Looking on the web for the information how to make your resume summary eye-catching? You are right that you devote much attention to this section. The latest research has shown that recruiters spend up to 7 seconds looking through candidate’s resume. This time of 7 seconds can change years of your career, that’s why it’s important to give recruiters exactly what they are looking for. Read this article and you’ll find out how to write your resume summary in the way that attracts the attention of hiring manager.
Resume Summary: What Should You Know about It?
A resume summary is a part which goes at the top of your resume. It is the thing which the recruiter will see first. From this statement, HR managers will make a conclusion about your work experience, skills, and your professional qualification. Writing information like examples of the job that you had been doing in the previous companies will help you to write a good creative resume. Don’t make it long and boring, express your thoughts clearly and concisely.
There are other names of the resume summary you can find on the web. It may be called as:
- Competencies;
- Summary of Qualifications;
- Qualifications Summary;
- Resume Statement.
A resume summary should be a short introduction which is able to show your skill set and career achievements. Find two examples of resume summary section and see the difference.
Good resume summary
Market Researcher with 5 years of experience in big corporations. Initiative, with a strong scientific background in Applied Mathematics, detail-oriented. Able to work effectively in a close cooperation with the team members, as well as perform well by myself. Having Master Degree in Statistical Analysis & Applied Mathematics.
Bad resume summary
Market Researcher who is looking for a job in a good company where I will be able to get experience, new knowledge and develop my skills.
Summaries vs. Objectives
You may have a question, what’s the difference between resume summaries and resume objectives, we’ll try to explain. The main difference is in their approach: the summary is more goal-oriented and more sophisticated, it can show the employer who you are and why you will perform well in this position. It explains why he has to hire you.
Who should use resume summaries?
The short resume objectives were popular among professional candidates several years ago. All you had to do is to tell who you are and which job offer you are looking for. Now it’s not a trend anymore if you are a professional and looking for high-level management job offers. If you are a professional with years of experience, you should use resume summary.
Who should use resume objectives?
Entry-level workers, people who change their field, and new graduates can use objectives for the beginning of their career. You can also use career objective if you’re sending your application to many potential employers and you are not applying for a specific job offer.
What about the Shape of the Resume Summary?
It is another important thing about successful resume summary section. How does a good resume summary look like and where you should put it - find the answers below.
How long should it be?
Generally, you should make it not long - three or four sentences of the resume. On the one hand, since the potential employer or HR manager will look at your resume only for 6-7 seconds, he will not be able to read more. You can compare the length of it with the length of the tweet. On the other hand, remember yourself when you are looking for some information and check search results on Google - most likely you skip the large pieces of texts. The recruiter is the same human being as you, not the robot, so keep on a short side and you’ll succeed with your resume.
Resume summary statement: where should you put it?
It is the thing the recruiter will read first, that’s why you should put it always on the top right after your contact information. Pay attention to it. In this way, the recruiter will notice if you are good for the position and your resume will not be moved to the trash.
Strong Resume Summary Elements
- Start with a title that refers to your professional identity - it will catch the attention of the hiring manager;
- Your text can be in one paragraph or may contain bullets;
- It should reflect your main career goal;
- Don’t use first-person pronouns, resume without first-person pronouns sounds less impertinently and more professional.
You can also read some tips about writing a perfect resume here.
How to Write a Resume Summary?
You are limited with space, that’s why it’s important to make a plan of your resume summary before writing. Below you’ll find the approximate plan following which this task will not be so complicated for you.
- What should you start with?
Start with your best results based on your previous experience. Remember last years of your career and give the answers to the next questions:
- Which results and achievements I am proud of?
- What is my strength?
- What is my favorite part of the job?
- What are my advantages and competitive skills?
- Follow employer’s needs
Check the job offer post and find the main qualities and skills which the employer is looking for. You will understand who they need, how they will value new employee and which result they will expect from him. Consider these skills and qualities as keywords which should be easily noticeable щn your resume. Make sure that your skill list allows you to perform your potential responsibilities. For example, if a job offer implies to marketing research, an analytical thinking quality will be perfect for your resume.
- Study the job
Check similar job positions and job offers on the web. Pay attention to main skills and job requirements that they contain. Add some of them to your statement if they can add some additional value.
- Define yourself right away
Start with the professional title, which will reflect your field of occupation. It shows to the recruiter if your candidacy is relevant or no. Make it noticeable using bold font.
- Demonstrate value and results
Show your best previous results and achievements in 3 short sentences. Focus on important details and proofs - the employer should understand the common sense of your achievements and the fact that you are better than other candidates. He will transpose your previous experience on your potential results with his company.
- Give the names
You can mention the names of the companies and customers, names of your previous employers. It is an old trick which makes your resume look more credible. But remember about the right of privacy and about the repercussion of confidential information disclosure - never cross the line because it will show that you are incompetent and unprofessional.
TOP 7 True Ways to Make Great Resume Summary
- Headline
Write a headline that can summarize the benefits which the employer will get if he hires you;
- Don’t be ordinary
Don’t mention obvious things like MS Office skills. It is the thing which a secondary school student can do, not something that you could be proud of. Show here only your main competitive skills;
- Avoid banal words
Avoid banal boring verbs and adjectives when you describe your skills and responsibilities: “innovative”, “managing” – are so lacking in originality, they make you seem boring;
- No first-person pronouns
Avoid first-person pronouns in order not to seem fixated on yourself. Focus on the employer’s needs and skip using ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘my’. Give the potential employer understanding that his requirements are important and you are ready to work for his needs, not just for yours;
- Be specific
Being too generic is not the key to success. Don’t think that you can work on your resume summary once and use it for all job offers. That’s not right. You should create a new one every time you are applying for a job because every employer has his own requirements and expectations. If sending resume applications is not just your hobby and you want to get a result and find a good job, try hard and tailor your resume statement to fit each of job descriptions;
- Size matters
Remember about the size. Brevity is the soul of wit - this proverb works here perfectly. A good career summary should have a few bullet points or one paragraph maximum. Keep it short, don’t give unnecessary information and be clear in your statements.
- Don't lie
‘Everybody lies’ - this Dr. House's quote should not be applicable to your resume summary. No good result can come out of your lying. Even a small lie can cause a big failure, be honest and don’t put yourself at risk. It can cost a good job position or your reputation.
We tried to give you the most important advice and tips on how to write a resume summary. Following them, you can make your resume writing process easier and create a winning resume summary. But if you still have some difficulties or questions, feel free to ask them in the comments.