Template 1
Here's an effective template you can use to structure your resume summary.
[Job Title you're applying to] with [X] years of experience [mention 2-3 skills relevant to the job]; [Describe 2-3 significant accomplishments from your experiences in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric. Try to make them unique and demonstrate different skill sets].
Example
Here's an example of a resume summary that uses this template. You can use it as inspiration when writing your own.
Account Manager with two years of experience in sales, marketing and customer service. Contributed to over 50+ accounts, including clients like Volkswagen and Deutsche Bank. Presented marketing strategies to senior management to drive ROI and improve conversion rate. Improved sales efficiency by 25% by redesigning key sales support workflows and introducing standard reporting templates.
Insights
This is a great template you can use for your resume summary. Note how we use specific keywords and skills that are required by the job we're applying to. Additionally, we include examples of real accomplishments or results we've achieved in our previous experiences, as opposed to fluffy buzzwords like 'go-getter' or 'hard-working'.
Try to include specific skills and keywords from the job description that you might not be able to mention on your resume (e.g. programming languages, certifications, etc.); including these skills helps get you past resume screeners and applicant tracking systems too (learn more)!
Template 2
Here's another effective template you can use.
[Job Title] with [X] years' experience [brief description of company; if you worked at big brand names, mention them here]. Results include:
• [Describe accomplishment in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric]
• [Describe accomplishment in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric]
• [Describe accomplishment in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric].
Example
Here's an example of a summary that uses the second template. Feel free to use it as inspiration.
Senior project manager with five years of experience leading feature design and development of enterprise-oriented products. Results include:
• Proposed solution and built team to solve number one cause of customer complaints, and completed project six months ahead of schedule.
• Reduced development costs by 25 percent by creating plan to merge related products into one, more streamlined product.
• Oversaw integration of external technology solution by leading 5 developers and 9 testers from two companies, resulting in an additional $1MM of sales.
What is a resume summary?
A resume summary is an optional section you can use at the start of your resume.
They're useful if you want to direct a recruiter's attention to specific
skills or roles you're looking at. Additionally, you can use this section to
highlight achievements that are not already in the rest of your resume.
Do I need a summary?
Summaries are totally optional. In fact, most resumes do not need a summary! Consider this:
Your resume is already meant to be a concise summary of your achievements. There's no need to re-summarize it
in a paragraph form. The key exception to this is if you need to add important information that is not already
in another section on your resume.
For example, if you're looking to completely change your career & role
(e.g. moving from software engineering to marketing), you could use 2-6 lines to direct
a recruiter to the specific roles you are looking for.
I'm a student or recent graduate. Should I include a summary?
Entry-level resumes (e.g. students or recent graduates) should not include a summary.
If you fall into this category, keep in mind that you don't have enough experience to justify including a summary,
and it would serve you better to keep your resume to a maximum one page long.
I'm changing careers. What should I include in my resume summary?
If you're changing careers, you should definitely consider including a summary to help recruiters understand how your
previous experience is relevant to the job you're applying to. Read how to write a
career change resume summary for more examples and guidance.
Resume Summary: Tips To Remember
Your summary will be one of the first things a recruiter will read on your resume. It needs to be as impactful as possible - to do this, make sure you follow these steps:
• No buzzwords: Don't use ineffective buzzwords and cliches like 'team player', 'hard working' or 'self-starter'. These are overused and vague, and reduce the impact of your profile.
• Length: Keep your summary short and concise. This means between 2-6 lines long and no more than 100 words. Anything longer than this and your summary is no longer a 'summary' and is likely overly wordy.
• Accomplishments: Describe your biggest accomplishments (e.g. increased sales, won an award). Use numbers and metrics where you can.
Good luck! If you need to get in touch, feel free to get in touch via our Help Center.
