Career Sidekick

24 Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Biron Clark

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

A resume summary statement usually comes right after a job seeker’s contact info and before other resume sections such as skills and work experience. It provides employers with a brief overview of a candidate’s career accomplishments and qualifications before they read further. Because of how early it appears on the document, your resume summary statement (or your CV “profile” in the UK) is one of the first places recruiters and employers look. And without the right information, they’ll doubt that you’re 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, I’ll also share my best tips to write your resume summary effectively.

Why the Resume/CV Summary is Important

You may have heard that recruiters only spend 8-10 seconds looking at your resume. The truth is: they spend that long deciding whether to read more. They do glance that quickly at first and may move on if your background doesn’t look like a fit. However, if you grab their attention, they’ll read far more. Recruiters aren’t deciding to interview you in 8-10 seconds, but they are ruling people out in 8-10 seconds. And this is why your resume summary is so crucial. It appears high up on your resume (usually right after your header/contact info) and is one of the first sections employers see. So it’s part of what they’ll see in the first 8-10 seconds.

Your resume summary statement is one of your first (and one of very few) chances to get the employer to stop skimming through their pile of resumes and focus on YOU.

Watch: Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

10 resume summary examples:.

These career summary examples will help you at any experience level – whether you’re writing a professional summary after a long executive career, or writing your first resume summary without any experience! After you finish this article you’re NEVER going to have to send out a limp, weak resume summary statement again (and you’ll get far more interviews  because of it).

1. Healthcare Sales Executive Resume Summary Example:

Turnaround & Ground Up Leadership – Concept-to-execution strategies for untapped products, markets + solutions that yield 110% revenue growth – Negotiates partnerships with leading distributors + hospitals—Medline to Centara + Novant Health to Mayo Clinic –  Revitalizes underperforming sales organizations via scalable, sustainable infrastructures emulated as best practice –  C-Level networks of clinical + supply chain leadership acquired during tenures with XXX, XXX and XXX

Why this resume summary is good:

This resumes summary example’s strength lies in the detailed, unique information that has been included. By including revenue stats, names of past employers and partners, the reader right away sees that this person will bring to the role a strong networking ability with key players in his industry, and more importantly can build, grow and revitalize a sales organization, market or product.

By:  Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor.

2. 15+ Year Business Owner Resume Summary Statement:

Dynamic and motivated marketing professional with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, designing educational strategies, and coaching individuals to success. Skilled in building cross-functional teams, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, and making critical decisions during challenges. Adaptable and transformational leader with an ability to work independently, creating effective presentations, and developing opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Why this is a good summary section:

This is a resume summary statement that was for  a candidate returning to work after having her own business for 15+ years. Because of this, we needed to emphasize her soft skills and what she can bring to this potential position. In addition, we highlighted the skills she has honed as a business owner so that she can utilize these qualifications as a sales professional, account manager , and someone knowledgeable about nutrition, medicine, and the overall sales process.

By: Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish. MBA, Ph.D., CPRW, and Founder of Feather Communications

3. 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 (in the first & fourth sentences) and soft skills (in the second & third sentences). They also integrate a variety of keywords to get past automated job application systems , without sounding spammy or without overdoing it.

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

4. Social Media Marketing CV Profile Example (UK):

Social media expert with successes in the creation and management of social media strategies and campaigns for global retail organisations. Extensive experience in the commercial utilisation of multiple social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube; I build successful social strategies that increase brand awareness, promote customer engagement and ultimately drive web traffic and conversions.

Why this summary is good:

This summary is well-written, short, sharp, and gives recruiters a high-level explanation of the candidate’s core offerings in a persuasive and punchy style. A quick scan of this profile tells you the exact type of social media platforms the candidate is an expert in, as well as the campaigns they have experience running and types of organizations they have worked for. Most importantly, the summary is rounded off by showing the results that this person achieves for their employers, such as increased web traffic and conversions.

Editor’s note: This CV profile summary was written for the UK market… this is a great one to use/copy, but make sure you put it through a spell-checker if you’re applying for jobs in the US (utilisation vs. utilization, etc.)

By: Andrew Fennell, Director at StandOut CV , contributor for The Guardian and Business Insider

5. Marketing Manager Professional Summary Example:

Marketing Manager with over eight years of experience. Proven success in running email marketing campaigns and implementing marketing strategies that have pulled in a 20% increase in qualified leads. Proficient in content, social media and inbound marketing strategies. Skilled, creative and innovative.

This resume summary stands out because it gets straight to the point. By immediately introducing the number of years of experience the candidate has, the HR manager doesn’t need to spend time adding up years. The candidate also jumps right into his or her strongest skill, provides a statistic , then gives additional skills.

By: Sarah Landrum, career expert and contributor at Entrepreneur.com and Forbes

6. Warehouse Supervisor Resume Summary Example:

Warehouse Supervisor with Management, Customer Service, & Forklift Experience –  Dependable manager with 15+ years of experience in warehouse management and employee supervision. –  Skilled at managing inventory control, shipping & receiving, customer relations and safety & compliance. –  Certified Power Equipment Trainer, Forklift Operator and Reach Operator skilled at coaching other staff. –  Promoted to positions of increased responsibility given strong people and project management skills.

The applicant was applying for a warehouse supervisor position that required them to have demonstrated management, customer service and forklift experience. As such, the applicant showcased their experience in these areas with a few keywords in the title, followed by additional details in the accompanying bullet points. Their final bullet shows a record of promotions, while reinforcing the applicant’s customer service and project management skills.

7. IT Project Manager Resume Summary Example:

Experienced Project Manager with vast IT experience. Skills include computer networking, analytical thinking and creative problem solving. Able to apply customer service concepts to IT to improve user experience for clients, employees and administration.

Because this candidate is switching career paths, it’s important he or she take skills used for previous positions and apply those skills to the new job listing. This is a great example because the candidate makes it clear that his or her experience is not in the new field, but that they are still able to bring relevant experience to the table. When writing your resume summary, keep these tips in mind: Use writing that is straight to the point, clear and concise, you’ll have a higher chance of getting noticed by the hiring manager.

8. Career-Changer Resume Summary Example:

Earn trust, uncover key business drivers and find common ground as chief negotiator and identifier of revenue opportunities in sales, leadership and account management roles spanning e-Commerce, air travel and high-tech retail. Navigate cultural challenges while jumping time zones, lead international airline crews and manage corporate accounts to deliver an exceptional customer experience. A self-taught techie sought after as a go-to for complex billing systems and SaaS platforms alike—bridging the divide between technology and plain-speak. – Tenacious Quest for Success + Learning . Earned MBA and BS in just 3 years while working full-time – gaining hands-on experience in research- and data-driven product roadmap development, pricing and positioning. – Results-Driven Leadership. Whether leading Baby Boomers, Gen X or Millennials—figures out what makes teams tick, trains and transforms individuals into top-performers. – Challenger of Conventional Wisdom. Always ask the WHY. Improve the user experience through smart, strategic thinking that anticipates outcomes. Present cases that influence, and lead change that drives efficiency and profitability.

This client was eager for a career change and had moved from role to role and industry to industry. After completing her Master’s degree, she was eager to tie her skills together to land a role – which she did – as a Senior Technology Account Strategist for a global travel company. Although a bit longer than a traditional summary, its strength lies in the details. Without ever getting to the experience section, the reader gets a clear idea of the scope of responsibility, and hard and soft skills the candidate brings to the table.

By: Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor.

9. Project Management Executive Professional Summary Example:

15+ years of initiating and delivering sustained results and effective change for Fortune 500 firms across a wide range of industries including enterprise software, digital marketing, advertising technology, e-commerce and government. Major experience lies in strategizing and leading cross-functional teams to bring about fundamental change and improvement in strategy, process, and profitability – both as a leader and expert consultant.

Why this resume summary is good:

“Project Manager” is one of those job titles that’s REALLY broad. You can find project managers earning $50K, and others earning $250K. The client I wrote this for was at the Director level, and had worked for some of the biggest and best tech companies in her city. So this resume profile section shows her level and experience, and the wide array of areas she has responsibility for in her current work. You can borrow or use some of the phrasing here to show that you’ve been responsible for many important areas in your past work.

By: Biron Clark, Founder of  CareerSidekick.com.

10. Startup And Finance Management Consultant Career Summary Example:

Experienced strategist, entrepreneur and startup enthusiast with a passion for building businesses and challenging the status quo. 8+ year track record of defining new business strategies, launching new ventures, and delivering operational impact, both as a co-founder and management consultant. 

Why this resume summary example is good:

This summary was for a highly-talented management consultant looking to break out of finance, and into trendier tech companies like Uber . His track record and educational background were great, so the goal of this summary section was to stand out and show he’s more than just the typical consultant with a finance background. So we emphasized his passion for startups, and his ability to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. That’s something that companies like Uber and other “disruptive” tech companies look for.

14 Resume Summary Examples for Various Industries

Compassionate and effective 5th-grade teacher with experience overseeing the classroom and preparing lessons. Extensive experience encouraging students through positive reinforcement and motivational techniques. Collaborate well with school administration and other members of the teaching team. Ensure all students meet learning requirements, including literacy, social, and arithmetic skills.

2. Teacher’s Assistant

Goal-oriented teacher’s assistant with ten years of experience working with elementary school children. Aid teachers with lesson planning, classroom settings, and group instruction. Model positive behavior and maintain order in the classroom. Willingness to take on additional responsibilities to meet learning objectives.

Tech Industry

3. computer programmer.

Innovative computer programmer with a proven track record of writing high-quality code and supporting team needs with subject matter expertise. Adept in multiple programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and C++. Ability to troubleshoot complex programming issues with inventive solutions. 

4. Cybersecurity Analyst

Dedicated cybersecurity analyst with ten years of experience in online security research, execution, planning, and maintenance. Proven track record of identifying business risks and proactively resolving them. Experience designing and instituting layered network security for large-scale organizations. Train users and other staff members on IT safety procedures and preventive techniques.
Skilled healthcare professional with ten years of experience in patient care, diagnosis, and providing appropriate treatments and medical services. Manage medical staff and resolve complex medical cases with maximum efficiency. Communicate the patient’s condition and treatment plan in easily understood terminology. Remain current with the latest advancements in medicine and research to ensure patients receive proper care.

6. Registered Nurse

Seasoned registered nurse offering comprehensive patient care in emergency room settings. Experience handling diverse patient populations and caring for various conditions. Proven leadership managing nursing teams and other staff. Focus on enhancing patient care and satisfaction through empathetic communication and excellent customer service. 

7. Digital Marketing Manager

Forward-thinking digital marketing manager experienced in all facets of digital marketing, including social media management, PPC advertising, SEO, and email marketing. Proven experience creating comprehensive marketing plans that improve lead prospecting and enhance brand awareness. Up to date with the newest tools available for digital marketing campaigns.

8. Marketing Analyst

Industrious marketing analyst well-versed in analyzing marketing campaign analytics and making recommendations to improve performance. Collaborate with account managers and use KPI metrics to explain the results of marketing initiatives. Meticulous with a strong work ethic and robust communication skills.

Food and Service Industry

Experienced wait staff member capable of managing orders, processing payments, and upselling menu items. Ensure restaurant guests feel welcome with attentive service catered to their needs. Remain current on updates to the menu and assist guests with selecting orders to meet their dietary requirements. Maintain a positive attitude and focus during busy restaurant periods.

10. Hotel Receptionist

Friendly hotel receptionist with extensive experience handling guest check-ins, check-out, and payments. Facilitate a positive guest experience with polished customer service skills and a readiness to address common inquiries and complaints. Collaborate well with other hotel team members, including executive administration and on-site restaurant staff.

Business/Office Jobs

11. financial analyst.

Highly motivated financial analyst with a proven track record of recommending appropriate financial plans based on financial monitoring, data collection, and business strategizing. Experienced in qualitative and quantitative analysis, forecasting, and financial modeling. Excellent communication skills for building and fostering long-term business relationships across the organization.

12. Tax Accountant

Experienced tax accountant with ten years of experience preparing federal and state tax returns for corporations and partnerships. Monitor changes in laws to ensure the organization properly complies with reporting requirements. Assist with tax audits, ensuring the team receives proper supporting evidence for tax positions. Analyze and resolve complex tax issues. Look for available tax savings opportunities for corporations with an aggregate savings of $500K last year. Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.

Sales and Customer Service

13. sales representative.

Enthusiastic sales representative with expertise in identifying prospects and converting qualified leads to paying customers. Provide quality customer service and contribute to team sales success. Offer exceptional communication skills and seek to understand client needs before making the appropriate product recommendations. Continually meet and exceed sales goals. Leverage extensive knowledge of available products to provide appropriate client solutions and enhance customer loyalty and retention.

14. Customer Service Associate

Knowledgeable customer service professional with extensive experience in the insurance industry. Known as a team player with a friendly demeanor and proven ability to develop positive rapport with clients. Maintain ongoing customer satisfaction that contributes to overall company success. Highly articulate, with a results-oriented approach that addresses client inquiries and issues while maintaining strong partnerships. Collaborate well with the customer service team while also engaging independent decision-making skills.

Now you have 24 professional resume summary statements and some explanations of why they’re effective. Next, I’ll share tips for how to write your own in case you’re still unsure how to begin based on these examples above.

How to Write a Resume Summary: Steps and Hints

We’ve looked at 10 great resume summary examples above. As you begin writing a resume summary for yourself, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

  • Read the employer’s job description. Your career summary shouldn’t be a long list of everything you’ve done; it should be a refined list of skills and experiences that demonstrate you’re a fit for their job.
  • Mention your current job title if relevant. One common way to begin your resume summary is to state your current job title.
  • Explain how you can help employers achieve their goals or solve their problems.
  • Consider using bold text to emphasize one or two key phrases.
  • Include any relevant metrics and data like dollar amounts, years of experience, size of teams led, etc. This helps your resume stand out.
  • Focus on making the employer want to read more. The goal of your resume summary isn’t to show everything you can do, but to grab their attention and show enough that they continue reading.

Creating a Customized Resume Summary

While general summaries are appropriate when applying for jobs requiring similar skills and experience, a customized resume summary can enhance your chances of moving on to the next step in the hiring process. 

That’s because most companies use automated tracking systems (ATS) to review submitted resumes for content directly related to the job posting. If you use keywords and natural language phrases in your summary that interlink to the job description, you’ll have a much higher chance of passing the ATS review.

Let’s look at an example of a resume summary that is customized for the specific job description below:

Social Media Specialist Job posting

“Highly motivated social media specialist with strong project management skills. Creative marketer skilled in crafting innovative social media campaigns that resonate with a target audience. Regularly develop compelling copy and social media content to enhance lead generation and brand awareness. Detail-oriented with extensive project management skills that ensure proper prioritization of tasks and projects. Work with various social media management and analytics tools to examine results and make adjustments as necessary.”

This summary directly addresses the key points in the job description but rewrites them so the customization is natural and flows well. It’s personalized for the open role and uses similar terms with a few strategically placed keywords, such as “social media content” and “project management.”  

How Long Should a Resume Summary Be?

As you read the resume summaries above, you probably noticed there are some short single-paragraph resume summary examples and much longer career summaries that are two to three paragraphs plus bullet points. So how long should YOUR professional summary be? If you have relevant work experience, keep your summary to one or two paragraphs. The piece you really want the hiring manager to read is your most recent work experience (and you should make sure you tailored that info to fit the job description). The resume summary is just a “bridge” to get the hiring manager into your experience.

If I were writing my own career summary right now, I’d likely use one single paragraph packed with skills, accomplishments, and exactly why I’m ready to step into the job I’ve applied for and be successful!

Even for a manager resume summary, I recommend a very short length. However, if you’re changing careers, or you’re looking for jobs without any work experience , the summary section needs to stand on its own, and should be longer. That’s why some examples above are a bit longer.

Formatting Your Resume/CV Career Summary

You may have noticed a variety of different formats in the career summary examples above. There isn’t one “right” way to format this section on your resume or CV. However, I recommend either using one or two brief paragraphs, or combining a short sentence or paragraph with bullets. Avoid writing three or four long paragraphs with no special formatting like bullet points. That’s simply too much text for your summary section and will cause recruiters and hiring managers to skip over it in some cases.

Should You Include a Resume Objective?

You do not need to include an objective on your resume, and doing so can make your resume appear outdated. Use a resume summary instead of an objective. Follow the resume summary examples above and focus on discussing your skills, qualifications, and achievements, rather than stating your objective. Employers know that your objective is to obtain the position you’ve applied for, and the resume objective has no place on a modern resume/CV in today’s job market.

Examples of Bad Resume Summaries

Now that we’ve seen a few exemplary resume summaries, let’s look at some that you should avoid at all cost.

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors

“Experienced cashier who knows how to run the register cash. Responsible with the money and can talk with the customer. Knows when to stoc up the invenory and checks it all the time. Can count change and run credit card tranactions. Get the customer happy by good service. I am always cheerful and organized.”

Why this resume summary is bad:

If you read the summary carefully, you’ll notice several spelling errors. The words “stock,” “inventory,” and “transactions” are all spelled wrong. Grammatical errors make the summary choppy and difficult to follow (“Get the customer happy by good service”).  A summary like this probably won’t fly with a company looking for a detail-oriented cashier responsible for managing in-person sales.

2. Lacks Relevant Keywords

“Talented worker with experience managing a team of staff. Creative and responsible with knowledge of organizational processes. Can keep up with the busiest of environments. Stays focused when at work, ensuring prompt task completion. Dependable and willing to collaborate with a team to get things done.”  

In this example, the chef doesn’t use keywords relevant to cooking, restaurants, or kitchens. The summary is very generic and can apply to nearly any job. A manager who receives the application isn’t likely to understand what value the candidate can bring to the restaurant.  To fix the summary, the applicant must rewrite it to include relevant keywords and phrases. 

3. No Numbers to Quantify Achievements

“An experienced and hardworking manager ready to align procedures for maximum revenue and profits. Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in higher sales and better customer satisfaction. Collaborate well with sales team members, ensuring they have the resources and knowledge to support customer purchases and inquiries. Develop strong rapport with clients and maintain ongoing relationships.”

This isn’t a terrible summary for a sales manager, but it has room for improvement. For one, the first two sentences essentially duplicate each other, mentioning an aptitude for improving processes with the objective of higher sales. The other issue is a lack of quantifying achievements. 

The applicant mentions they have a proven record of increasing sales, but they could strengthen the summary by quantifying their results. For example, they might say, “Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in a 25% increase in sales over the past year.” The quantifier provides additional credibility. 

4. Not Targeting the Specific Job

“Looking for work in a role that requires great customer service, project management, and communication skills. Able to collaborate with people from diverse and varying backgrounds. Highly organized and reliable worker with a strong work ethic. Responsible and reliable worker you can count on.”

While the candidate lists various skills they have, including customer service and project management, there’s no indication of prior roles held or what position they’re applying for. The summary could apply to numerous positions in a variety of industries. To improve the resume summary, the applicant must specify the job they’re applying for and indicate their prior experience in a similar role, if they have any.

After You Start Getting Interviews, Make Sure to Take Advantage…

If you follow the advice above, you’ll have a great professional resume summary to make your qualifications stand out to employers. But landing the interview is only half the battle… So make sure you go into every interview ready to convince employers that they should hire you, too! If you write a great resume summary example that gets employers excited to interview you, they’re going to ask you questions like, “tell me about yourself” early in the interview to learn more about your background. So make sure you’re prepared with an answer.

I also recommend you review the top 20 interview questions and answers here.

Your resume caught their interest, so naturally, they’re going to follow up with a variety of questions to learn more about your professional background.

The bottom line is: A strong professional resume summary, followed up by other well-written resume sections will get you the interview, but your interview performance is what determines whether you get the job offer!

Biron Clark

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

More Resume Tips & Guides

Crafting the perfect resume for teens (template & expert advice), are resume writers worth it, don’t say you’re a quick learner on your resume, what do recruiters look for in a resume, chronological resume: the best format (and how to write it), the 3 best colors for a resume, career change resume: examples and tips from experts, what makes a good resume 9 ways to know, how long should a resume be, walk me through your resume: answer examples, 41 thoughts on “24 resume summary examples that get interviews”.

I would recommend to customise the skills section of your resume, and ensure that it matches the job posting. The higher the number of phrases within the resume matching the job requirements the more are the chances that the recruiter will pick you for the job.

I just wanted to say, “thank you!”. This was very helpful. Instead of jumping from one website to the next there’s so much useful, relevant information right here.

Hi, I have been having trouble creating a resume as My old one is so long, I’ve worked for a government agency for the past 14 years and held multiple positions doing many different duties for each and now I have to relocate to another area where they do not have an agency like mine in my new area within a 3 hour drive, how can I squeeze all my experience and duties on one page and where do I even start, I’m so nervous, it’s been so long since I’ve attempted the job hunt. So I’m wondering, I do not want to cut anything out that may hurt my chances and I can’t afford to have my resume rewritten by a professional. Can you guide me as to where you think would be a good place to start, I’ve been staring at this laptop for weeks trying to decide on a resume template, there are so many. I thank you for your time and any input will help.

Hi, I am a new graduate and do not have any experience in my field which is Nursing. I want to apply for the jobs but I have no idea about what to mention in my resume.

Hi, this article should help with the resume summary, at least: https://careersidekick.com/summary-for-resume-no-experience/

Other than that, you need to put your academic experience. And internships/part-time jobs if you’ve had any.

Dear Biron,, Thanks for sharing the 10 examples of professional summaries in your article, and especially the reasons why they were considered to be good. However, as a HR professional, I would most likely skip over most of them and would not read much past the first or second sentence. The summaries were mostly too wordy and boring, and did not demonstrate ‘oomph’ at first cursory reading. Simply indicating certain skills or behaviors does not give an idea of the level of expertise, and could simply be wishful thinking on the part of the resume writer.

Just goes to show that there are many ways to see what makes a good summary.

I am a chemical engineer and project management professional with 15+years experience. My experience is between process engineering and project management . How can I marry the two in my profile summary?

It’s not about showing everything you’ve done. It’s about showing employers evidence you’ll succeed in their job. You can show a bit of both but focus heavily on what’s most relevant for the jobs you’re applying for right now. 80/20.

This was absolutely helpful and amazing! Thank you very much!

Hello, I am an active job seeker. I hold a law degree from a foreign country and currently in college for an associate degree. My question is, how do I blend both my foreign job experience with that of the United States in my resume. Thank you.

I’d put your work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent up top. That’s what I’d recommend for 95% of people actually. Then it doesn’t matter where you held each job.

And then in your Education section, I’d include your foreign degree and the current degree you’re pursuing in the US, too (for the US degree, you can say “in progress” or “graduating May 2019” for example).

I am 40 years old & B.A degree holder I have experience in many fields.I would like to join any one fields

I am a fresh graduate, who has five years teaching experience and some months customer service representative experience. Pls kindly assist me to put the resume summary together

I’m an active duty service member and finding in a little difficult creating a good transitional summary from 20 year profession in tactical communications to a drug and alcohol counselor. Do you have any recommendations how I should approach this? Any assistance would be helpful. Thanks

Great piece

How to write the CAREER ABSTRACT in resume for ware super visor retail business?

Just wanted to say thank you.Your advise and information was clear and easy to understand , sometimes there is nothing pertaining to what im looking fot in particular, buy you have sermed to cover everything I n a short quick easy to understand method.It will help tremendously.

Thanks! Glad to hear it helped :)

Very informational

What if you have work experience, but the job your going for(teachingeducation) has nothing to do with warehouse work? How should I build my resume?

In the summary, describe yourself and then say, “…looking to transition into ___” (the type of work you want to be doing now).

This is a bit like a resume “Objective”. I normally don’t recommend an Objective section (and I recommend a Summary section instead), however the one time an Objective does make sense is when you’re trying to change industries or make a big change in the type of role you have.

So that’s why my advice here might seem like I’m telling you to combine an Objective with your resume Summary.

Then “tailor” your previous work to be as relevant as possible. Even if you worked in a different industry you can still show things like leadership, accountability, progress/improvement, hard work, achieving goals, strong teamwork skills, etc. You can do all of that in your resume bullets and work history.

Don’t u have Resume Summary of legal secretary/legal assistant?

No, sorry about that. There are hundreds of different professions/job titles, and we aren’t able to include an example for every scenario out there. These resume summary examples are designed to give you a general idea of how to write yours.

The summaries listed are excellent example and have helped me develop a stand out summary for a new position.

Hello, I been trying to land the job of my dreams. I need help with my resume if i want the recruiters in airlines to notice me. I’ve applied before but haven’t had complete success to making it to a face-to Face Interview. It is a career change – yet i feel i am a great candidate bc i have had many customer service and I even attended an academy for that specific position. Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong on my resume ?

what if i never had a job experience?

Great question. If you don’t have any work experience, take one of the formats/examples above and put your accomplishments and qualifications from your academic studies.

Your headline could say: “Motivated Bio-Sciences Graduate With Expertise in ____”.

And then you might talk about accomplishments in school, group projects you worked on or led, etc.

