How Long Should a Resume Be? One Page Resume vs Two Page
How many pages should a resume be? One page resume vs two page resume. Get the answer to how long should a resume be with expert tips to shorten yours.
You need a summary for your resume.
Why?
Because most hiring managers skim resumes in 6 seconds.
Your resume must hook them, reel them in, and make them want to read the rest.
A good resume professional summary does that.
But—
There’s a proven plan to follow.
This guide will show you:
- How to write a summary on a resume.
- 22 resume summary examples (plus links to more for every profession).
- What to put in a summary for a resume to get more interviews.
- When to write a summary of qualifications instead.
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1. How to Write a Resume Summary
Here’s how to write a resume summary statement.
Oh-oh!
You winged it. Dashed off your resume professional summary in three minutes.
Now nobody is calling except bill collectors.
So—
Follow the recipe.
What is a Professional Summary?
A professional summary is the introduction to your resume. It’s 3–4 sentences. It must hook employers in an instant with your most important information first.
How to Write a Summary for a Resume that Stops them Cold
Here’s how to write a resume summary in 7 steps:
What do you put in the summary of a resume?
Build it from:
1. One adjective (enthusiastic, dependable, hard-working)
2. Key certification or license or if you’ve got one (PMP, CPA)
3. Job title (sales manager, accountant)
4. Years of experience (4+, 5+)
5. Goal (deliver graphic design excellence at Google)
6. One or two skills (budgeting, collaboration)
7. Best 2–3 achievements. (slashed rework 30%)
Use those ingredients, and your professional summary for resumes will shine.
These executive summary resume examples show how:
Resume Summary Example
What if You Have to Write a Summary of Qualifications Instead
What’s the difference between a resume summary and a qualifications summary?
Bullet points.
A summary for a resume and a statement of qualifications are almost identical. But—
The statement of qualifications puts 3–5 accomplishments in bullet points.
See this example:
Hard-working customer service agent with 7+ years of experience and solid telesales skills. Seeking improve customer retention at F.L.T. Maddox.
- Consistently posted 98% positive customer scores at Trusted Antelope Inc.
- Handled 15% more inbound calls per day than the department average.
- Resolved customer complaints 10 hours faster than company targets.
Expert Hint: Your resume summary achievements should fit the job. Study up on the job requirements, then think: When did you ace those things?
2. What to Put in a Resume Summary
You’ve seen some great resume summary examples.
But—
Examples don’t show how.
So, how do you write a summary for a resume?
1. Create the bulk of your resume first.
2. Pick the best 2–3 achievements for your resume summary statement.
3. Use them to write a summary on a resume that fits the job.
Look at the resume below.
We took the achievements in red and used them to create a summary on a resume. See it circled in green?
See how that works?
Even better if the most important job requirements are Java programming and debugging.
Expert Hint: Write your resume summary last. Go through your resume and cherry-pick the best achievements you’d really like to underline.
3. How to Pick Achievement to Put in a Resume Summary
What should you put in a resume summary statement?
You need achievements but—
Which ones?
Put yourself in the hiring manager's shoes.
Which of your accomplishments will most impress her?
Here are 22 examples of achievements to put in your summary.
Resume Summary Examples of Achievements
- Problems you’ve solved
- Metrics you’ve improved
- Money you saved the company
- Hours/days/weeks saved
- Targets reached
- Honors
- Awards
- Publications
- Media mentions
- Commendations
- Numbers of people managed
- Numbers of people trained
- Brightest moments
- Things you’re proud of
- Certifications
- Licenses
Resume Summary Examples Entry- Level Achievements
- School
- Volunteer work
- Unrelated jobs
- Freelance work
- Hobbies and interests
- Personal projects
- Awards and honors
Got lots of achievements for a great summary on a resume? Stick to your most impressive 3–5 that fit the job. Any more is clutter.
Expert Hint: Still stuck for achievements to put in your summary? Maybe you don’t know enough about the hiring manager. Research the company and its goals to learn more.
4. 18 Resume Summary Examples
Here are 18 solid resume summary examples and summary of qualifications examples.
You’ve seen how to write a resume summary.
But—
How do you write a summary for resumes for your career?
See summary examples for 10 top professions below.
Resume Summary Example (Entry-Level)
Efficient entry-level programmer with proven skills in Java and Python coding. Seeking to deliver programming excellence at High Hat Solutions Inc. Developed 7 freelance projects, including 2 eCommerce sites and a mobile app. One of my web apps was cited in the Coding Alpha blog. Took 2nd place in the LeetCode competition, January 2019. Member, ACM.
