Top Ten Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers
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A resume summary sits at the very top of your resume and is your first chance to make a great impression with a hiring manager, so it’s got to be short, powerful and contain all the right resume action words and keywords.
Not sure how to write a resume summary? Don’t worry! We’re here for you. In this guide, we’re laser-focused on how to write a professional summary on a resume.
We cover
- What a resume summary statement is.
- Why you should use a resume summary.
- How to write a summary for a resume.
- When to use a summary on a resume.
We provide more than 35 resume summary examples to inspire you, and we offer writing tips to help you write the best summary for a resume you’ve ever written.
In addition to the guidance provided on this page for crafting an effective resume summary, we’re excited to offer you a comprehensive tool – the MyPerfectResume resume builder. This powerful resource will walk you through the entire resume creation process, from start to finish. It not only helps you with your resume summary but also assists in crafting a perfect resume tailored to your unique skills and experiences.
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Now, let’s dive into the art of crafting a compelling resume summary, and know that our resume builder is here to support you every step of the way.
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General resume summary examples
Efficient and detail-oriented secretary with 10 years of experience delivering administrative support to C-Suite executives in Fortune 500 companies. Demonstrated success creating processes that boost operational efficiency. Recognized for organizational abilities and positive attitude.
This is a good general summary for a resume because it:
- Displays the job seeker’s experience level in the first sentence.
- Shows the types of people and companies they support.
- Emphasizes specific skills by explaining how the job candidate used them.
- Highlights recognitions the job seeker has received for certain skills.
Creative and energetic cook experienced working in high-volume restaurants with diverse teams. Adept at creating menus, sourcing ingredients and plating. Friendly team player who supports and motivates others while able to work independently. Committed to food safety and quality.
This is a good professional summary for a resume because it:
- Uses descriptive words to display the job applicant’s skills.
- Highlights relevant expertise, like “creating menus.”
- Specifies the kind of restaurants and people the candidate has experience with.
- Explains that the job seeker can work well alone and with others.
Patient and outgoing customer service representative with five years of experience in retail settings. Consistent positive interactions with customers and conflict resolution skills have resulted in promotion to lead associate. Proven ability to increase customer retention by addressing complaints in a timely and efficient manner.
This is a good resume summary because it:
- Shows right away how much and what kind of experience the applicant has.
- Conveys that the job seeker has strong interpersonal skills.
- Highlights the job candidate’s strengths and how they impact a company.
- Features a professional accomplishment.
Compassionate, multilingual registered nurse with 15 years of comprehensive experience working with diverse populations in home care and hospital settings. Specialities include wound care, management of chronic illness and acute care. Competent leader with proven ability to supervise junior nurses, nursing aides and interns.
This is a good summary statement for a resume because it:
- Shows that the applicant has advanced experience.
- Displays specialized nursing knowledge.
- Calls attention to leadership and language skills.
- Mentions specific work settings and patient population.
Novice elementary teacher with one year of experience teaching three classes of 25 second-grade students in public school. Excellent communication skills and creative approach to developing innovative lesson plans in tune with city, state and federal standards. Spearheaded and implemented a new after-school tutoring program that has increased reading comprehension rate by 70%.
This is a good job summary for a resume because it:
- Tells the hiring manager that the job applicant is an entry-level teacher.
- Displays numbers to underscore the impact of the applicant’s work.
- Uses action verbs to describe achievements.
- Shows how many students the job seeker has taught.
Did you know? New data shows that starting sentences with action words increases the likelihood of getting a job interview by 140%.
What is a resume summary?
A resume summary — also called a professional summary or resume summary statement — is a brief rundown of your experience and top skills that sits at the top of your resume under your contact information.
A summary on a resume is a three- to five-sentence paragraph that introduces your resume and provides an overview of your top accomplishments, work experience and your job-relevant skills. A good resume summary must be precisely tailored to the job.