Basically, when you have no work experience, your school/studies BECOMES your recent work. You should talk about that like it’s a job, because that’s the experience you do have.

really amazing article and too useful , thanks

Hi Mr. Clark, I have been out of the work force for about 18+years and I have been a small business owner for the same number of years. However, I want to go back to the work force. But my problem is that, I don’t know how to prepare my resume or resume summary statement. I had a degree in Communication,Arts and Sciences and a postgraduate degree in Public Administration. I’m a bit confused as to how to incorporate all these experiences into my resume. Please can you help?

Hi Dorothy, I can recommend a professional resume writer if you want. But they’re typically not cheap, so it’s something you’d have to be willing to invest in. If not, there’s a lot of free info online about how to “tailor” your resume for specific jobs. I can’t help one-on-one unfortunately, but I’d recommend thinking about which type of jobs you want, and think of what experience you have that is most relevant. that’s what to put on your resume. Your resume isn’t only about you, it’s about them – what do they want/need? (if you want to get a ton of interviews, that’s how to do it :) ).

Can I have a professional resume writer?

I use a similar format when writing my opening statement for my coverletter. How do you recommend differentiating the two? Or is it ok to use largely the same language?

I think it’s okay to use something similar. I might be more brief in the cover letter… it needs to be about them just as much as it’s about you. Whereas the resume is all about you, at least in the summary section. (The later sections should still be tailored to THEIR needs..)

Struggling to write a Summary Statement for a Secretary/Administrative Assistant position. I have 15 years government experience but have been away from the government since 9/1993 and have spent 15 years as a Substitute Teacher after taking off for 10 years to raise my children.

Hiya! I am a mother of three attempting to return to the workforce. I have been a stay at mom for about 13 years, so I have a (large) gap in my employment history; which doesn’t look great. I have a college education and have obtained a few certifications whilst not employed, plus many volunteer hours. I know that I should probably use a functional resume format. Would love some advice on what I should include in my summary statement.

Hi Juniper,

I rarely like functional resumes, but it might be worth trying. I’d “split-test” it (a marketing term). Create two resume styles, send out 50% one way, 50% the other way, and track results for a week.

I’d treat the resume summary statement just like any other resume. Highlight your skills and past wins/accomplishments.

how do i explain long term gaps in employment? leave them out?

Hi Paulette,

Don’t mention them on a resume summary. But do mention the gaps on a cover letter or lower down on the resume. Here’s an article on how to explain gaps in employment:

https://careersidekick.com/explaining-gaps-in-employment/

I am student in civil engineering field. Have 1.5 yrs of work ex. How should i structure my resume. Thanks.

Hello My name is Shataka and I’m a current job seeker trying to land my dream job as a Counselor. I have Master degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. My experience lies in many different fields. I’m currently a Substance Abuse Counselor, with a teaching background and over 5 years of social service experience. I guess my question is how would I sum up all my experience to help me find a job as a Counselor.

Comments are closed.

86+ Resume Summary Examples To Inspire You

Discover how to write a compelling resume summary that’s ATS-friendly and tailored for any job situation.

author image

Customers Interviewed by:

amazon

A resume summary is like an elevator pitch — a quick, punchy way to say “Here’s what I can do.”

Today, most resume writers and career coaches recommend adding a summary to your resume. “A professional summary is an amazing resource to optimize your resume with keywords, catch an employer’s attention, and provide career highlights,” says resume writer Jazlyn Unbedacht .

In this article, we’ll show you how to write an attention-grabbing resume summary that’s ATS-compatible and tailored for any job scenario. Plus, we’ll provide you with plenty of resume summary examples to help inspire you.

What is a professional resume summary?

A resume summary is a brief statement placed near the top of your resume . It highlights your relevant skills, experience, and achievements.

A summary is like a teaser commercial. It quickly shows hiring managers why you’re the ideal candidate for the job. It also encourages them to read your work history for proof of what your summary claims you can do.

Typically, a resume summary is 2-5 sentences long. Your summary should go right under your contact information. (If you’re using a resume headline , your summary should follow that).

Here’s an example of what a resume summary looks like and where it should appear:

Resume summary example.

How to write a powerful resume summary

Your resume summary should condense your professional background, skills , and achievements into a few impactful sentences. All effective resume summaries present the same basic information.

  • Start with your title or role – What you do or what you specialize in.
  • Add your experience – How many years you’ve been doing what you do.
  • Highlight your achievements – One or two standout successes.
  • List your key skills – Focus on those most relevant to the job.
  • Conclude with your overall strengths – Talk about what you bring to the table.

Here’s how to put it all together in a simple, easy-to-follow formula:

[Your Professional Title] with [Years of Experience] years of experience. Proven track record in [Top Achievement 1] and [Top Achievement 2] . Skilled in [Skill 1] , [Skill 2] , and [Skill 3] . Known for [Unique Value or Strength] .

Digital Marketing Specialist with 5+ years of experience . Proven track record in increasing online engagement by 30% and boosting conversion rates by 15% . Skilled in SEO , content marketing , and social media strategy . Known for exceptional analytical skills and creative problem-solving .

Match report example.

When should you use a resume summary?

We highly recommend using a resume summary in the following situations:

  • When you have lots of relevant experience : A summary quickly shows hiring managers your rich career history and why you’re a great fit.
  • When you possess unique skills or achievements : Adding these to your summary can help you stand out from other candidates.
  • When you want to incorporate relevant keywords : The summary is a great place to include keywords that hiring managers will be searching for. (See “How to Tailor Your Resume Summary” further down).

Add measurable achievements to your resume summary

40% of recruiters say the biggest mistake job seekers make on their resumes is not measuring their achievements.

What’s a measurable achievement? It’s an achievement that has a number attached to it. For example: “Increased departmental sales by 25% within one year through strategic product placement.”

Experienced Digital Marketing Specialist with 5+ years in the tech industry, specializing in SEO, SEM, and content marketing. Achieved a 40% increase in organic traffic for a SaaS company in 6 months, significantly boosting subscription sales. Skilled in using analytics to enhance marketing strategies and ROI.

Measurable achievements impress hiring managers because they show how well you did your job. They prove your value and indicate the kind of positive impact you could have in your new role.

Having trouble coming up with measurable achievements? Here are some ideas to consider:

  • Sales and revenue: Dollar amount or percentage growth.
  • Cost savings: Amount or percentage of costs saved.
  • Productivity: Time saved or percentage increase in output.
  • Project management: Projects completed ahead of schedule or under budget.
  • Customer satisfaction: Improvement in satisfaction ratings or retention rates.
  • Marketing metrics: Audience growth, engagement rates, or campaign performance.
  • Product development: Number of products launched or users acquired.
  • Quality assurance: Percentage decrease in errors or audits passed.

Read more : 80+ Resume Accomplishments Examples to Show Your Value

Add certificates and licenses to your resume summary

If you hold a license that is required for the job you’re targeting, you should definitely mention it in your resume summary. The same goes for important certifications.

Don’t just put your licenses and certifications in your summary. Add them to your education section as well. This is where you can get into more detail about each credential.

Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with a valid New York State Professional Engineer (PE) license and over 5 years of experience in civil engineering projects. Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams to exceed project delivery expectations on time and within budget.

Read more : 27+ Free Certifications to Add to Your Resume

Add honors and awards to your resume summary

If you’ve received honors or awards that highlight your expertise, mention them in your resume summary. Make sure they’re relevant to the job you’re targeting. You should also list them in your “Honors and Awards” resume section, where you can go into more detail.

Award-winning Graphic Designer with over 7 years of experience in creating compelling visuals for leading brands. Recognized with the 2022 American Design Award for innovative digital advertising campaigns. Expert in Adobe Creative Suite, with a proven ability to deliver designs that engage and convert.

Write your resume summary AFTER you’ve completed the rest of your resume. You’ll then know exactly which specific skills and achievements to include in your summary.

Resume summary vs resume objective

Depending on your situation, you might want to use a resume objective instead of a resume summary. Both introduce you to the hiring manager, but they serve different purposes.

A resume summary highlights your key achievements, skills, and experience. A resume objective outlines your career goals. In other words, a resume objective is more about what you’re looking for in your career .

If you fall into one of the following categories, you might consider using a resume objective instead of a resume summary:

  • A recent graduate – You’ve recently finished school and are entering the job market for the first time.
  • Any entry-level job seeker – You have little to no professional experience in your desired field.
  • Returning to the workforce – You have significant gaps in your employment history and want to explain your situation while focusing on your future career goals.

To write a resume objective, follow this formula:

[Describe yourself briefly] seeking a [type of position] to leverage [key skill or experience] in contributing to [company or team’s] goals around [specific goal or project] .

Recent marketing graduate with a passion for digital media seeking an entry-level role to leverage skills in social media and content creation in contributing to enhancing brand engagement.

Read more : 54 Examples of Effective Resume Objectives

Don’t use personal pronouns (e.g., “I,” “me,” “my”) in your resume summary, or anywhere else on your resume. Your resume shows your achievements and skills; it shouldn’t tell your personal story.

How to write a career change resume summary

If you’re changing careers , should you use a resume summary or a resume objective? The answer is – you should use a hybrid .

A hybrid summary/objective addresses your career change and the reasons behind it. But it also mentions your relevant skills and experiences.

This approach allows you to explain your shift while highlighting how your background equips you for your new path.

[Your Professional Title] transitioning to [New Professional Field/Title] . Bringing [Years of Experience] years of experience in [Previous Field] with transferable skills in [Skill 1], [Skill 2], and [Skill 3] . Proven success in [Top Achievement 1] and [Top Achievement 2] from previous role. Eager to apply [Unique Value or Strength] in [New Field] .

Project Manager transitioning to Digital Marketing . Bringing 8 years of experience in project management with transferable skills in team leadership, strategic planning, and analytics . Proven success in completing projects 20% under budget and improving team efficiency by 35% . Eager to apply strategic insight and problem-solving abilities in digital marketing campaigns .

Read more : How to Change Careers in 5 Steps

How to tailor your resume summary to the job

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is using the same resume to apply to different jobs. Instead, you should tailor each resume (and your resume summary!) to the job you’re targeting.

When you submit your resume it goes into a computer database. This database is called an Applicant Tracking System , or ATS. Hiring managers search through the database by typing keywords (which are usually skills) into the ATS search bar. If your resume doesn’t include those keywords it won’t be found.

The problem is that the same skills can be worded differently from company to company. So you have to read the job description to see how the skills are worded.

For example, if you were applying to the following accounting job, you’d probably want to include some of the underlined keywords on your resume:

Job description with keywords underlined.

Your resume summary is a great place to add important keywords. If you were writing a resume summary for this accounting job, it might look something like this:

Resume summary example.

Tailoring each resume increases the chances of getting an interview. But it can be time consuming. It can also be hard to know which keywords are the most important.

Do not lie on your resume! If you don’t have the skills listed in the job description, don’t add them to your resume. Tailoring your resume isn’t about tricking the hiring manager. It’s about optimizing your resume so it can be found.

To optimize your resume faster and more effectively, use Jobscan’s resume scanner . This tool analyzes your resume against the job description and provides you with a resume score .

This score tells you how well your resume matches the job description. The higher your score the more likely a hiring manager will find your resume when searching through an ATS database.

After you paste your resume and the job description into the tool, click “scan.” You’ll then receive a match report that looks like this:

To increase your score, add the missing keywords (marked in red) to your resume. Jobscan’s resume scanner has a free version you can access here .

NOTE : Jobscan’s resume tool now has an AI-powered resume summary generator. With this innovative tool, you can create a professional summary statement in seconds…

statement on a resume

Read more : How to Tailor Your Resume

Resume summary do’s and don’ts

Here are some essential do’s and don’ts to guide you when you write your resume summary.

  • Tailor It to the Job: Use keywords from the job description.
  • Highlight Achievements: Use measurable accomplishments.
  • Keep It Concise: Aim for 2-5 sentences.
  • Use Active Language: Start sentences with exciting action verbs.
  • Focus on Value: Emphasize how you can contribute to the employer.
  • Use Generic Phrases: Avoid terms like “hard worker” or “team player.”
  • Be Vague: Be specific about your skills, experiences, and achievements.
  • Use the First Person: Avoid using “I,” “me,” or “my.”
  • Include Irrelevant Information: Focus on relevant skills and achievements.
  • Be Too Long: A lengthy summary can lose the reader’s attention.

86 powerful resume summaries for every profession

Use the following professional resume summary examples to inspire and guide you as you create your own. No matter what field you’re in, you should be able to find a summary that resonates with your career goals and experiences.

Each example is crafted to showcase key professional skills, achievements, and the unique value you bring to potential employers.

Accounting resume summary examples

Highly analytical and detail-oriented accounting professional with over 5 years of experience in financial reporting, tax preparation, and audit support. Proven ability to improve financial processes, enhance accuracy, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Skilled in leveraging accounting software and analytical tools to provide key financial insights and support business decisions.

See the full accounting resume example here.

Dedicated Accountant with 4 years of experience in managing accurate financial records, budgeting, and tax filing for diverse clients. Demonstrated expertise in streamlining financial processes, reducing errors by 20%, and enhancing operational efficiency. Proficient in GAAP, financial analysis, and software such as QuickBooks and SAP.

See the full accountant resume example here.

Motivated Staff Accountant with 3 years of comprehensive experience in financial statement preparation, general ledger management, and variance analysis. Successfully contributed to financial audits, resulting in a 15% reduction in discrepancies. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve financial accuracy and organizational goals.

See the full staff accountant resume example here.

Administrative and office support resume summary examples

Versatile Administrative Professional with over 6 years of experience in supporting daily operational and administrative functions across various industries. Known for improving organizational processes, enhancing workflow efficiency by 25%, and maintaining utmost confidentiality. Expert in managing schedules, coordinating meetings, and implementing office management systems that support business objectives.

See the full administrative resume example here.

Dynamic Executive Assistant with 5 years of experience providing high-level support to C-suite executives. Specializes in managing complex calendars, coordinating international travel, and facilitating effective communication between executive offices and internal departments. Increased office efficiency by 30% through the implementation of new organizational procedures. Exceptional problem-solving skills and dedication to confidentiality.

See the full executive assistant resume example here.

Experienced Office Administrator with a strong track record in managing office operations, financial bookkeeping, and HR duties within fast-paced environments. Implemented an inventory management system that reduced supply costs by 20%. Skilled in streamlining administrative processes, enhancing productivity, and fostering a positive work environment through excellent interpersonal and team management abilities.

See the full office administrator resume example here.

Proactive Office Assistant with 3 years of experience in supporting office administration, enhancing organizational efficiency, and providing exceptional customer service. Played a key role in reorganizing the filing system, leading to a 40% improvement in document retrieval times. Adept at managing multiple priorities with a keen attention to detail and a strong work ethic.

See the full office assistant resume example here.

Experienced Operations Manager with 7 years in streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency, achieving a 20% improvement in productivity. Expert in supply chain management, team leadership, and lean techniques. Proven track record in driving operational excellence and profitability.

See the full operations manager resume example here.

Experienced Office Manager with 8 years of expertise in optimizing operations and reducing costs by 30%. Skilled in team leadership, budget management, and improving office efficiency. Committed to supporting business goals with meticulous organization.

See the full office manager resume example here.

Organized Personal Assistant with 5 years of experience supporting C-level executives. Expert in managing schedules, coordinating travel, and handling confidential tasks. Successfully organized a major international conference, showcasing exceptional event planning skills.

See the full personal assistant resume example here.

Efficient Receptionist known for enhancing customer experiences through prompt service and a positive attitude. Managed a busy front desk with over 50 daily visitors and a 95% satisfaction rate. Excelled in multitasking and problem-solving to support office needs.

See the full receptionist resume example here.

Dedicated Secretary with 4+ years in high-demand environments, improving office workflows and document management. Implemented a new filing system that increased retrieval efficiency by 40%. Adept at scheduling, minute-taking, and providing comprehensive administrative support.

See the full secretary resume example here.

Proactive Administrative Assistant with 3 years of experience in fast-paced offices. Streamlined administrative processes, resulting in a 20% increase in efficiency. Skilled in data management, scheduling, and supporting team logistics with a keen eye for detail.

See the full administrative assistant resume example here.

Business and analysis resume summary examples

Detail-oriented Business Data Analyst with 4 years of experience in translating complex data into actionable business insights. Led a data analysis project that increased revenue by 15% through targeted marketing strategies. Expert in statistical analysis, data visualization, and making data-driven recommendations.

See the full business data analyst resume example here.

Strategic Business Analyst with over 5 years of experience in optimizing business processes and improving profitability. Successfully implemented a new CRM system, increasing customer retention by 20%. Skilled in requirements analysis, project management, and stakeholder communication.

See the full business analyst resume example here.

Analytical Data Analyst with 3 years of experience in interpreting and analyzing data to drive successful business solutions. Developed a dashboard that reduced report generation time by 30%. Proficient in SQL, Python, and data visualization tools.

See the full data analyst resume example here.

Innovative Data Engineer with 4+ years of experience in designing and building scalable data pipelines. Enhanced data processing speed by 40% through the implementation of efficient ETL processes. Skilled in big data technologies, database management, and cloud computing platforms.

See the full data engineer resume example here.

Technology and engineering resume summary examples

Skilled Engineer with 5 years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing innovative solutions across various engineering disciplines. Demonstrated success in project management, leading to a 15% reduction in project timelines and a 10% decrease in costs. Proficient in the latest engineering software, analytical problem-solving, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet project specifications and deadlines.

See the full engineering resume example here.

Innovative Computer Science Engineer with 5 years of experience in developing robust software solutions. Led a team to develop an app that received 100,000+ downloads within the first month. Specializes in algorithm optimization and system security.

See the full computer science and engineering resume example here.

Creative Android Developer with 3 years of experience in building user-centric mobile applications. Increased user engagement by 40% through intuitive app redesigns. Proficient in Kotlin, Java, and Android SDK.

See the full Android developer resume example here.

Detail-oriented Front-End Developer with 4 years of experience in creating responsive and visually appealing websites. Improved website speed by 33% for a major e-commerce platform. Expert in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React.

See the full front-end developer resume example here.

Versatile Full Stack Developer with 5+ years of experience in developing scalable web applications. Led a project that resulted in a 50% increase in website traffic through performance enhancements. Skilled in both front-end and back-end technologies.

See the full stack developer resume example here.

Experienced Java Developer with 6 years of experience in building high-performance applications. Developed a Java-based system that reduced processing time by 25%. Expert in Spring Framework and microservices architecture.

See the full Java developer resume example here.

Dedicated Network Engineer with 4 years of experience in designing and maintaining secure network infrastructures. Achieved a 99.9% network uptime rate by implementing robust monitoring strategies. Skilled in Cisco systems and network security protocols.

See the full network engineer resume example here.

Skilled Programmer with 3 years of experience across multiple programming languages. Automated internal processes, resulting in a 20% increase in operational efficiency. Proficient in C++, Python, and JavaScript.

See the full programmer resume example here.

Dynamic Python Developer with 4 years of experience in web development and data analysis projects. Enhanced data processing speeds by 35% through optimized Python scripts. Expert in Django and Flask frameworks.

See the full Python developer resume example here.

Innovative Software Developer with 5 years of experience in developing scalable software solutions. Contributed to a project that increased company revenue by 18% through software optimization. Proficient in multiple programming languages and agile methodologies.

See the full software developer resume example here.

Detail-oriented SQL Developer with 4 years of experience in database design and optimization. Improved data retrieval times by 40% through advanced query optimizations. Skilled in SQL Server, MySQL, and database administration.

See the full SQL developer resume example here.

Creative Web Developer with 3 years of experience in designing and implementing user-friendly websites. Increased conversion rates by 30% through A/B testing and website redesign. Proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.

See the full web developer resume example here.

Results-driven Civil Engineer with 5 years of experience in infrastructure project management. Led a bridge construction project completed 3 months ahead of schedule and 10% under budget. Specializes in structural design and project coordination.

See the full civil engineer resume example here.

Innovative Electrical Engineer with 6 years of experience in designing and implementing electrical systems. Increased system efficiency by 20% through the development of a new circuit design. Expert in power systems and electronic hardware development.

See the full electrical engineer resume example here.

Eager Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer with a strong foundation in mechanical design and analysis. Internship project contributed to a 5% increase in the efficiency of a manufacturing process. Proficient in CAD software and thermodynamics.

See the full entry-level mechanical engineering resume example here.

Experienced Mechanical Engineer with 7 years of experience in product design and optimization. Led a team that improved product durability by 30%, significantly reducing warranty claims. Expert in 3D modeling, finite element analysis, and materials science.

See the full mechanical engineering resume example here.

Customer service resume summary examples

Dedicated Customer Service professional with over 4 years of experience in enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Implemented a feedback system that increased customer satisfaction scores by 25%. Known for exceptional communication skills and the ability to resolve issues efficiently.

See the full customer service resume example here.

Results-oriented Customer Service Manager with 6 years of experience leading service teams to exceed customer expectations. Increased team efficiency by 30% through targeted training and development. Expert in strategic planning, team leadership, and customer relationship management.

See the full customer service manager resume example here.

Committed Customer Service Representative with 3 years of experience in fast-paced environments, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate. Reduced call handling time by 20% without compromising service quality. Skilled in problem-solving, communication, and providing high-quality customer support.

See the full customer service representative resume example here.

Education resume summary examples

Passionate Educator with over 5 years of comprehensive experience in developing curriculum and teaching strategies that foster student engagement and learning. Successfully raised student literacy rates by 20% through innovative teaching techniques. Committed to creating an inclusive and stimulating learning environment.

See the full education resume example here.

Creative Elementary Teacher with 4 years of experience in fostering a positive and engaging learning environment for diverse classrooms. Implemented a differentiated learning approach that increased student math scores by 15%. Specializes in creating interactive and inclusive lesson plans.

See the full elementary teacher resume example here.

Dedicated High School Teacher with 6 years of experience in delivering high-quality education in science subjects. Led a student science fair project that won 1st place in a state competition. Known for inspiring students through hands-on learning and critical thinking exercises.

See the full high school teacher resume example here.

Compassionate Preschool Teacher with 3 years of experience in early childhood education. Developed a language immersion program that improved children’s language skills by 30%. Specializes in creating a safe and nurturing learning environment for young learners.

See the full preschool teacher resume example here.

Visionary School Principal with 10 years of leadership experience in improving school performance. Increased school graduation rate by 25% through strategic initiatives and community partnerships. Expert in educational leadership, staff development, and curriculum planning.

See the full principle resume example here.

Analytical Research Assistant with 2 years of experience supporting academic research projects. Contributed to a research study that was published in a top-tier academic journal. Skilled in data collection, analysis, and academic writing.

See the full research assistant resume example here.

Experienced Research Associate with 5 years in academic and field research, specializing in environmental studies. Led a research project that contributed to a 10% reduction in local water pollution levels. Proficient in statistical analysis, project management, and grant writing.

See the full research associate resume example here.

Finance resume summary examples

Detail-oriented Finance Professional with 5 years of experience in financial analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning. Successfully managed a $5M budget, reducing costs by 15% while optimizing resource allocation. Known for strong analytical skills and precision in financial forecasting.

See the full finance resume example here.

Reliable Bank Teller with 3 years of experience in fast-paced financial environments, maintaining a record of 100% accuracy in transaction processing. Implemented a customer service initiative that increased customer satisfaction ratings by 20%. Skilled in cash handling, customer service, and financial software.

See the full bank teller resume example here.

Trustworthy Financial Advisor with over 6 years of experience in helping clients achieve their financial goals, increasing client portfolio returns by an average of 10% annually. Expert in retirement planning, investment strategies, and risk management. Committed to providing personalized financial guidance.

See the full financial advisor resume example here.

Analytical Financial Analyst with 4 years of experience in financial modeling, variance analysis, and forecasting. Played a key role in a team that achieved a 5% reduction in operating costs through strategic financial planning. Proficient in Excel, SQL, and financial reporting tools.

See the full financial analyst resume example here.

Healthcare resume summary examples

Compassionate Healthcare Professional with over 5 years of experience in providing top-notch care in various medical settings. Improved patient satisfaction scores by 30% through dedicated patient advocacy and care coordination. Skilled in patient assessment, treatment planning, and healthcare administration.

See the full healthcare resume example here.

Efficient Medical Assistant with 3 years of experience in fast-paced clinic environments, supporting patient care and administrative duties. Increased clinic efficiency by 20% through the implementation of an improved patient scheduling system. Proficient in clinical procedures, patient education, and electronic health records.

See the full medical assistant resume example here.

Friendly Medical Receptionist with 4 years of experience in managing front-office duties and patient flow for busy healthcare facilities. Enhanced patient check-in process, reducing wait times by 25%. Known for excellent communication skills and a strong ability to manage patient inquiries and appointments.

See the full medical receptionist resume example here.

Detail-oriented Phlebotomist with 2 years of experience in performing venipuncture with a 98% first-attempt success rate. Contributed to a 15% increase in laboratory efficiency by improving sample processing times. Committed to patient comfort and accuracy in specimen collection.

See the full phlebotomist resume example here.

Dedicated Nurse with 6 years of experience in providing comprehensive patient care in hospital settings. Reduced readmission rates by 20% through effective discharge planning and patient education. Specializes in acute care, patient advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

See the full nursing resume example here.

Experienced Nurse Practitioner with 5 years of practice in primary care, delivering patient-centered solutions that improved patient health outcomes by 40%. Expert in diagnosing and managing chronic conditions, health promotion, and disease prevention.

