About The Authormatt Glodz
Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.
After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.
At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background – which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication – to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over eight years.
Here’s How To Create A Resume Introduction That’s Packed With Your Most Sought
A career summary can help make your resume stand out.
Writing a resume may feel like a never-ending task, but know this: Hiring managers are busy people. A single job posting might attract thousands of resumesimagine having to read through all of them to pick out the best-looking candidates. Newsflash: Hiring managers don’t read the entirety of every single resume that hits their desk. There’s just no time. A career summary for a resume saves them zillions of hours.
Instead of going line by line through each resume, hiring managers will often look for the career summary, also known as a resume personal statement or resume summary, to determine whether or not they should keep reading. What’s a career summary, you ask?;It’s;a hard-hitting introductory paragraph packed with your most sought-after skills, abilities, accomplishments, and attributes. In short, your career summary is key to getting noticed. ;
Take these six steps to create a winning career summary that can put your resume on top.
Elements Of A Strong Resume Summary Statement
The Basics Your summary statement should consist of a title and a few lines of text. The text can be in paragraph form and/or use bullets.
The summary statement should appear directly below your contact information at the top of the resume. and should reflect a general idea of your career goals.
Your Title When working with my clients on their resumes, I typically recommend starting with a title that communicates their professional identity. Think of it as a headline that will catch the readers eye and help them see your fit for the position at hand.
Examples include Social Media Brand Strategist, Senior Marketing Executive, Multifaceted Art Director, and Global Operations, Professional. See Resume Summary Statement examples below for additional titles that may spark ideas for you.
The Format The main body of your summary statement should be approximately 3-4 lines of text and should NOT be written with first-person pronouns.
If you are tempted to make your summary statement longer to squeeze in more details, resist the temptation. Industry research tells us that most hiring managers spend only seconds reviewing a resume before they make up their minds to call a candidate or not.
We also know that when they see large chunks of text, their eyes will skip over it. Therefore, it is vital to limit the length of a summary statement to ensure it gets read.
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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 companys processes by taking them online, which improved manufacturing output by 3%.
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.
How To Start A Resume With A Summary Statement
A resume summary statement is a short paragraph at the beginning of a resume that highlights a job seekers professional skills and experience. It gives hiring managers a glimpse into the job seekers expertise before diving into their resume. The goal of a summary statement is to demonstrate the job seekers unique value through their skills and accomplishments.
The summary statement typically sits right below the job seekers contact information and right above the body of the resume. A resume summary statement is often referred to by other names, including:
- Career summary
As hiring managers may read through hundreds of resumes in a week, a strong summary statement can be just what a resume needs to stand out from the pack.
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Resume Summary Statement Examples
Many people who land on our website have at least 2+ years of relevant work experience. To best accommodate this audience, weve provided 20 resume summary examples for jobseekers in a wide range of industries:
Bartender Resume Summary
Lead bartender with 3+ years of experience in cocktail preparation and creation. Deep knowledge of local craft beers, wine, spirits, and cocktails, as well as their optimal food pairings. Bartending license certified by the District of Columbia.
Related resume samples:
Business Analyst Resume Summary
Methodical business analyst with 5+ years of experience supporting business solution software and analyzing operations. Evaluated risks related to requirements implementation, testing processes, project communications, and training which saved the company $5,000+ annually.
Related resume samples:
Camp Counselor Resume Summary
Camp Counselor with 4+ years experience directing lively, interactive, and educational summer camps for youths from 5 to 15 years old. Energetic leadership style, extensive experience running summer camps. First Aid, CPR, and Lifeguarding certifications, plus Wilderness First Responder Training.
Related resume samples:
Cashier Resume Summary
Related resume samples:
Certified Nursing Assistant Resume Summary
Related resume samples:
Customer Service Resume Summary
Related resume samples:
Creating A Resume Skills Section
The skills section is an essential part of your resume. However, there are several different ways to approach creating yours.
Here are a few examples demonstrating the different ways you can format your resumes skills section:
Example 1
If you have many relevant hard and soft skills, add them to your resume skills section using separate bullet points, like this:
If youre a student or recent graduate and have no significant job skills yet, there are still plenty of things you can list in your resume skills section. Heres an example of a skills section written by a candidate with no work experience:
Example 2
Another way to organize your skills section is by using bars to provide employers a rough estimate of your proficiency.
This type of skills section is particularly popular with more creative professions, like graphic design or social media management:
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Resume Summary Vs Objective Statement
The resume objective statement is likely the introductory statement you remember using in decades past. It focuses on the job seekers needs and future goals, with no mention of the those of the company. Heres an example of a traditional objective statement:
Resume Objective: To obtain a job as a Search Engine Optimization Manager at a reputable tech company.
The traditional objective statement has become obsolete because it takes up space without offering anything valuable to the resume.