Take this job ad for a social media manager as an example:
A tailored summary for a resume might look like this:
- Good resume summary example
Strategic social media manager with four years of experience creating social content calendars. Skilled in managing and developing social media strategies, writing digital copy and executing paid and organic digital campaigns. Experience working in collaborative environments and shooting video content.
In our example of a good resume summary, the words in bold are keywords and phrases found in the job description. To ensure your resume gets past ATS, you must always use exact keywords that match a job’s requirements in every section of your resume, including your resume summary.
- Poor resume summary example
Savvy social media manager with experience working in social media and creating content for brands. Skilled writer, photographer and multitasker.
This resume summary statement doesn’t work for several reasons: it’s not tailored to the job, it doesn’t give enough detail, and it doesn’t include keywords and phrases from the job description.
Pro tip:
You should use a professional summary for a resume only if you have at least one year of experience in the same industry. If you’re a first-time job seeker or changing your career, use a resume objective statement instead.
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Why use a professional summary for a resume?
A headline or summary for a resume is a way to show recruiters and hiring managers what you can do for them at a glance, so it’s a critical part of a resume. Hiring managers only spend six or seven seconds reading a resume, so your resume summary might be the only part of your resume a hiring manager sees.
How to write a resume summary (with resume summary examples)
Now that you’ve seen some good examples of resume summaries, you’ve probably got a good idea what a resume professional summary looks like, and you’re ready to write your own.
Think of a summary for a resume as an introduction that should compel readers to want to read more. It should grab their attention immediately, but it’s got to be concise and to-the-point, like an elevator pitch.
The best way to approach a resume summary is to break it down into four pieces, as shown in our professional summary template:
[Descriptive word] [your job title] [Experience level] [Work experience] [Skills] [Achievement]You don’t have to put every piece in the same order as our resume summary example template, but it’s a good idea to try to use all four parts if you want a professional summary on your resume. Optional additions to a great summary for a resume include relevant certifications and licenses, education and volunteer activities.
Did you know? Approximately 63% of recruiters prefer resumes that are personalized to the job position.
Resume summary examples based on work experience
For some jobs, you might benefit from emphasizing how much work experience you have in your resume summary, especially if the job description has a minimum experience requirement or you are applying for a managerial position.
The following examples show how to best highlight your work experience level in your resume summary.
Entry-level professional summary sample
Resourceful pharmacy technician with one year of clinical and educational experience with prescriptions, automatic dispensing machine troubleshooting and project management. Forward thinking team player with expertise on business operations that completed the National Pharmacy Technician Certification exam in FY14. Enthusiastic retail and hospital specialist seeking to leverage background into a pharmacy technician role with a progressive organization.
2 to 5 years of experience resume summary example
Committed graphic designer with three years of experience helping organizations craft innovative web designs. Ambitiously handled pivotal design support and administrative tasks. Diligently assisted with website production and digital marketing. Excelled at collaborating on critical projects and document drafts. Well-versed in HTML, WordPress and Adobe Creative Suite.
This is a good resume summary example because it:
- Shows how many years of experience the job candidate has.
- Tells hiring managers what the candidate did for previous organizations.
- Creates impact with power words like “ambitiously” and “diligently” and action verbs like “excelled at collaborating.”
- Provides a thorough and relevant mix of soft skills and hard skills.
6+ years of experience resume summary example
Creative and client-focused writer offering an eight-year background in successful development and production of business-generating content for organizations, such as Procter & Gamble and L’Oréal. Meticulous marketing and advertising strategist with a proven record of delivering compelling and unique copy, adhering to strict budgets and achieving project deadlines. Highly organized, proactive and punctual with a team-oriented mentality.
This is a good summary for a resume because it:
- Tells how many years of experience the job candidate has.
- Shows hiring managers that the job applicant has a successful track record in the field.
- Highlights well-known companies as past employers.
- Emphasizes a breadth of soft and hard skills.