See the full nurse practitioner resume example here.

Compassionate Registered Nurse with 4 years of experience in critical care units, achieving a patient satisfaction score of 95%. Led a quality improvement project that decreased medication administration errors by 50%. Skilled in emergency care, patient education, and team leadership.

See the full registered nurse resume example here.

Human resources resume summary examples

Strategic Human Resources Professional with 6 years of experience in developing and implementing HR strategies that support business objectives. Enhanced employee retention by 25% through targeted development programs and benefits optimization. Expert in talent management, employee relations, and compliance.

See the full human resources resume example here.

Motivated Entry-Level Human Resources Graduate with internships and academic projects demonstrating strong foundations in HR principles and practices. Led a university project that improved student engagement in career services by 30%. Eager to apply knowledge in talent acquisition, employee onboarding, and HR analytics.

See the full entry-level human resources resume example here.

Versatile HR Generalist with 4 years of experience managing a wide range of HR functions, including recruitment, performance management, and employee relations. Improved overall employee satisfaction by 20% through the implementation of a comprehensive wellness program. Skilled in HR policy development and workforce planning.

See the full HR generalist resume example here.

Dynamic Recruiter with 5 years of experience in sourcing and attracting top talent, filling over 100 positions annually in a competitive market. Increased hiring efficiency by 35% through the development of a streamlined recruitment process. Proficient in candidate screening, interview techniques, and employer branding.

See the full recruiter resume example here.

Legal resume summary examples

Skilled Attorney with 7 years of experience in [specialization, e.g., family law], achieving a 90% success rate across 200+ cases. Streamlined case preparation processes, reducing time to trial by 30%. Expert in negotiation, litigation, and client advocacy, committed to delivering exceptional legal outcomes.

See the full attorney resume example here.

Detail-oriented Legal Assistant with 3 years of experience supporting attorneys in high-volume law firms. Enhanced document preparation efficiency by 25% through improved organization and workflow management. Skilled in legal research, document drafting, and case management software.

See the full legal assistant resume example here.

Experienced Legal Secretary with over 5 years of expertise in managing complex legal administrative tasks. Streamlined office operations, reducing paperwork processing time by 20%. Known for exceptional organizational skills, fast typing speed, and maintaining confidentiality in sensitive matters.

See the full legal secretary resume example here.

Dedicated Paralegal with 4 years of experience in litigation and corporate law, contributing to a 15% increase in case efficiency. Specializes in legal research, drafting legal documents, and case preparation. Proven track record of managing multiple cases simultaneously with high attention to detail and accuracy.

See the full paralegal resume example here.

Marketing resume summary examples

Dynamic Marketing Professional with 5 years of experience in developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies that increased brand awareness by 40%. Expert in market analysis, campaign management, and cross-functional team leadership. Proven ability to drive market growth and enhance brand positioning.

See the full marketing resume example here.

Results-driven Account Manager with 4 years of experience in managing client portfolios and strengthening relationships, resulting in a 25% increase in client retention. Skilled in negotiation, strategic planning, and customer service excellence. Committed to maximizing client satisfaction and revenue growth.

See the full account manager resume example here.

Innovative Digital Marketing Specialist with 3 years of experience in driving online presence and engagement through targeted digital campaigns. Achieved a 50% increase in social media traffic and a 20% conversion rate improvement. Proficient in SEO, PPC, and content marketing strategies.

See the full digital marketing resume example here.

Creative Marketing Specialist with 4 years of experience in developing and implementing effective marketing strategies, leading to a 30% increase in leads. Expertise in market research, brand management, and event planning. Known for exceptional analytical skills and creative solutions.

See the full marketing specialist resume example here.

Strategic Product Manager with 5 years of experience in leading product development cycles and launching products that increased market share by 15%. Specializes in user experience, competitive analysis, and product lifecycle management. Adept at working with cross-functional teams to achieve product goals.

See the full product manager resume example here.

Engaging Social Media Manager with 3 years of experience in growing online communities and enhancing brand presence, resulting in a 40% increase in follower engagement. Expert in content creation, social media analytics, and influencer partnerships. Known for innovative social media strategies and a deep understanding of digital trends.

See the full social media manager resume example here.

Pharmaceutical resume summary examples

Dedicated Pharmaceutical Professional with 6 years of experience in medication management, patient counseling, and clinical research. Led a team in a successful clinical trial that resulted in a 20% improvement in patient outcomes for a new medication. Committed to advancing pharmaceutical care and patient health.

See the full pharmaceutical resume example here.

Experienced Clinical Pharmacist with 5 years of expertise in acute care settings, optimizing medication therapy to improve patient outcomes by 25%. Specializes in therapeutic drug monitoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practice. Recognized for exceptional patient education and advocacy.

See the full clinical pharmacist resume example here.

Detail-oriented Pharmacist with 7 years of experience in retail and hospital pharmacies, increasing prescription volume by 30% through efficient service and patient care. Expert in pharmacology, drug interactions, and regulatory compliance. Dedicated to providing high-quality pharmaceutical care and support.

See the full pharmacist resume example here.

Skilled Pharmacy Technician with 3 years of experience in fast-paced pharmacy settings, supporting pharmacists in medication dispensing and inventory management. Contributed to a 20% reduction in medication errors through meticulous attention to detail and protocol adherence. Proficient in pharmacy software and customer service.

See the full pharmacy technician resume example here.

Project management resume summary examples

Strategic Project Management Professional with over 5 years of experience in leading projects from conception to completion across various industries. Successfully delivered projects 20% under budget and ahead of schedule, enhancing operational efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction. Expert in aligning project objectives with business goals, risk management, and team leadership.

See the full project management resume example here.

Innovative Agile Project Manager with 4 years of experience in facilitating agile practices and improving team performance in fast-paced environments. Achieved a 30% increase in project delivery speed by optimizing agile methodologies and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Skilled in Scrum, Kanban, and cross-functional team leadership.

See the full Agile project management resume example here.

Experienced Construction Project Manager with a track record of completing multi-million dollar projects on time and within budget, resulting in a 15% increase in profitability. Specializes in contract negotiations, resource allocation, and quality control, with a strong focus on safety and compliance.

See the full construction project manager resume example here.

Dedicated IT Project Manager with 6 years of experience in managing complex IT projects, including software development and system implementations. Delivered a company-wide ERP system upgrade, enhancing operational efficiency by 25%. Expert in project lifecycle management, stakeholder communication, and IT infrastructure.

See the full IT project manager resume example here.

Organized Project Coordinator with 3 years of experience supporting project planning and execution in dynamic project environments. Contributed to improving project tracking mechanisms, reducing project delays by 20%. Adept at resource scheduling, documentation, and facilitating effective communication between project teams and stakeholders.

See the full project coordinator resume example here.

Versatile Project Manager with 5 years of experience in delivering projects on time and under budget across various sectors. Led a portfolio of projects that resulted in a 40% improvement in productivity for clients. Expert in developing project scopes, coordinating teams, and managing stakeholder expectations.

See the full project manager resume example here.

Certified Scrum Master with 4 years of experience in guiding teams on Scrum practices and enhancing team agility. Improved team velocity by 35% through effective backlog management and sprint planning. Passionate about fostering a collaborative environment and resolving impediments to team progress.

See the full scrum master resume example here.

Seasoned Senior Project Manager with over 8 years of experience in overseeing large-scale projects from inception to completion. Achieved a 95% project success rate by implementing best practices in project management and leadership. Specializes in strategic planning, risk management, and enhancing team productivity through expert guidance and mentorship.

See the full senior project manager resume example here.

Sales resume summary examples

Dynamic Sales Professional with 4 years of experience in driving revenue growth and exceeding sales targets in competitive markets. Achieved a record 40% year-over-year sales increase through strategic client engagement and innovative sales tactics. Expert in relationship building, market analysis, and negotiation, with a proven track record of closing deals and fostering customer loyalty.

See the full sales resume example here.

Results-oriented Sales Manager with 6 years of leadership experience, overseeing sales teams to achieve a 50% increase in annual sales revenue. Specializes in developing sales strategies, coaching sales professionals, and penetrating new markets. Demonstrated ability to lead by example, motivate teams, and drive significant revenue growth through effective management and innovative sales initiatives.

See the full sales manager resume example here.

Writing and content creation resume summary examples

Creative Writer with 5 years of experience across various genres and mediums, including digital content, fiction, and technical writing. Successfully increased web traffic by 40% for several online platforms through SEO-optimized articles and engaging content. Known for a versatile writing style, meticulous research skills, and the ability to meet tight deadlines.

See the full writer resume example here.

Dynamic Copywriter with 4 years of experience in creating compelling marketing and advertising copy that increased customer engagement by 30%. Specializes in brand storytelling, product descriptions, and targeted email campaigns. Proven track record of boosting brand awareness and conversion rates through creative and persuasive copy.

See the full copywriter resume example here.

Experienced Grant Writer with a strong history of securing funding for nonprofit organizations, achieving a success rate of over 80% on submitted proposals. Specializes in researching grant opportunities, writing persuasive proposals, and managing grant submissions. Contributed to securing over $3 million in funding for various projects and initiatives.

See the full grant writer resume example here.

Detail-oriented Technical Writer with 6 years of experience in creating clear and concise technical documentation, user manuals, and help guides across various industries. Successfully simplified complex technical information, resulting in a 50% reduction in customer support queries. Skilled in collaborating with technical teams to ensure accuracy and usability of documentation, with a strong focus on enhancing user experience and product adoption.

See the full technical writer resume example here.

Key takeaways

  • A resume summary is a brief, punchy statement that highlights your skills, experience, and achievements.
  • It’s recommended for all job seekers, from entry-level to executives and career changers.
  • Consider using a resume objective instead of a summary if you’re a recent graduate, entry-level job seeker, or returning to the workforce.
  • Your summary should be tailored to include keywords for ATS optimization.
  • Your summary should be positioned near the top of your resume, under your contact information and headline.
  • Effective summaries are 2-4 sentences long, offering a snapshot of your professional profile.
  • Start with your professional title, followed by years of experience, major achievements, key skills, and unique strengths.
  • Including measurable achievements in your summary can significantly enhance your resume’s impact.
  • Tailoring your resume for each job application increases your chances of passing through ATS and getting noticed by employers.
  • For career changers, a resume summary can highlight transferable skills and the value you bring to the new field.
  • Writing your resume summary after completing the rest of your resume ensures it accurately reflects your most relevant qualifications and achievements.

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

A resume summary should be written in the first person, but with the pronouns (e.g., “I,” “me,” “my”) omitted. This style keeps the resume professional and focused on achievements and skills rather than reading like a personal narrative. For example, instead of saying “I am a skilled project manager,” you would write “Skilled project manager.” This approach maintains a professional tone while making the summary more concise and impactful.

The resume summary comes directly after your name and contact information. If you’re using a resume headline, the summary should come after that.

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

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

A summary of qualifications is the same as a resume summary. It emphasizes key accomplishments, qualifications, and certifications while presenting you as the best candidate for the job.

A resume summary statement is often referred to by other names, including: • Career summary • Career synopsis • Personal statement • Professional summary • Summary of experience • Summary of qualifications • Qualifications summary • Competencies

A good summary for an entry-level resume should focus on educational achievements, relevant coursework, soft transferable skills , and any related internships, volunteer work , or extracurricular activities.

Starting a resume summary effectively means grabbing attention fast. You can lead with your experience, skills, or top achievements to immediately show you’re the right fit. Use exciting action verbs to introduce your skills and experience.

When crafting a resume summary with no experience, focus on your educational achievements, relevant coursework, and transferable skills from activities like volunteering. Emphasize your eagerness to learn, dedication, and how your background aligns with the position you’re seeking. If you’re building your resume from scratch, try Jobscan’s free resume builder . There are no hidden costs and it allows you to build an ATS-compatible AI resume in no time!

author image

Robert Henderson, CPRW, is a career advice writer and a resume expert at Jobscan.

Related Articles

Action verbs

August 28, 2024

Resume skills

August 27, 2024

Thoughtful businessman think of online project looking at laptop at workplace, dreamy professional consider solution sit at work desk with computer, student search new idea inspiration in office cafe

August 22, 2024

a man's hand outstretched with a holographic image of three people figures with star ratings below

August 16, 2024

Business person sitting in first class.

August 14, 2024

Three people working together

August 10, 2024

how far back should a resume go?

August 8, 2024

job_search

Join 2 million job seekers who get bi-weekly job search tips

Get insider knowledge and ready-to-use job-seeking tips and hacks delivered to your inbox.

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

  • Resume and Cover Letter
  • 27 Great Resume Summary...

27 Great Resume Summary Examples to Get Hired

20 min read · Updated on August 28, 2024

Ken Chase

Your resume summary is the first impression you make on potential employers, so it's crucial to get it right

When it comes to job applications, your resume is often the first point of contact with prospective employers. It's essential to make a good impression right from the start, and that's where your resume summary comes in. 

What is a resume summary? 

How can you create one that will help your resume stand out from the competition?

In this article, we'll explain the resume summary and why it's so vital for job search success. We'll also teach you how to write a great resume summary that will grab any employer's attention and provide 27 fantastic resume summary examples that you can customize to fit your job search needs.

What is a resume summary?

To understand a resume summary, it's important to understand the challenge that good summaries are designed to overcome. Employers who are looking for new hires often need to compare many dozens or even hundreds of resumes to find the best candidates for the job. Few hiring personnel have the time needed to thoroughly examine every single resume that they receive.

Instead, employers typically spend no more than five or six seconds scanning any given resume. If a resume manages to capture their interest in those few seconds, they'll take the time to read it in greater detail. 

However, if your resume doesn't grab their attention, it's likely to be rejected without any further examination. So, the challenge is to find a way to quickly earn the reader's interest and inspire them to read the rest of the document.

That's where a professional summary for a resume comes into play. As you'll see from our resume summary examples, a good summary is the resume equivalent of a salesperson's elevator pitch. 

This brief statement should highlight your experience and job title, one or two key skills, and a couple of your most prominent achievements. When your summary is crafted well, it will provide the employer with a quick overview of your potential value as a new hire.

Once you've written your summary, you should place it right after your contact information and resume headline so that it's the first thing employers see. If you've done your job properly, that summary will be compelling enough to make the reader want to learn more about the type of value you can bring to the job.

How should you start a resume summary?

Since your summary is designed to capture the reader's attention, it's vital to start this paragraph off in a compelling way.  While the statement should be brief, it should also clearly communicate your unique value proposition. Here are some examples of strong opening statements:

Innovative Marketing Manager with over five years of experience in developing and executing successful campaigns for Fortune 500 companies

Results-driven Sales Executive with a proven track record of exceeding revenue targets and building strong client relationships

Skilled Customer Service Representative with expertise in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and communication

Tips for writing a resume summary

To make sure that you create the most powerful resume summary possible, follow our top tips:

Be specific

When writing a resume summary, it's essential to be specific and quantify your achievements wherever possible. Instead of saying, "Experienced marketing professional," try saying, "Experienced marketing professional with expertise in managing successful social media campaigns, resulting in increases of up to 30% in website traffic."

This provides concrete evidence of your skills and demonstrates your value to potential employers.

Reflect on your career

When it comes to writing a strong resume summary, you should engage in some self-reflection. Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take some time to think about your key skills, experiences, and achievements. This will help you identify the most important information to include in your summary. Review your past roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments, and think about how they relate to the job you're applying for. Ask yourself:

What have I achieved in my career?

What skills have I developed?

What makes me stand out from other applicants?

Identify your key skills

One of the most important things to include in your resume summary is your key skills. These are the abilities that set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers. Begin by making a list of your top skills, then prioritize them based on relevance to the job you're applying for.

Highlight your relevant experiences

Next, think about relevant experiences that you can include in your summary. This includes any previous jobs or internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities that have given you valuable experience. Consider what you've learned and achieved in each role and how that relates to the job you're applying for.

You should focus on what is most relevant to your target job. Here are some examples:

Proven ability to increase sales revenue by 20% year-over-year

Expertise in project management and team leadership

Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365

Confident working with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders

Keep it concise

Remember, your resume summary should be concise and to the point. Stick to the most important information and avoid filler words or irrelevant details. A good rule of thumb is to keep your summary to 3-5 sentences.

Use action verbs

When describing your experiences and achievements, use strong action verbs and adverbs to convey a sense of accomplishment and momentum. For example, instead of saying, "Responsible for managing social media accounts," say, "Successfully manage 4 social media accounts, including Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram."

Quantify your achievements

Wherever possible, use numbers and statistics to quantify your achievements. This provides concrete evidence of your skills and demonstrates your value to potential employers. For example, instead of saying, "Helped to increase sales," say, "Helped to increase sales by 20% in the first year."

Tailor it to the job

Make sure your resume's professional summary is tailored to the job you're seeking. This means highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role. Look at the job description identify the key requirements, and then make sure your summary addresses these points.

Professional resume summary examples

Since there's nothing quite like seeing an example of a great summary, we've compiled twenty-seven great resume summary examples that you can use as inspirational templates for your own perfect resume . Below, you'll find summary examples for a variety of different job roles, including:

Customer Service Representative

Sales Representative

Marketing Manager

Project Manager

Software Developer

Human Resources Manager

Graphic Designer

Registered Nurse

Financial Analyst

Administrative Assistant

Data Entry Clerk  

Business Analyst

Operations Manager  

Mental Health Counselor

High School Teacher

Event Manager

Product Designer

Content Marketer

SEO Specialist

Bank Teller

Software Support Specialist

Data Scientist

Dental Assistant

1.    Customer Service Representative resume summary example

"Highly motivated Customer Service Representative with 5 years of experience in delivering service excellence. Skilled in conflict resolution and problem-solving, resulting in a 95% customer satisfaction rate. Proven ability to multitask in fast-paced environments while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's experience and skills while also showcasing their relevant achievements in ensuring customer satisfaction. It mentions how much experience they have and highlights a measurable success.

2.    Sales Representative resume summary example

"Dynamic Sales Representative with a track record of exceeding sales quotas by 20%+. Proficient in consultative sales techniques and relationship building. Exceptional communication and negotiation skills with the ability to close deals."

Why it works : This summary provides a quantifiable achievement to show the candidate's success in their previous sales roles while also highlighting their key skills in relationship building and communication.

3.    Marketing Manager resume summary example

"Strategic Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns across multiple channels. Skilled in market research and analysis, campaign optimization, and team leadership. Proven track record of driving revenue growth and increasing brand awareness."

Why it works : This summary emphasizes the candidate's experience and leadership skills while also showcasing their ability to drive results through successful marketing campaigns. The candidate has also demonstrated their ability to grow revenues and raise brand awareness.

4.    Project Manager resume summary example

"Accomplished Project Manager, with confidence in leading cross-functional teams and managing project timelines, budgets, and resources. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders. Proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's extensive project management experience and emphasizes their ability to successfully deliver projects while working with multiple stakeholders.

5.   Software Developer resume summary example

"Innovative Software Developer with 5+ years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex software applications. Skilled in programming languages including Java, Python, and C++. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in Agile environments to deliver high-quality code on time."

Why it works : This job seeker has taken the time to highlight some of the technical skills they possess while emphasizing their ability to work in Agile environments. They also call attention to the fact that they can manage and complete a software development project from design to implementation.

6.    Human Resources Manager resume summary example

"Experienced Human Resources Manager specializing in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management. Skilled in developing and implementing HR policies and procedures that align with business objectives and values. Proven track record of building and managing high-performing teams."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's experience in various HR functions and emphasizes their ability to build and manage teams. It also shows that they can perform managerial functions like developing policies and procedures.

7.    Graphic Designer resume summary example

"Creative Graphic Designer with particular expertise in developing and executing visually stunning designs for print and digital media. Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud, with a focus on typography and layout. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously."

Why it works : This summary works well because it showcases their technical skills and experience while also emphasizing creativity and an ability to work collaboratively.

8.    Registered Nurse resume summary example

"Compassionate Registered Nurse with over 10 years' experience in providing high-quality patient care. Skilled at patient assessment, medication administration, and treatment plan development. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with patients and their families."

Why it works : This summary emphasizes the candidate's clinical and patient care experience and highlights their key nursing and interpersonal skills.

9.   Financial Analyst resume summary example

“Detail-oriented Financial Analyst with a strong background in financial modeling, data analysis, and forecasting. Combines advanced Excel skills with the ability to create and manage financial reports. Able to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.”

Why it works : This summary showcases the applicant's specific skills and experience in financial analysis and highlights their proficiency in Excel, a crucial tool for the role.

10.   Administrative Assistant resume summary example

“Skilled Administrative Assistant with 8 years of experience in administrative support and office administration. Resilient, detail-oriented, and able to work under extreme pressure in a team environment. Excellent interpersonal, client management, and interdepartmental liaison skills. Committed to successful management of multiple simultaneous projects, strict adherence to deadline requirements, and accurate maintenance of schedules, meeting obligations, and records.”

Why it works : An Administrative Assistant wears many hats and experiences many challenges. This resume summary covers a lot of ground to demonstrate that the candidate understands those obstacles and knows how to overcome them.

11.   Data Entry Clerk resume summary example

“Task-driven and results-oriented professional with more than 10 years of experience in data entry, project coordination, and customer service. Uses interpersonal skills including effective communication to build rapport and positive relations with customers, gather vital information, and ensure rapid and accurate entry of data into designated software programs.”

Why it works : This resume summary is effective because it gets right to the heart of the job: dealing with customers and entering data into databases. The candidate also emphasizes their results-focused mindset, project skills, and key soft skills.

12.   Business Analyst resume summary example

“Results-driven Business Analyst with a proven record in expanding profitability by 55% in the retail industry.  Confident carrying out data-focused analysis that provides key insights and recommendations for growth strategies. Strong interpersonal and team building skills, innovative approach to problem-solving , and resolute commitment to efficiency and productivity.”

Why it works : Business analysis is all about using data and research to deliver key insights that result in improved operations and greater business success. This summary hits all the right notes as it focuses on key skills, a solutions-oriented mindset, and notable achievements that reflect real value for employers.

13.   Operations Manager resume summary example

“Results-oriented Operations Manager with more than 10 years of supervisory experience in high-level operational environments. Adept at coordinating both large and small teams, outside consultants, and mid-level management personnel. Successfully introduced Lean manufacturing principles that reduced costs by 32% via waste elimination and process revitalization.”

Why it works : This candidate's summary emphasizes key skills that the employer wants to see in any managerial candidate's resume while also showcasing their knowledge of best operational practices and a commitment to cost reduction.

14.   Mental Health Counselor resume summary example

“Compassionate Mental Health Counselor with more than a decade of experience addressing mental health issues and behavioral concerns. Proven success in both individual and group counseling environments, assisting clients in gaining insight and understanding of their unique conditions. Specialized focus on working with young adults and families, with an emphasis on addressing substance abuse root causes and other social factors involved in mental health.”

Why it works : This resume summary is notable for citing important skills like empathy and compassion. It also focuses attention on the candidate's experience in dealing with common mental health concerns and hints at their preferred approach to assisting patients.

15.    High School Teacher resume summary example

“Dynamic high school teacher with 12 years of experience developing approved curricula for more than 500 students in grades 9-12. Proven track record of helping students to achieve a 98% passing rate in both Western Civilization and World History instruction. Actively engaged in every aspect of education, at the district, local, and parent-teacher level.”

Why it works : This candidate's resume summary highlights their vast experience while illustrating their success in ensuring that their students learn what they need to know to pass the class. They also demonstrate their commitment to the educational process by highlighting their involvement in every area of education.

16.    Accountant resume summary example

“Diligent and detail-oriented CPA with seven years of experience in accounting, process improvement, and problem-solving. Skilled at identifying inefficiencies and using reporting to offer insights that can guide employers to better practices and greater profitability. At XYZ Corp., identified labor usage inefficiency that motivated management to introduce new scheduling that eliminated $300,000 in labor waste.”

Why it works : In addition to highlighting a wide range of valuable skills, this candidate also focused on a quantifiable achievement that illustrates real value. This type of summary would certainly capture a hiring manager's attention and make them want to read more!

17.    Event Manager resume summary example

“Resilient and creative Event Manager with 6 years of corporate experience. Detail-oriented perfectionist with experience in project management, team leadership, and customer relations. Successfully organized and executed more than 40 major business conferences, hosting thousands of guests. Major clients have included three Fortune 500 firms with multi-million-dollar event budgets.

Why it works : As Event Managers go, this one has certainly made the rounds. That summary of achievements highlights their ability to manage even large-scale events, dealing with every aspect of the project. How could a serious hiring manager not want to learn more about this candidate?

18.    IT Manager resume summary example

“Dedicated IT Manager with significant experience in an innovative and growing tech firm. Skilled leader with experience in systems analysis, database architecture, problem-solving, and troubleshooting. Superior client satisfaction rate of more than 99%. Created and implemented an IT troubleshooting process that reduced internal client service time by 30%.”

Why it works : This IT professional focuses attention on their key leadership skills , while also mentioning the hard skills that any hiring manager is likely to be looking for. There's also a nice nod to their history of satisfying clients, as well as a notable and measurable achievement.

19.   Product Designer resume summary example

“Innovative Design Engineer with 5 years of experience in the development of products and packages. Skilled in market research, brand development and alignment, and design elements. Led team of seventeen Designers in the creation of industrial products that yielded $20 million in sales in the first month after launch.”

