Professional Resume Summary (with 20+ Example Statements)
How to write a resume summary fast with 20+ great examples. Write your summary of qualifications in 7 steps and get more interviews now.
Quick resume guide with resume templates, resume examples, and expert tips on how to write a resume fast.
This guide for how to write a resume solves the biggest problem with your resume.
Namely...
You send it to 300 job offers and—
Silence.
Why?
Because most resumes show the wrong info.
They make the hiring manager think, Hmmm. Not a fit.
Let’s put a stop to that in 6 easy steps:
How to write a resume:
1. Check out resume examples that match your career.
2. Pick the right resume template.
3. Choose the perfect resume format.
4. Write a resume summary that gets attention.
5. Add experience, education, and other resume sections.
6. List achievements that prove skills shown in the job ad.
Now let me show you how to make a resume that makes the phone ring.
Save hours of work and get a resume like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from 18+ resume templates and download your resume now.
What users say about ResumeLab:
I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.”
Patrick
I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!
Dylan
My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
George
Carla Casaus
Graphic Designer
Personal Info
Phone: 646-873-6870
Email: carlacasaus@gmail.com
Portfolio: www.carlacasaus.com
linkedin.com/in/carlacasaus
https://twitter.com/carlakcasaus
Summary
Efficient graphic designer with 4+ years of experience. Seeking to use proven layout, web, and Photoshop skills to provide design excellence for James R. at Netflix. As senior designer at Elenar 5, delivered 280+ client projects, slashing costs 18% and bringing in $100K/yr in new business.
Experience
Senior Graphic Designer
Elenar 5, New York
2017–2019
Graphic Designer
Fredegar Rising, New York
2016–2017
Freelance Graphic Designer
Various
2015–2016
Education
BA Graphic Design, Southern New Hampshire University
2011–2015
Portfolio: CarlaCasaus.com
Web design. Created website for nunya.com featured by Awwwards.com. Developed popular eCommerce site for purplenoldor.com.
Mobile app design. Designed MagazineRabbit app 15% under budget. Achieved UI scores 20% above targets and load times 10% faster than goals.
Travel book design. Created clean, engaging design for "Destinations for the Bucket List" coffee-table travel book. Design was favorably reviewed in Kirkus.
Additional Activities
Hard Skills: Typography, Layout, Photoshop, HTML/CSS, Illustrator, InDesign
Soft Skills: Interpersonal Skills, Communication, Collaboration, Time Management
Now here’s how to create a resume like that:
This will make or break you:
Your professional resume format must show competence at a glance.
Not sure about the reverse-chronological resume format? Here are your options:
1. Reverse-chronological format. Familiar to employers. Your best bet.
2. Combination format. For career changers. Highlights transferable skills.
3. Functional format. Helps emphasize skills. May look like you’re hiding something.
Expert Hint: Save your resume as a PDF unless the job ad says not to. PDF resumes don’t lose their formatting when you send them. They’re also machine-readable in 2019.
This is terrifying:
Most hiring managers spend six seconds with each resume.
They don’t read. They skim.
Why?
That’s how long it takes to decide you’re just another clone.
Your resume summary (or resume profile) must convince them otherwise in seconds.
1. List one adjective (efficient, resourceful, productive) and—
2. Job title (graphic designer, sales representative)
3. Key certification if you have one (PMP, CPA, CFA)
4. Years of experience (2+, 8+)
5. How you’ll help (provide customer service excellence)
6. A couple skills that match the job offer (Photoshop, layout design)
7. Best 2–3 achievements (delivered 280+ projects, signed $100K in new work)
These resume summary examples show how:
No contest.
Only the first of those resume samples will get past the gatekeepers. It shows accomplishments that prove key skills.
How to make a resume with no experience?
Write a resume objective and show achievements from:
This entry-level resume example sparkles:
Perfect.
That sample resume objective shows you can do the job—even though you’ve never held the title.
But—
Shouldn’t you talk about your goals in an entry-level resume objective?
Nope.
To get hired, show you’ll help reach organization goals instead.
Expert Hint: To save time, write your resume summary or resume objective last. That way, you can fill it with the best achievements from your resume.
Most resume job descriptions fail.
They say what the candidate did.
But not how well.
You need to pick the perfect few accomplishments.