Management experience resume summary example
Effective Agile project manager and problem-solver with 12 years of experience leading cross-functional teams, developing processes and managing workflows for a wide range of projects, including new high-technology applications, software program development and website deployment. Proven track record of consistent on-time delivery, collaborative leadership style and innovative processes. Awarded Agile Leader of the Year, 2020 and 2021.
This is a good resume summary statement because it:
- Opens by telling hiring managers the job applicant is highly experienced in IT project management.
- Details specific types of projects.
- Emphasizes project and team management .
- Highlights an award won and the years the candidate received it.
Pro tip:
Strive for a mix of hard skills and soft skills in your professional summary. Recruiters and hiring managers prefer well-rounded job candidates.
Professional summary examples for top jobs
Accountant resume summary examples
Detail-oriented accountant with over eight years of effectively maintaining accurate accounting information for large-scale financial organizations, including central banks, credit unions and investment companies. History working as part of the financial team to manage diverse financial functions, PMT, tax management and reporting. Highly analytical professional with extensive knowledge of Excel and QuickBooks.
Interested in more information? View our accountant resume example for details.
Acute care nurse resume summary example
Committed and empathic acute care nurse with 12 years of hands-on experience in critical care facilities. Provide complex clinical assessments, diagnostic testing and medical therapy for patients with various acute illnesses. Comfortable relaying difficult information and providing emotional support to families. Highly proficient in case management, medication administration and patient education.
Interested in more information? View our acute care nurse resume example for details.
AutoCAD drafter resume summary example
Methodical AutoCAD drafter highly effective at creating accurate renderings in high-volume, demanding environments. Driven to cultivate productive relationships between disciplines to facilitate communication and project completion. Adept at producing high-quality plans, schematics, blueprints and component details.
Interested in more information? View our AutoCad drafter resume example for details.
Caregiver resume summary example
Responsible and compassionate caregiver who understands how to balance patients’ and organizations’ needs. Experienced in medication distribution and able to follow medical instructions precisely. Certified for basic first aid and CPR. Adept at monitoring each patient’s health and providing a gentle approach to patients’ needs.
Interested in more information? View our caregiver resume example for details.
Cashier resume summary example
Hardworking and detail-oriented cashier with expertise in drawer management, POS systems, refund handling and inventory control. Multitasking and reliable professional within customer service, promoting sales, keeping the store organized and processing transactions. Creative and attentive problem-solver committed to enhancing customers’ experience.
Interested in more information? View our cashier resume example for details.
Catering server resume summary example
Professional and personable catering server with three years of experience serving large-scale events of 800+ people for an upscale events company. Recognized for creating fun and relaxing experiences for guests. Proficiently handles multiple courses and cocktails. Flexible schedule.
Interested in more information? View our catering server resume example for details.
Civil engineering intern resume summary example
Driven civil engineering intern with hands-on experience in construction and in-depth knowledge of civil engineering principles and tools. Dedicated worker with outstanding communication. Bilingual in Chinese and English.
Interested in more information? View our civil engineering intern resume example for details.
Construction worker resume summary example
Reliable construction worker with experience in residential and commercial construction projects for over 18 years. Exceptional problem-solver adept at plumbing and carpentry specializing in roof repairs and installation. Safely operates various heavy-duty construction equipment. Certified with OSHA’s Safety and Health Fundamentals.
Interested in more information? View our construction worker resume example for details.
Counselor resume summary example
Diligent counselor exercising competency in broad subject-matter counseling therapies, including substance abuse, grief and domestic violence. Knowledgeable in youth and adolescent development, including social, behavioral, emotional and cognitive strategies. Focused on facilitating the exploration of issues and developing individualized plans.
Interested in more information? View our counselor resume example for details.
Dishwasher resume summary example
Quick and efficient dishwasher bringing over eight years of experience in fast-paced kitchen environments. Proficient in operating and cleaning equipment, using chemicals and maintaining clean, organized dishes. Focused on maintaining strict controls to protect customers.
