Resume Summary For Students

Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

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A resume summary statement usually comes right after a job seekers contact info and before other resume sections such as skills and work experience. It provides employers with a brief overview of a candidates career accomplishments and qualifications before they read further.

Because of how early it appears on the document, your resume summary statement is one of the first places recruiters and employers look.

And without the right information, theyll doubt that youre qualified and may move to another resume.

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

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

Student Resume: Summary Or Objective

Did you know that the HR manager spends around 6 seconds, on average, scanning each resume they get?

Thats right.

Your carefully worded resume just gets 6 seconds to convince the recruiter that youre relevant.

So, how are you supposed to do that?

Why, by using a resume summary or objective, of course!

If youre new to resumes, a summary/objective is a short statement that goes on top of your resume. Its main use is to show the recruiter that youre relevant in a single glance.

Heres what that looks like:

Now, youre probably wondering, whats the difference between a summary, and an objective? Heres your answer:

• Resume summary – Main focus is on your work experience. Youd use a summary if you have 2-3+ years of work experience.
• Resume objective – The focus is on your skills, education, and goals. An objective is perfect if you dont have any work experience.

Now, lets explain how to write each:

Employment History Or Experience Section: An Overlooked Gem

Many students writing their first resume dont bother with anything except the education section. With no job experience, it seems pointless. But even if youre young, you have lots to offer. If you do have job experience, however, you can call this the employment history section, otherwise you may choose to name it the experience section. But if done right, this section can make you look more vibrant, active and creative.

What can you write in the experience section of a student resume? Here are some ideas:

• Summer or temp jobs. You mainly want to show the employer youve already been part of the workforce. You know what a job is.
• Internships. If you have these on your list, its one of the greatest advantages possible. Internships usually take place at more complicated jobs and are related to more advanced professions.
• Social / volunteer work. This demonstrates your ability to cooperate with other people and work towards a goal.
• Other projects . Anything that didnt land in the above categories goes here. Examples: Websites you ran with friends, local community events you helped with.

Make sure to use the same approach as in the education section: provide detailed descriptions of your duties, results, projects, interactions and any pertinent information. Even if it doesnt seem that impressive to you, on your resume it shows that these were real activities and/or work experiences.

Sales Associate at Big Apple Bookstore, New YorkSeptember 2015 – June 2018

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College Student Resume No Experience

Use this template

Why this resume works

• Hiring managers understand that your resume won’t be jam-packed with highly relevant work experience while you’re in school. The key is highlighting things you do include and why they make you a strong fit for the job or internship to which you’re applying.
• For example, it doesn’t seem like being on the club basketball team is highly relevant to being a business analyst. But by focusing on how you’ve organized practices and led a local volunteer effort, your college student resume can demonstrate qualities that might appeal to a hiring manager.
• The hiring manager may be a basketball fan, so including this type of activity could help you stand out! Don’t be afraid to highlight your interests and hobbies on your resume.

Examples Of Work Experience For Senior Resumes For Students

Especially if you are already in college, you can already stop listing or at least decreasing the number of small jobs you are writing on your resume. Instead, you can add actual work experience, highlight school achievements, volunteer jobs, and include your part-time jobs, if any.

Daytona State College, Daytona Beach, FLStudent Paralegal StudiesAugust 2020 Present

Currently pursuing a two-year associate degree course in Paralegal Studies prior to entering formal law school. Completed coursework includes Business Administration, Business Law, Computer and Internet Literacy, Legal Writing and Drafting, Paralegal Office Systems, and more.

Earned Deans List recognition on my first two terms.

Volunteered to be part of the outreach programs of the colleges social services department.

Wrote a three-part feature article for the college paper.

Warm Cup Café, Daytona Beach, FLBarista, Server, and CashierJuly 2019 May 2021

Welcome customers coming into the café and offer daily specials or menu items.

Keep track of regular customers as well as their usual orders to provide exceptional customer experience.

Prepare coffee and other beverages and food items according to the stores preferred style and techniques.

Update the cafés inventory and ensure that all stocks are filled up regularly.

Keep the cafés surroundings clean, sanitary, and presentable.