Why it works : This resume summary uses some important keywords, action verbs, and descriptive language to describe the candidate's key skills and experiences. It also cites an impressive product design achievement, along with real numbers that showcase value.

20.    Content Marketer resume summary example

“Creative marketing professional with 7 years' experience as a Content Marketer. Skilled writer who understands how written communication empowers business growth and expansion. Expertise in development of compelling content that drives activities across multiple media channels. Adaptable , detail-oriented, and focused on a brand-building approach to content strategy that drives real results. Developed a cross-platform content strategy that boosted sales conversion rates by 37%.

Why it works : This Content Marketer focuses on their key skills and keen insights into how content impacts business profitability. They even included a measurable result that demonstrates their focus on adding value to their employer's bottom line.

21.   SEO Specialist resume summary example

“Results-focused SEO expert with 6 years of experience in keyword mastery, the promotion of sustainable content, and growing organic website search engine rankings. Proven track record of SEO success, using content development and link outreach to expand website traffic activity from 10,000 daily visitors to more than 2,000,000 per year.”

Why it works : Many hiring managers may not fully understand SEO, but they will understand the need to get more eyes on their digital content. This candidate speaks to that need by focusing on website rankings, content, and overall web traffic - while including a quantifiable achievement that demonstrates their ability to make things happen.

22.   Copywriter resume summary example

“Website Copywriter with 5 years of experience in developing content that creates real conversions. Cross-channel expertise, including website content, advertising, newsletters, press releases, email, and podcast/video scripts. Proven track record of increasing social traffic by 36% and driving a 22% boost in landing page conversions.”

Why it works : This candidate's summary is focused not only on the type of things they write but how those content pieces directly contribute to the company's online presence and sales conversion rate. This illustrates the writer's understanding of how their work aligns with their employer's business needs and goals.

23.  Bank Teller resume summary example

“Empathetic and personable Bank Teller with more than 4 years of experience in client interactions at First Bank. Detail-oriented customer management approach, focused on superior customer experiences and client retention. Strict adherence to bank policy, including safety deposit guidelines, customer account security, and due diligence. Efficiently and effectively processed more than 200 client account interactions each day.”

Why it works : For a Bank Teller, much of the role's value lies in the employee's ability to serve as the face of the branch. This summary is effective because it showcases the Teller's knowledge of bank procedures while also highlighting their commitment to creating an excellent customer experience.

24.  Software Support Specialist resume summary example

“Problem-solving Software Support Specialist with 8 years of experience in customer-facing user assistance. Provided key problem-resolution services for hundreds of customers, with a focus on maximizing their satisfaction with the company to increase loyalty and retention. Experienced in both customer and B2B interactions, with a specialized talent for explaining technical problems in language that is easily understood by the average layperson.”

Why it works : This resume summary focuses not only on the candidate's specialized skills in solving computer issues but also highlights their ability to simplify their explanations to customers.

25.   Data Scientist resume summary example

“Committed Data Scientist focused on analytical insights that can drive company growth and development. More than eight years of experience providing data-driven analysis to Fortune 500 executives based on comprehensive statistical models and detailed historical data patterns. Successfully provided insights and recommendations used to increase company profits by 32% over a two-year period.”

Why it works : Data science may not seem like the most exciting field, but hiring managers are always on the hunt for candidates who understand why data matters. This candidate's focus on providing insights that can translate into real value for the employer is something that is likely to earn a hiring manager's interest.

26.  Dental Assistant resume summary example

“Dental Assistant with 5 years of experience with patient preparation, processing, and administrative support. Keen attention to detail and a commitment to dental health and aesthetics. Skilled in dental impressions, hands-on assistance during procedures, x-rays, and record maintenance. Fully committed to developing rapport with patients that creates a welcoming environment and a joyful experience.”

Why it works : This candidate's resume summary not only highlights key Dental Assistant requirements, but also conveys their personal approach to teamwork and patient care.

27.  Architect resume summary example

“Creative Architect experienced in high-end architectural design and development oversight. Ten years of proven success in creating sustainable designs that earn rave reviews and commendations from clients. Skilled in adapting to new challenges and working under pressure to achieve every client's vision. Consistently produces designs and project plans that come in on time and under budget, at 10%-30% less cost than industry competitors.”

Why it works : In this summary, the candidate highlights key skills that employers will want to see, while also emphasizing quantifiable results that demonstrate competitive value for the employer. They also showcase their ability to not only design architectural structures but to do so with a conscious awareness of critical factors like budgetary concerns, deadlines, sustainability and market competition.

Bonus: how to write a resume summary if you have no experience

Of course, it's also important to know how to write a resume summary if you have no experience. Here's a quick resume summary example that you can adapt if you are just entering the job market:

“Recent Marketing graduate, seeking an entry-level position to kickstart a career in the field. Demonstrated strong leadership and teamwork skills gained through involvement in various extracurricular activities, including volunteering at local events and leading group projects. Proficient in Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud. Passionate about using marketing strategies to create engaging content and drive brand awareness.”

Why it works: This summary works because it highlights the candidate's relevant hard and soft skills and qualifications, even though they don't have direct career experience. The use of action words such as "demonstrated" and "proficient" shows the candidate's confidence in their abilities, which can be attractive to potential employers, showcasing the candidate's potential for success in an entry-level marketing role.

Key takeaways

A well-written resume summary can make a significant impact on a job application. A good summary should highlight relevant skills and experiences, use clear and concise language, and avoid unnecessary information. Feel free to customize any of the resume summary examples we've provided to help ensure that your resume captures the attention of potential employers.

We know it can be difficult to condense a whole career full of skills and achievements into a paragraph of only a few sentences. If you're unsure about the document you've crafted, why not send it for a free resume review by our team of expert resume writers? 

This article was originally written by Ken Chase. It has been updated by Marsha Hebert and Ken Chase.

Recommended reading:

Ask Amanda: How Are a Resume Objective and a Resume Summary Different?

How to Write a Standout Career Summary

Business Acumen: What It Is and How You Can Showcase It On Your Resume

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

77+ Resume Summary Examples [& How-to Guide for 2024]

Background Image

Most companies get hundreds or even thousands of applications monthly.

Hiring managers don’t have the time to read each resume in detail, so they usually end up scanning it for five to six seconds.

So, unless your resume manages to grab the hiring manager’s attention in those few seconds, they’ll just toss your application aside and move on to the next one.

That’s why, you want to make sure that the hiring manager can instantly tell that you’re the right candidate for the job before they even read your resume in depth. 

This is where writing an attention-grabbing resume summary comes in!

In this guide, we’re going to cover: 

  • What Is a Resume Summary?
  • Tips for Writing an Effective Resume Summary 
  • 77+ Convincing Resume Summary Examples

Let’s dive in.

This guide is part of our larger resume series. If you want to start from the basics, take a look at our comprehensive guide on how to make a resume .

What Is a Resume Summary? 

A resume summary is a section that summarizes your resume’s contents. It’s placed in your resume’s header, close to your 

contact information , and it’s the first thing hiring managers see when they look at your resume.

resume summary

When done right, your resume summary serves as a snapshot of your entire career. It shows that you’re a qualified candidate in less than five seconds, and it gets the hiring manager interested in reading the rest of your resume.

So, what makes a resume summary effective?

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

  • Your years of experience and job title
  • Some of your biggest achievements to date
  • A couple of your most essential skills that are relevant for the role

Let’s look at an 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 resume summary video a watch before diving into the article!

When Should You Use a Resume Summary?

Hiring managers skim through resumes before deciding to read them, so candidates who grab their attention from the start stand a better chance of grabbing their attention. This is why you should always include a brief paragraph in your resume header that summarizes your strengths as a candidate.

Depending on your experience level, you can choose between a resume summary or a resume objective .

Resume objectives focus on professional goals, skills, and motivation for applying for the job, so they’re perfect for students, recent graduates , and other entry-level workers.

A resume summary, on the other hand, is perfect for seasoned professionals, as it focuses more on your past work experience and how it relates to the job you’re applying for. So, if you already have some work experience, we recommend sticking to a resume summary.

If you’re embarking on a career change , on the other hand, you can choose between a resume summary or a resume objective, depending on how your previous skills and work experience relate to the job.

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! 

5 General Resume Summary Examples

There are different aspects of your professional background that you can focus on when writing your resume summary.

Let’s look at some examples and what they do right:

  • A hard-working bartender with over five years of experience providing professional 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 skills and beverage knowledge can be leveraged to offer customers the highest quality of service.

Above all, this resume summary shows how experienced the candidate is. Their main selling point is their vast bartending knowledge, followed by an impressive bartending qualification and customer service skills .

  • 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 software programs, including SQL, Equitrak, and Lawson.

What sticks out the most in this resume summary is the candidate’s educational background and certifications. It matches the field they’re applying for, and their knowledge also extends to 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%.

In addition to the candidate’s long professional experience, the most impressive part of this resume summary is their achievements . The candidate also made sure to quantify their professional accomplishments, which gives you credibility and shows you know what you're talking about.

  • 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 and ZenDesk.

This resume summary shows off the candidate’s key skills, including language proficiency , extensive customer service experience, and computer skills .

  • 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. 

This candidate mentions they have more than a decade of work experience , but the main takeaway is what they can do on the job. The hiring manager who reads this resume summary can immediately see what this applicant can bring to the team.

How to Write a Resume Summary

Now, let’s get down to business – how can you write a resume summary that’s guaranteed to catch the hiring manager’s attention?

Let’s start with the basics. Here’s what your resume summary should include:

  • Experience. If you have a lot of relevant professional experience, you should summarize it. This may include your job titles and years of experience in the field. (e.g., “Facebook marketer with 5+ years of experience..." )
  • Skills. Mention your areas of expertise, specializations, certifications , and/or skills. (e.g., “Experienced in managing Facebook ad accounts and SEO copywriting..." )
  • Achievements. Add one or two impressive achievements to show what you can do. (e.g., “Managed over $100,000 in marketing budget over several accounts and reduced annual company costs by 16%.” )

resume summary tips

The next step is to take your resume summary from good to great by following these expert tips:

#1. Tailor Your Resume Summary

You could be an excellent candidate with tons of work experience, but if your resume summary isn’t tailored to the job ad, the hiring manager probably won’t be impressed.

If the hiring manager doesn’t see your value in the first seven seconds of reading your resume , you probably won’t get them to give it a second glance.

This is where tailoring your resume summary comes in. Just reference the job description to make sure your work experience, skills, and achievements all match what the employer is looking for in a candidate.

Let’s go over it in detail.

Imagine you’re applying for this specific job:

how to tailor the resume summary

The ad tells you exactly what the company is looking for in a candidate.

So here’s what a resume summary tailored to this ad might look like:

  • 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. 

By carefully tailoring your resume summary to the ad and mentioning what the company is looking for, the hiring manager will be hooked! They’ll immediately think, “This is the right person for the job!” and read the rest of your resume in detail.

Tailoring your resume summary to the job description can also help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems that companies use to filter through resumes. This is software that scans applications and disqualifies candidates who don’t mention specific skills or add enough keywords from the job description throughout their resume, so the more you tailor your resume to the job, the better your chances!

#2. Quantify Your Achievements

Your resume summary is supposed to be brief, which means you’re not supposed to list all your achievements. So, make sure to mention the ones that are most relevant and impactful for the role you’re applying for to pique the hiring manager’s attention.

The best way to back up your accomplishments is by providing concrete data.

Quantifiable achievements are instantly more credible and more likely to leave a good impression than vague statements. 

Let’s compare:

  • Helped customers sign up on our platform.
  • Onboarded 100+ customers to our SaaS platform with a retention rate of over 75%.

See the difference? In fact, the first example sounds more like a responsibility than an achievement.

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

Saying you’re a “team player” who was “responsible for” this or “managed” that is boring.

To stand out from every other applicant using the same words, you need to use the right action verbs and power words .

These words can make your skills and achievements pop, and the hiring manager will appreciate that you’re going the extra mile to describe your experience.

Let’s compare how the same sentence with and without power words plays out:

  • Spearheaded Company X’s content marketing operations.
  • Responsible for content marketing at Company X.

While both of these sentences say the same thing, the first one makes you seem more competent and implies initiative and leadership skills. The second just comes off as passive.

To drive the point home, here’s what a resume summary looks like packed with action words:

resume summary with action verbs and power words

#4. Follow Our Formula

When you get down to writing your resume summary, you might still not be sure where to start or what to add.

Don’t worry!

We have a tried and tested formula that you can follow to write the perfect resume summary.

resume summary formula

77+ Convincing Resume Summary Examples (For Different Fields)

Need inspiration to write your resume summary? No sweat!

We’ve curated a list of 77+ resume summary examples for different professions to help inspire you.

Sales and Customer Service Resume Summary Examples

#1. sales associate resume summary.

“Enthusiastic and knowledgeable sales associate specialized in upselling furniture and dealing with customer objections. Proven 2-year track record of success at Company X, having exceeded department KPIs by 40-50% for 6 months in a row.”

Read the full sales associate resume example here.

#2. 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.”

#3. 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. Skilled at simplifying complex problems, making it easy for non-technical specialists to solve IT issues.”

#4. Customer Service Representative 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.”

Read the full customer service resume example here.

#5. Cashier Resume Summary

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

Read the full cashier resume example here.

#6. Retail Manager Resume Summary

“Retail Manager with 5 years of experience managing mid-sized retail stores. Increased store revenue by 15% through effective team management and customer engagement strategies. Proficient in inventory control, merchandising, and staff training. Looking to leverage retail management expertise in a larger, high-volume store setting.”

Read the full retail manager resume example here.

#7. Barista Resume Summary

“Passionate Barista with 2 years of experience in specialty coffee shops. Known for crafting signature beverages and maintaining high standards of customer service. Consistently received positive feedback for friendly demeanor and quick, accurate order fulfillment.”

Read the full barista resume example here.

#8. Server Resume Summary

"Dedicated Server with 3 years of experience in fast-paced dining environments. Skilled in order accuracy, multitasking, and providing exceptional customer service. Recognized for ability to maintain composure and efficiency during peak hours."

Read the full server resume example here.

#9. Waiter 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, desserts, and appetizers to customers. Memorized restaurant’s wine stock and accompanying meals to the T.”

Read the full waiter resume example here.

#10. Front Desk Agent Resume Summary

“Front Desk Agent with 4 years of experience in the hospitality industry, excelling in customer service at busy city-center hotels. Skilled in handling reservations, guest inquiries, and providing travel recommendations. Committed to enhancing guest experiences and maintaining a high standard of service.”

#11. 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.”

#12. Line Cook Resume Summary

“Line Cook with 3 years of experience in high-volume kitchens. Efficient in meal preparation and plating, with a focus on maintaining quality and speed. Trained in various cuisines and knowledgeable about food safety standards.”

#13. Restaurant Manager Resume Summary

“Professional restaurant manager with a strong interest in providing the highest standards of customer service and ensuring customer satisfaction. Skilled at reducing staff turnover, conflict resolution, marketing, and upselling techniques. Increased restaurant revenue by 20% through advertising lunch menu and word-of-mouth strategies.”

#14. Bar Manager Resume Summary

“Experienced Bar Manager with 7 years overseeing busy urban bars. Successfully increased annual sales by 20% through innovative marketing and menu redesign. Expert in inventory management, staff training, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for patrons. Seeking to bring leadership and efficient operational skills to a high-end establishment.”

Read the full bar manager resume example here.

Administrative and HR Resume Summary Examples

#15. receptionist resume summary.

"Organized Receptionist with 3 years of experience in corporate and medical office settings. Efficient in managing multiple phone lines, scheduling appointments, and providing administrative support. Known for a welcoming demeanor and effectively handling client inquiries."

Read the full receptionist resume example here.

#16. Recruiter Resume Summary

"Communicative 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."

Read the full recruiter resume example here.

#17. Human Resources Specialist Resume Summary

“Human Resources Specialist with 6 years of experience focusing on employee retention and satisfaction. Implemented employee engagement programs that increased retention rates by 25%. Skilled in conflict resolution, performance management, and creating positive work environments. Dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and employee development.”

Read the full human resources resume example here.

#18. 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.”

Read the full office manager resume example here.

#19. Secretary Resume Summary

“Professional Secretary with 4 years of experience in fast-paced legal and corporate environments. Proficient in document preparation, managing executive schedules, and coordinating meetings. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, ensuring efficient office operations.”

#20. 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.”

Read the full executive assistant resume example here.

#21. Administrative Assistant Resume Summary

“Experienced administrative assistant seeking to leverage advanced administrative 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.”

Read the full administrative assistant resume example here.

#22. Data Entry 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.”

Read the full data entry resume example here.

Finance Resume Summary Examples

#23. 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%.”

Read the full accountant resume example here.

#24. 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.”

Read the full financial analyst resume example here.

#25. Bank Teller Resume Summary

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

Read the full bank teller resume example here.

#26. Banker Resume Summary

"Experienced Banker with 5 years of expertise in personal and small business banking. Managed a portfolio of high-value accounts, increasing client satisfaction and financial performance. Skilled in financial advising, loan processing, and risk management. Committed to helping clients achieve their financial goals with tailored solutions."

Read the full banker resume example here.

Business Resume Summary Examples

#27. 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%.”

Read the full business analyst resume example here.

#28. Business Development Manager Resume Summary

"Dynamic Business Development Manager with 7 years of experience in identifying and pursuing new market opportunities. Led initiatives that resulted in a 30% increase in annual revenue. Strong background in strategic planning, client relations, and market analysis. Proven ability to drive business growth and forge strong partnerships.”

Read the full business development manager resume example here.

#29. 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.”

Read the full project manager resume example here.

Marketing and Advertising Resume Summary Examples

#30. marketing executive resume summary.

"Accomplished Marketing Executive with 10 years of experience in developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies in the technology sector. Led campaigns that increased brand awareness by 40% and consistently exceeded sales targets by 15-20%. Expertise in digital marketing, market research, and team leadership. Committed to driving market growth and enhancing brand positioning for leading tech companies."

Read the full marketing executive resume example here.

#31. 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.”

Read the full marketing manager resume example here.

#32. Social Media Marketing Manager Resume Summary

“Creative social media manager with 2+ years of experience and 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.”

#33. 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.”

#34. 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. Freelancing for over 2 years. Grew Company X from 50,000 daily visits to 100,000 within a year by creating long-form content and conducting backlink outreach.”

Read the full digital marketing resume here.

#35. 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.”

IT and Software Development Resume Summary Examples

#36. 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.”

Read the full IT resume example here.

#37. 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.”

Read the full software engineer resume example here.

#38. Cyber Security Resume Summary

"Cyber Security Specialist with 6 years of experience in threat analysis and network defense. Implemented security protocols reducing data breaches by 40% at TechSecure Inc. Certified in CISSP and experienced in cybersecurity technologies including firewalls and endpoint security. Eager to bring advanced threat detection and mitigation strategies to XYZ Cyber Solutions."

#39. Web Developer Resume Summary

"Dynamic Web Developer with 3 years of experience in designing and developing user-friendly websites. Proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React. Developed an e-commerce site that increased client sales by 30%. Looking to contribute innovative and efficient web solutions at CreativeWeb Studios."

Read the full web developer resume example here.

#40. Computer Scientist 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.”

Read the full computer scientist resume example here.

#41. 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.”

Read the full data scientist resume example here.

#42. Data Analyst Resume Summary

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

Read the full data analyst resume example here.

#43. DevOps Engineer Resume Summary

"DevOps Engineer with 8 years of experience in automating and optimizing mission-critical deployments. Led a team that reduced deployment times by 50% through CI/CD pipeline enhancements. Skilled in cloud technologies and infrastructure as code with certifications in AWS and Terraform. Committed to improving operational efficiency at XYZ Tech."

Read the full DevOps engineer resume example here.

#44. AI Engineer Resume Summary

"AI Engineer with 4 years of experience specializing in machine learning and natural language processing. Developed AI models that improved customer interaction accuracy by 35% for a leading tech firm. M.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence. Passionate about deploying cutting-edge AI solutions at AI Innovators Inc."

Read the full AI engineer resume example here.

#45. Java Developer Resume Summary

"Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions."

Read the full Java developer resume example here.

Health and Medicine Resume Summary Examples

#46. 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.”

Read the full nurse resume example here.

#47. 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 following hospital regulations and experience in supporting diagnostic and technical treatment procedures.”

Read the full medical assistant resume example here.

#48. 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.”

#49. Dentist Resume Summary

"Experienced Dentist with 10 years of practice in general and cosmetic dentistry. Committed to providing exceptional patient care, demonstrated through a consistent record of patient satisfaction and successful dental procedures. Proficient in the latest dental technologies and techniques, including digital radiography and CAD/CAM dentistry, with a strong focus on preventive care and oral health education."

Read the full dentist resume example here.

#50. Pharmacist Resume Summary

"Detail-oriented Pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in retail and hospital settings. Proven ability in medication therapy management and pharmaceutical care, with a track record of efficiently managing prescription processing and patient counseling. Skilled in utilizing digital prescription systems and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of drug interactions and healthcare regulations."

Read the full pharmacist resume example here.

Creative Resume Summary Examples

#51. 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."

Read the full graphic designer resume example here.

#52. 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.”

#53. 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.”

#54. 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.”

#55. Game Designer Resume Summary

"Innovative Game Designer with 5 years of experience in creating engaging and immersive gaming experiences. Led a team that developed 'AdventureQuest,' a game that won 'Best Mobile Game' at the Indie Game Awards and achieved over 500,000 downloads within the first year. Skilled in gameplay mechanics and story development, with proficiency in Unity and Unreal Engine. Dedicated to crafting games that resonate with players, combining artistic vision with user-friendly design."

Read the full game designer resume example here.

#56. Animator Resume Summary

"Creative Animator with over 8 years of experience in 2D and 3D animation, specializing in character and environmental animation. Proficient in using Maya, Adobe After Effects, and Blender, with a strong background in motion graphics and visual effects. Known for delivering high-quality animations under tight deadlines, contributing to successful animated features and advertising campaigns."

Read the full animator resume example here.

#57. Illustrator Resume Summary

"Award-winning Illustrator with a decade of professional experience, recognized for innovative and impactful visual storytelling. Recipient of the 'Illustrator of the Year' award at the Global Art Forum, with a portfolio that includes book illustrations, advertising campaigns, and digital content."

Read the full illustrator resume example here.

#58. Photographer Resume Summary

"Professional Photographer with a Master's in Fine Arts and 6 years of experience in commercial and portrait photography. Known for a unique aesthetic that combines technical skill with artistic creativity, resulting in visually stunning compositions. Holds a certification in digital photography from the Professional Photographers of America, with a portfolio that has been featured in several national photography exhibitions."

Read the full photographer resume example here.

#59. Actor Resume Summary

"Versatile Actor with 3 years of experience in commercials and television, known for a dynamic range that adapts seamlessly to varied roles. Strong background in stage combat and period drama. Proficient in multiple dialects and expressive character portrayal, enhancing authenticity in every performance."

Read the full actor resume example here.

#60. Writer Resume Summary

"Professional Writer and Blogger with 2 years of experience, specializing in lifestyle and travel content. Successfully increased blog readership by 40% over two years and contributed featured articles in 'Traveler's Digest' and 'Modern Living' magazines."

Read the full writer resume here.

#61. Editor Resume Summary

"Dedicated Editor with 10 years of experience in translated literature, focusing on Mandarin and Cantonese works. Expertise in preserving the original tone and cultural nuances, ensuring translations resonate with English-speaking audiences. Collaborated with acclaimed authors from China and Hong Kong, contributing to over 30 translated novels. Committed to bridging the gap between Eastern and Western literary worlds through meticulous and sensitive editing."

Read the full editor resume example here.

Education Resume Summary Examples

#62. professor resume summary.

"Distinguished Professor with 15 years of experience in higher education, specializing in Modern Literature. Published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and 3 books, receiving the Excellence in Research Award twice. Secured $500,000 in research grants and led multiple international academic collaborations. Committed to fostering critical thinking and research skills in students, enhancing the academic prestige of the department."

Read the full academic CV example here.

#63. Teacher Resume Summary

“Dedicated Teacher with 4 years of experience in elementary education, specializing in innovative teaching strategies. Implemented a project-based learning approach that increased student engagement by 30%. Eager to bring creative teaching methodologies and a passion for educational excellence to School ABC, contributing to student development and academic success.” 

Read the full teacher resume example here.

#64. Tutor Resume Summary

“Experienced Tutor with 2 years of expertise in mathematics and science, adept at simplifying complex concepts. Consistently helped students improve their grades by an average of one full letter grade.”

#65. College Student Resume Summary

"Proactive College Student majoring in Business Administration with strong leadership skills, demonstrated through roles in student government and the debate team. Organized multiple campus events, enhancing student engagement and participation. Seeking to apply organizational and communication skills in a professional internship, contributing to company projects while gaining hands-on experience."

Read the full college freshman resume example here.

#66. High School Student Resume Summary

"High School Student with 3+ months of experience as a cashier. Excellent time-management and communication skills. Actively involved in extracurricular activities, demonstrating strong teamwork and responsibility. Looking to join Retail Store X as a part-time sales representative."

Read the full high school resume example here.