Interested in more information? View our dishwasher resume example for details.
Data entry clerk resume summary example
Data entry clerk with three years of experience accurately maintaining records and updating account information for financial services firm. Razor-sharp eye for detail and adept at Microsoft Word and Excel. Continually seek ways to improve processes and develop solutions across all departments.
Interested in more information? View our data entry clerk resume example for details.
Doctor resume summary example
Veteran doctor who champions family-focused care and goes the extra mile to provide complete service. Diagnoses and educates patients about medical concerns while implementing evidence-based treatment plans. Skilled in working under pressure assessing conditions, conducting tests and performing minor procedures.
Interested in more information? View our doctor resume example for details.
Entertainment director resume summary example
Creative entertainment director with 10 years of hands-on filmmaking experience in hundreds of productions. Diligent and technologically savvy leader with high standards for impeccable results. Adept at story pitching, video production, script review and budgeting. Empathic advocate for creative and production staff.
Interested in more information? View our entertainment director resume example for details.
Esthetician resume summary example
Multifaceted esthetician with eight years of experience in skin rejuvenation, body scrubs and facials. Won sales award in 2021 for breaking sales records at a busy salon. Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with clients. 98% customer satisfaction rate three years in a row.
Interested in more information? View our esthetician resume example for details.
Massage therapist resume summary example
Attentive and knowledgeable massage therapist with five-year track record of solid customer service and a knack for building relationships. Experienced in a wide range of massage techniques, including deep tissue, Shiatsu and trigger point.
Interested in more information? View our massage therapist resume example for details.
Nanny resume summary example
Licensed nanny with a background in education and child care. Works diligently to identify and eliminate behavioral and educational issues. Incorporates stimulating activities, such as grouping games and writing stories into daily routines to promote healthy mental and social development. Certified in first aid and CPR, and dedicated to creating safe, inclusive and engaging learning environments for all children.
Interested in more information? View our nanny resume example for details.
Nursing aide resume summary example
Organized and dependable nursing aide successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Skilled in patient care, transportation and equipment assembly. Familiar working in highly stressful and hectic environments and managing disoriented and combative patients.
Interested in more information? View our nursing aide resume example for details.
Operations manager resume summary example
Results-oriented operations manager offering 18 years of high-level experience supervising workover and completion operations. Familiar with human resources and adept at directing the work of completion consultants and completion supervisors in operation functions, including inventory management and warehousing. Directly trained and managed six supervisors while leading a total staff of 75 team members — successfully introducing lean manufacturing to increase productivity and cut completion costs.
Interested in more information? View our operations manager resume example for details.
Outside sales representative resume summary example
Motivated and accomplished outside sales representative adept at building relationships with customers, negotiating deals and closing sales. Detail-oriented self-starter with a track record of exceeding sales goals.
Interested in more information? View our outside sales representative resume example for details.
Payroll specialist resume summary example
Highly communicative and customer service-oriented payroll specialist with more than eight years of expertise in auditing payroll data and processing garnishments. An action-oriented professional proficient in ADP processing and Kronos. Process and transmit payroll for over 3,000 employees, in multiple states, on a biweekly and weekly basis. Employees pay included hourly, salary and union.
Interested in more information? View our payroll specialist resume example for details.
Personal trainer resume summary example
Spirited NCSF Certified personal trainer with seven years of experience training and motivating clients in weight loss and management. Designs classes to match the skill and learning levels of all participants. Highly adept in personal program development and individual life and body assessments. Additional expertise in youth athletic conditions with focus on strength training.
Interested in more information? View our personal trainer resume example for details.
Receptionist resume summary example
Outgoing and friendly receptionist delivering exceptional customer service and administrative excellence, including clerical support and public interaction. Excels in calendar management, Google Calendar, Microsoft Surface Studio, scheduling, data entry and database administration. Capable of answering and quickly redirecting up to 100 calls per day, accomplishing business goals.