Then hold a yardstick up to them to show they’re towering.
To match your resume to the job description:
1. Highlight the skills and responsibilities in the job offer.
2. Choose accomplishments from your past that show you rule those things.
These sample resume job descriptions show how:
Job ad wants these resume skills: (1) leadership (2) vendor management (3) sales.
Experience
Senior Graphic Designer
Elenar 5, New York
2017–2019
The second of those resume skills section examples chokes. The first is sweet music to the hiring manager.
Plus—
Those % and $ and other numbers show your skills are Hulk-sized.
No experience for a resume? Don’t panic.
Your freshers resume can still land interviews.
Focus on achievements, like this beginners resume sample:
Job wants these skills: web design, wireframing, Photoshop, InDesign, infographics.
Freelance Graphic Designer
Various
2015–2016
Caution:
Never copy-paste resume skills from the internet.
Hiring managers see through that like the break-room window.
But here are the top resume soft skills, according to a 2017 NACE study:
What about hard skills for resumes or technical skills?
You know, skills like budgeting, sales funnel management, project planning, or programming?
You’ll need those resume keywords too. But you won’t find them in an online guide. Hiring managers list them in the job posting.
Expert Hint: When should you write a functional (skills) resume? Almost never. It’s better to write a chronological resume that proves your skills in context.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Use the ResumeLab builder now.
Surprise:
Even your resume education section has to sell.
It has to make the hiring manager say, interesting.
How to write education on resume:
1. State your degree and college.
2. Cite the years you were in school.
3. Show your GPA if it’s recent or impressive.
4. List school accomplishments that fit the job.
See this professional resume example:
Education
BA Graphic Design, Southern New Hampshire University
2011–2015
Shiny.
That resume sample proves your passion caught fire years ago.
Expert Hint: Is your resume work history too thin? Show your education like a series of jobs. List positions and projects, and stock them with achievements.
Danger:
If employers miss your certification, they may toss your resume.
So—
How to write certifications on a resume:
Put crucial certifications in four places:
1. Near your name.
2. In your resume summary.
3. In your job descriptions.
4. In a special Certifications section near the top.
Is that overkill?
Nope.
It makes life easy for the busy hiring manager.
This resume certification section sample shows how:
Certification
What about non-vital certifications?
To show non-central certifications on a resume:
1. Create a certifications section lower on your resume.
2. In bullet points, list certificates and licenses that fit the job.
3. Ditch certs this employer doesn’t care about.
Expert Hint: Got a CompTIA A+ certification? That’s great—if the job will benefit from it. If not, save the resume space for something more appropriate.
Question:
What does the hiring manager want?
A piece of paper? Or a great employee?
Use additional resume sections to show you’ll fit like a custom Kenneth Cole.
These resume examples show good from bad:
Portfolio: CarlaCasaus.com
Web design. Created website for nunya.com featured by Awwwards.com. Developed popular eCommerce site for purplenoldor.com.
Mobile app design. Designed MagazineRabbit app 15% under budget. Achieved UI scores 20% above targets and load times 10% faster than goals.
Travel book design. Created clean, engaging design for "Destinations for the Bucket List" coffee-table travel book. Design was favorably reviewed in Kirkus.
Additional Activities
Additional Activities
Those first successful resume examples nail it. They’ll make employers hope you don’t have other offers.
On a resume, include:
But—
Make sure they relate to what the job ad wants.
Expert Hint: Send a resume cover letter too. If you're wondering if you need a cover letter at all, just know that according to our study over 80% of recruiters believe that cover letters are important.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s a recap. How to write a resume:
1. View resume examples for your career.
2. Choose a professional resume template.
3. Pick the right resume format.
4. Write a powerful resume summary.
5. Add experience, education, and vital extra resume sections.
6. List achievements that prove you’ve got the skills they want.
Got questions on how to make a resume? Not sure how to do a resume for your career? Need to know what to include in a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.
How to write a resume summary fast with 20+ great examples. Write your summary of qualifications in 7 steps and get more interviews now.
Guide for how to list certifications on resumes + examples and tips. Lists of easy certifications and job-critical certifications + how to put them on resumes.
How to show achievements on resumes that make the boss take notice. What achievements, honors and awards to put on resumes, with examples and expert tips.