Best Resume Summary Examples Explained: How to Write Yours

Your resume is more than just a list of your work history.

It’s a carefully crafted document that should highlight your skills, experiences, and personality. 

At the forefront of this document is your resume summary, a concise introduction that can make or break your job application. 

In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about what your resume summary is, when to use it, and most importantly, how to write one that stands out.

What is a Resume Summary?

A resume summary is a brief statement at the top of your resume that provides a snapshot of your professional identity. 

It should have your qualifications, experiences, and career goals in a few well-chosen sentences. 

Think of it as your elevator pitch to potential employers, a chance to captivate them within moments.

When to Use a Resume Summary?

While it’s not a mandatory section in your resume, there are specific situations where it can make a significant impact:

• Career Change: If you’re switching industries or roles, a well-crafted summary can bridge the gap between your previous experience and your desired career path.
• To Spotlight Your Key Achievements: When you want to highlight your most impressive accomplishments, especially when they align with the job you’re applying for.
• Grabbing Attention: When you want to catch the hiring manager’s eye right away, a compelling summary can pique their interest.

How to Write a Resume Summary?

Here’s how you can create an effective resume summary in 5 simple steps to ensure you make a lasting impression.

Step 1: Personalize Your Summary to Fit the Job Description

Customization is the key to a successful resume summary. Tailor it to align with the specific job you’re applying for. 

Highlight how your skills and experiences are relevant to the position. 

For example, if you’re applying for a job in digital marketing, you can mention:

• Marketing manager with 5+ years of experience. 
• Expertise in social media marketing, including Facebook, Google, and TikTok. 
• Onboarded 100+ customers to our SaaS platform, with a retention rate of over 75%.

Step 2: Customize Keywords for the ATS Software

Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. 

To make sure your resume gets noticed, include keywords from the job posting in your summary. 

If the job posting mentions “mergers and acquisitions,” incorporate that exact phrase into your summary. 

If you’re applying for a Web Developer job, add the various proficiencies you have, such as Java, ASP.NET, C#, IIS, Tomcat, and Microsoft SQL Server.

ATS software often scans for precise terms, so matching them can be the key to getting your resume in front of a human reviewer.

Step 3: Quantify Your Achievements

Show, don’t just tell, when describing your accomplishments. 

Use specific numbers, percentages, or figures to quantify your achievements. 

This adds credibility and makes your achievements more tangible to potential employers. Numbers speak louder than vague statements.

Instead of: ” Managed legacy system for company’s reconfiguration project.”

You can write: “Spearheaded legacy system reconfiguration project, slashing transaction time by 20% and increased maximum transaction volume by 10% for Citibank.”

Step 4: Use Powerful Language and Action Verbs

Avoid flabby, weak, and vague language in your summary. 

Use strong action verbs and descriptive adjectives to convey your accomplishments and skills. 

For instance, opt for “supervised” and “spearheaded” instead of generic terms like “managed” or “responsible.” 

As the saying goes, “Don’t use language that sounds fancy but says nothing.”

Step 5: Highlight Your Soft Skills

Soft skills can set you apart from other candidates. 

Mention skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, and adaptability that are relevant to the job. 

These qualities demonstrate your suitability for not just the role but also the company’s culture.

Learn some soft skills you can add to your resume.

Step 6: Always Proofread Carefully

Last but certainly not least, proofread your resume summary meticulously. 

It would be best if you revised your resume regularly.

Typos, misspellings, bad grammar, or strange punctuation can detract from your professionalism. 

A well-polished summary conveys attention to detail and a commitment to quality.

Inspiring Resume Summary Examples

Here are a few resume summary samples you can get inspiration from!

Secretary Resume Summary Example

This gives a good helicopter view of your achievements and contributions.

Briefly mentioning about what industry you are interested in, as well as your past secretarial experience, will establish the focus of your current career goal.

Finance Manager Resume Summary Example

Remember to add statistics and years, the more specific the better.

Sales Associate Resume Summary Example

If you can quantify your current role and mention it on the summary, it will help scale your current responsibilities.

Teacher Resume Summary Example

Briefly mentioning about the subjects you teach, as well as your extra academic functions, will establish a focus of your specialisation and abilities.

Senior Level Resume Summary Example

Ensure your opening line perfectly captures a strong summary that shows your experience.

Fresh Graduate Resume Summary Example

As a fresh graduate, you want to show what your immediate career goals are.

You can make up for a lack of professional working experience through highlighting relevant CCA activities, or other extracurricular interests which are relevant to your field.

HR Manager Resume Summary Example

Mention exact phrases used in the job posting you are applying for.

Make sure to toss some HR-related jargons all throughout your resume.

Audit Professional Resume Summary Example

Add in your proficiencies of industry softwares and expertise.

Business Development Resume Summary Example

Add soft skills into your resume summary like “analytic thinker” or “interpersonal skills.”

Data Analyst Resume Summary Example

When in doubt, remember to use power words and action verbs.

In conclusion, your resume summary is your golden ticket to landing that dream job. 

By personalizing it, using keywords effectively, quantifying your achievements, employing powerful language, and emphasizing your soft skills, you’ll create a resume summary that stands out.

So, learn how to craft your summary thoughtfully following these resume templates!