What is a resume summary? What does it include? And do you really need one? We have your answers along with six resume summary examples that will get your resume in tip-top, hire-this-woman condition.
What is a resume summary?
A resume summary is a short paragraph that appears at the top of resume (or at least in a very prominent spot) that hits the highlights of your relevant education and experience.
It’s your chance to show the reader in a few sentences that you have experience relevant to the position they’re hiring for.
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When should you use one?
The resume summary is optional, and its use is often industry-specific. So if you’re unsure if it’s standard in your line of work, ask a colleague or mentor.
Summaries are particularly helpful if you have a long resume. So if you’re past the one-page mark, it might be a good idea to include one. If you’re using it to fill space, leave it out.
What’s the difference between a resume summary and an objective statement?
A resume summary is a digest of where you’ve been, an objective statement is a summary of where you want to go.
Your resume summary might include a line like:
Marketing professional with five years experience in building pay-per-click campaigns.
While your objective might read:
Marketing professional with five years experience, seeking a role where I can grow my paid search marketing skills.
As a general rule of thumb, use only one of them or blend the two.
Read more: How to Use Resume Buzzwords the Right Way
6 resume summary examples to inspire your own
Example 1
I am a content creator with experience in both agency and in-house positions. Those skills include SEO writing, video production editing, and creating and executing editorial calendars.
Example 2
Finance director with seven years experience in managing and growing teams from scratch. Fluent in Spanish and English.
Example 3
I graduated from Drake University in 2018 with a bachelor of arts in magazine journalism and public relations. I believe there are many ways to make both of those disciplines coexist. I want to write, talk, and generally communicate with lots of people. Coincidentally, I am pretty good at those things.
Example 4
I firmly believe that fun has role in the workplace. That’s why I dove into the design industry—what’s more fun than creating something beautiful from nothing? My design experience includes both print and digital campaigns. My full portfolio can be viewed at brandi.design.com.
Example 5
Simply put, I love math. That’s what inspired me to major in accounting at Notre Dame. I passed my CPA exams in May of 2019 and I am looking forward to a career in tax accounting.
Example 6
Throughout my career, I’ve earned awards for my teaching of STEM curricula, my leadership among faculty, and for my dedication to my students both in and out of the classroom. I’m looking to transfer the skills I’ve learned in the classroom to a career in education administration as I earn my masters of education.
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