Other Resume Summary Examples

#67. 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 2023."

Read the full architect resume example here.

#68. Electrical Engineer Resume Resume Summary

"Electrical Engineer with 4 years of experience in power systems and automation. Holds a Master's in Electrical Engineering and a certification in PLC programming. Proven expertise in designing and implementing efficient electrical solutions for industrial applications."

Read the full electrical engineer resume example here.

#69. Interior Designer Resume Summary

"Creative Interior Designer with 3 years of experience, recognized for increasing client satisfaction by 30% through innovative design solutions. Portfolio includes residential and commercial projects, with a focus on modern and sustainable designs. Skilled in AutoCAD and 3D visualization, transforming client visions into reality."

Read the full interior designer resume example here.

#70. Construction Project Manager Resume Summary

"Construction Project Manager with a decade of experience in overseeing large-scale commercial and residential projects. Proven track record of completing projects on time and within budget, reducing costs by 20% on average. Skilled in team leadership and effective communication. Committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality."

Read the full construction project manager resume example here.

#71. Operations Manager Resume Summary

"Dynamic Operations Manager with 2 years of experience in streamlining processes for increased efficiency. Expertise in supply chain management and cost reduction strategies."

Read the full operations manager resume example here.

#72. Event Planner Resume Summary

"Seasoned Event Planner with 5 years of experience, successfully organized over 100 corporate and private events. Increased event attendance by 40% through innovative marketing strategies. Excited to bring expertise in event coordination and vendor relations to XYZ Celebrations."

Read the full event planner resume example here.

#73. 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.”

Read the full warehouse worker resume example here.

#74. Welder Resume Summary

"Skilled Welder with 7 years of experience in MIG, TIG, and arc welding. Proficient in reading blueprints and maintaining high standards of safety and quality."

Read the full welder resume example here.

#75. Real Estate Agent Resume Summary

"Experienced Real Estate Agent with 6 years in residential and commercial property sales. Achieved a 25% year-on-year increase in sales volume. Known for excellent negotiation skills and a deep understanding of market trends."

Read the full real estate agent resume example here.

#76. Flight Attendant Resume Summary

"Dedicated Flight Attendant with 1 year of experience, fluent in Spanish and French. Excelled in providing top-notch customer service, contributing to a 15% increase in passenger satisfaction. Fluent in English, French, German, and Arabic. Eager to bring customer care expertise to Airline XYZ."

Read the full flight attendant resume example here.

#77. Paralegal Resume Summary

"Paralegal with 3 years of experience in corporate law, proficient in legal research and document drafting. Certified in legal software applications, enhancing case management efficiency."

Read the full paralegal resume example here.

#78. Social Worker Resume Summary

"Compassionate Social Worker with 6 years of experience in child and family services. Successfully managed caseloads of up to 50 people, improving service delivery by 20%. Skilled in crisis intervention and developing tailored support plans for diverse case needs."

Read the full social worker resume example here.

Resume Summary FAQs

Do you still have some questions about resume summaries? Check the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

#1. How Do You Write a Resume Summary 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 brief paragraph that goes at the top of your resume. However, instead of focusing on your professional experience and accomplishments, it highlights your career goals, aspirations, skills, and academic achievements.

If you have any informal experience that’s relevant to the job, such as volunteer work or relevant coursework , you can still write a resume summary to highlight why you’re a great candidate.

#2. How Do I Start My Resume Summary?

The best way to start your resume summary is by writing down your job title and exact years of experience. You can also add an adjective that describes your strongest character traits or work ethic.

To make this easy, try this formula:

[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 Be?

The resume summary should be brief and attention-grabbing. Ideally, it should be between two and four sentences long.

Its goal is to provide a snapshot of your career that can captivate the hiring manager into reading more.

If you want to give the employer more details and elaborate on why you’re the best candidate for the job in your own words, you can also write a cover letter to complement your resume.

#4. Should a Resume Summary Be Written in the First or Third Person?

As a general rule, your resume should avoid using first-person pronouns . This includes your resume summary.

That said, the third person sounds too impersonal – as if somebody else wrote the resume summary instead of you. Luckily, there’s a neat trick you can use to make your text flow better—just get rid of the pronouns altogether.

This way, instead of writing, “She is a marketer with 5+ years of experience in XYZ,” you can write, “Marketer with 5+ years of experience in XYZ,” and get your point across just as effectively.

#5. Should You Always Use the Same Resume Summary?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t use the same resume summary when applying to different jobs.

Your resume summary should be tailored to the specific job ads and reflect how you can meet the company’s unique needs. If your current resume summary can be applied to different job applications, it isn’t as effective and tailored as it should be.

When writing your resume, go through the job ad for the specific position and try to include the skills or qualifications the employer is looking for. Make sure to also mention any relevant experience and your top achievements, and you’ll have the perfect resume summary.

#6. What Are Other Names for a Resume Summary?

Across the internet, you might find different names for what we’re calling a resume summary in our article. Some of these names include:

  • Resume profile
  • Career summary
  • Personal statement
  • Qualifications summary
  • Summary of experiences
  • Summary of qualification

If you’re heading for a career in academia, a “personal statement” means something different. Check out our detailed guide to writing an academic personal statement to learn more!

Key Takeaways

And that’s our full guide to writing a resume summary!

Hopefully, now you feel more confident about adding this finishing touch to your resume.

Before we go, let’s recap everything we covered about writing resume summaries:

  • A resume summary is a two to four-sentence long paragraph that tells the hiring manager your key selling points. These can include your years of experience, exact job title, relevant skills, qualifications, and impressive achievements.
  • If you don’t have any work experience, you can opt for a resume objective instead. This way, you can focus more on your professional goals and motivation for applying.
  • The goal of a resume summary is to catch the hiring manager’s attention. Do this by tailoring your resume summary to the job ad and addressing what the company needs in a candidate.
  • Back up your achievements with data whenever possible. Mentioning the exact numbers, dates, and results makes you seem more credible.
  • Use power words and action verbs instead of generic descriptions to make your resume summary pop.

Need more career advice? Check out our career blog for more useful articles!

cookies image

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

  • Resume Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
  • Resume Examples Nurse Student Internship Teacher Accountant View all
  • Resume Builder
  • Cover Letter Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
  • Cover Letter Examples Nursing Administrative Assistant Internship Graduate Teacher View all
  • Cover Letter Builder
  • Resume Help

How to Write a Resume Personal Statement

Rolf Bax

What is a resume personal statement?

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

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

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

This guide will cover:

  • The basic formatting of a personal statement: How to tailor your personal statement to give you a competitive advantage
  • Personal statement examples you should (and shouldn’t) use
  • Practical steps for getting started on your resume personal statement

The personal statement format

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

  • Between 50 and 200 words in 3 - 4 sentences
  • Your title or function, for example “Junior developer” or “Passionate hospitality manager”
  • An opening hook
  • Soft skills and hard skills
  • Impressive facts and stats
  • Your short and/or long-term goals
  • Job-specific slant for the position you’re applying to

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

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

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

Align your resume’s personal statement with the job description

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

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

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

Position of the personal statement

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

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

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

Plan to write your resume personal statement last

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

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

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

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

Check out resume personal statement examples

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

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

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

The example above does the following things:

  • States their title in the first sentence
  • Includes specifics such as team size and duties
  • Succinctly sums up major responsibilities and skills
  • Highlights hard skills —experience arranging travel and expense reports—as well as soft skills —grace under pressure, attention to detail and communication.
  • Specifically tailors the final statement with the company and/or job description

Here are a few more resume personal statement examples:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And a less effective resume personal statement example:

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

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

Writing your personal profile resume

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

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

Polish your personal statement and experiment

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

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

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

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

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

What are three tips for writing a personal statement?

  • Make sure that your personality comes across in the writing.
  • Quantify any accomplishments and include financials where possible.
  • If you are at a moment of career change, don't fail to mention your goals.

Common mistakes in personal statements

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

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

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

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

What do employers expect from your resume opening statement?

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

  • They will want the resume opening statement to be written for them. When you are on the hunt for a new member of your professional family, an intensely personal connection is vital from the first lines.
  • They will expect a quantifiable context to your resume opening statement. Impressive words come easily when you really need a job, but backing them up with numbers to demonstrate their scale is less simple.
  • They will expect to be impressed. If you cannot impress a specific employer for a specific role with the first lines of your resume, then the role is almost certainly not for you. Nothing to shout about? Move on.

Key takeaways

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

  • A natural, yet professional CV tone that reflects your personality
  • The top reasons your experience makes you a unique fit for this position
  • Why this role aligns with your career plans
  • Facts and data on your CV that back up your earlier points

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

One more good CV statement example:

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

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

Should you use color on your resume?

statement on a resume

Build my resume

statement on a resume

  • Build a better resume in minutes
  • Resume examples
  • 2,000+ examples that work in 2024
  • Resume templates
  • Free templates for all levels
  • Cover letters
  • Cover letter generator
  • It's like magic, we promise
  • Cover letter examples
  • Free downloads in Word & Docs

30 Resume Summary Examples + How to Write One in 2024

Stephen Greet

  • Understand the Resume Summary
  • When to Use a Resume Summary
  • How to Write a Summary
  • 30 Resume Summaries
  • Resume Summary Recap

It’s the backbone of your job hunt, but it can be frustrating to figure out what goes into a good resume .

And one of the murky areas that hopeful applicants wrestle with is whether to include a summary or objective statement in their resume. When every bit of space on your resume is invaluable, how do you know when a summary or objective is essential?b

If you’re already a pro, head to the best AI resume builder  to build your resume before moving on to making a cover letter , or you can customize the resume below. Otherwise, join us, and we’ll clear away the confusion and give you 30 summary statement examples you can make your own.

Real Estate Agent Resume

Truck driver resume example with 10 years experience

What is a Summary on a Resume?

Young man in front of his laptop reading his resume

The summary of your resume should give a quick “snapshot” of your best qualifications, which you’ll later emphasize and quantify with your skills and experience. Your summary offers an overview of which qualifications make you the perfect fit for the job:  So, focus on the highlights of your career.

You want your summary to emphasize your  history of accomplishments and excellence , leveraging that information to demonstrate how you’ll benefit the company and enhance the position for which you’re applying. Your summary should be attention-grabbing and immediately show why you’re the ideal hire!

Is a resume summary the same as a career objective?

You may wonder whether a resume summary and a  career objective  serve the same purpose—and whether they’re interchangeable. There’s plenty of overlap between resume objectives and summaries, thus muddling the waters. 

These key differences will help you simplify and clarify a confusing topic:

Summaries are great if:

  • You have extensive, quality experience
  • You’re staying within your field or branching out to something similar
  • You have some impressive metrics to share

Objectives are better if:

  • You’re a new graduate
  • You’re changing careers or breaking into the field

Wait! Is the summary the same as a summary of qualifications?

The lesser-known summary of qualifications is not quite the same as a resume summary! While your summary should describe your qualifications and relevant history in a couple of concise sentences, a summary of qualifications is more technical and usually presented in a bulleted list. The summary of qualifications lets you work in some ATS-friendly keywords and then dazzle a recruiter with metrics, accomplishments, and skills.

It’s usually recommended to keep your list of qualifications to three to six bullet points, limiting each to one or two lines. But this format eats up space on your resume quickly! So, it’s best to replace your resume’s summary or objective with a summary of qualifications if you have a long, complicated history of experience in your field and need to emphasize the highlights of your background at a glance.

Know When to Use a Resume Summary

Young lady sitting at her laptop writing her resume

A resume summary is  often best suited to applicants with 10+ years of experience, although standalone accomplishments  can  be equally powerful . 

If you’ve achieved an unusual level of expertise or racked up an impressive list of accomplishments during a shorter time, consider including a summary!

Our simple  free resume templates  make it easy for you to add or remove information and manipulate sections for personalization without affecting the overall layout of your resume. If you work with a resume template through a word-processing program, like the creative  Google Docs resume templates  we designed, making edits can throw everything off kilter, often causing you to start from scratch to correct the problem.

Indicators that a summary would fit nicely on your resume:

  • You’ve worked long enough (10+ years) that you should condense the highlights of your career
  • You have an eye-catching list of accomplishments and quantifiable achievements
  • You’ve worked with big-name companies or prestigious projects
  • You’ve advanced quickly within your field during an unusually short time

If the list above feels intimidating, circle back to the original question of whether a summary enhances your resume.

Indicators to exclude the summary & let your skills & experience speak for themselves:

  • You’re a new graduate who hasn’t had time to build much experience 
  • Your previous work experience has been somewhat run-of-the-mill
  • Your background and qualifications look somewhat generic or bland once written 
  • You haven’t had many opportunities that resulted in quantifiable achievements

If you can relate, your resume will be strongest if you drop the summary entirely. Instead, lead with your skills and emphasize dependability, ambition, and potential in your experience section.

How to Write a Resume Summary

A PC monitor and laptop showing well written resumes

If you’re bracing yourself for the process of honing your summary, don’t worry! It’ll be a breeze if you follow our tried-and-true formula and keep our handy tips in mind as you write.

Follow our resume summary formula

The process is as easy as: X + Y + Z = Attention-snagging summary!

X = Your characteristics and personality traits Y = Years of experience and quantified success/results Z = How these results apply to the specific job role

Consider this resume summary for a programmer:

Programmer resume summary

You can pinpoint each element when you break this summary down:

X = Inquisitive, driven, and eager Y = 8+ years of experience, a client base of 100+ people, and a savings of 725+ manual hours Z = Specific programming skills like Python and jQuery that will enhance performance within the position

Our best resume summary tips

Now, we’ll unpack some tips to help you nail down the perfect summary to jumpstart your resume:

  • Summary length:  Limit your summary to two or three sentences.
  • Keywords:  Consider job-specific keywords that the ATS scans for as well as keywords that will hook recruiters.
  • Quantify your claims:  When you list accomplishments and achievements, back them up with hard facts! Data like improvement percentages, customer satisfaction metrics, and client base numbers will boost your credibility.
  • Tailor summaries to specific positions:  You never want your summary to feel generic, so look for specific requirements in the job description that you can respond to with relevant details from your own experience.
  • Grammar and mechanics:  Proofread carefully for spelling and punctuation errors, and keep a close eye on grammar. It’s also ideal to avoid informal contractions and opening sentences with “I.” Your summary should immediately spotlight your professional value—so keep sentence structure concise and use “my” when presenting your skills.

Don’t worry if this is a little overwhelming at first glance!  Save your summary for last,  even though it appears first. Once your other sections are fine-tuned, it’ll be easier to pinpoint choice details to fill in the formula and complete your perfect summary. (And who says you have to nail your summary the first time you write it?! Go through as many iterations as you need when you  outline your resume .)

The good, the bad, and the ugly resume summary

So, what do these concepts look like in action? Take a look at this example of an excerpt from a digital marketing manager’s job description:

As a digital marketing marketer, you will plan, oversee, manage, and implement our brand’s digital marketing campaigns. You will:

  • Plan each digital marketing campaign and delegate tasks in a team setting
  • Oversee and evaluate the quality of digital marketing materials
  • Analyze campaigns and identify how to improve performance

What kind of summary works for this job description? We’ll take it from bad to best.

I graduated with a marketing degree last year and did lots of group projects. I know how to structure a market campaign and read analytics.

Why it’s ugly:  There’s zero personality here. The claims are not only weak and vague, but there’s nothing quantifiable to back them—let alone any indication of managerial skills. Even though the summary addresses some details from the job description, they’re too generic. 

My degree in marketing makes me a great fit for this position. I can use my communication and analytical skills to help your team create great ad campaigns. I’m also familiar with Google Analytics and LinkedIn and have worked with several teams.

Why it’s bad:  While this summary addresses skills and teamwork experience more effectively, the tone still lacks the gusto that most managerial roles require. The first sentence takes up space while offering too little information, and the second two are redundant and unenthusiastic.

Ambition, creativity, and a BA in marketing empowered me to gain 6+ years of experience with a digital marketing team and boost website traffic by 67%. My proficiency in Microsoft Excel, SEO, and KPI tracking enable me to plan, create, and analyze advertising campaigns. My well-honed strategies and communication skills will elevate Nestlé USA’s marketing team to new heights.

Why it’s best:  This summary completes the formula! You can see personality, experience, and quantifiable claims coupled with the applicant’s skills that fit the exact job description. Dynamic, powerful verbs such as “boost,” “create,” and “empowered” also suggest this applicant is qualified for an advanced role.

30 Resume Summary Examples to Inspire You + Why They Work

Young man sitting behind his computer screen happily typing away

You’ve got the basics down; now you’re ready to take inspiration from these 30 professional resume summary examples across different professions. As you check them out, keep our key formula in mind. Before you know it, you’ll have a starting point for your own incredible summary.

We begin many of these with a quick list of key points in the job description, so you can see how each summary is carefully customized to the role.

1. Accountant resume summary

Accountant job description  key points :

  • Adept at creating and managing financial documents
  • Maintaining ledger entries and monthly budgets
  • Detailed error checking and problem-solving
  • Auditing and document collection
  • Mentorship and training skills

Accountant resume summary :

Accountant resume summary

Why this resume works

  • The applicant’s ambitious yet matter-of-fact personality is evident in a way that reinforces their desire to take an active leadership role in the accounting field.
  • The solid metrics of a CPA certification and an improvement percentage also quantify the applicant’s selling points.
  • And lastly, the focus is on more advanced skills instead of entry-level basics. 

Need more help? Our  accountant resume guide  and  accountant cover letter examples  have you covered from top to bottom.

2. Attorney resume summary

Attorney job description  key points :

  • Adept with communication and navigating client consultations
  • Familiarity with litigation and a strong ability to adapt to changing legislation
  • Strategic, analytical thinking, and strong ethical problem-solving skills
  • Preparing, customizing, and checking legal documents
  • Forewarning clients of potential obstacles and helping them understand their options

Attorney resume summary :

Attorney resume summary

  • The candidate immediately demonstrates an ambitious personality alongside a quantifiable accomplishment.
  • Next, the more in-depth set of abilities highlights a well-rounded approach to legal success—ending on a strong note with specific examples of how they’ll benefit the law firm.

If you need more guidance on your  attorney resume  or  attorney cover letter , we can show you the way regardless of your experience level.

3. Business analyst resume summary

Business analyst job description  key points :

  • Analytical and quick, adaptive thinking patterns
  • Basic IT abilities in Microsoft Excel, SQL, Google Sheets, and Agile Development
  • Superior communication and interpersonal/soft skills
  • Meticulous attention to detail with an ability to deliver precise reports/data and advice

Business analyst resume summary :

Business analyst resume summary

  • The formula is all here—personality with a spotlight on skills that apply directly to the job position—and the applicant dives right into measurable achievements.
  • While technical skills are touched upon, broader qualifications and personal traits that mesh with the company take the spotlight.

Take your career documents to the next level with comprehensive guidance on your  business analyst resume  and  business analyst cover letter .

4. Customer service resume summary

Customer service job description  key points :

  • Impeccable communication, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills
  • Flexibility, adaptability, and reliability
  • Task organization and prioritization
  • Personable and an affinity for welcoming customers/patrons
  • Basic technical/computer skills while monitoring metrics and applying them to better meet company goals

Customer service resume summary :

Customer service representative resume summary

  • This summary would be ideal for a candidate looking to progress to a more managerial customer service role since it offers quantifiable results alongside a strong demonstration of a go-getter personality.
  • The applicant also included their experience alongside relevant skills, finally tying everything in with the specific company’s goals.

If you’re  building a resume  for the first time, glancing through our  customer service resume  guide will steer you in the right direction before you transition to your  customer service cover letter .

5. Data analyst resume summary

Data analyst job description  key points :

  • Analytical and strategizing skills
  • Strong ability to identify trends and problems quickly
  • Organization, planning, and communication
  • Collaborative and team-based abilities
  • Technical database management and basic understanding of key languages like Python and Oracle

Data analyst resume summary :

Data analyst resume summary

  • A data analyst’s job is highly technical, so it’s ideal to dive right into metrics and list several hard skills in your summary.
  • While you can still find personality traits and evidence of soft skills in a team setting, this summary is more focused on measurable, results-driven improvements that the applicant can provide.

You’re in good hands (this is not a plug for Allstate, by the way) with our  data analyst resume  guide if you need some solid examples. Chances are you’ll need a  data analyst cover letter  to go with your resume; we’ve got that handled, too.

6. Data engineer resume summary

Data engineer job description  key points :

  • Technical skills like database and development programming languages
  • Strong ability to develop, optimize, and maintain database software
  • Attention to detail, problem-solving, and communication skills
  • Advanced understanding of data pipelines and infrastructures
  • Adaptive ability to support stakeholders and executive teams’ data infrastructure needs

Data engineer resume summary :

Data engineer resume summary

  • As a data engineer, this applicant emphasizes leadership qualities, showing a desire for advancement with metrics to corroborate previous accomplishments.
  • You can also see technical skills presented strategically to demonstrate the applicant’s skills in light of the job description.

Start your  data engineer resume  with the right  resume template  that speaks to you and your dream role. Besides a resume summary, know what else requires good writing? Yeah, your  data engineer cover letter .

7. Data scientist resume summary

Data scientist job description  key points:

  • Second-nature understanding of the Scientific Method and algorithms
  • Advanced ability to organize unstructured data and information
  • Clear communication alongside translating large volumes of data into easily-comprehensible business insights
  • Improve data quality and streamline/implement pricing models
  • Integrate stakeholder input and collaborate on constant, adaptable business model improvements

Data scientist resume summary :

Data scientist resume summary

  • This applicant demonstrates a driven personality with a highly analytical mindset and scientific background.
  • You also get a realistic idea of how they’ll use their skills to produce quantifiable results—and benefit the company.

Looking for more resources? We can help you with the entirety of your  data scientist resume  and help you understand the nuances of writing a  data scientist cover letter .

8. Graphic designer resume summary

Graphic designer job description  key points :

  • Attention to detail and a solid understanding of design theory for both print and digital applications (colors, typography, shapes, composition, etc.)
  • Technical expertise with digital illustration/editing programs
  • Understanding of marketing strategy, advertising techniques, and social media
  • Excellent communication with clients and team members

Graphic designer resume summary :

Graphic designer resume summary

  • The candidate’s bright personality shines here, quite impactful for a creative field when backed by quantifiable examples of success.
  • Teamwork abilities and experience with digital marketing also take center stage, demonstrating a balance between creativity and organized planning. 

Choose a  well-designed resume template  for your  graphic designer resume , and find a matching template to boost your confidence when it comes to your  graphic designer cover letter , too.

9. Human resources (HR) resume summary

Human resources (HR) job description  key points :

  • A knack for facilitating communication between peers and departments
  • Ability to update company policies, benefits, employee records, and payroll
  • Proactivity when it comes to helping employees understand company policies
  • Performance reviews, conflict resolution, de-escalation, and corrective action
  • Assist with managing meetings and fostering employee communication and trust

Human resources (HR) resume summary :

Human resources manager resume summary

  • Soft skills are important in HR, especially when addressing sensitive topics, so this applicant’s focus on the personal side of company policies is wise.
  • Even so, they still supply a strong metric for previous success and specify how their traits would fit the job position.

Don’t miss our complete  HR cover letter guide , and we share what works and what doesn’t on the rest of your  human resources (HR) resume .

10. Nursing resume summary

Nursing job description  key points :

  • Fast, effective communication and task implementation
  • Collect patient data such as medical history, current conditions/medications, and updates
  • Critical thinking and decision-making abilities regarding when to treat patients vs. when to consult doctors/supervisors for guidance
  • Organizational skills and ability to interpret patients’ information, adhere to treatment plans, adjust treatment plans as needed, and administer medications
  • Tactfully and kindly discuss care options with patients and families

Nursing resume summary :

Registered nurse resume summary

  • This candidate’s caring, clear-headed personality shines, and they provide an empirical metric for their experience.
  • Additionally, you can easily find specific examples of crucial skills that will help them perform efficiently in any fast-paced nursing position.

The roles are endless when it comes to the medical field, so make sure you’re on the right track with your  nursing resume  as well as when it comes to  writing your nurse cover letter .

11. Operations manager resume summary

Operations manager job description  key points :

  • Excellent leadership and administrative capabilities
  • Analytical thinking and organizational skills
  • Ability to manage communication and efficiency among departments
  • Adept at hiring, training, and optimizing schedules for employees
  • Oversee/analyze production methods, performance, quality assurance, and related data, relying on Salesforce and Tableau

Operations manager resume summary :

Operations manager resume summary

  • The applicant’s focused and driven personality is evident in the way they immediately showcase their lengthy experience and various aspects of their managerial prowess!
  • You also see a success metric right away alongside technical skills aligned with the job description.

Your  operations manager resume  is sure to shine when you consider our  top resume tips ; then, you’ll be primed to write your  operations manager cover letter .

12. Product manager resume summary

Product manager job description  key points :

  • Strong ability to analyze product quality from manufacturing to end-of-life
  • Firm understanding of company goals and the ability to align products with those goals
  • Superior communication and collaboration among cross-functional teams
  • Skillfully interpreting data from Google Analytics and various other sources, leveraging it for improved production/distribution strategies
  • Ability to analyze KPIs and identify areas for improvement

Product manager resume summary :

Product manager resume summary

  • As with any management-focused job description, the emphasis on strategizing and collaborative analysis here are ideal—and the technical skills balance out the interpersonal abilities well.
  • The quantifiable improvement in feedback also strengthens this summary! 