Interested in more information? View our receptionist resume example for details.
Retail sales associate resume summary example
Energetic retail sales associate with excellent customer service, leadership and teamwork skills. Proficient at merchandising and display, product knowledge, processing cash and cards transactions and boosting sales. Confident and persuasive with strong attention to detail and the ability to engage diverse customers and enhance brand loyalty and satisfaction.
Interested in more information? View our retail sales associate resume example for details.
Restaurant server resume summary example
Enthusiastic restaurant server with five years of experience working in busy eating establishments. Friendly and upbeat with strong organization, teamwork and interpersonal skills. Reliable, punctual and flexible professional with multitasking and planning abilities. Promotes customer comfort and enhanced experiences by answering questions and responding to concerns.
Interested in more information? View our restaurant server resume example for details.
Sales representative resume summary example
Organized and hardworking sales representative with a solid history of exceeding sales goals, growing business and expanding territories. Experienced in project management, account service, lead prospecting, strategic planning, network development and retention strategies. Accomplished negotiator with excellent customer service, research and conflict-resolution. Focused on maximizing efficiency and sales success.
Interested in more information? View our sales representative resume example for details.
Social Worker resume summary example
Compassionate and driven licensed social worker with solid experience working with diverse populations. Skilled in case management, crisis intervention, data collection and management, referral and networking, and family reunification. Expertise in behavioral intervention plans (BIP) and a deep understanding of human behavior to provide guidance to clients and communities in need.
Interested in more information? View our social worker resume example for details.
Teacher resume summary example
Hardworking and passionate teacher with experience in classroom management, professional development and project planning covering a wide range of subjects. Clear and effective communicator highly skilled at motivating students through positive encouragement and reinforcement of concepts via interactive classroom instruction and innovative lesson planning. Successful in helping students develop strong literacy, numeracy, social and learning.
Interested in more information? View our teacher resume example for details.
Translator resume summary example
Detail-oriented translator with a highly developed understanding of Chinese language and culture. Skilled in quickly and accurately translating written documents and audio recordings. Excellent listening and communication skills with an organized and systematic approach. Over six years of related expertise.
Interested in more information? View our translator resume example for details.
Yoga Instructor resume summary example
Skilled and certified yoga instructor with the ability to build effective relationships with students of all backgrounds and skill levels. Hardworking, dedicated and supportive with excellent communication and problem-solving abilities. Well-versed in compliance requirements, safety and customer service management. Caring, patient and observant leader with an educational style.
Interested in more information? View our yoga instructor resume example for details.
Pro tip:
Need more inspiration? Browse our library of 800+ resume examples for more resume summary ideas.
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Our Resume builder can help you write the perfect resume. Start Now!
Resume summary writing tips
The following tips will help you write a good summary for a resume.
Condense the details and be consistent in your summary statement
When you begin writing your resume summary, remember: less is more. A professional summary for a resume only needs to be three to five sentences long.
Use the first person when writing your resume job statement
Like elsewhere on your resume, write in the first-person point of view, but omit pronouns like “I,” “she” or “they” to help save valuable writing space, just like our summary resume examples do.
Highlight your top qualifications in your professional summary.
Make a strong first impression by writing your most valuable skills and highlighting your relevant work accomplishments, as our professional summary examples do. You want to get the hiring manager’s attention and intrigue them to continue reading the rest of your resume.
Adjust your resume summary based on your career level.
Entry-level job seekers who don’t have a long work history should emphasize their job-relevant skills on their resume summary statement. Job applicants with many years of experience might want to highlight achievements from a recent job.
Pro tip:
Your resume’s work history and skills sections should complement your summary on your resume, not repeat it.
Write the perfect resume summary statement with our Resume Builder
Still unsure about what to write in the summary of a resume? Let us create your resume summary for you with our Resume Builder. All you have to do is choose a professionally designed resume template and fill it in with our expertly crafted content suggestions. You’ll have a personal summary on your resume in minutes!
