Expert tips for writing an impressive resume summary

Optimising your resume plays a key role in the interview process

Your resume isn't just a document; it's the key that opens doors to exciting career opportunities.

It serves as your professional introduction to potential employers, so mastering its content—especially the resume summary—is essential to creating a lasting impact. A well-optimised resume is crucial for advancing your career path and achieving your long-term career goals.

Your Goal: Highlight your skills and knowledge, achievements, and career aspirations right from the start. This makes your resume noticeable and unforgettable, ensuring you leave a powerful impression on hiring managers before meeting them in person.

Why a standout resume matters for career development

Hiring managers sift through countless resumes, searching for the ideal candidate. In this sea of applications, making your resume stand out is crucial.

A compelling resume grabs attention and creates a lasting impression, potentially making the difference between landing your dream job and being overlooked. Whether you're applying for an administrative assistant role, a data analytics position, or aiming for higher-level positions, a well-crafted resume can accelerate your career development.

Incorporating a resume summary is a strategic move to achieve this goal. It acts as a spotlight, showcasing your unique work ethic and specific skills, setting the stage for your application to stand out.

What is a resume summary?

A resume summary (or resume objective, professional summary, and career snapshot) is like a captivating teaser at the top of your resume.

This short, focused introduction immediately grabs the attention of potential employers. It highlights your achievements, relevant experience, qualifications, and career goals. This section is your value proposition, demonstrating why you are the perfect fit for the job.

If your resume feels lengthy due to extensive experience, don't worry. A well-crafted resume summary streamlines the content, piquing the recruiter's interest to explore the rest of your resume.

Read on for expert tips on creating an attention-grabbing resume summary that will compel employers to learn more about your career history.

Resume summary vs. cover letter: What is the difference?

A resume summary is a concise overview of your qualifications, whereas a cover letter is a separate document providing a personal introduction to your application. The cover letter showcases your enthusiasm and suitability for the job and company.

Both are critical components of a job application, offering potential employers a comprehensive overview of your candidacy.

How to write a good resume summary

Step 1: Highlight job-specific keywords

Boost your resume's impact by including specific skills directly linked to the job requirements. Tailoring your summary to match the employer's needs makes it more compelling.

Using relevant keywords is crucial for getting your CV noticed. Include these keywords in your summary to increase your chances of landing an interview. Review the job description to identify important keywords related to the job title and requirements.

Many hiring managers rely on these keywords to quickly identify suitable candidates, especially when reviewing numerous resumes. Additionally, some companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to sort and rank job applications. By including key phrases, you ensure your resume stands out and shows you are the right candidate for the job.

Pro Tip: Avoid keyword stuffing to try to game an ATS. Human resources management professionals can easily spot this tactic, which could weaken your job application.

                                                      Source: Gohire

Keywords are words or phrases that relate to specific requirements in the job description. They could be:

• Skills and knowledge
• Work experience
• Qualities and values
• Qualifications and certifications
• Previous experience in related roles
• Software and technology experience

Include keywords relevant to the job you're applying for in your resume profile. If you don't highlight your experience in specific jobs or skills, you might miss out on important job interviews.

Pro tip: Avoid overstuffing your resume with keywords to try to game an ATS. Human resources can easily identify this at the review stage, weakening your job application.

Step 2: Quantify your achievements

Take it a step further by quantifying each achievement associated with those keywords. Numbers and data add substance, reinforcing your accomplishments.

For example, if you're applying for an engineering role, rather than saying ‘I created plans and visualisations that led to the company winning a building project contract', make it more specific:

‘I created a range of plans and visualisations that led to the company winning a $4m building project contract, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue’.

Numbers and data show that you are outcome-oriented and commercially minded, which recruiters and hiring managers appreciate.

Step 3: Emphasise transferable skills

Source CV: Genius

Highlight your transferable skills to demonstrate how your area of expertise makes you a strong fit, regardless of the field. This approach shows your ability to thrive in diverse environments and contribute to the team's success.

Emphasising these versatile abilities helps build a long-term career path and opens doors to more opportunities.

Step 4: Mention both hard and soft skills

Showcase both your soft and technical skills. A well-rounded summary highlights your diverse strengths. Hard skills refer to specific technical abilities, while soft skills include communication, leadership, and social skills.

Highlighting both types of skills clearly outlines your technical expertise and interpersonal abilities—qualities that are often valuable to a potential employer.

For example, when applying for a project manager role, your professional summary might look like this:


The above example highlights a specific job role and how their technical, industry, and managerial experience relate to it. The candidate also highlights their technical skills by quantifying them concerning previous projects.

Step 5: Keep it short and impactful

Your resume summary should be a concise overview of your skills and experience, kept to a maximum of five sentences or bullet points.

The goal is brevity and impact, providing hiring managers with a quick, accurate snapshot of your career.

Use active voice to emphasise the subject (you) performing the action, resulting in a more direct and engaging statement.

Pro-tip: Utilise action verbs to drive impact. Action verbs convey proactivity and initiative, making your accomplishments stand out. 

For example, let's revisit the engineering role:

Original: 'I created various plans and visualisations that led to the company winning a $4m building project contract'.

Enhanced with action verbs:

'I spearheaded the creation of a diverse array of plans and visualisations that led the company to secure a lucrative $4 million building project contract.'

By incorporating action verbs like 'spearheaded,' you emphasise your leadership and initiative, adding depth and excitement to your accomplishments.

Remember to choose strong action verbs that align with your achievements, such as 'led,'  'initiated,' 'accelerated,' 'optimised,' 'streamlined,' and 'innovated,' among others.

Incorporating action verbs in your resume showcases your drive and initiative and reinforces your ability to take charge and deliver results. 

For more tips on finding a job, check out our jobseekers' guide.

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