Our  product manager resume  guide will ensure your resume is in tip-top shape from resume summary to  resume format . If you’re resume’s already a success, don’t forget about your  product manager cover letter .

13. Program manager resume summary

Program manager job description  key points :

  • Planning, initiating, and implementing plans to achieve company goals and complete project portfolios
  • Excellent management, leadership, and communication 
  • Proactively motivate a team to carry out program activities
  • Budgeting, organizational, and strategy-building skills
  • Ability to analyze metrics of program success, such as KPIs and satisfaction rates, to identify areas for improvement

Program manager resume summary :

Program manager resume summary

  • Talk about detail! We can see several metrics here coupled with an energetic and goal-oriented personality.
  • Additionally, these metrics and traits skillfully imply the exact set of abilities this job position requests.

Sail through the rest of your  program manager resume , and don’t forget to check it against our  AI-powered resume tool  before you draft the perfect  program manager cover letter .

14. Project manager resume summary

Project manager job description  key points :

  • Excellent team management skills and a strong ability to facilitate collaboration and team cohesion
  • Creativity and adaptability in project planning, budgeting, and implementation
  • Ability to bridge the gap between project teams and company executives or clients to provide updates and results
  • Organization, time management, and attention to codes and policy compliance
  • Skillful preparation and management of briefing materials, progress tracking, and reports/reviews that can be leveraged for future improvements

Project manager resume summary :

Project manager resume summary

  • This job role is all about results, so leading with personality traits and metrics that support the candidate’s ability to yield these results is ideal.
  • Accentuating what the applicant can offer this particular company is also a great move!

PMs, we see you! Peruse our  project manager resume examples  for support and inspiration, and sail through your  project manager cover letter , too.

15. Recruiter resume summary

Recruiter job description  key points:

  • Excellent soft skills, including strategic communication. Ability to foster positive relationships with both applicants and staffing agents while managing client and candidate expectations
  • Ability to gather information and quickly assess candidates
  • Efficiency under pressure when working with high-priority or time-sensitive hires
  • Strong ability to gauge talent/potential during interviews
  • Develop/update job descriptions, requirements, proposed pay, and benefit plans

Recruiter resume summary :

Recruiter resume summary

  • This summary concisely highlights the blend of personality traits and interpersonal skills that this applicant offers.
  • The candidate still supplies a quantifiable example of their success and relevance, too.

You know all about the job hunt, but we get that you need help with your  recruiter resume , too. When it comes to  writing a resume  or your  recruiter cover letter , we’ll share all we know.

16. Sales resume summary

Sales job description  key points :

  • Effective communication, persuasion, negotiation, and people-reading skills
  • Ability to answer/field questions or find information quickly
  • Time management and organization skills
  • Preparing sales contracts, reports, and presentations
  • Following up to ensure customer satisfaction, obtain payments, or promote new plans, services, or products
  • Understanding and furthering company programs and specific sales objectives

Sales resume summary :

Sales representative resume summary

  • You can witness plenty of beneficial personality traits here!
  • Plus, the candidate’s experience is evident in the skills they highlight—and they specifically speak to the value they’ll offer the company.

Sell your career documents and snag your dream role with our resources for your  sales resume  and  sales cover letter .

17. Scrum master resume summary 

Scrum Master job description  key points :

  • Excellent ability to lead, communicate, and collaborate with a team to meet goals while maintaining Scrum values
  • Thorough understanding of Agile frameworks and ability to coach teammates in Agile
  • Adaptability in fixing errors and problem-solving with strong recovery skills to keep the focus on sprint goals
  • Use metrics and stakeholder/team feedback to ensure optimal product quality
  • Organization, coordination, and task prioritization

Scrum Master resume summary :

Scrum master resume summary

  • We clearly see experience, educational, and technical qualifications here.
  • Personality shines through while demonstrating a clear understanding of the job role and, of course, everything ties in with the target company at the end.

Scrum Masters, we know you appreciate a logical and organized approach, so start by exploring our  resume examples  and diving into what works on the  best Scrum Master resumes . We can also teach you how to tackle your  Scrum Master cover letter  with ease.

18. Social media manager resume summary

Social media job description  key points :

  • Familiarity with social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and the ability to maintain responsiveness on all channels
  • Quick adaptability to changing social media/market trends and current events
  • Adept at monitoring KPIs, SEO performance, and other metrics and assessing the effectiveness and potential improvements
  • Ability to collaboratively plan and implement campaigns by creating, posting, and managing original content with the use of Hootsuite

Social media manager resume summary :

Social media manager resume summary

  • It’s all there—experience, an ambitious, confident personality, credibility-boosting metrics, and highly relevant skills.
  • The applicant also provides compelling insight regarding their approach to the company’s success.

As a social media guru, you have an eye for details, which is why you’ll appreciate our free and  creative Word resume templates  as you finish building your  social media manager resume  and writing your  social media manager cover letter .

19. Software engineer resume summary

Software engineer job description  key points :

  • Engineering-focused educational background in math or computer science
  • Technical experience with tools like C++, Java, Unix, database and cloud storage, etc.
  • Strong ability to navigate, explain, and lead the entire software development lifecycle
  • Solid understanding of the best software engineering practices with a focus on scalability, quick problem-solving, and information management
  • Application infrastructure and design skills that mesh well with speed/optimization

Software engineer resume summary :

Software engineer resume summary

  • There’s tons of personality here along with strong metrics that demonstrate the applicant’s skills.
  • And while there’s a clear mention of technical skills, the strategic thinking of an engineer takes the spotlight, showcasing the ability to expertly handle advanced roles.

If your  software engineer resume  needs a facelift, consider one of our  free resume templates . Remember that your  software engineer cover letter  can make a great first impression.

20. Teacher resume summary

Teacher job description  key points :

  • Supervisory and communication skills with the ability to process student feedback and customize lesson plans
  • Ability to maintain leadership of the room and engage students with lessons 
  • Planning and preparing lessons, assignments, and educational materials
  • Updating grades frequently, providing thoughtful feedback, and modifying work for struggling students
  • Provide insight, advice, and encouragement regarding students’ future career paths

Teacher resume summary :

Teacher resume summary example

  • The conversational yet professional tone is ideal for a teacher delineating a diverse and adaptable skillset and backing it up with a quantifiable metric.
  • The applicant’s best traits practically demonstrate themselves!

Along with your  teacher resume , your  teacher cover letter  should also be top of mind.

21. Server resume summary

Server resume summary example

22. Nanny resume summary

Nanny resume summary example

23. Data Entry resume summary

Data entry resume summary example

24. Marketing resume summary

Marketing resume summary example

25. Teacher Assistant resume summary

Teacher assistant resume summary example

26. Caregiver resume summary

Caregiver resume summary example

27. Social Worker resume summary

Social worker resume summary example

28. Dental Assistant resume summary

Dental assistant resume summary example

29. Front-End Developer resume summary

Front-end developer resume summary example

30. Web Developer resume summary

Web developer resume summary example

Resume Summary Recap & Your Next Steps

Young lady going over notes on a blackboard

You’ve made it to the end, but don’t feel too overwhelmed or get lost in the weeds while striving to pinpoint the best parts of your experience and skillset to include in your summary! Return as often as you need to the summary examples above, and don’t hesitate to draw inspiration from our  resume examples . 

When you start writing your summary, keep our formula in mind:

X + Y + Z = Success!

X = Your characteristics/personality Y = Experience and quantified success/results Z = How your accomplishments apply to the specific role

Carefully read every job description while you search, and tailor your resume summary to each listing. The extra effort and finishing touches will show!

Remember it’s easiest to write your summary once you’ve drafted the rest of your resume , so you can get crackin’ in our  resume builder  for an interactive, intuitive solution. And if you like the resume below, you can start customizing it right away. So, here’s to your success. We’re cheering you on! 

When crafting your document, be sure to include specific information from the job ad but only if you actually have that experience. Because the ATS will automatically search for appropriate keywords and phrases, you can readily find what employers are searching for in other resumes and the ad for the job you’re applying for. Also, look at other ads for similar positions to find industry-specific keyword information to include.

Senior Financial Analyst Resume

Senior financial analyst resume template with 10 years of experience

ResumeCoach

Resume Templates

Resume samples

statement on a resume

Create and edit your resume online

Generate compelling resumes with our AI resume builder and secure employment quickly.

Write a cover letter

statement on a resume

Cover Letter Examples

Cover Letter Samples

statement on a resume

Create and edit your cover letter

Use our user-friendly tool to create the perfect cover letter.

Featured articles

  • How to Write a Motivation Letter With Examples
  • How to Write a Resume in 2024 That Gets Results
  • Teamwork Skills on Your Resume: List and Examples
  • What Are the Best Colors for Your Resume?

Latests articles

  • How To Add a Promotion on LinkedIn: Steps and Example
  • The Highest Paying Blue-Collar Jobs Offer Stability, While Nearly 300,000 Layoffs Are Blamed on AI
  • How To Prepare Your Resume for a Promotion in 2024
  • The Essential Guide To Giving Two Weeks’ Notice in 2024

statement on a resume

Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

Resume Summary Statements

What are they and how to write them?

RC Team

To  write a winning resume for your perfect job , you need to master the skill of writing an unforgettable  resume summary statement  that promotes your candidacy.

As another  optional introduction to a resume , the  summary statement , fairly similar to a  qualifications summary , is a short paragraph made up of 3-4 sentences that helps candidates  grab the attention of a hiring manager by highlighting their most relevant professional qualities  including qualifications and experience.

Other names given to the summary statement are  resume profile, professional profile or career summary . Whatever you choose to call it, this  brief but concise introduction  is an excellent opening to a professional job application, and knowing  how to write an effective summary statement for a resume  could be just the trick to earn you the interview you’ve been waiting for.

The following guide will give you the  tips you need to write an outstanding resume summary statement.  It will help to understand what to include, what to avoid and  how to market your resume  from the very beginning of your search for your ideal job.

How to write a resume summary statement

Just below the contact information on a resume, all aspiring candidates should start by  including a short but detailed introduction which is tailored to fit the position  offered and emphasizes the applicant’s unique core competencies.

One way to ensure that you  customize the resume summary statement for your specific vacancy  is by researching not only the company but also the competition and their  job advertisements to find suitable keywords and qualifications  that the position requires or would be desirable. Mentioning your experience with these aspects will demonstrate your preparedness for the role.

When learning  how to write a summary statement for your resume , remember that you must keep the text focused by asking yourself the question, “ why am I the right candidate for this role?”  in just a few short sentences, you must answer this question by producing your best career achievements and stressing your extensive experience and knowledge.

Tips for writing a summary statement

Need a little  help writing a summary statement for a resume ? Don’t fret, we have just what you need with these expert tips on creating a winning resume summary statement.

  • Your  resume summary statement  will be null and void if you do not take advantage of the opportunity to  include keywords taken from the job description  to pass any ATS tests and correctly tailor your resume to the job on offer.
  • Give yourself a title  such as  ‘Graphic Designer’  or  ‘Purchase Manager’  to begin your summary statement.
  • Write the resume summary using impersonal phrases avoiding the use of personal pronouns  such as ‘ I ’ or ‘ me ’ and write in the present tense, unless using specific examples: This will encourage the reader to envision you as part of their team.
  • Remember to  focus your summary statement on the company  in question and emphasize the aspects of your professional profile that they require and characteristics that will be profitable to the business.
  • If you can  add a quantifiable aspect to your summary statement , you will increase your memorability factor with the reader; Try including your years of experience or a percentage increase that you have influenced.
  • If you’re struggling for skills or qualifications to focus on, or examples of accomplishments,  take a look at professional profiles of people in your field  to get inspired.
  • Careful with name dropping , it is essentially a  useful marketing tool  that attests to authority but needs to be used correctly and  never abused by mentioning confidential clients .

Do  not list responsibilities or tasks in your summary statement  that you have done in previous positions if you do not want to do them again or did not like them!

This will only convince recruiters that these duties are part of your specialized area and you promote yourself as being passionate about them.

With these tips and an  online resume builder , you’ll have  all you need to create a winning resume with a captivating summary statement  to help you land the perfect job for your profile.

Difference between a Resume Objective and a Summary Statement

Jobseekers often  confuse resume summary statements with resume objectives , so we wrote a guide to tell the difference between the two possible introductions.

There are  two key differences between a resume objective and a summary statement  which are vital to consider if you’re debating which introduction to give your resume:

  • Although both possible resume introductions are short paragraphs of 3-4 lines describing aspects of the candidate, you will find that the focus of these sentences is not the same. That is to say, the  content of a resume objective emphasizes the interests and aims of a jobseeker , indicating the skills and goals that define that particular candidate.
  • Whereas, a  summary statement highlights an applicant’s experience, qualifications and demonstrates to prospective employers what he or she can bring to the role .

The  resume objective  is no longer preferred by resume experts and generally candidates are advised to use one of the other possible resume  introductions to best showcase their professional profile  and attract the attention of hiring managers.

A  good summary statement can make a big difference  to the reader and done right can help you stand out in the application process.

However if you feel it would be more suitable for your application, do not hesitate to check out our guide to  how to write a resume  objective for tips and professional advice.

Neither the summary statement nor the resume objective is the appropriate place to mention any career gaps  whether due to unemployment or personal circumstances. These situations can be explained later either in a  professional cover letter  or during a job interview.

When should you use a Resume Summary Statement?

Who should use a summary statement on a resume?  Where should a summary statement be on a resume? Find the answer to these questions to create a winning resume.

A  summary statement on a resume  is one of the best ways to demonstrate to a potential employer that you are the perfect candidate for the position and the company you’re applying to, by  including specific examples of your contributions  and how you have helped develop or transform businesses in previous jobs.

This eye-catching statement should therefore be placed at the  top of a resume  in the so-called  ‘prime real estate’  area just after the contact information.

A  resume summary statement  is the best choice for  professional jobseekers  who have  some or extensive experience in their industry .

On the other hand, a  resume objective  tends to be more beneficial to  first-job applicants ,  students  or candidates who are just leaving school,  graduates  and for entry-level positions.

The type of jobseeker who is expected to  write an effective summary statement  to entice the hiring manager is an  executive-level or upper level employee  such as managers, senior positions, directors and candidates who demonstrate a  steady career progression  in one field or area of expertise.

If you have any specific  achievement which you think should be mentioned on your job application , you should  include it in your resume under the summary statement  heading as a point of interest as part of your unique professional profile.

  • Have you managed famous client accounts or landed an exceptional number of new customers?
  • Did you implement any new programs or renovate working practices?
  • Have your ideas or activities saved the company money or improved profits?

Finally, when  writing a summary statement for your resume , it is essential to  customize it every time you send a new job application . This means researching each company and position well and including the achievements, experience and qualifications which are relevant to each one.

If you do not know  how to start your resume summary statement  you can choose a  resume template  or work from an  online resume creator  to find examples and suggestions to  write an effective resume introduction .

Resume Summary Statement Examples

Here you’ll see a few  examples of summary statements for different professional profiles  which demonstrate how you should go about writing your resume summary statement to  impress a potential employer  and convince them to call you in for an interview.

The aim is to  get to the point as clearly and professionally as possible,  using brief sentences detailing the main reasons you would be the perfect fit for the vacancy, thus demonstrating  why the company should hire you .

Human Resource Manager Summary Statement Example

Enthusiastic human resource manager with 8 years experience using HR metrics, organization charts and coordinating recruitment, employee relations and various company events. Strong organizational and strategic planning skills with a confidential profile who uses initiative to resolve employee issues and creates an agreeable working environment. Managed team of 10 HR assistants in large multinational.

Customer Service Representative Summary Statement Example

Motivated bilingual customer service representative with 15+ years of experience and exceptional client relations, interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral in Spanish and English. Efficient team player dedicated to problem solving and specializing in offering services and products, addressing consumer needs. Proficient with CRM systems and highly organized to ensure constant accurate record keeping. Expert in client retention and growth having increased customer accounts by 40% in a year.

Accountant Summary Statement Example

Accurate and versatile accountant with 10 years experience and MBA in Accounting & Finance with expertise in payroll, financial analysis, budgeting, taxation and auditing legislation with Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification. Excellent attention to detail and organization skills to ensure error-free, well-documented records, ledgers and forecasts. Employs most up-to-date software and technology to control and analyze accounts and expenses.

Another surefire way to  build a winning resume is to use an online resume maker  which will give you professional resume advice for each step.  Improve your chances of landing a job interview  by reading more on  ResumeCoach  about how to write each resume section.

CV template Munich

Struggling with Resume Writing?

Ease the process with our templates

StandOut CV

Resume personal statement examples

Andrew Fennell photo

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your resume.

Your resume personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your resume – and it’s aim is to summarize the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your resume in full.

In this guide I have included 17 resume personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

Resume templates 

17 resume personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our resume summary examples instead.

College graduate resume personal statement (no experience)

College graduate no experience resume personal statement

Although this college graduate has no paid work experience , they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

resume builder

College graduate resume personal statement (part time freelance experience)

Graduate with part time freelance experience CV personal statement

This candidate has graduated college with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

High school leaver resume personal statement (no experience)

High school leaver no experience resume personal statement

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and high school work-placements, to strengthen this student resume further.

Top tips for writing a resume personal statement

  • Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
  • Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
  • Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
  • If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

High school leaver resume personal statement (part time experience)

High school leaver part time experience resume personal statement

Although this person has only just left high school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call center alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their future studies, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver resume personal statement (no experience)

College leaver no experience resume personal statement

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their honor results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this summary can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student resume personal statement (freelance experience)

College graduate freelance experience resume personal statement

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic resume personal statement

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their resume’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within colleges.

High school leaver resume personal statement with sports experience

High school leaver sports focussed resume personal statement

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organization.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies at college and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate resume personal statement

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organizational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate resume personal statement

Law graduate resume personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their college work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their resume personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student resume personal statement

Medical student resume personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student resume personal statement

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student resume personal statement

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal summary.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship resume personal statement

Internship resume personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal summary by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

College graduate career changer personal statement

College graduate career changer resume personal statement

Switching careers as a college graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

Business management graduate CV personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarizing some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their college placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate CV personal statement

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your resume contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this resume is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your resume

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own resume – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a resume personal statement?

Resume personal statement or resume summary, personal statement format, what to include in a resume personal statement.

  • Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your resume which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your resume is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

Personal statement basics

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a resume summary?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your resume… but there are 2 main differences:

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (college graduates, high school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A resume summary tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Personal statement vs summary

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my resume writing guide , or example resume summaries page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your resume, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimizing the space taken up by your contact details.

CV page margins

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your resume is opened.

We have a resume template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text color simple, ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews, I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written resume will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy Resume Builder to create a winning resume in minutes with professional resume templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your resume is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites, look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

Tailoring CV profile

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree or your GED. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

  • High school/college work placements
  • Voluntary work
  • Personal projects
  • Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your resume , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g.  A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

  • Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
  • Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
  • Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

Resume personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

Poor resume profile

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written resume will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy Resume Builder to create a winning resume in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our college graduate resume example , our best resume templates , or our library of example resumes from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

Every other Tuesday, you’ll get actionable tips to land your dream job.  Subscribe

40+ Resume Summary Examples (+ How to Write One)

40+ Resume Summary Examples (+ How to Write One)

A resume summary is a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) right at the top of your resume. It describes your key skills and achievements from your professional experience and demonstrates to potential employers why hiring you would benefit them.

Often ignored and underutilized, this little excerpt can literally give hiring managers all the reasons they need to hire you. The rest of your resume just needs to prove the points you listed there 😉.

Here’s what a good resume summary example looks like (we’ll break it down in a second):

An Operations Manager with 6+ years of experience in the email marketing industry. Specialized in directing and coordinating production and implementation of email marketing campaigns and automation. Overhauled customer segmentation and sending strategies, resulting in an average of 49% revenue boost for 20+ clients. Looking to fine-tune EmaiEra’s operations and increase efficiency and revenue through tried-and-tested, advanced email marketing strategies.

⚠️ If you have little to no professional experience, it’s better to write a resume objective statement, which focuses on what you want to achieve in the new role. To learn how to write a resume objective, check out this article: 60+ Resume Objective Examples (with Writing Guide and Tips) .

If you’ve got some work experience under your belt, keep reading and you’ll find:

  • Picture-perfect resume summary examples for the most common professions (yours included).
  • A bulletproof formula for writing resume summaries hiring managers want to read.
  • Actionable tips to help you take your summary from generic to job-winning in a matter of minutes.

How to Write a Resume Summary

Here’s how to write a resume summary in 6 easy steps:

  • Open with a strong trait, job title, and years of experience
  • Highlight your key skills
  • List your most important achievements
  • Connect past experience with the prospective company
  • Tailor each resume summary to a specific job offer
  • Write your resume summary statement last

To write an informative and professional summary for a resume, you’ll pretty much have to follow this formula (or its slight variations):

[Your position + years of experience + industry]. [General experience + key skills]. [Your biggest achievements (quantitative or qualitative)]. [How you can contribute to the company you’ve applied for].

For instance:

[Position + experience + industry]: A Senior Customer Happiness Officer with 8 years of experience in the B2B sector.

[General experience + key skills]: Highly developed communication and problem-solving skills; excels at ensuring high customer satisfaction rates.

[Biggest achievements (quantitative or qualitative)]: At Spinfluence, increased customer satisfaction rates by 27% in 2021 by developing and implementing a new operational policy.

[Potential contribution]: Excited about joining Omnilert and leading customer service initiatives to boost satisfaction rates and company reputation.

Let’s dissect this formula.

1. Open with a strong trait, job title, and years of experience

Carefully choose a trait that is important to your role but that’s also genuinely a part of your professional self. Follow with your current job title and years of experience to build some authority.

You can also add the industry you’re working in, for more context.

2. Highlight your key skills

Think of the skills you possess which are also needed for the position you’re applying for. If you’re new to the industry, try to find a set of transferable skills that could be relevant.

3. List your most important achievements

Don’t just say it, prove it! Mention your biggest achievements that are testaments to the key skills you listed.

Remember that recruiters and HR managers know what each position’s duties are. For example, if your position is Business Development Representative, they’ll know what you do. But in order to show them how well you do it, you need to include achievements. Stray away from listing duties, such as “Responsible for cold calling” and focus on achievements such as “Generated X% increase in yearly sales through renewed contracts”.

Treat this part as a summary of qualifications and accomplishments.

4. Connect past experience with the prospective company

Find a way to emphasize how your past experience and expertise will translate into success for the prospective company.

Don’t focus on what you need from a position/company; focus on what you’re bringing to the table and how you can contribute.

5. Tailor each resume summary to a specific job offer

This is one of the most important things to remember.

You need to update your entire resume (resume summary statement included) each time you apply for a new position.

This is because each job ad contains specific information and keywords relevant to the job opening. You need to make sure you include those keywords and make your resume summary relevant to the position. (We’ll touch on this later in greater detail.)

6. Write your resume summary last

It will be easier for you to create your entire resume first, and write the resume summary statement once you’re done with all other sections.

Through this bird’s eye view, you’ll get a better understanding of your career so far; thus, it’ll be easier to extract the key skills and achievements that will make you relevant and desirable for the role.

Let’s come back to the resume summary example we showed you in at the beginning of this article and see what’s good about it.

An Operations Manager with 6+ years of experience in the email marketing industry. Specialized in directing and coordinating production and implementation of email marketing campaigns and automation. Overhauled customer segmentation and sending strategies, resulting in an average of 49% revenue boost for over 20 clients. Looking to fine-tune EmailEra’s operations and increase efficiency and revenue through tried-and-tested advanced email marketing strategies.

Here’s why it checks all the boxes:

✔️ The candidate opened with their position, years of experience, and industry (they’d get bonus points for mentioning a strong trait, for example, “A highly organized Operations Manager” — but this works too).

✔️ The candidate highlighted key specializations and hard skills which tell us more about their day-to-day duties in the role (operations manager is a broad term and listing key skills makes it easy for recruiters to find out what the role is focused on).

✔️ The candidate listed some of his key achievements that tell us how good they are in their role. They were specific about what exactly was changed and what impact it had on the results. They also used quantitative achievements (49% revenue boost for over 20 clients) to paint a more precise picture.

✔️ The candidate placed focus on a company they’re interviewing for, briefly mentioning how they can contribute to its success.

Take a look at a bad example now:

An experienced, hard-working content writer. Skilled at writing appealing copy for clients. An avid reader. I’d love to join Big Interview and expand my writing skills.

Let’s dissect it:

❌ Saying “hard-working” and “experienced” without providing additional information (years of experience and industry) certainly won’t leave a strong impression on a recruiter.

❌ The candidate did try to introduce their strong areas (“Skilled at writing appealing copy for clients”), but the statement fails to convey meaningful information: what does “appealing copy” mean? Is it long-form or short-form copy? Educational or promotional? How do they know it was appealing? What type of clients?

❌ The candidate placed useless information in the resume summary (an avid reader). While it may be connected to the role itself (you can’t be a good writer unless you read a lot), in this case, it makes no sense to include it because it’s general and meaningless.

