7 Tips on How to Write a Resume Summary That Stands Out

Jobstreet content team – updated on 10 June, 2022

First impressions often shape a person’s expectations of a person. The moment a recruiter lays eyes on a resume, the first paragraph they read will determine whether they stay engaged or tune out after the first few lines. This is why the resume summary is probably the most important section of the whole resume.

If you are considering updating your job profiles, keep reading to find resume summary tips and examples.

What is a resume summary?

A resume summary highlights a job applicant’s relevant experiences, professional skills, and accomplishments. Being positioned at the top of the document, a resume summary also functions as a concise overview of why the candidate is the best person for the job and a teaser to entice the recruiter to keep reading.

Broken down, a resume summary should mention your current job title, strong character traits, relevant work experience, and career achievements. Show how you can help your potential employer achieve their goals.

Resume summary example

Having been an office manager for five years, I am highly experienced in handling administrative and supportive tasks. My “get-things-done” personality lets me efficiently manage office functions such as budgets, payroll, and other organisational needs. I am up to date with the latest equipment, apps, and technology that offices regularly use. I am also personable and skilled at managing a multitude of office situations, including large projects such as the planning of office retreats and managing inter-office budgets worth over RM500,000.

Tips for writing a good summary for a resume

It is important to always bear in mind that the recruiter is a human being whose job is to go through hundreds of resumes on a daily basis. They will likely be skimming through most of the resumes submitted for a specific job. In general, a recruiter spends less than ten seconds reading a resume. Most recruiters scan for your qualifications, skills, and career highlights. If these qualifications do not match the job description, your resume will not get any further than the HR office.

Unless HR recruiters can see you as a viable candidate in a few short sentences, you are most likely not going to get called in for an interview. Your challenge is to make sure they actually read yours and not just browse and toss it to the side. The best way to do this is to write an engaging resume summary.

With that said, here are seven simple tips for writing a resume summary, with examples, that will stand out and catch the recruiter’s eye long enough to make a lasting first impression.

#1: Keep it simple

There is no need to show off your advanced grammatical skills in your resume. Use simple words as much as possible. Being clear and concise is key when creating a resume summary that stands out. This ensures you get your message across quickly. Keep your sentences short so the reader does not get lost in a maze of words. These are all essential steps towards ensuring the reader stays engaged.

Read on: How to Make a Resume with Strong Keywords

#2: Do not use more than five (5) lines for your resume summary

The rule of thumb is simply this: less is more. Chunky paragraphs take much more effort and concentration to read, which causes most readers to automatically disengage when faced with text-heavy material. To ensure your message gets across, keep the resume summary to a maximum of five lines.

Avoid redundant words and phrases that do not add value to the statement. Every single word in your resume summary needs to carry weight. Make sure your point gets across quickly.

Pro Tip: End your resume summary with your professional achievements, especially if it relates to the job you are applying for.

#3: Stay on point

Always tailor your resume summary to the job you want. It may mean you will have to constantly change your resume summary, but as many say, you only have thirty seconds to a minute to make an impression. This is especially true when it comes to the HR department. The best way to see if your resume summary is right for the job you are applying for is to put your summary side by side with the job description and see if they align.

#4: Write your summary last

It is easier to summarise your career and achievements after listing down your work experience and skills. Do note that unless your skill set is particularly relevant to the job, there is really no need to list them. Read the job offer and use it to tailor your resume to fit the job. Reading the job descriptions set by your potential employer is key to creating a good resume summary.

#5: Put yourself in the reader’s shoes

It might be difficult to take a step back and look at what you have written from the reader’s perspective, but doing so will allow you to stay objective when writing your resume summary. If you are struggling to look at it with fresh eyes, get a few close friends or trusted colleagues to give it a once-over and make recommendations on how to improve it.

#6: Highlight your “why”

What drives you? Why do you do what you do? The answer to these questions will define your “why”—your source of inspiration, purpose and philosophy that keep you grounded and focused.

In the end, the one thing an HR manager wants to know is what you can do for them. If your resume shows it, you will stand out among the others. Do not just say that you want to work at their company; tell the recruiters why you want to be part of their workforce and what makes you a prime candidate for the position you are applying for. The more personal it is, the more memorable your resume will be.

#7: Make it personal

Continuing from the previous point, making your resume summary personal will enable the recruiter to relate to you as a human being. This makes you more than just a name on a piece of paper. Your resume needs to speak to the reader, not at them. The deeper of a connection you can establish with the reader, the more they will remember you.

Highlight such milestones as your biggest achievements to date and your top skills. Phrases like “cheerful personality” or “highly motivated” are good buzzword examples that highlight your character and disposition.

Conclusion

Now that you know the fundamentals of writing a memorable resume summary, all you have to do is apply it to your resume. Keep in mind that the only way to create a resume summary that is perfectly suited to the job you want is to apply for jobs that you are actually qualified to do. If you are picking random offers, it will be very difficult (though not impossible) to personalise your resume to the job offer. Maybe a few personalised examples might help you get started in creating a resume summary that works best for your job hunt.

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