Writing an Effective Resume Summary

A resume summary is a brief statement at the top of your resume that highlights your skills and experience and explains why you are the best fit for the position you are applying for.

Here are some tips on how to write an effective resume summary:

Keep it short and sweet. A resume summary should be no more than 3-4 sentences long (or 5 lines in Word).

Focus on your skills and experience. What are your most relevant skills and experience? What can you offer the company?

Use keywords. When you are writing your resume summary, be sure to use keywords that are relevant to the job you are applying for. This will help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Be specific. Don't just say that you are a "hard worker" or that you have "excellent communication skills." Be specific about your skills and experience. What have you accomplished in the past? What can you do for the company?

Proofread carefully. Typos and grammatical errors will make you look unprofessional. Be sure to proofread your resume summary carefully before submitting it.

Here is an example of an effective resume summary:

360 political strategist with expertise in public and private sector policy and advocacy, addressing topics with employees and voters. Recognized for being an expert in internet culture, specifically in developing strategies for reaching and communicating with diverse and underrepresented audiences – maintain deep knowledge of the social, political, and economic issues impacting constituents and clients. Known for campaigns ranging from advocacy to fundraising to customer engagement for major nonprofit organizations and Fortune 100 companies.

This resume summary is short, sweet, and to the point. It highlights the candidate's skills and experience, and it explains why they are interested in the position. It is also specific and free of errors.

Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips for writing an effective resume summary:

Use action verbs. Action verbs are verbs that describe what you did in a previous job. They are a great way to make your resume summary more active and engaging.

Quantify your results. Whenever possible, quantify your results. This will help hiring managers understand the impact of your work. For example, instead of saying "I increased sales," say "I increased sales by 15%."

Use keywords throughout your resume. When you are writing your resume, be sure to use keywords that are relevant to the job you are applying for. This will help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Tailor your resume summary to each job you apply for. Don't use the same resume summary for every job you apply for. Take the time to tailor your summary to each specific job. This will show the hiring manager that you are interested in the position and that you have taken the time to research the company.

Need help with your resume summary? Let’s talk!