❌ Finally, the candidate doesn’t focus on what they can do for the company. Instead, they focus on themselves and what they need. In addition, the candidate used personal pronouns (I), which is a big no-no.

If the candidate was a bit more specific and informative, and if they adjusted their resume summary to the requirements listed in the job ad, the qualifications summary would look something like this.

A hard-working Content Writer with 5+ years of experience in the HR industry. Skilled at writing long-form, educational copy for the US’s top 10 largest HR firms. Winner of the 2019 Best Content Marketing Award by FindBestSEO. Looking to contribute to Big Interview’s content strategy with superb writing, editing, and SEO skills.

The candidate made sure to include all the relevant information (years of experience, industry, type of content, type of clients, achievements/awards, and how they can contribute to the company).

Looking for examples for your position and industry? Keep reading!

Resume Summary Examples for All Careers and Industries

Below, you’ll find resume summary examples for different industries and professions. Here’s a list of summaries so you can quickly find what you’re looking for.

Resume summary examples by industry:

Sales and customer support resume summaries:

Customer service

Business development representative, call center representative, real estate agent.

Healthcare resume summary statements:

Medical assistant

Dental assistant, pharmacy technician, esthetician.

Retail professional resume summaries:

Retail professional

Retail manager, security guard.

Tech resume summary statements:

Software engineer

Hospitality and service resume summaries:

Receptionist

Food delivery driver, housekeeper.

Business and finance resume summary statements:

Operations manager

Human resources professional, senior-level executive, financial analyst.

Marketing resume summaries:

Project manager

Account manager, product designer.

Administrative resume summaries:

Administrative assistant

Executive assistant.

Professional resume summaries for other jobs:

Social worker

Truck driver, police officer, construction manager, warehouse worker, resume summary example for students, resume summary example for career change, sales and customer support resume summaries.

Adaptable Customer Service professional with 4 years of experience working in call centers. Proven ability to create positive interactions and find the right customer solutions at the right time. Successfully handled 20 client accounts and maintained a success rate of 98%. Looking to join Shopsterfy and create memorable customer experiences and increase customer loyalty.

Motivated business development representative with 7+ years of experience in the education industry. Secured a $2.1M contract in the previous role and boosted company revenue by 42%. Seeking to contribute to Skillful Communication’s revenue with extraordinary marketing and sales knowledge and skills.

Efficient customer service representative with 4+ years of experience in call centers. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with exceptional customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills. Handled 100+ calls on a daily basis with a consistent customer satisfaction rate of 94%. Excited to join Adecco and help with inbound call handling and helping customers solve issues quickly and efficiently.

Ambitious real estate agent with 10+ years of experience in commercial and residential properties. Extensive experience with renting and selling properties, as well as handling administration and paperwork. At DetroHomes, helped increase annual sales by 37% through strategic negotiations and lucrative marketing strategies. Eager to join Century21 and expand streams of revenue through superb sales and marketing skills.

Healthcare resume summary statements

Diligent medical assistant with over 15 years of experience in private and public hospitals in Europe. Skilled at assisting doctors with office management, setting up and nurturing patients, and record keeping. Supported the adoption of quality control procedures and increased customer satisfaction by 31%. Looking to join MedStar Hospital Center and contribute to service quality with excellent medical and people skills.

People-oriented, registered ER nurse with over 18 years of experience. Skilled in burn unit, ICU, and ER. Treated over 50,000 patients during a long career, and helped manage hospital scheduling systems, increasing efficiency by 27%. Looking to join Clearwater Lake General Hospital and contribute with extraordinary medical and problem-solving skills.

Meticulous dental assistant with 9 years of experience in public and private dental clinics. Assisted with different dental procedures and surgeries, skilled at endodontics, sterilization, and keeping medical records. Implemented a new organizational program and increased the weekly number of patients by 15%. Increased customer satisfaction by 51% through a patient-oriented approach and detailed procedure explanations. Excited to join Alpha Dental Care and help the new team set procedures in place and develop a reputation as a top dental expert in the county.

ASHP-accredited pharmacy technician with 2+ years of experience. Skilled in pharmacy law and ethics, healthcare systems, and pharmaceutical calculations. Extensive experience with prescription and insurance-related issues, as well as purchasing/inventory control. Scored a 95% success rate in the 2021 Masters Pharmaceutical customer questionnaire. Looking to join McKesson Corp and increase sales and customer satisfaction with superb customer service and pharmaceutical knowledge.

A licensed esthetician and cosmetologist with 10+ years of experience working in wellness centers. Skilled in providing hair, nail, and skin treatments, with a special focus on microdermabrasion, chemical peelings, and microneedling. Consistently maintaining a 97% customer satisfaction score at Escape Wellness center and successfully onboarding and training new employees. Looking to contribute to the White Lotus studio with exceptional beauty service skills and knowledge.

Retail professional resume summaries

Friendly retail professional with 5 years of experience. Thrives in a customer-focused, fast-paced environment. With exceptionable sales skills, increased BakerStreet’s sales by 25% in Q3 2022. Looking to join Zara’s retail team and contribute to customer satisfaction with excellent customer service and communication skills.

Dedicated and energetic cashier with over 15 years of experience. Provides customers with prompt, courteous service and product assistance. Helps around 5,000 customers a day. Seeking to join Target and provide its customers with impeccable service with efficiency, punctuality, and professionalism.

Customer-oriented Retail manager with superb organizational skills and 9+ years of experience. Skilled in customer service, store management, and employee training. Increased monthly sales by 27% in Q3 2022 at WaiWai and decreased employee turnover by 14% by implementing a new reward and development program. Excited to join Sephora to analyze sales trends and increase profit, customer, and employee satisfaction.

Dependable security officer with 9 years of experience creating a safe environment for employees and customers in retail properties. Skilled in non-violent crisis management and conflict resolution. Oversaw a 3-story facility with 100+ employees and zero safety incidents in the last 6 months. Looking to join Aventura Mall and contribute to property safety with impeccable security operations and surveillance skills.

Tech resume summary statements

Experienced and detail-oriented QA Tester with a BA in Computer Science. 5+ years of experience in the SaaS industry, including software testing and managing a team of 3 people. Possess a holistic view of the development process. Looking for new ways to employ software testing and analytical skills and deliver value to Skillful Communications through a DevOps role.

Passionate software engineer with 7+ years of experience in software development and leading a team. Works with Java, JavaScript, SQL Server, and No SQL. Consistently ensured 99% on-time delivery and project completion. Eager to join Skillful Communications Inc. and build impressive interviewing solutions for users around the world.

Hospitality and service resume summaries

Dependable and pleasant receptionist with more than 10 years of experience in the commercial sector. Offers friendly, professional, and effective assistance. Winner of the 2013 Commercial Receptionist of the Year Award. Helped revamp the Genevius hotel organization and scheduling system, increasing accuracy and efficiency by 29%. Seeking to contribute to Hilton’s guests’ exceptional experience with admirable hospitality and assistance skills.

Professional and friendly bartender with 7+ years of experience in prestigious U.S. and European bars and nightclubs. Extensive knowledge of drink mixology, specialized in rum and gin-based cocktails. Winner of the 2019 U.S. Bartender of the Year award. Excited to join BuenaVistaBar’s team and build its reputation through quality service and customer-oriented approach to work.

Dedicated hostess with an MA in Hospitality Management and 8 years of experience. Delivered outstanding customer service and managed reservations and schedules. Increased Moon’s customer base by 28% in 2021. Excited to join The Pearl and build its reputation and customer satisfaction through outstanding customer care and organization.

Responsible and punctual food delivery driver with 1+ years of experience. Thorough knowledge of DOT rules and regulations and experience with meeting deadlines in fast-paced organizations. Employee of the month three times in a row at Index Pizza. Looking to maintain high customer satisfaction and build Smash Pizza’s brand recognition through responsible work and customer focus.

Trustworthy and hardworking housekeeper with 15+ years of experience working in hotels and private residences. Responsible for impeccable general sanitization and upkeep of residents’ bedrooms and common spaces, as well as for the hotel laundry operation. Excited to join Hilton’s team and maintain flawless cleaning standards and exemplary customer service.

Business and finance resume summary statements

Operations Manager with 6+ years of experience in the email marketing industry. Specialized in directing and coordinating production and implementation of email marketing campaigns and automation. Overhauled customer segmentation and sending strategies which resulted in an average of 49% revenue boost for over 20 clients. Looking to fine-tune EmailEra’s operations and increase efficiency and revenue through tried-and-tested, advanced email marketing strategies.

Dependable, resourceful HR professional with 5 years of experience. Skilled at talent acquisition and retention, payroll, and tax data. Created a new Talent Development program that decreased employee churn by 38% in the past 3 years at Verticorn. Looking to join Adsite and expand and retain the team through remarkable people management skills.

Proven leader of U.S. and international sales organizations with over 15 years of experience. Expert in developing successful growth strategies and training both individual representatives and team leaders in product benefits and customer service techniques. Effectively manages P&L on multimillion-dollar, multi-product lines of business.

Ethical and experienced accountant with 11 years of experience in public accounting and financial auditing. Skilled in data management and analysis, bookkeeping, tax accounting, and budgeting. Managed grants totaling over $15M annually and improved internal processes, resulting in a 42% efficiency increase in financial reporting. Enthusiastic about continuing great work at a financial consumer startup like MerchIX.

Organized and reliable financial analyst with 3 years of experience. Skilled in financial analysis, reporting, and forecasting. At Essentix, increased company revenue by 38% through comprehensive cost analysis. Seeking to apply extraordinary analytical and data skills and help Skill Inc. increase revenue and market share.

Marketing resume summaries

Highly organized Project Manager with 7 years of experience. Excellent planning, time management, and problem-solving abilities. Through successful branding initiatives and outstanding organizational skills, helped increase Adler’s market share by 17%. Looking to join Sellesto’s Product team and help increase market share and company revenue.

Responsible and data-driven account manager with 7 years of experience in marketing agencies. Superb email marketing and SEO skills. Excellent communicator, highly organized, and able to coordinate the team and accomplish targets on time. At Werilex, managed 5 key accounts with a 95% customer satisfaction rate and increased yearly sales by 37% through renewed contracts. Looking to join Agencylytical to ensure client satisfaction and build strong relationships that will result in new customer acquisition.

Dedicated senior product designer with 8+ years of experience working in the education industry. Skilled in visual and user interface design, information architecture, and UX research. Leading a multidisciplinary team of 8 in charge of developing and testing layouts, interfaces, and functionalities. Created modeducate.com, a language learning website with over 70k monthly users. Looking to join Peoplio and help develop a superb applicant tracking system with strong integrative thinking and UI/UX skills.

Passionate copywriter with 5+ years of experience in the HR industry. Skilled at writing short-form, promotional copy for the U.S.’s top 10 largest HR firms. Winner of the 2020 Best Copywriting award by CopyCatNet. Looking to contribute to Big Interview’s content strategy with superb writing, editing, promotional, and SEO skills.

Administrative resume summaries

Reliable and organized Administrative Assistant with strong organizational abilities and in-depth understanding of corporate policies and procedures. Highly developed interpersonal skills. Boosted team productivity by 48% through smart time and task management. Wants to join Skill and help support the team with outstanding organizational and operational abilities.

Adaptable executive assistant with 3 years of experience working for a startup tech company. Highly developed organizational and time management skills. Assisted C-level executives, oversaw internal and external communications, and supported daily administrative and operational initiatives. Boosted office productivity by 28% by applying a new set of operative procedures and client protocols. Wants to join RoarEight’s team and apply superb organizational and business skills.

Professional resume summaries for other jobs

Driven biology teacher with 9 years of experience in teaching middle schoolers. Skilled at and passionate about teaching and engaging students through different pedagogical methods, and improving their knowledge and social skills. A member of the school board and a winner of the Teacher of the Year Award 2021. Would love to expand duties and take on challenging responsibilities with vigor and superb pedagogical skills at Bloomington High School.

Committed social worker with a BA in social work and 7+ years of experience working with teenagers with behavioral challenges. Proven ability to cooperate with and create high-quality programs for teenagers with Oppositional defiant disorder, Attention deficit hyperactivity, and conduct disorders. At Children’s Services Council of Sweetwater County, implemented 30+ treatment plans and coached 30+ teenagers. Enthusiastic about joining County-Santa Clara Social Services and helping with the Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) program.

Hard-working truck driver with 12 years of experience driving local, regional, and over-the-road routes. Highly experienced with several types of ELD devices, such as Samsara, Omnitracks, and Gorilla Safety. Proven track record of timely and accident-free deliveries with a 92% customer satisfaction rate. Winner of the TruckSafe John Kelly Memorial Award 2018. Excited to join LDL Freight and contribute to timely and safe deliveries throughout the U.S.

Reliable law enforcement professional with 20 years of experience. Extensive expertise in ensuring public safety, enforcing the law, preventing crime, supporting citizens, and looking into accidents. Created and implemented a community policing program involving municipal resources and allied agencies, which resulted in a 15% decrease in the crime rate in Leavenworth. Wants to join Seattle Police Department and contribute to a peaceful and safe community with outstanding communication skills and a strong work ethic.

Nurturing, trustworthy nanny with 5+ years of experience and expertise in creating a safe and supportive environment for children to grow. Especially focused on physical activity and music education. Provided daily nanny care and pedagogical efforts to 3 families, with a 100% satisfaction score and letter of recommendation from each.

Diligent construction manager with 9+ years of experience in commercial and residential construction companies. Excels at construction supervision and management, workflow and project scheduling, Critical Path Methods (CPMs), and project funding. Managed successful completion of 120+ commercial and residential properties with no cost overruns and no safety incidents.

Responsible warehouse associate with 11 years of experience with parcel packing and distribution, as well as record-keeping. At Walmart, consistently maintained speed and accuracy and kept records 95% organized. Looking to join RedBubble’s warehouse team and contribute with superb coordination, organizational, and reporting skills.

Dedicated recent graduate with MA in English Language and Literature. 5+ years of writing experience for various types of content, including descriptive, analytical, persuasive, and critical content. Winner of the Alexander Rose Memorial Award for Excellence for Creative Writing in 2021. Looking to gain practical experience and contribute to Big Interview’s content team with superb research, writing, and editing skills.

Former English teacher with 10+ years of experience teaching elementary and middle school children. Strong command of the English language, including grammar, vocabulary, and writing. Shifting my professional focus to content writing in the advertising industry. Bringing along impeccable English skills, as well as research skills and basic SEO knowledge.

How to Tailor Your Resume Summary to the Job Ad

You can’t write a single resume summary statement and use it across multiple job applications (it’s lazy and won’t get you far). The key thing to do is adapt your resume summary to every single job you’re applying for .

There are 2 main reasons to do this:

  • Depending on the position at hand, you won’t always highlight the same things in your qualifications summary.
  • A personalized summary statement will signal to the hiring manager that you went the extra mile to give them a special treatment.

Here’s how to tailor your summary for a resume to match the job ad:

resume summary statement

Let’s analyze this job ad for a Content Manager role.

  • The key requirements are listed in 8 bullet-points.
  • It will be difficult for your resume summary to refer to them all, so the first thing to do is try to identify the most important ones and group them into categories.
  • The first bullet-point is all about long-term strategic planning. The second one is about overseeing a team of writers and owning content production timelines. The third one deals with content recycling and repurposing (also mentioned later). The following few bullet points refer to editorial and SEO tasks like creating briefs, quality assurance, proofreading, editing, and SEO-based strategy. Finally, you would be required to track and provide reports to higher management.
  • Based on this, your summary should contain the following: experience with content strategy, content repurposing, and SEO, proven editorial skills, ability to work with multiple writers, provide feedback and own the content calendar

Here’s a resume summary example you could write:

A HubSpot and SEMRush-certified Content Manager with 5 years of experience in leading a 6-member content team. Skilled in creating quarterly SEO and content strategies, editing, and reporting. Increased DR by 5 and grew organic traffic by 64% over a one-year period. Looking to join Toggl to help achieve new organic milestones through content.

Now let’s do the same for a level-1 Customer Service Representative.

resume summary

Judging by the job description, you need to:

  • Have a near-native knowledge of English and be great with MS Excel and Word
  • Be comfortable speaking to customers
  • Know when and how to escalate
  • Be assertive enough to provide process improvements and give feedback
  • Have great organizational skills and keep the systems up-to-date

Here’s how you could pitch yourself in a resume summary:

A recent college graduate with exceptional communication and problem-solving skills. MS Office and CAE certified. Member of the college debate team with an average score of 73 points. Looking to join Company X and create memorable customer experiences and increase customer loyalty.

Key Takeaways

Finally, here are crucial things to have in mind if you’re wondering how to write a professional summary for a resume:

  • Follow the formula: your position and years of experience, followed by key skills and biggest achievements. Close with how you will contribute to the company.
  • Keep it short and focus on key skills and quantifiable achievements.
  • Optimize your resume summary (but really your entire resume) for each new role you apply for; focus on key words and responsibilities from job ads and try to incorporate them throughout the resume.
  • Consider writing the resume summary last, after you’re done creating and optimizing the rest of the resume. It’ll give you the big picture and you’ll know exactly what to include.
  • Finally, good luck!

What’s the difference between a resume profile and a resume summary?

Resume profile, profile statement, and a resume summary all do the same thing – highlight key points from your career in a few sentences at the top of your resume. The resume profile is often used as an “umbrella” term for the paragraph at the top of a resume (both a resume summary and a career objective). A summary clarifies your entire resume in a short paragraph or 3–4 bullet points. A profile is usually more focused on your accomplishments and quantifiable results.

How to write a professional resume summary if you have no experience?

In the resume intro, it’s best to list your academic, internship, or volunteer experience. Even if you don’t have relevant work experience, you surely have transferable skills, training, and qualifications that go well with this position. You can also include any certifications you obtained. Don’t forget to include your interests and soft skills such as communication, teamwork, or problem solving. If you’re not experienced, it will make more sense to write a resume objective instead of a summary.

How long should my resume summary be?

A resume summary should be a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) and placed at the top of your resume. It should focus on your key skills and achievements from previous professional experience and act as your elevator pitch to signal the employer that you’re worth considering.

Do I need to put a “Summary” headline above my resume summary?

No, it’s not required, even if other resume sections may have headlines. You may want to do it for consistency and to make your resume more scannable.

What elements to include in a resume summary?

You should start with a bold statement that will include a job title and years of experience. Next highlight your key skills, and list your proudest accomplishments. Make sure that the experience you mention is relevant to this company and this role. Don’t forget to tailor your resume summary to a role you’re applying for.

Do I have to put a resume summary statement in my resume?

You don’t have to, but you should. Resume summaries are the best place to communicate your qualifications quickly, clarify things from your resume, and use all the keywords that the ATS may scan your resume against. Especially if you’re a career changer, the resume summary statement is a great place to explain why your transferable skills matter.

Can I use pronouns in my resume summary?

There’s no need to use pronouns in your resume summary because it’s evident that the skills and qualifications you’re describing are about you. You want to start the phrases with action, power verbs to showcase your skills and key accomplishments.

statement on a resume

Maja Stojanovic

Michael Tomaszewski

Fact Checked By:

Pamela Skillings

Turn interviews into offers

Share this article

  • Big Interview
  • Plans & Pricing
  • Higher Education
  • Editorial Process
  • Resume Templates
  • Interview Preparation
  • Interview Q&A
  • Career Advice
  • Create an Account
  • Knowledge Base

©️ 2024 Skillful Communications, Inc. | Big Interview is a trademark of Skillful Communications, Inc.

Terms | Privacy Policy

The Resume Summary Statement: When You Need One and How to Do It

notebook

It’s been well established that the good ol’ resume objective statement has gone out of fashion in the world of resumes. But what’s all this about its replacement—the summary statement?

Depending on who you ask and how you’re using it, summary statements can either be a complete waste of space or a total game changer. For those of you who don’t know, a summary statement (also known as “Summary of Qualifications” or just “Competencies”) essentially consists of a few pithy and strong statements at the beginning of your resume that help summarize your skills and experience in order for a prospective employer to quickly get a sense of the value you could offer. Here’s a sample:

  • Expert communicator with 10+ years of experience dedicated to community development and advocacy within the field of education
  • Strong public speaking, teaching, and facilitating skills for diverse student, professional, and general audiences
  • Extensive involvement in all levels of relationship building, marketing, and program development
  • Proven ability to manage multiple projects while meeting challenging deadlines

Sounds great, right? Minus the part where you have to give up valuable resume space for information that’s already on your resume. So, the big question is: Do you really need one?

The short answer is, it depends. Summary statements are usually best for more experienced professionals with years of experiences to tie together with a common theme (read: brand). Or, alternatively, they can be used to tie together disparate experiences with a set of key transferable skills. On the other hand, if you have a pretty linear or straightforward career path, the space is probably better used for additional bullet points in each role.

If you do decide that a summary statement is right for you, get ready to do some digging and some introspection. You only have a limited amount of space for your summary statement (think four to six bullets, give or take a couple), and you don’t want to a) regurgitate your resume bullets or b) sound like a list of buzzwords .

Once you have these two cardinal rules down, the real fun begins. Here’s a three-step plan to help you craft the perfect summary.

Step 1: Figure Out Where You’re Going

Since you need to be concise, it’s important to figure out what you want in your next position, so you know exactly what skills and experiences to highlight. If you are not absolutely clear about what you want, envision an ideal position that will value you for the main characteristics and experiences you want to be hired for.

Ask Yourself

  • What skills do you most enjoy using?
  • What accomplishments are you most proud of and can best illustrate your abilities?
  • What issues, topics, or areas are you most passionate about?

Step 2: Analyze Your Target Industry

Once you know what you want to do, your next step is identifying where you want to be—think industry, city, and companies. Then, research your industry and key trends affecting it now: Read relevant industry news articles, research companies , and analyze job descriptions you’re interested in.

  • What is most valued in your target industry?
  • What experiences, skills, and characteristics matter in your target jobs?
  • What would you look for if you were the hiring manager?

Step 3: Find Your Fit and Condense

With your knowledge of your target industry, it’s time to figure out how you fit in (or want to). Identify, describe, and refine your key selling points with your end goal in mind. Then, craft them into 4-6 bullets, shooting for statements that are vivid and that clearly illustrate what you bring to the table over anyone else.

  • What are your most impactful selling points?
  • What critical problems are you well positioned to solve?
  • What is the intersection of what you want and what your target industry needs?

A summary statement can be a powerful branding tool that helps send the message that you’re the right one for the job. The best thing about taking the time to put one together (whether you decide to actually use it or not) is that it not only helps hiring managers get a clear sense of what you have to offer, but also helps you better understand what you bring to the table. So, you get the added benefit of knowing exactly how to sell your skills the next time you’re networking, interviewing or presenting yourself online.

statement on a resume

  • Search Search Please fill out this field.
  • Career Planning
  • Finding a Job

Resume Summary Statement Examples and Writing Tips

statement on a resume

What Is a Resume Summary Statement?

What is an executive resume summary.

  • Summary Statement vs. Objective
  • Benefits of a Resume Summary

How Long Should a Resume Summary Statement Be?

  • What to Include

Resume Example With a Summary Statement

Resume headline and summary statement examples.

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

When writing a resume summary statement, be sure to include concrete information on how you have added value to companies and helped to transform departments or organizations. This will show the hiring manager that you would be an asset to the company. You can also preface your statement with a resume headline—such as "Paralegal" or "Consultant"—to describe your profession or intended role.

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

A resume summary statement is a brief list or a few sentences at the top of your resume (after your  contact information ) that highlights your qualifications for a job. It showcases your most important credentials and is listed above your employment history. The person reviewing your resume will be able to view your most important attributes at a glance.

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

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

Resume Summary Statement vs. Resume Objective

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

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

Benefits of a Resume Summary Statement

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

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

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

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

What to Include in a Resume Summary Statement

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Core strengths and skill sets most relevant to the role
  • Past relevant experience with key functions
  • Notable accomplishments that you intend to repeat in the next role

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

Resume Example With a Summary Statement (Text Version)

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

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY 

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

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

WORK EXPERIENCE

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

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

  • Achieved and consistently maintained successful employment placement rate of 90% .
  • Demonstrated strong understanding of labor market, vocational systems, One-Stop services, and One-Stop referral system.

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

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

  • Hand-selected by senior management to serve as Project Support Associate Specialist/Team Leader tasked with providing customized training opportunities for students.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Increased sales in the northeast region by 15% through creative vendor partnerships and instituting sales incentives.
  • Hired, trained, and inspired award-winning sales team, generating profits at 10% above the company average.
  • Conducted customer satisfaction surveys and recommended product enhancements which were then adopted by senior management.

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

Need More Help With Your Resume?

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

Key Takeaways

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

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

Use a resume summary statement instead of an objective. Resume summary statements are more effective than objective statements because they focus on an employer’s needs rather than on what you, as a job candidate, want for yourself. 

CareerOneStop. " Headline and Summary ."

How To Write A Resume Personal Statement (With Examples)

Avatar image

In This Guide:

The purpose of a resume personal statement, the elements of a good personal statement, the construction of a good personal statement, final words: writing a resume personal statement.

Resume image 1

Quick Answer: A personal statement on a resume summarizes the benefits of hiring you and encourages recruiters to pay attention to your resume. It's the first section of the resume that recruiters see, so it should be brief, easy-to-read, and attention-grabbing. Your statement should include who you are, suitable skills, achievements, your target company, and what you hope to do for your new employer. It should be short and concise, mentioning only the most relevant information for your target roles.

