When you are learning how to write a resume, we recommend starting from the top with the resume summary. A resume summary statement, sometimes called a career profile or a professional summary for a resume, is a short, three- to five-sentence paragraph placed at the top of all three standard resume formats. In this page, we’ll offer a variety of resume summary examples and explore the elements of writing a summary for a resume:
Who should use a professional summary + examples
Most job seekers will want to use a professional summary for their resume. A resume summary works for job seekers of all experience levels and industries. Typically, only job seekers who are recent graduates or who are entering the workforce with little to no experience will use a resume objective statement at the top of their resumes instead.
6 job seekers who should use a resume summary
You have 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.
How to write a resume summary with one year of experience:
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, plus OSHA and HIPAA compliant.
This is a strong resume summary example because it:
- Starts with the applicant’s most relevant qualifications.
- Mentions the applicant’s experience level.
- Calls out the type of clients the applicant has worked with.
- Ends with the applicant’s professional certifications.
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.
How to write a resume summary if you have changed jobs frequently:
Multifaceted and reliable office manager with seven years of contract experience with a variety of clients. Skilled at coordinating, sourcing, supporting, administering and budgeting for offices of all sizes in various 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.
This is a strong professional summary sample 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.
You’re applying for a senior-level position.
When applying for a senior-level position, your professional summary statement must showcase your career progression and leadership skills. Highlight your expertise in the areas necessary for the job, spotlight a notable accomplishment and show your ability to multitask.
How to write a resume summary 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.
This is a strong resume summary example because it:
- Highlights a summary of qualifications in the first sentence.
- Presents a list of relevant hard and soft skills and experience.
- Includes length of experience and a big company name.
- References management experience.
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 essentially 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.
How to write a resume summary for the same role at a different company:
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, including strong communication and collaboration skills. Capable of operating, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining heavy machinery efficiently and safely.
This is a strong professional summary sample because it:
- Outlines the applicant’s technical and soft skills clearly.
- Mentions professional training in the field.
- Uses power words such as “adept” and “outstanding.”
- Includes length of experience and a big company name at the top.
You are a student
how to write a resume summary for students:
Driven physical therapy major seeking summer internship. Compassionate with strong interpersonal skills and extensive training in creating treatment plans for clients. Adept at recordkeeping to track client’s progress. Able to work evenings and weekends.
This is a strong resume summary sample because it:
- Highlights desirable soft skills that are relevant to the role.
- Includes a list of relevant hard and soft skills and experience.
- Mentions the ability to accommodate a flexible schedule.
You are applying for an entry-level position
How to write a resume summary for an entry-level position:
Newly licensed real estate agent seeking first role in residential real estate. Knowledgeable about the real estate closing process thanks to two internships in the field. Strong ability to connect and communicate with prospective sellers and buyers.
This is a strong resume summary example because it:
- Mentions a professional license.
- Presents a list of relevant hard and soft skills and experience.
- Includes information about past internships.
These are just a selection of scenarios in which you might need to write a summary. For specific samples, like customer service resume summary examples or an administrative assistant resume summary, see our wide selection of resume examples.
How to effectively use keywords in your resume summary
Having the right keywords in your resume is critical to getting it past an applicant tracking system (ATS) and into the hands of the hiring manager. Most large companies use ATS software to weed out unqualified applicants from the candidate pool. The software scans resumes for critical skills and keywords to reduce the number of resumes a busy recruiter must read.
Those resumes with the most matches will be forwarded to the recruiter. Resumes that don’t have the right keywords usually wind up in the trash.
The keywords an ATS searches for are usually skills and qualifications straight from the job description, which makes it simple to add them to your resume. Here’s how to write a resume summary that is rich in keywords to help you get past an ATS:
- Study the job ad and jot down the skills and keywords that are critical for the role.
- Weave the skills, experience and other keywords listed into your resume summary.
- Render the keywords exactly as they are written in the job description. In other words, if the job ad mentions “strong verbal communication skills,” write that exactly. While “strong oral communication skills” means the same thing, an ATS may not be able to understand the nuance.
7 tips for writing a resume summary statement
Generally speaking, a resume summary should highlight the skills and experience you possess that are most relevant to the position. Think of your resume summary as a way to pique a recruiter’s interest. You’ll want to put your most impressive credentials here to entice them to read the rest of your resume. Here are some elements to consider including in your resume summary:
- State your level of experience.
- List three to five key skills you have that fit the job requirements. Remember to scan the job ad to determine the most relevant skills to mention.
- Be sure to list critical soft skills, like communication.
- Detail your most relevant work experience.
- Showcase a past accomplishment — something you can measure — that is relevant to the job.
- Identify a company’s specific need and describe how you can help with that need.
- Mention elements of the role that you’re most passionate about.
Resume summary statement writing do’s and don’ts
- Be concise.
- Be honest.
- Use descriptive language that denotes action.
- Add your title with a descriptor, such as “Seasoned Electrician.”
- Place your strongest traits upfront, as long as they make sense for the position.
- Customize your resume’s professional summary for the job.
- Use keywords from the job description if they match your qualifications.
- Use personal pronouns, such as “I,” “they” and “she.”
- Write too much; four short sentences will suffice.
- Include hobbies.
- Add unnecessary personal information, such as your age.
- Mention salary or benefits.
- Repeat information from your cover letter.
- Lie.
FAQ
Yes, it’s OK to repeat skills from your resume summary in 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 two to three times the words that are used frequently or are called out as the most important, essential or must-haves in the job description. But be honest — you will be called upon to use essential skills and knowledge if hired!
For example, if the job requires outstanding planning skills and you know you can prove you have them, 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.
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 in portfolios. For example, “I streamline processes and increase productivity!”
On the other hand, a personal summary 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.
You should not use a resume summary if you do not have work experience. An objective statement is a better approach for you. If you have some work experience, review our resume summary examples for entry level positions.
Yes. When formatting a resume, it’s acceptable to use bullet points in the professional summary for a resume to highlight important skills for quick scanning if it’s a functional or skills-based resume.
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 the ability to provide emotional comfort to patients.
- Knowledgeable: Stay updated on all new medical tests and procedures.
However, most job applicants will use either a chronological or a combination resume format. These job seekers should use the brief paragraph format because it allows them to address more than just skills.
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
We do not recommend a professional summary statement for job applicants switching careers. In that case, it’s best to write a resume objective statement instead.
Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.
