guide + Tips]
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:
- What a resume summary statement is
How to write a summary for a resume
- When to use a summary on a resume
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.
- Write the perfect resume summary statement with our Resume Builder
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:
A tailored summary for a resume might look like this:
- Good resume summary Strategic social media manager with four years of experience creating social content calendars. Skilled in managing and developing social media strategies, writing digital copy, and executing paid and organic digital campaigns . Experience working in collaborative environments and shooting video content.
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.
- Poor resume summary Savvy social media manager with experience working in social media and creating content for brands. Skilled writer, photographer and multitasker.
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
- Shows how many years of experience the job candidate has.
- Tells hiring managers what the candidate did for previous organizations.
- Creates impact with power words like “ambitiously” and “diligently” and action verbs like “excelled at collaborating.”
- Provides a thorough and relevant mix of soft and hard skills.
6+ years of experience resume summary example
- Tells how many years of experience the job candidate has.
- Shows hiring managers that the job applicant has a successful track record in the field.
- Highlights well-known companies as past employers.
- Emphasizes a breadth of soft skills.
Management experience resume summary example
Project manager
- Opens by telling hiring managers the job applicant is highly experienced in IT project management.
- Emphasizes project and team management skills.
- Highlights an award won and the years the candidate received it.
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
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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:
- Advanced customization: Easily change and tailor your professional summary for each job.
- Pre-written examples: Make your resume professional summary read even better by using our builder’s pre-written phrases crafted by career experts.
- Expert tips: We’ll guide you through every section so you can craft your resume with confidence.
- Easy editing tools: Make changes on the fly or go back and polish your resume after proofreading it.
- Chrome extension : With just one click, you can match your resume with the right jobs, update your resume easily and auto-fill job applications.
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 your first chance to tell the recruiter why you’re the best fit for the job. It summarizes your top achievements and skills relevant to the target job.
- Use resume summary examples for inspiration and guidance when crafting your own.
- Keep your professional summary for a resume short. It should never be longer than five sentences.
- Tailor each resume summary statement to your target job by using keywords and phrases from the job description.
- Use a resume objective instead if you don’t have a lot of work experience and want to tell the recruiter your career goals.
- Don’t repeat information. A good summary for a resume complements the other sections of your resume rather than reiterates them.
- A professional resume template can help your resume pass through most ATS software and help your resume stand out with style.
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.
- Tailored to the job
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:
- Your level of work experience.
- Soft, hard and transferable skills.
- Significant awards and honors.
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.
Related Content
Top Skills for a Resume (+ How to Write Skills on a Resume)
How to Write a Resume in 2022
How to Write Work Experience on a Resume
How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume
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