Alternatively, a career summary is geared toward the employers needs and highlights accomplishments and notable skills related to the job. When possible, it uses quantifiable metrics to add hard proof. For example:
Accomplished search engine optimization specialist with over 12 years of experience in digital marketing. Have increased organic search traffic by an average of 26% over the past 5 years.
After reading the career summary above, the hiring manager has a better understanding of the job seekers impressive abilities. The resume objective statement, on the other hand, left the hiring manager with more questions than answers.
Read more:;Resume Objective vs Summary
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 Apples App Store. Skilled with Sketch, and Adobe Creative Suite.
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If You Absolutely Must Have An Objective On Your Resume
Can’t let go of the idea of including an objective on your resume just yet? It’s not just you – many people still want to stick to the traditional format with an objective at the top of the page. If you must have an objective, make sure it’s the right one.
Resume objectives must:
- Change, depending on the job for which you’re applying. It’s no good using the same objective for multiple job openings. Resist the temptation to tweak a word or two, and;craft your resume objective from scratch;for each position under consideration.
- Contain keywords specific to the position, job description, and most valuable skills.
- Provide more than just the job title and description. Don’t waste a moment of the hiring manager’s time by repeating information they already know, such as which job you’re applying for or what the basic duties are.
- Show why you’re a well-qualified candidate for the position.
- Explain what you have to offer the employer, not what you yourself are seeking in your next job or company.
Bottom line:;every part of your resume should count, including the objective, if you feel the need to include one. Remember, you only have eight seconds in which to make a first impression on the hiring manager or recruiter. You can’t afford to waste time, especially right at the beginning of your resume. Grab their attention with a well-crafted, succinct branding statement and don’t let go.;
How To Write A Professional Summary
As we said before, a good professional summary should compel an employer to read the next section of your resume thats 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, theres a few tips and tricks you can use to craft an impressive resume summary.
Heres how you can do that:;
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Skip The I And Me Stuff
Please note again that none of these opening paragraphs are written with first-person pronouns. While you do write the paragraph in the present tense, you write it as if you are the understood subject of the resume. This allows the focus to remain on the employer.
Use of I, me, my places the focus on the applicant and the goal of the resume is to sell the employer on what you can do for THEM.
Education Doesn’t End With Your Graduation
Not too many career centers or colleges/universities prepare students for the staggering fact that their education isn’t ending. In fact, it is just starting.
Beyond your formal schooling, there’s a whole new universe of learning called “professional development.” This is the stuff that will give you the job-specific skills to be successful. The sooner you can become aware of the fact that you need to demonstrate continuous learning by taking classes, trainings, workshops, webinars, and attending conferences, tradeshows, and conventions, as well as gaining industry certifications, the sooner you’ll get ahead of anyone else in your graduating class.
This process does not end until you retire. And if you ignore this area, you will have a much more difficult time with career advancement because employers are hiring subject matter experts. How can you build your knowledge?
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Resume Summary Example For Marketing Managers
Productive marketing manager with deep sales background. Looking to leverage 9 years of marketing experience to raise ROI for Kensington APT Global. At Hasida-Taylor, increased marketing ROI 28% through implementing a robust data collection and analytics program and a lean analytics cycle. Cut costs 22% through improved vendor management.
Resume Summary Example For It Managers
Committed IT manager with 8+ years of experience. Seeking to use intensive leadership skills to improve efficiency at Jennings-Groves Medical. At Atalah-KQC Global, led team that developed a corporate auditing system that saved $110,000 annually. Designed an employee intranet for information sharing that saved 140 labor hours per year.
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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 a strict and safe deposit box operations and 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.
Focus On Intellectual Humility & Emotional Intelligence
Executives should focus on intellectual humility and emotional intelligence when creating their resume to avoid looking narcissistic and desperate.
How do you write and format a resume that shows intellectual humility and emotional intelligence? Well, first take out all of the subjective text and superlatives and only include facts. Recruiters and hiring managers just want to know the numbers. What were the results? Quantify your work experience and accomplishments. You don’t need to hype it up, which leads us to what they call empty space or white space.
You should see a shockingly large amount of white space on your executive resume. It’s going to feel weird, but it’s intentional. Simplification helps the reader focus their eyes on the most important stuff. This means you should also simplify your formatting.
On your executive resume, use an 11 pt., clean-line font like Arial or Calibri, not a script font like Times New Roman. Also, make sure you have one-inch margins to further ensure that white space effect, and no bold, italics, or underlining except in very specific places because what happens when something is bold, for example, is that the eye goes there. Knowing how to bold something strategically on your resume is key because studies show recruiters and headhunters spend an average of six seconds skimming your resume. If they do not see in those first six seconds the most important things they were told to assess you on, they won’t take a deeper look.
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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.
What Is A Good Headline Or Summary For A Resume
A resume headline should be one brief phrase; it should not even be a complete sentence. The goal is to concisely state your value as a candidate; anything longer than a phrase defeats the purpose of a headline. Use keywords. Use keywords that demonstrate your skills or experience as related to the job application.
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