10 Creative Resume Summary Examples for Different Job Roles
Even when you are not actively looking for work, updating your resume is always worthwhile. But to keep it fresh, you must also stay up-to-date on the latest trends in writing resumes. For instance, more employers are now looking for profiles with a creative resume summary highlighting the jobseeker's skills and achievements. Not sure how this works? Read on for resume summary examples and tips on crafting one yourself.
How to write a creative resume summary
Your resume summary should be short and succinct. It should capture your "why" for applying for the job. We recommend a structure with the following components, which you can expound in five to six sentences.
Keep this flow in mind:
- Sum up your professional background. You can also include your guiding philosophy or purpose.
- Follow it up with a quick summary of your work experiences.
- Wrap it up with your notable achievements. Include specific and measurable results whenever possible.
In line with the structure above, here are some additional things to keep in mind when writing your summary.
- Emphasise your areas of expertise relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Include your years of experience and the industries you have worked in.
Creative resume summary examples for different industries
Here are some personalised resume summary examples and helpful tips for different industries to help you stand out.
Sales
In any sales position, the numbers matter not only because it affects the organisation’s revenue; it’s also tied to your performance at work. When writing a summary for a sales position, mention your transferable skills and the notable sales targets you have achieved.
Resume summary example
As a seasoned sales professional who loves interacting with people from all walks of life, I have worked in multiple industries in the last seven years. I specialised in relationship management, client negotiations, and B2B and B2C selling. In my most recent job, I led a team of five to hit 50% more than the expected sales revenue for the year.
Marketing
Marketing is a pretty big career field, so you can highlight the industries you have worked in. Note your transitions between roles, such as moving from a traditional marketing role to a digital one.
Resume summary example
Having worked as a marketing specialist in the FMCG industry for the last 12 years, my philosophy in marketing is simple: providing unique and memorable brand interactions for users. In my work in the FMCG industry, I was exposed to the company's various brands, giving me more knowledge in marketing for different audiences. My background in traditional and digital marketing has led to successful marketing campaigns, where my team increased brand recall.
Human Resources
Like in marketing, there are many hats that you can wear in HR. But if you are a generalist, you can highlight this skill set or emphasise your core competency. Highlight your years in training or engagement and feel free to include a success story.
Resume summary example
I am a seasoned HR practitioner with a background in employee engagement and training and development from ten years of work and a keen interest in helping companies create happy employees. My early work as an HR generalist has developed my experience in training and development, employee recruitment, timekeeping, engagement, and even labour relations. Previously, I successfully launched employee engagement programs that kept employees engaged and contributed to an even bigger awareness of company culture.
Accounting
Accountants are needed in almost any organisation but having a specialisation boosts your chances of being noticed. If you do have a specialisation, start with this to give your profile an extra boost.
Resume summary example
As a Chartered Accountant with five years of experience working for multinational corporations, I strive to introduce new systems and processes that simplify daily workflows for higher efficiency and accuracy. I value systems that help minimise errors, as the smallest accounting mistake can create a ripple effect on the rest of the organisation’s books. I was part of a team that digitised an organisation’s accounting and bookkeeping processes, making them more efficient and easier to use across the board.
Finance
Working in finance does not mean you must limit your resume summary to your mastery of numbers. Combine your technical experience with soft skills for a stronger resume.
Resume summary example
Straight from earning my university degree in Business Management, I spent the past five years working as a financial planner, helping multiple clients plan for their future. I developed long-term plans to help my clients meet their financial goals. Juggling multiple clients at a given time has sharpened relationship management and project management skills.
Information Technology
The IT industry is a large industry with many job specialisations that one can pursue. If you have expertise in one or two, that’s perfectly fine. You can make it work to your advantage by listing your experiences and showing that you have technical knowledge, making you well-rounded in the IT field.
Resume summary example
I believe the world of information technology is becoming smaller and smaller by the day. My 10-year experience includes programming, software architecture, user experience and web development. I want to continue paving the way for IT to build better products and processes. I am driven by the desire to pave the way toward an empowered global society.
Engineering
There are many types of engineers, so make sure you point out which type you are! From there, you can add more details on your endeavours, and even include your software proficiencies.
Resume summary example
After completing a bachelor degree in geology and a master degree in environmental engineering and working in wastewater management for the past decade, I’ve discovered that my passion lies in creating products and solutions that contribute to a more sustainable world. I have served as the lead researcher in research efforts for local communities and contributed to environmental investigations in projects. As a researcher, I sharpened my project management skills and familiarised myself with data analysis tools such as R and Python.
Project Management
Project managers have different levels of knowledge and skills in project management methodologies. If you have experience in more than one methodology, it is good to share that to show your flexibility in leading teams.
Resume summary example
I have always had a “get things done” type of attitude, and it has served me well when it comes to leading groups to complete successful projects. As a certified project manager, I have served as part of a team focused on digital transformation and led product teams to launch projects. I am proficient in different project management methodologies, including scrum, agile, and six sigma. As a project manager in a software development company, 85% of my product launches were completed on time and without any sources of delay.
Education
If you are a teacher, highlight your specialisation and include what kinds of students you teach. If you have pursued further studies to complement your work, include your degrees and certifications and describe what work you do.
Resume summary example
I am a licensed teacher with nine years of experience and a focus on special education for children with learning and/or hearing disabilities. My work in small classrooms allows me to create specialised programs for my students to help them learn in a safe and caring environment. I am also proficient in Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia, enabling me to communicate with deaf students easily.
Design
As a graphic designer, you most likely have a portfolio that speaks for your work. While that may be the case, creating a summary that encompasses your experience is just as important. Include what industries you have been in and where has your work been seen.
Resume summary example
I am a creative through and through. In my ten years as a graphic designer, I have produced work in different industries, including FMCG and healthcare. My outputs were released in print publications, advertising materials, and marketing content. I have experience creating materials for billboards, print magazines, social media, and websites.
What’s the difference between a career objective and a career summary?
A career objective is a sentence that describes your goals when you are applying for a job. This statement can show that you seek to gain more experience in an industry or learn a new skill set. On the other hand, a career summary is a paragraph that highlights your work experience and explains why you are qualified for the job you're applying for.
In earlier resume formats, resumes began with career objectives that were tweaked for each job application. However, newer resumes now call for a creative career summary that provides a big picture of your professional profile and summarises your work in four to five sentences.
Summary
Resume summaries can make or break your application, so you need to think about what you want to say about yourself. Remember, a recruiter spends an average of six seconds going over a resume. Your resume summary must be captivating enough to make them consider your application.
When writing your resume summary, include your application purpose, professional background, notable achievements, and core competencies.
Now that you have seen how a career summary is written for different industries, you can update your resume with your own career summary.
Being creative with your career summary is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your resume. Complete your JobStreet profile and find the jobs that bring you passion and purpose and #LetsGetToWork now.
Don’t forget to check out our Career Resources Hub for more tips and content on improving your resume.