Is your resume good enough?

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Landing a job interview requires a memorable resume. Including a good personal statement at the top of your resume is a perfect way to do it.

Essentially, your resume personal statement is a brief paragraph that aims to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to pay attention to your resume.

If you are wondering whether you should include it.

And you will see why. In this article, we have all the information you need on how to write an eye-catching personal statement and a couple of useful examples.

Hundreds of resumes go through the hands of a Recruiter in just a day. So, you understand how important it is to grab his or her attention in just seconds. One really effective way is to write a personal statement at the top of a resume.

By including a strong personal statement you would for sure get more attention than one without.

1. State who you are

Begin with a description showing your current position in your profession and field of specialization. You could also include what you like most about your work and any characteristics and skills that would make you the perfect choice for the position.

2. Add measurements to your achievements

After that, you should communicate how suitable for the position you are and what is your value to the organization. This section should highlight accomplishments relevant to the position you are applying for. Show that you could be beneficial for the company.

If you are wondering which accomplishments to mention, select those that directly associate with your position. If the position requires managerial experience, mention previous situations that have placed you in such a role. This way, you could quickly establish yourself as the right candidate for the job.

3. State your career objectives

The third section of your personal statement should state why you are applying for this particular position. You have already communicated your skills and qualifications in the previous sentences, so you write the last one concise and direct.

4. Keep your personal statement short

Your whole personal statement should be short, concise, and easy to read. Keep in mind to use simple sentences telling the recruiter the most important information for you.

After telling you how to structure it, see how it is done.

“An efficient, and reliable administrative professional with 8+ years of experience supporting executives, sales personnel, and managers to improve the internal operations for their businesses.

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

“As a recent graduate from the University of Townville, with a 2:1 honors degree in marketing, I have undertaken internships at industry-leading agencies such as Beyond Imagination and Noah Freemans. These placements have allowed me to develop sector knowledge and gain hands-on experience, as well as expand transferable skills such as communication, negotiation, and analytical skills. My current goal is to gain a role that allows me to further my knowledge and take on increased responsibility at a market-leading digital marketing agency.”

“I am a highly competent IT professional with a proven track record in networking and managing databases. I have strong technical skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills, enabling me to communicate easily with clients. I am eager to be challenged in order to grow and further improve my skills. My greatest passion in life is using my technical know-how to benefit other people and organizations.”

Resume Personal Statement for Career Changers Example

Experienced Sales Manager

“As a Sales Manager with 7 years of experience, my tenacious and proactive approach resulted in numerous important contract wins. My excellent networking skills have provided my team with vital client leads, and my ability to develop client relationships has resulted in a 16% increase in business renewals for the organization I work for. I currently seek a new challenge which will utilize my meticulous attention to detail and friendly, professional manner.”

Resume Personal Statement for Entry Level Job

Entry Level Business Analyst

“Enthusiastic Business Analyst, skilled in leadership and communication. Seeking to enhance understanding of key metrics for IPSoft. As a business report writer for Valens Securities helped grow employee grasp of key concepts by 42%. My PowerPoint presentation of GBMP’s Policy Deployment plan was turned into a webinar that got 2,300 views.”

Resume personal statement for experienced professional

Experienced Teaching Assistant

“Enthusiastic teaching assistant with 6 years of experience. Seeking to maintain a graduate teaching assistant position at St. Andrews University. Mentored 70+ students for 3 years. Delivered lectures, edited 2 books. Commended by 2 professors for research quality. Graded 1000+ student papers. Skilled in materials development and research.”

And if you are still not sure how to write your personal statement, go through our Resume Examples . They are all approved by top Hiring Managers and have helped thousands get their dream job.

Your personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above tips and tricks we gave you, you will be able to create one which shows the Hiring Managers everything they need.

Remember to keep it short and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

Do you have any other questions about personal statements on a resume? Give us a shout-out in the comments below!

Author image

  • Resume Guides

Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job - Interview Question (+ Answers)

How to list ged on your resume, how many jobs should you list on a resume, how to write a job inquiry email that will get you noticed [templates included], what is a europass cv [examples, template & usage in 2023], the different ways of submitting a resume.

  • Create Resume
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Preferences
  • Resume Examples
  • Resume Templates
  • AI Resume Builder
  • Resume Summary Generator
  • Resume Formats
  • Resume Checker
  • Resume Skills
  • How to Write a Resume
  • Modern Resume Templates
  • Simple Resume Templates
  • Cover Letter Builder
  • Cover Letter Examples
  • Cover Letter Templates
  • Cover Letter Formats
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • Cover Letter Guides
  • Job Interview Guides
  • Job Interview Questions
  • Career Resources
  • Meet our customers
  • Career resources
  • English (UK)
  • French (FR)
  • German (DE)
  • Spanish (ES)
  • Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

Resume Objective Examples

Create an Effective Resume: Check out the Resume Objective Examples

Published on August 7th, 2024

blog-banner

The resume tends to be the first impression that you give an employer when you apply for a position. Of all the various components, the objective statement of the resume holds special significance for those just getting a start in their career, attempting a career transition, or trying to advance upwards in the current field.

An objective statement of a resume is your chance to inform employers that your skills and talents align with the requirements of their open position. A well-written objective statement can be tailor-made for the job you are applying for. It adds value to your resume and allows it to differ from other applicants. 

What is a Resume Objective?

Resume Objective Examples

A resume objective is something quick that sits at the top of your resume, below your contact information. It's usually one or two sentences describing what your career goals are and the value that you can bring to the position. While a professional summary shows the achievements from your past experiences, a resume objective covers what you want to achieve later and how it coincides with the position you seek.

An effective resume objective helps you differentiate yourself from other candidates by stating your career goals and how they align with the job you are applying for. Here, we discuss what a resume objective is, what it entails to craft one, and provide some examples suitable for different career stages and lines of industry. By choosing the right resume builder or template, you can add the objective easily and effectively. 

Suggested reads: How Long It Take to Get a Job?

When Do You Need a Resume Objective?

  • If you're just starting your career, with minimal experience, an objective is a great opportunity to state goals and how those skills will benefit the employer.
  • If you're changing industries or careers, then a resume objective can be used to explain your career change and how your transferable skills make you fit for the position.
  • If you have a focused, specific goal that fits with a particular job or company, an objective can express that focus for employers.

Writing a Resume Objective

Your resume objective should be concise, specific, and related to the job one is seeking an application. 

Specifically State: No more vague words. Mention the post you are applying for and what you intend to achieve.

Align with the Job Description : Customize your objective to the job description and make it reflect the skills and goals that you have, and which correspond to the needs of the employer.

Demonstrate Value : Let the employer know just how your skills, experiences, or objectives will benefit them. Focus on what may be in it for them—not just what you want from them.

Keep it Short: Your goal should be short—1-2 sentences suffice. Make it clear and to the point, and write it in simple language.

Some Resume Examples

  • Recent Marketing graduate with a passion for digital marketing and content creation, seeking to utilize academic knowledge and internship experience in contributing to the growth of ZYX Company as a Marketing Coordinator.
  • Results-driven Sales Manager with over a decade of accomplished experience in driving relentless revenue growth and managing the best-of-the-best in teamwork efforts. I look forward to bringing leadership and strategic planning in sales to your team at DEF Enterprises.
  • Detail-oriented IT Specialist with experience in network management and cybersecurity, while attaining an opportunity to further the knowledge within this industry that will contribute to the technical infrastructure and security protocols at GHI Solutions.
  • Caring Registered Nurse with 5 years of experience in providing emergency care, clinically competent, providing patient-centered care at XYZ Hospital, and being committed to ensuring improved patient outcomes and high-quality services.

Read: Choose the Right Action Verbs for Resume and Make it Powerful

Final Words

A strongly written resume objective will make you the most prominent candidate in a sea of applicants. It gives across your career objective and how this is related to the job you applied for, making it pretty simple for any employer to see how you fit well. Whether you are entering the workforce for the first time, making a change in your career, or aiming for career advancement, a good objective will provide your resume with the focus and direction that are strong enough to make an impact. But here is the important advice: try to fit your resume objective into the concern of the respective employer.

Scroll Image

Hire the best without stress

hq-logo

Never Miss The Updates

We cover all recruitment, talent analytics, L&D, DEI, pre-employment, candidate screening, and hiring tools. Join our force & subscribe now!

Stay On Top Of Everything In HR

ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels dropped from DirecTV in contract dispute

A view of DirecTV satellite dishes pointed toward the sky

  • Copy Link URL Copied!

Walt Disney Co.-owned channels, including ESPN and ABC stations, were knocked off DirecTV platforms Sunday after talks to reach a new distribution deal collapsed.

The blackout — which affects DirecTV’s nearly 11 million customer homes — hit before the kickoff of Sunday’s highly anticipated University of Southern California -Louisiana State University college football game and in the middle of ESPN’s coverage of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. The impasse came at the deadline for a new distribution deal after weeks of haggling between the two companies over contract terms and fees that Disney charges to carry its programming.

Without an agreement, DirecTV and its U-Verse service lost the rights to carry Disney channels.

“They want to continue to chase maximum profits and dominant control at the expense of consumers — making it harder for them to select the shows and sports they want at a reasonable price,” Rob Thun, chief content officer at DirecTV, said in a statement shortly after the channels went dark at 4 p.m. PST.

Sports fans will quickly feel the pinch. In addition to college football on ESPN and ABC, the new NFL season begins later this week. ESPN is set to start its season with a “Monday Night Football” game Sept. 9 between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets, in which Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to return after suffering an injury a year ago.

Disney’s eight ABC stations, including KABC-TV Channel 7 in Los Angeles, are no longer available on DirecTV. That means viewers of local news and “Jeopardy,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Good Morning America” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” will be without some of their favorite shows. Customers in Fresno, San Francisco, Chicago and New York also lost access to their local ABC station.

Other Disney-owned channels, including Freeform, FX and National Geographic , are included in the outage.

“While we’re open to offering DirecTV flexibility and terms which we’ve extended to other distributors, we will not enter into an agreement that undervalues our portfolio of television channels and programs,” read a statement from Disney Entertainment heads Dana Walden, Alan Bergman and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “We urge DirecTV to do what’s in the best interest of their customers and finalize a deal that would immediately restore our programming.”

It’s not clear how long the blackout will last. A year ago, a similar tussle between Disney and Charter Communications , which operates the Spectrum TV service, resulted in a 12-day blackout of Disney channels .

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, walks to lunch at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in July, 2023 in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Hollywood Inc.

Behind Disney’s Spectrum blackout: A ‘proxy battle’ for the future of television

ESPN, ABC stations, FX and other Disney-owned channels are part of a high-stakes blackout affecting 14.8 million Charter Spectrum customer homes.

Sept. 6, 2023

The Labor Day Weekend clash reflects the television industry’s economic strain .

The shift to streaming and resulting cord-cutting has devastated pay-TV companies . DirecTV has lost more than half of its subscribers in the last decade. The El Segundo company now has about 11 million subscribers, according to industry estimates.

This year marked the worse-ever industry drop in pay-TV subscribers, according to the MoffettNathanson financial research firm. During the first quarter, the industry lost nearly 2.4 million pay-TV homes in the U.S. — a 12% year-over-year decline, the firm said in a recent report.

The entrance to Walt Disney Co. in Burbank

Subscriber declines have squeezed Disney .

The Burbank entertainment company has long relied on billions of dollars in programming fees that it receives annually from DirecTV and other providers. The fees are calculated, in part, by the number of subscribers that receive the channels.

In addition, Disney’s ESPN has historically been the most expensive basic cable channel, costing distributors nearly $10 per month per subscriber home. Disney has sought to maintain those premiums to help pay for its pricey sports rights contracts, including long-term NFL and NBA deals.

a light switch with an icon of a television set above the "on" position and an unplugged cable below the "off" position

Disney and Charter end fight. But how long will the cable bundle survive?

There are actually things to talk about in Hollywood other than the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes — such as the Disney-Charter deal to end the blackout.

Sept. 12, 2023

The challenges set the stage for contentious contract talks at DirecTV’s El Segundo headquarters.

The environment has changed dramatically since the last time the two companies hammered out an accord. That was in 2019 when DirecTV was wholly owned by AT&T. Since then, the phone giant has spun its television distribution group into a separate entity and taken on a private equity partner, TPG, to manage the business.

For the past year, DirecTV executives have been working on plans to increase its offerings to consumers.

DirecTV wants to offer genre-themed packages — think sports or general entertainment — to provide cheaper plans for customers who refuse to pay $100 or more each month for a traditional bundle with more than 100 television channels. Executives want to appeal to customers who have long pined for a way to sign up for only the channels they actually watch.

But, according to DirecTV, existing contracts with programmers prevent it from widely offering customers curated packages.

“Instead of allowing distributors like DirecTV to also develop smaller, more tailored packages at prices that reflect the value they get from the content, programmers have continued to impose and enforce strict bundling requirements,” DirecTV said in a position paper in late August.

POLAND - 2020/03/23: In this photo illustration an ESPN logo seen displayed on a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Can ESPN survive while cable TV dies?

Long known as the ‘Worldwide Leader in Sports,’ ESPN is grappling with cord-cutting, rising rights fees and skepticism from Wall Street.

Sept. 2, 2023

The expiration of the 2019 distribution deal with Disney has given DirecTV an opening to try to change contract terms.

The satellite TV company said it has asked Disney to ease a key distribution requirement — minimum penetration rates. For example, Disney’s deals require that DirecTV and other distributors provide ESPN to a minimum of nearly 80% of its customer base.

DirecTV maintains that such “antiquated” penetration rates “force pay TV customers to subscribe to many channels they may not watch,” and the contracts limit DirecTV’s ability to offer smaller and less-expensive packages. During the negotiations, Disney said it offered DirecTV with more flexibility to tailor “skinny” genre-themed packages that it wanted for its customers.

The Burbank company also agreed to work with DirecTV on the minimum penetration rates, Thun said.

“But not enough to really change the game for us,” Thun said in an interview. “We moved much further than they have [during the negotiations], and what they put on the table in terms of skinny bundles was not the total amount that we had asked for.”

Making a wholesale switch could reduce revenue flowing to Disney at a critical time.

Disney’s stock has been under pressure amid softness at its theme parks and resorts and shares have been trading near five-year lows. On Friday, Disney closed up nearly 1% to $90.38.

Collage illustration of Disney clippings and ears to form the number 100.

Disney at 100: Seven ways Walt’s company forever changed entertainment

From theme parks to animation and kids’ programming, Walt Disney Co. has revolutionized the entertainment business since its launch a century ago.

Oct. 16, 2023

Last year’s outage of ESPN and other Disney channels on Charter’s Spectrum ended with an agreement that saw several smaller Disney channels, including Freeform and Disney Jr., dropped from Spectrum’s lineup.

In the end, both companies said they came away with a win.

Charter didn’t force the issue of penetration rates. Instead, Disney and Charter agreed to widen the reach of the Burbank company’s streaming services, including Disney+ into Spectrum homes.

Disney executives had been hoping last year’s Charter agreement can provide a template for a pact with DirecTV.

In the end, the weekend talks broke down over economics, executives said.

“We continue to invest in really high-quality content — scripted entertainment, ABC News and sports rights,” Justin Connolly, Disney’s president of platform distribution, said in an interview last week.” All of those things continue to increase in cost for us and ... the rates that we are asking for are in-line with what we have with other providers in the marketplace.”

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Superheroes came to Hollywood’s rescue this summer. Is it enough to save movies?

The summer box office has been a welcome bright spot in an otherwise dismal year for the film industry.

Aug. 29, 2024

More to Read

EDMONTON, CANADA - MARCH 30: Urho Vaakanainen #5 of the Anaheim Ducks shoots.

Anaheim Ducks will move local games to free TV on Fox’s KCOP

Aug. 27, 2024

Fox Sports sideline reporter Pam Oliver talks with San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle on the field

Judge blocks Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox sports streaming service over antitrust concerns

Aug. 16, 2024

The Warner Bros Studio lot

Hollywood’s cable struggles become clearer as write-downs add ‘nails to linear TV’s coffin’

Aug. 8, 2024

Inside the business of entertainment

The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

statement on a resume

Meg James is a senior entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times. She was the lead reporter for The Times’ coverage of the deadly “Rust” shooting on a New Mexico film set in 2021, work recognized by the Pulitzer Prize board as a finalist in breaking news. A member of the Company Town team for two decades, James specializes in covering television, corporate media and investigative projects. She previously wrote for the Miami Herald and the Palm Beach Post. A native of Wyoming, she is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Columbia University.

More From the Los Angeles Times

SANTA BARBARA , CA - SEPTEMBER 02: Susan Tibbles walks past a memorial for the 34 people who died in the Conception Boat fire one year ago today after family members with friends and officials gathered at Point Castillo at the end of Harbor Walk in the Santa Barbara Harbor where a plaque on a boulder was unveiled to memorialize the 34 lives lost in the Conception Diving Boat fire off Santa Cruz Island on the one year anniversary. Santa Barbara Harbor on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 in Santa Barbara , CA. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Five years after 34 died in Conception boat fire, NTSB says Coast Guard hasn’t reformed

Sept. 2, 2024

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA - September 01: Severe landslide damage on Dauntless Drive near the Portuguese Bend Community on the Rancho Palos Verdes were an evacuation warning has been issued due to electricity being cut on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Worsening landslide forces power cut to 105 more homes in Rancho Palos Verdes

Mill Creek flows high after winter snow melt on June 23, 2021.

Climate & Environment

Court orders California county to ensure groundwater pumping doesn’t harm streams and fish

A pink cloud is seen trailing behind an aircraft flying over smoky hills.

Record fire in San Jacinto burns hundreds of acres; 6 firefighters hospitalized

IMAGES

  1. FREE 9+ Sample Resume Summary Statement Templates in MS Word

    statement on a resume

  2. Career Statement Examples Resume

    statement on a resume

  3. 20++ Professional statement resume example For Your Needs

    statement on a resume

  4. 37+ Personal statement resume examples For Your Learning Needs

    statement on a resume

  5. FREE 9+ Sample Resume Summary Statement Templates in MS Word

    statement on a resume

  6. How To Write A Resume Personal Statement (With Examples)

    statement on a resume

VIDEO

  1. Your Purpose Statement, Your Resume, And The Little Decisions Along The Way

  2. Resume & Personal Statement for University

  3. Resume summary vs resume objective. #resumetips #resumeadvice #resume #resumehelp

  4. REVEALING My Secret COLUMBIA ADMISSIONS File that WON me a SCHOLARSHIP

  5. What is a Letter of Continuing Interest?

  6. Study Abroad

COMMENTS

  1. 51 Examples of General Resume Objective Statements

    A resume objective statement is a brief summary of your experience, skills, work ethic and goals. Typically, you can place this statement below the contact information section on your resume so that hiring managers can have a better understanding of your background before reviewing your professional history.

  2. How To Write an Effective Resume Summary (With Examples)

    Here are additional resume summary examples with different types of experience and qualifications. Use these as inspiration as you write your summary statement: Business resume summary examples. Customer-oriented full sales cycle SMB account executive with 3+ years of experience maximizing sales and crushing quotas. Skilled at building trusted ...

  3. 24 Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

    A resume summary statement usually comes right after a job seeker's contact info and before other resume sections such as skills and work experience. It provides employers with a brief overview of a candidate's career accomplishments and qualifications before they read further. Because of how early it appears on the document, your resume ...

  4. Resume Summary: 45+ Professional Examples & How to Write

    An executive summary on a resume is a brief 2-5 sentence statement at the top of your resume that summarizes your professional experience, skills, and accomplishments. Simply put, an executive summary is a different name for a resume summary. It serves the same purpose of grabbing the attention of employers by providing a quick snapshot of your ...

  5. 86+ Resume Summary Examples To Inspire You

    A resume summary is a brief statement placed near the top of your resume. It highlights your relevant skills, experience, and achievements. A summary is like a teaser commercial. It quickly shows hiring managers why you're the ideal candidate for the job. It also encourages them to read your work history for proof of what your summary claims ...

  6. 27 Great Resume Summary Examples to Get Hired

    Why it works: This summary emphasizes the candidate's clinical and patient care experience and highlights their key nursing and interpersonal skills. 9. Financial Analyst resume summary example. "Detail-oriented Financial Analyst with a strong background in financial modeling, data analysis, and forecasting.

  7. 77+ Resume Summary Examples [& How-to Guide for 2024]

    Proven 2-year track record of success at Company X, having exceeded department KPIs by 40-50% for 6 months in a row.". Read the full sales associate resume example here. #2. Account Manager Resume Summary. "Client-oriented account manager with a successful track record in the oil industry.

  8. How to Write a Resume Personal Statement (6 Tips + Examples)

    A resume personal statement should include: Between 50 and 200 words in 3 - 4 sentences. Your title or function, for example "Junior developer" or "Passionate hospitality manager". An opening hook. Soft skills and hard skills. Impressive facts and stats. Your short and/or long-term goals.

  9. Resume Personal Statement: How to Write & 7+ Good Examples

    Otherwise, your target employer may worry your focus would be divided between your work for their company and your side hustles. 3. Consider your audience. Tailor every word of your personal statement to your audience — the recruiter, hiring manager, and anyone else at your target employer who might read your resume.

  10. 50+ Best Resume Summary Examples & How-To Guide

    Here's an example summary statement for a resume that will clear your doubts: Good Resume Summary Example. Experienced PMP with a background in law and 7+ years of experience growing revenue for a Massachusetts-based electronics firm. Seeking to leverage leadership expertise as project manager for Paylocity. Guest speaker at the Northeast ...

  11. 30 Resume Summary Examples + How to Write One in 2024

    17. Scrum master resume summary. Scrum Master job description key points: Excellent ability to lead, communicate, and collaborate with a team to meet goals while maintaining Scrum values. Thorough understanding of Agile frameworks and ability to coach teammates in Agile.

  12. 10 Resume Profile Examples (And How to Write Yours)

    Keep it concise. Your resume profile should be no more than four sentences or bullet points, and should not have more than 500 characters. Remember recruiters read dozens of resumes daily, so you don't want yours to be unnecessarily long and tiring. 2. Find the format the suits you best.

  13. The Ultimate Resume Summary Statements Guide

    Give yourself a title such as 'Graphic Designer' or 'Purchase Manager' to begin your summary statement. Write the resume summary using impersonal phrases avoiding the use of personal pronouns such as ' I ' or ' me ' and write in the present tense, unless using specific examples: This will encourage the reader to envision you as ...

  14. 30+ Best Resume Summary Examples + How to Write

    Tips to nail your resume summary statement every time. 30+ resume summary examples for different professions. Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder with 20+ resume templates and create your resume now. Create your resume now. CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW. What users say about ResumeLab:

  15. 17 resume personal statement examples 2024

    Resume templates 17 resume personal statement examples. To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look, and what should be included.. Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates - if you are experienced, check out our resume summary examples instead.

  16. How to Write a Resume Summary + 129+ Summary Examples Included

    A resume summary is a concise career statement that sits prominently beneath the resume header. It's one of the first elements recruiters see during their initial scan of your resume. A well-composed profile summary is between three to five short sentences in length and showcases your most relevant skills and experiences.

  17. 40+ Resume Summary Examples (+ How To Write One)

    Here's how to write a resume summary in 6 easy steps: Open with a strong trait, job title, and years of experience. Highlight your key skills. List your most important achievements. Connect past experience with the prospective company. Tailor each resume summary to a specific job offer. Write your resume summary statement last.

  18. 20 Best Resume Summary Examples + Tips in 2023

    12. Passionate HR assistant with one year of experience at Bombas and proficiency in Workday. Skilled at providing administrative support for all types of recruitment, onboarding, and employee relations activities. Conscientious communicator, empathetic listener, and driven problem solver.

  19. What to Know About a Resume Summary Statement

    Step 1: Figure Out Where You're Going. Since you need to be concise, it's important to figure out what you want in your next position, so you know exactly what skills and experiences to highlight. If you are not absolutely clear about what you want, envision an ideal position that will value you for the main characteristics and experiences ...

  20. How To Write a Resume Opening Statement (+10 Examples)

    A resume opening statement is a brief introduction of yourself to the potential employer. It should be concise yet engaging and provide a summary of your most impressive qualifications and experiences. The opening statement should be the first thing the employer reads in your resume, so you want to make sure it's attention-grabbing and relevant ...

  21. Resume Summary Statement Examples and Writing Tips

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

  22. How To Write A Resume Personal Statement (With Examples)

    3. State your career objectives. The third section of your personal statement should state why you are applying for this particular position. You have already communicated your skills and qualifications in the previous sentences, so you write the last one concise and direct. 4. Keep your personal statement short.

  23. Create an Effective Resume: Check out the Resume Objective Examples

    The resume tends to be the first impression that you give an employer when you apply for a position. Of all the various components, the objective statement of the resume holds special significance for those just getting a start in their career, attempting a career transition, or trying to advance upwards in the current field.

  24. ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels dropped from DirecTV in contract

    The ABC and ESPN blackout on DirecTV — affecting nearly 11 million homes — comes during a busy sports calendar with college football, the NFL and the U.S. Open tennis tournament.