A professional resume summary statement, sometimes called a career profile or a summary of qualifications, is a short, three- to five-sentence paragraph, placed at the top of a resume that:
Presents your value to the company right away, enticing employers to read through the rest of your resume.
Provides a valuable opportunity to use specific keywords from the job description to ensure your resume passes the scrutiny of applicant tracking systems (ATS), which scan resumes for relevance based on keywords.
Is especially useful for job applicants with a wide range of title positions or a long work history because it can be used to highlight your most relevant qualifications upfront.
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The professional summary versus objective statement
Job applicants often ask about the differences between a resume summary and an objective statement and which one they should choose. Let’s break it down:
Professional summaries and objective statements both have the same essential goal:
to summarize your qualifications for the job to give potential employers a quick overview of your skill set. But there some noteworthy differences, namely:
Professional Summary
Outlines candidate’s qualifications.
Communicates why an applicant is a good fit.
Recommended for experienced job seekers and applicants seeking the same type of job.
Objective Statement
Communicates applicant’s goals.
Expresses why a candidate wants the role.
Recommended for first-time job applicants and career changers.
4 cases for using a professional summary statement
Use a resume summary statement if:
You have been working for at least one year.
You’ve changed jobs frequently over the course of your career.
You’re applying for a senior-level position.
You’re applying for the same role you’re in currently but with a different company.
You’ve been working for at least one year.
Job applicants with more than one year of work experience who include a professional summary on their resumes tend to get more interviews than those who don’t. That’s because resume summaries provide great introductory snapshots of would-be employees. When done properly, they tell employers who you are, why you’re the best candidate for the job, and what you can do for them.
Pro Tip
For applicants with at least one year of experience
Tailor your resume summary to match the job. Be specific, lead with your most relevant strengths, and use keywords from the job description that apply to your qualifications.
You’ve changed jobs frequently over the course of your career.
If you’ve had a lot of job changes, employers are sure to notice and likely to question your job-hopping so it helps to be transparent. Giving context from the start can remove doubt from a hiring manager’s mind and encourage them to see you as reliable. Maybe you preferred contract roles in the past but now you’d like something permanent, or perhaps you moved a lot due to circumstances beyond your control. You had your reasons, so be upfront from the start.
Pro Tip
For applicants who have changed jobs frequently
Focus on knowledge you’ve learned and skills you’ve gained through your experiences that you can apply to the job. Doing so will downplay the job hopping and help hiring managers see your potential for the role.
You’re applying for a senior-level position.
When applying for a senior-level position, it’s vital to showcase your career progression and leadership skills in your professional summary statement. Highlight your expertise in the areas necessary for the job, spotlight a notable accomplishment, and show your ability to multitask.
Pro Tip
For applicants seeking a senior-level position
If you have previous management experience: Let the employer know right away and add an example of something notable you achieved in the role.
Example: “Experienced restaurant manager with a verifiable track record of exceeding monthly sales goals by minimum of 15% in current position.
If you don’t have management experience: Focus on your related skills and achievements.
Example: “Trained five new cashiers on how to use store’s POS system and inventory control procedures.
You are applying for the same job at a different company
Let’s say you’ve enjoyed your HR coordinator job for three years at a Fortune 500 company but the same role at a small startup has captured your interest. The job is largely the same, but you’re ready for the challenges and skills a startup offers. You need a compelling professional summary that gives employers a clear idea of what you learned at your former company so they know what you’ll bring to theirs.
Pro Tip
For a company switch
Never talk down about your previous/current company! Instead, mention something you liked about them, show gratitude for what you learned while there, or briefly explain how your time there prepared you for the new role.
How to write a great professional summary, with examples
A great resume summary statement is a customized summary statement and all customized summary statements start with research. That’s right. No matter what job you’re going for or industry you’re in, you have to know what makes the company — and the hiring manager — tick. Remember, you’re tailoring your resume to the job, addressing a specific employer.
Look for these key points:
How long have they been around?
What’s the culture like and how do you fit?
Have they undergone any big changes recently?
What are their recent accomplishments?
Do they have a mission?
What are their values?
Then gather your arsenal:
List three- to five-key skills you have that fit the job requirements.
Pick out a specific need the company has and describe what you plan to do for them to help with that need.
Take note of what interests you about the company.
Jot down what you’re most passionate about.
Write down a past accomplishment — something you can measure — that you’re proud of and that is relevant to the job.
Once you’ve got all these points written down, then you’re ready to piece them together into a solid, interview-winning summary statement. Use the summary statement examples below as guides.
If you have been working for at least one year:
Reliable and compassionate certified nursing assistant with two years of experience caring for elderly and vulnerable adults. Track record of outstanding client care for 30 bedridden and physically challenged personal care home residents. Friendly, patient and flexible. OSHA and HIPAA compliant.
The above is a strong example of a professional summary statement because it:
- Starts with the applicant’s most relevant qualifications.
