How to write a resume summary that works + examples

It only takes seconds for someone to form a first impression of you, and using a resume summary is your chance to control the narrative. Resume summaries give you the opportunity to frame your career in a concise and strategic way. They can make or break your job application during the first stage of the hiring process.

Knowing how to write a summary for a resume can help potential employers connect the dots between your experience and their role. An effective resume summary makes it easier for them to see why you make a great candidate. 

What is a resume summary?

A resume summary is a brief paragraph at the top of your resume that highlights your skills, experience, and personal achievements. Sometimes called a career statement or career objective, your resume summary gives a high-level overview of your career. The goal is to summarize the rest of your resume into two to five sentences or bullet points.

Resume summaries are important because recruiters only spend an average of six to seven seconds looking at a resume. Including a professional summary allows you to point out specific qualifications that match a role. This can help recruiters and hiring managers see that information, even if they don’t thoroughly scan your resume.

Who needs to write a resume summary, and why is it important?

One factor that may influence whether you should include a resume summary is the type of resume you’re creating. Resume summaries are best for functional resumes because they emphasize professional skills rather than work history.

While anyone can include a summary on their resume, a resume summary statement can be most helpful to the following applicants: 

• Those who have extensive experience in their field
• Those who have held jobs across multiple industries
• Those who are changing careers

For example, if you’ve been in the workforce for over a decade, a professional resume summary can help you weave your experiences together with a common theme. If you’re seeking a career change from marketing manager to public relations executive, your resume summary can help describe how your marketing skills transfer to your new role.

You can think of a professional summary for a resume as a personal brand statement or executive summary of your career. It should cover your role in the workforce and how you’ve contributed to an employer’s success.

If you recently graduated from college or have held only one job, a resume summary may not make as much of an impact. If you still want to include a summary statement, you may benefit by focusing more on your career aspirations than your experience alone.

How to write a summary for a resume

A resume summary will only help your job hunt if it’s effective and well-written. To make sure you write a good summary that works in your favor, use the following resume dos and don’ts as a guide: 

• Cater to the job description and job title: Your resume summary should explain why you’re the best fit for the open position and answer the question, “Why should we hire you?” Read through the job description to match your professional statement to the key skills and experience they’re looking for.

• Highlight your experience: This is your chance to pitch yourself to a potential employer. Talk about how your expertise uniquely positions you for the role and what you bring to the table. Focus on how your experience can benefit the employer. Your summary is also a good place to mention relevant certifications.

• Talk about your strengths: Every applicant has unique skills, regardless of experience. For example, you may have acquired professional leadership skills from managing teams. Maybe you have desirable hard skills, such as knowledge of specific industry software, that make you a more competitive candidate. Use these strengths to your advantage.

• Use action verbs: Using action verbs on your resume can bring your past work experience to life. These words are often more engaging and describe exactly what you did or the impact you had. Examples of action verbs include “piloted,” “furthered,” and “boosted.”

• Don’t include your career objectives: Most hiring managers today prefer resumes that don’t include objectives such as “to obtain a chemical engineering job.” These statements don’t offer valuable information about what makes you a good candidate for the role.

• Use numbers: Employers like to see proof of your past accomplishments. Using numbers on your resume can help quantify your experience in a way that’s measurable and specific. For example, instead of saying “Boosted recurring revenue,” say “Boosted recurring revenue by 43% within six months.” Including numbers showcases measurable accomplishments, making it more impactful.
• Stay concise: The goal of a resume summary is to provide a brief description of why an employer should consider hiring you. If you make your summary too long, it may get skipped over. At best, it may be skimmed. Try to keep your summary between two and five short sentences maximum.

Once you’ve nailed the perfect resume summary, consider using it as your LinkedIn summary. This helps you stay consistent and effectively showcase your skills to recruiters. 

Resume summary examples across industries and applicant types

Examples of resume summaries can vary greatly based on your industry, professional experience, and the seniority level of the role. Below are a few examples of effective resume summaries to help get you started.