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College Student Resume Skills

Its vital to list those skills in your resume relevant to your major!

They indicate that you can offer something interesting.

Moreover, do not forget to match the skills to the job description.

Find the balance between soft and hard skills and support your Experience section!

Schooling doesn’t assure employment, but skill does.

Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

Examples Of Professional Experiences For Resumes For Student Beginner/junior

Have you been volunteering lately? Do you have personal achievements that are relevant to the job post? An entry level job doesnt necessarily require actual work experience. Highlight what you have done so far instead.

For example, high school students do not have any professional experience to write. Instead, small jobs youve done in the past and volunteer work can be added to your resume instead.

Pet Care Provider Daytona Beach, FLJune 2016 September 2020Helped friends and neighbors walk their dogs once a day. Responsible for keeping pets in great behavior while walking several blocks to and from the community park.

Soup Kitchen Volunteer Daytona Beach, FLJuly 2019 PresentConsistent weekend and holiday volunteer in the community soup kitchen. Assigned to manage volunteer schedules, organize and maintain inventory of donations. Assisted in preparation and distribution of meals.

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Choosing The Best Resume Format For A College Student

The most commonly used chronological resumeformat is designed as a straightforward way for job candidates to organize their experience and qualifications below employer headings and dates, in order from most recent to earliest. But for college students or recent graduates who lack work experience, other resume formatsmay be more suitable.

Like every consideration when preparing your resume, the format you choose should depend on the type of job and industry, and how best to present yourself as an ideal match.

In cases where specialized knowledge and skills are just as important as where you have worked until now if not more so a functionalresume may be your best bet. It offers greater flexibility to emphasize your most relevant strengths up front in a section labelled Experience.

A hybrid, or combination, resume format offers even more versatility. Job seekers can integrate chronological and functional elements in the most applicable manner, and perhaps even put their education section higher up on the page.

Other resume examples

For more ideas and inspiration, check out these writing guides and resume examples from the related educationcategory:

• Academic

Read The Job Description Carefully

If you’re applying for a job, make sure you read the job description to ensure you meet the requirements and can demonstrate your abilities in your resume. If you’re unfamiliar with any jargon or software the position requires you to know, you can briefly research it to gain a better understanding. Reading the job description can also help you decide what skills or achievements to highlight in your resume summary.

It’s also important to learn more about the type of candidate the employer is looking for, by reading the requirements section. Once you have this information, tailor your resume summary to meet those expectations. Mentioning your specific skills in relation to the job description can help hiring managers quickly recognise that you’re a capable candidate with the relevant qualifications.

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Education Example: The Core Of Your Resume

As a student, educationis what youve spent the most time on previous to getting a job. Make use of this. Instead of thinking about education as a given, make it shine on your resume page.

According to research from the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, companies are actively hiring students. This is more common at the college level , but high school students can still get hired for simple jobs, especially in the service industry.

So, what should you include in this section? As this is a segment built on a bullet-point list , the general method is this: list educational experiences as bullet points. However, there are some exceptions, like these:

• If youre a college student: List your college and your high school as bullet points. For each one, provide a sub-description with samples of achievements in specific subjects, school projects, scores and evaluations.
• If youre a high school student with additional educational experience: Same as above, just excluding the college part.
• If your only educational experience is a single school: List your school as a heading and make a bullet point based on your subjects, achievements, school projects, etc.

On average, each entry-level position receives 144 applications. Each professional position gets 89 per a single listing. Some large companies may receive many thousands of resumes per week. The better the job, the higher the competition. Making your resume impress both the ATS and the hiring manager is vital.

Summary Resume Example: A Positive Portrait

If you dont have a lot of work experience, thats not a deal-breaker. The summary, sometimes known as a personal statement, provides a positive image, describes your qualifications and gives the reader a sense of your determination and drive. This is why its doubly important to craft your summary with care in a student resume. Avoid clichés and vague statements. When youve written out your profile section, ask yourself: If I read this resume, would I hire the person described here?