- Tells how much experience the applicant has.
- Tells the type of clients the applicant has worked with.
- Mentions something the applicant has achieved in their previous job.
- Ends with the applicant’s professional certifications.
If you’ve changed jobs frequently:
Multifaceted and reliable office manager with 7 years of experience coordinating, sourcing, supporting, administering, and budgeting for offices of all sizes in a variety of environments. Organized and flexible with a track record of optimizing processes for maximum efficiency. Excels at creating innovative solutions that resolve business challenges quickly and increase the bottom line. Proven ability to work with many different personalities.
The above is a strong example of a professional summary statement because it:
- Focuses on the applicant’s adaptability and flexibility.
- Clearly shows that the applicant is very experienced in all facets of the job.
- Uses power words such as “excels,” “resolve,” “proven ability” and “innovative.”
- Presents a variety of relevant soft and hard skills.
- Implies that the applicant is able to work in both small and large groups.
If you’re applying for a senior-level position.
Award-winning graphic designer with marketing acumen and five years of experience helping nonprofits succeed through branding, fundraising, social media marketing, event coordination, and newsletter creation. Most recently led a team of 10 volunteers to fundraise more than $2,500 for Houses for the Homeless so they can expand their reach in the tri-state area, ultimately helping thousands of people in the Brighter Futures Program to find permanent housing and long-term stability.
The above is a strong example of a professional summary statement because it:
- Highlights a major professional achievement (“Award-winning”) right off the bat.
- Clearly shows that the applicant is very experienced in all facets of the job.
- Details experience leading a large team for a major project.
- Presents the applicant as someone who can handle multiple responsibilities.
- Shows the applicant’s interests (nonprofits) and industry (Social Services) of choice.
If you’re applying for the same role you’re in currently but with a different company.
Detail-oriented journeyman machinist with 10 years of experience at National Labs. Trained with top machinists on CNC axis-milling and turning machines, lathe operation, and blueprint reading. Adept problem-solver with outstanding interpersonal skills. Capable of operating, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining heavy machinery efficiently and safely.
The above is a strong example of a professional summary statement because it:
- Presents the applicant’s technical skills and knowledge clearly and succinctly.
- Includes soft skills such as “Detail-oriented,” “problem-solver” and “interpersonal.”
- Mentions professional training in the field.
- Uses power words such as “adept” and “outstanding.”
- Includes length of experience and big company name at the top.
Resume summary statement writing dos and don’ts
FAQ
Is it OK to repeat skills or keywords on my summary on the rest of the resume?
Yes, it’s OK to repeat skills from your resume summary on other areas of your resume, as long as they are requirements from the job description. Doing so helps your resume stand up to the scrutiny of applicant tracking systems (ATS), which scan applications for the most relevant keywords.
A good rule of thumb is to apply the words that are used frequently or are called out as the most important, essential, or must-haves in the job description two to three times in your resume. But be honest — you will be called upon to use essential skills and knowledge if you are hired!
For example, if the job requires outstanding planning aptitude and you know you can prove you have it, then mention you are a planner in your summary statement, but make sure it’s highlighted in your job history section and list it as a skill in your skills section.
Is a personal branding statement the same as a resume summary?
No. Personal branding statements are often placed near a job seeker’s name on their resume. Because they are often used as a tagline or slogan, they are repeated on every resume, in social media profiles and portfolios. For example, “I streamline processes and increase productivity!”
A personal summary, on the other hand, is a longer statement used to tell employers what a job applicant’s biggest strengths are, what they can do for an employer, and why they are the best candidate for the position. Although, like branding statements, they are also used to market a job applicant, they are customized for each job and they are much more detailed.
How do you write a resume summary with no experience?
If you do not have work experience, then you should not use a resume summary. An objective statement is a better approach for you.
Can a summary have bullet points?
Yes. A professional summary can use bullet points in a skills-based resume to highlight important skills for quick scanning.
For example, a skills-based resume summary for a home health aide would look like this:
Multitasking: Provide quality daily health care, including blood testing, monitoring, washing and wound care to 10 patients with very different needs.
Verbal communication: Interface daily with family members and doctors concerning patients’ treatments.
Compassionate: Stellar customer reviews for ability to provide emotional comfort to patients.
Knowledgeable: Stay updated on all new medical tests and procedures.
But most job applicants should use the brief paragraph format because it allows them to address more than just skills.
What should I avoid when writing my resume summary?
The top things to avoid when writing a resume summary are:
Personal pronouns, such as “I”, “they” and “she”
Long paragraphs
Repetition
Unnecessary personal information such as your age, hobbies and gender
Salary or benefits
Mistakes
Generic statements
Lies
What should I include in a resume summary if I’m switching careers?
We do not recommend a professional summary statement for job applicants who are switching careers. In that case, we recommend writing an objective statement instead.
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