• Digital marketing coordinator with 3+ years of experience. Increased organic SEO traffic for a health care company by 37% in six months, leading to a 13% higher conversion rate. Skilled in social media, SEO, marketing strategies, and content creation.
• Recent public education graduate with a strong work ethic and passion for supporting children with special needs. Successfully taught and mentored more than 30 students during a 6-month internship with New York City Public Schools. Developed engaging lesson plans and fostered a supportive learning environment.
• Certified project manager (PMP) with 8 years of experience directing finance projects from initiation to completion. Implemented project management software for the organization to track tasks, which led to a 46% decrease in missed deadlines.
• Current civil engineering professional transitioning to architecture. Successfully managed the construction of 5 residential buildings while maintaining over 20 commercial properties. Seeking to leverage skills in infrastructure construction and maintenance to inform practical, next-level building designs as an architect.
• Freelance software developer creating engaging, minimalistic, and animated designs for high-profile clients, including Kroger, AT&T, and Microsoft. Proficient in coding languages such as JavaScript, Python, and SQL, driving customer action through innovative design solutions.
• Skilled receptionist known for being detail-oriented and adept at customer relations. Provided administrative support for a hair salon that brought in roughly 90 clients per day. Contributed to achieving a 94% customer satisfaction rate.
• Proactive writer skilled in executive communications and leadership ghostwriting. Wrote 32 speeches of various lengths between 5 and 45 minutes, with limited direction, for the CEO of a national retail chain. 
• Dynamic sales executive with 15+ years of experience exceeding sales targets and increasing profitability. Achieved a 53% increase in annual sales by implementing new lead-nurturing methodologies at a B2B services company.
• Federal computer network support specialist with Tier-2 clearance. Skilled in confidential information management. Provided technical support to government leaders.
• Seasoned director of major gifts with 7 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and donor support. Exceeded fundraising goals by 22% within the first year for a national giving campaign by using persuasion and communication skills to engage high-net-worth individuals.
• Legal assistant with 2 years’ experience conducting research, organizing legal documentation, and setting court dates. Created a new filing workflow that resulted in a 12% increase in document preparation efficiency.
• Entry-level human resources generalist with hands-on internship experience in recruiting and retention strategies. Utilized HR systems such as Gusto and Paylocity and practiced interview skills in a tech setting. 
• Registered nurse providing excellent patient care in a fast-paced hospital setting. Recognized for problem-solving and organizational skills. Consistently maintained high patient satisfaction scores and collaborated effectively with a multidisciplinary team.
• Results-oriented customer service representative with 3 years of experience and a proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams. Agile worker dedicated to high-quality service delivery and outcomes.
• Data-driven financial analyst skilled in risk management, data analysis, and financial audits. Created initiatives that resulted in an annual savings of 16%.

Resume summary mistakes to avoid & a bad resume summary example

Because a resume summary sits at the top of your resume, it’s critical that it leaves a good first impression on the hiring manager. Some common pitfalls when writing a resume summary include the following:

• Using generic statements: If your summary is too high-level, it may leave the hiring manager with more questions than answers. Be specific about your skills and personal achievements.
• Including irrelevant information: If you’re applying for a job in graphic design but use your summary to discuss your retail experience, a recruiter will likely move on, thinking you’re not a good fit for the role. Make sure you’re only including relevant skills and information.
• Leaving typos: Missing words and misspellings never look good in a professional environment. This is especially true if you’re applying for a role that involves writing. Take the time to proofread your entire resume before submitting it, or ask someone else to proofread it for you.

An example of a bad resume summary might look like this:

• Experienced software engineer. Also spent three years as a resteraunt manager. Looking to join your company’s IT department.

As you can see, this summary is vague, irrelevant, and includes the misspelling of “restaurant.” This would be a resume summary that would likely result in a rejected application.

If you need further guidance on what to avoid in your resume summary, consider using a resume builder. These online tools offer resume templates and best practices to help guide you through the writing process.

Get resume summary help and propel your next career move

A strong resume summary is an important way to make a lasting first impression on a potential employer. It offers them a snapshot of your most competitive skills and experience to set you apart in a dense crowd of applicants.

If you have your sights set on new career goals, working with a skilled career coach can help you identify your strengths and reach new career heights. Get ready to tackle your next career move with confidence by reaching out to a BetterUp Coach.