Source: Entry-Level Resume Sample and 25+ Expert Tips
Executive Summary Resume Example
Driven sales executive with 7+ years of experience and proven skills in communication and new business development. Seeking to dramatically increase Progressive’s KPIs. Raised revenue 24% at Interweave LD. Boosted ROI 20%. Slashed costs 25%. Grew business 40% at Summilco RG Inc.
Resume Summary Examples for Customer Service
Results-based customer service rep with 6+ years of experience, skilled in telesales. Looking to raise customer retention at Orange Monkey Worldwide. Received 99% positive customer ratings at Whitmore-Watanabe Electronics with customer retention for repeat clients 25% above company average. At Glowflower Communications, received Associate of the Month award 5x.
Source: Customer Service Resume Examples—Sample and 25+ Writing Tips
Project Manager Resume Summary Examples
Resourceful IT Project Management Professional PMP with 4+ years of experience. Seeking to use strong strategic planning skills to raise metrics for quality, cost, and time at Ashland-Lefebvre Inc. Trained 55 employees in Lean practices at LZXC and cut costs 28%.
More: Project Manager Resume Sample—25+ Examples and Writing Tips
Resume Summary Examples for Sales
Tireless sales representative with 7+ years of experience. Seeking to improve sales metrics at AstraZeneca with powerful relationship-building skills. At Amgen, built strong relationships with 150 new customers. Maintained 18% more in-person meets than the company average. Routinely exceeded sales goals by 20%+.
Source: Sales Representative Resume Sample—Examples and 25+ Writing Tips
IT Manager Resume Summary Examples
Committed IT manager with 8+ years of experience. Seeking to use intensive leadership skills to improve efficiency at Jennings-Groves Medical. At Atalah-KQC Global, led team that developed a corporate auditing system that saved $110,000 annually. Designed an employee intranet for information sharing that saved 140 labor hours per year.
Marketing Resume Summary Examples
Productive marketing manager with deep sales background. Looking to leverage 9 years of marketing experience to raise ROI for Kensington APT Global. At Hasida-Taylor, increased marketing ROI 28% through implementing a robust data collection and analytics program and a lean analytics cycle. Cut costs 22% through improved vendor management.
See more: Marketing Resume Sample—Examples and 25+ Writing Tips
Software Engineer Resume Example Summary
Team-oriented software engineer with 5+ years of experience. Seeking to use proven development skills to provide optimal code solutions for Uber. At Glimmersoft Inc., led a team that received a DeveloperWeek award for IoT Development. Slashed costs 28% with better adherence to Agile best practices. Implemented automated testing program that saved $75,000 per year.
Source: Software Engineer Resume Template—25+ Examples and Writing Tips
Graphic Designer Summary for Resumes
Creative graphic designer with 3+ years of experience and proven Photoshop skills. Looking to provide excellence in design for Kubico Designs. Created and produced 280+ graphic design projects at AFBK Marketing with 99.9% client satisfaction. Cut production costs 22% in 19 months through implementing a new Lean supplier program.
See more: Graphic Design Resume Example—Samples and 25+ Writing Tips
Administrative Assistant Resume Summary
Organized administrative assistant with 3+ years of experience. Looking to use substantial logistics skills to save time and energy at Isbister-Greene. At TD&P Trucking, saved 150 employee hours per year by setting up an email triage system. Cut complaint resolution time by 35% and saved $35,000 a year with faster accounts collection.
Source: Administrative Assistant Resume—25+ Examples and Writing Tips
Nurse Summary for Resumes
Licensed RN with 5+ years of experience and proven patient care skills. Seeking to deliver robust care at Children’s Hospital of Omaha. Helped raise HCAHPS review grades 25% at CHI Health Lakeside by leading the charge to improve nurse-patient communication. Consistently scored 20%+ above ward average for patient education. Received CHIHL Compliance Award for adhering at all times to FDA, OSHA, and HIPAA regulations.
See more: Nursing Resume—Nurse Resume Examples and 25+ Writing Tips
Teen Summary for Resumes
Fast-learning waiter with proven customer service skills. Looking to provide excellence in service at Mardibini’s on the Sea. At The Lobster Pound, received 5 management commendations for providing high-level service. Maintained 95% positive customer comment review scores.
Source: Resume Examples for Teens—Guide + Sample and 25 Writing Tips
Expert Hint: You need numbers in a great resume summary. Why? Percents, dollars, hours, and numbers of employees make your summary larger than life.
Key Points
Here’s a recap of how to write a resume summary:
- Write the rest of your resume first, then pick the best bits and compile them into a summary.
- Include your job title, years of experience, and how you’ll help the company.
- List one or two skills that fit the job offer in your summary for resumes.
- Add a few job-matching achievements.
- Use the resume summary for every career in this article to get started.
Got a question about how to format a resume summary? Wondering how to pick achievements for your summary statement? Leave a comment. We are happy to reply.
