How to write a resume summary, with examples
Updated ·6 min read
The summary is the first thing a recruiter reads on your resume, and often the only thing they read before deciding whether to keep going. Two or three sentences have to say who you are, what you're good at, and why you fit.
Here's how to write one, and more than 20 examples to adapt.
What a resume summary is (and isn't)
A resume summary, sometimes called a professional summary or profile, is a short paragraph at the top of your resume, under your contact details. It's a pitch: the headline version of the evidence below it.
It replaces the old objective statement, which described what you wanted ("Seeking a challenging role in..."). Employers care more about what you offer, so a summary leads with that. An objective can still help one group: people changing careers or applying for a first job, who can use a sentence to say what role they're targeting.
A formula for a strong summary
[Job title] with [years] of experience in [specialty or industry].
[What you're strongest at], with [one piece of proof: a number or result].
(Optional) [What you're looking for next, if it isn't obvious.]
Registered nurse with 6 years in critical care and medical surgical units at Level I trauma centres. CCRN certified, with charge nurse experience and a preceptor for new graduates.
Keep it to two to four lines. Use the job title you're applying for if it honestly describes you, since recruiters and tracking systems both search for it.
Mistakes to avoid
Weak
Results driven team player with excellent communication skills and a passion for success.
Strong
Account executive with 5 years in B2B software sales. Closed $1.9M in new revenue last year at 128% of quota.
Weak
I am a motivated individual looking for an opportunity to grow my career.
Strong
Business student seeking a marketing internship. Led a 300 person pricing study adopted by the student union.
- Clichés such as "hard working", "team player" and "results driven" take up space without proving anything.
- First person ("I am") is unnecessary. Drop the pronoun and start with your title.
- Being generic. If your summary could belong to anyone in your field, add a specific result or specialty.
- Repeating your first bullet word for word. Summarise the whole resume, not one line of it.
- Going long. A summary over four lines stops being a summary.
Resume summary examples by job
Each of these comes from a full resume example. Follow the link to see the summary in context, with entry level and senior versions too.
Software Engineer
Software engineer with 5 years building web services in TypeScript and Go. Known for making slow systems fast and fragile ones reliable, with a track record of cutting latency and incident counts.
Web Developer
Front end developer with 4 years building fast, accessible sites in React and TypeScript. Recent work lifted checkout conversion 11% through performance improvements.
Data Analyst
Data analyst with 4 years in retail and insurance. Uses SQL, Python and Tableau to answer business questions, with analyses that have saved over $2.7M a year.
Data Scientist
Data scientist with 5 years building models that reach production in fintech and e-commerce, including a credit model that cut defaults 14%.
Product Manager
Product manager with 7 years leading B2B SaaS products. Launched a product line that reached $4M ARR in a year and raised retention 12 points.
Project Manager
PMP certified project manager with 8 years delivering projects of up to $6M, consistently on schedule and within budget.
Accountant
CPA with 6 years in corporate accounting and audit. Cut the month end close from 9 days to 5 while keeping audits free of material findings.
Financial Analyst
Financial analyst with 4 years in FP&A. Owns a $220M budget with forecasts within 2%, and found $1.4M in annual savings.
Business Analyst
Business analyst with 5 years in financial services. Cut account opening time from 3 days to 1 and wrote the requirements for a system used by 600 staff.
HR Manager
HR manager with 9 years in people operations. Cut time to hire by 40% and first year turnover from 32% to 19%.
Marketing Manager
Marketing manager with 7 years in B2B and consumer marketing. Nearly tripled marketing sourced pipeline and cut cost per lead 38%.
Digital Marketing Specialist
Digital marketing specialist with 3 years in SEO, paid search and email. Cut cost per booked job 27% and grew organic traffic 70% in a year.
Sales Representative
Account executive with 5 years in B2B software sales. Closed $1.9M in new revenue last year at 128% of quota and earned President's Club.
Graphic Designer
Graphic designer with 5 years in brand identity and packaging for consumer brands, including a launch now sold in 2,000 stores.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurse with 6 years in ICU and medical surgical care at a Level I trauma centre. CCRN certified, charge nurse experience and a preceptor for new graduates.
Teacher
Certified math teacher with 7 years in public middle schools. Raised the share of students meeting state standards from 54% to 71%.
Medical Assistant
Certified medical assistant with 4 years in family practice and urgent care, rooming 25 to 30 patients a day and cutting check in times by 40%.
Customer Service Representative
Customer service representative with 4 years in phone and chat support, holding a 96% satisfaction score and the team's best first contact resolution.
Administrative Assistant
Administrative assistant with 6 years supporting executives, managing complex calendars, travel and a 250 guest annual conference.
Retail Sales Associate
Retail sales associate with 3 years in fashion and electronics, averaging 118% of sales target and trusted to open and close the store.
Student
Third year business student seeking a marketing internship. Led a 300 person pricing study for a course project and promoted to shift lead in a part time job within six months.
Examples for special situations
No experience
Recent psychology graduate with volunteer experience running a peer support line for 40 students. Strong listener, organised under pressure and fluent in Spanish. Looking to start a career in human resources.
Career change
Former teacher moving into instructional design, with 8 years of creating curriculum for 150 students a year and a certificate in eLearning design. Skilled in Articulate Storyline, needs analysis and making complex topics simple.
Returning after a gap
Accountant with 7 years in corporate finance, returning after two years as a full time carer. CPA licensed, current on the latest revenue recognition standards through recent coursework, and experienced in NetSuite and month end close.
Senior leader
Operations director with 15 years scaling logistics networks for national retailers. Opened 12 distribution centres and cut cost per order 22% while growing volume threefold. Leads teams of 400+.
Tailor your summary to each job
The summary is the easiest part of the resume to tailor. Adjust the title to match the posting, and lead with the strength the posting cares about most. If the job emphasises team leadership, lead with the team you ran; if it emphasises a tool, name it.
In Sembis, you can keep one resume and a version for each type of role, each with its own summary. The tailoring guide has the full process.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a summary on my resume?
It's optional, but recommended for most people. It gives a recruiter a reason to keep reading and is the easiest place to match the job's title and main requirements.
How long should a resume summary be?
Two to four lines, or about 30 to 60 words.
Summary or objective?
A summary, which leads with what you offer. An objective can help when you're changing careers or looking for your first job and need to say what you're aiming for.