Here’s how it works:
- Advanced customization: Tailor your professional summary for each job.
- Prewritten suggestions: Make a good summary on your resume into a great summary for a resume with our expert suggestions.
- Easy editing tools: Change your summary statement at any time.
Pro tip:
A professional resume template can help you optimize your summary of qualifications so your resume gets past applicant tracking system (ATS) software and into the hands of recruiters and hiring managers.
Resume summary examples key takeaways
Before you go, be sure to take these tips for how to write a professional resume summary and how to use examples of a profile summary for a resume with you!
- A resume summary is your first chance to tell the recruiter why you’re the best fit for the job. It summarizes your top achievements and skills relevant to the target job.
- Use resume summary examples for inspiration and guidance when crafting your own.
- Keep your professional summary for a resume short. It should never be longer than five sentences.
- Tailor each resume summary statement to your target job by using keywords and phrases from the job description.
- A professional summary should follow this formula: [Descriptive word] [your job title] [Experience level] [Work experience] [Skills] [Achievement].
Resume summary FAQ
What’s a professional summary on a resume?
A resume summary is a short paragraph consisting of three to five sentences at the top of a resume. Summary statements for a resume tell employers at a glance what you offer in the form of your relevant experience, relevant skills and professional achievements.
Do you need a summary on a resume?
You should include a summary on a resume if you have at least one year of work experience in your field because when written well, they grab recruiters’ and hiring managers’ attention and make them want to learn more about your job qualifications. Our resume summary examples can help you write an effective resume summary.
What is a good summary for a resume?
A good resume summary introduces your resume by highlighting your most relevant job qualifications in a brief but intriguing paragraph, to entice employers to want to learn more about you.
Great summaries for resumes are:
- Concise
- Detailed
- Tailored to the job
- Error-free
We provide more than 35 of the best resume summary examples on this page and we offer more than 800 resume examples to give you even more resume summary ideas.
What to write in a summary for a resume?
A professional summary for a resume should summarize your experience and qualifications for the target job. It should include the following pieces of information:
- A power word to describe you. (i.e.,”Motivated”)
- Your job title (i.e., truck driver)
- Your experience level (i.e., “With three years of experience”)
- Your work experience (i.e., “driving flatbed trucks”)
- Skills (i.e., “Adept at using navigation systems”)
- Achievements (“Won driver of the year, 2024”)
Refer to the resume summary examples on this page for guidance.
How to write a resume summary for a career change?
If you’re changing careers, you probably don’t have much work experience in your new field, so it’s better to write an objective statement than a resume summary. A resume objective allows you to briefly describe your reason for the career change and emphasize transferable skills which fit your new career path.
For example:
“Experienced retail sales associate eager to apply marketing acumen, interpersonal and customer service capabilities to a new career as a field sales representative with XYZ Electronics.”
Want more inspiration? Review our resume summary examples for career changers on this page.
Where can I find resume summary examples for students with no work experience?
If you’re a student with no work experience, a resume objective could work better for you than a summary for a resume. A resume objective statement describes your goals for the job you want along with your transferable skills.
The following is good objective resume summary example for a student.
“Software engineering student with training in software design and application development. Fluent in Mandarin and English with excellent interpersonal and critical thinking skills. A fast learner with strong work ethic in team or individual settings to drive product success and process efficiency. Looking to apply my training and communication skills to help the international team at ABC Software with their newest product launch.”
We have many student resume summary examples to choose from if you want more ideas.
How we reviewed this article
Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- Hiching, Galina. Science of People. Article. 307 Resume Action Verbs Guaranteed to Impress
- TeamStage. Blog. Resume Statistics: Cover Letters and Common Mistakes in 2024
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35+ Resume Summary Examples [How-To Guide + Tips]
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Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 20+ years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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