In a more practical sense, here are some examples and tips to follow when creating a resume for a student:

• The summary shouldnt be shorter than two or longer than four mid-sized sentences.
• Use action verbs, concrete and energetic language on your resume. Instead of High school student looking for a job write Self-disciplined and hard-working student looking for a workplace to contribute to a team, to learn and to grow as a professional.
• Provide context and specific facts where possible. Instead of Finished high school. Have a variety of hobbies. write Excelled in algebra and Spanish in high school. Developed social skills and openness in improv theater.
• Insert a couple of skills and qualities that might be interesting to an employer. Knowing languages, how to use computer spreadsheets or how to organize your schedule, or always being punctual, for example, are relevant skills and qualities.

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How To Write An Effective Resume Summary

Related: Job Cast: Tips for Making a Resume That Stands Out

Learn how to create an effective resume that may help you stand out to employers in this virtual workshop with Career Consultant Jackie Mitchell.

A resume summary statement is a one- to two-sentence professional introduction that you can add at the top of your resume to highlight your most valuable skills and experiences. The resume summary can help employers quickly learn whether you have the skills and background they require.

In this article, we look at what a resume summary is, the benefits of including one and how to write an effective summary with examples.

College Student Human Resources Executive Assistant Resume

Use this template

Why this resume works

• Wondering if you should include a career objective on your college student human resources executive assistant resume?
• As a rule of thumb, we recommend including a career/resume objective when you’re light on experience or going through a substantial career change.
• If you decide to include a career objective on your resume, it’s important to do it right.
• Each time you apply for a job, you’ll need to tailor your objective. Mention the specific job title you’re applying for and the company to which you’re applying. On top of that, you must mention a few specific skills on your resume that will help you positively contribute to the company.

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Human Resources Generalist Resume Summary Example:

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

Why this is a good resume summary:

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

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

Use Keywords From The Job Description

Write 3-5 sentences or bullet points that emphasize your fit for the role. Make sure to use keywords and phrases from the job description that relate to the job’s requirements. They’re often skills, credentials or qualities that the hiring manager looks for in a candidate. Using keywords or phrases mentioned in the job description makes your resume summary stand out to hiring managers and quickly shows them that you’re qualified for the role.

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What Is A College Student Resume Summary

A college student resume summary refers to a short paragraph at the top of a college student’s resume that briefly highlights their qualifications for the job they’re applying for. Resume summaries provide recruiters with an introduction to who you are at a glance and what makes you a strong candidate for the role you’re applying for. While most resume summaries focus on a candidate’s professional experience to give recruiters an idea of their qualifications, a college student’s resume summary focuses on their academic, volunteering or extracurricular experiences since they likely don’t have much work experience.

What Recruiters Want To See

• Convincing Education section that proves your self motivation and industry knowledge
• How could you put knowledge from college into practice?
• What skills did you acquire from college?
• Are your tutors happy with your overall performance?
• Are you ambitious? Did you take additional courses or participate in projects/competitions/presentations?

Every section should prove that you are self-motivated and will bring value to the company you work for.

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How To Create Your Prole

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

Assess your skills and credentials. How does your background and experience align with the qualications outlined in the job description? Select skills, experiences, special knowledge, and accomplishments that you want to highlight in your prole 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 prole. For example:

• Accomplished Marketing Executive with over 10 year experience in
• Fully knowledgeable in
• Experience managing professional sta including

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

College Student Resume Experience Examples

This college student takes the opposite approach.

He provides valuable statements supported with numbers and action verbs.

They leave the impression that theyve achieved a lot and every recruiter would root for them.

Pro tip

Use the keywords from the job description! Try to add them in your experience bullet points. This way, you increase your chances of being noticed by 50%!

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How To Make Your Resume Stand Out

USE A SUMMARY STATEMENT: Beginning your college student resume with a summary statement allows you to highlight your relevant job skills even if you lack extensive professional experience. Its a smart way to catch the interest of a hiring manager right off the bat.

SHOWCASE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS: Dont hesitate to toot your own horn on your resume: describe your GPA , academic achievements, and contributions to campus and community organizations.

HIGHLIGHT RELATED EXPERIENCE: Participating in extracurricular activities and campus organizations helps to develop teamwork, communications, and leadership skills that are very attractive to employers. Describe how these experiences have provided you with many of the soft skills that will enable you to be a productive employee.