Having a good summary on your CV can get you a lot more job interviews. Our guide will show you how to write a CV summary with over 30 examples you can copy, adjust and use.
You need a killer CV summary. Why?
Because most hiring managers just skim CVs they receive. A summary on a CV is working like a hook in this case. If it's interesting, they'll want to know more about you. Luckily, you're about to learn how to master it so that no hiring manager can skip your CV.
This guide will show you:
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A summary for a CV is a brief statement placed at the top of your CV highlighting your work experience, achievements and skills. An effective CV summary entices the hiring manager to read the entire CV.
It's known by many names, but they all mean the same thing:
Regardless of the name, your CV needs to have one.
Why? Because hiring managers only scan CVs they receive, as they get too many of them. They can spare only a few seconds for each CV.
In other words, if your CV summary won't grab the attention, they'll quickly move to the next application.
Now, let's learn how to write a perfect summary on a CV
There's a simple formula you need to follow when writing a CV summary:
Use those ingredients, and your professional summary for CVs will shine.
These executive summary CV examples show how:
What’s the difference between a CV summary and a qualifications summary?
Bullet points.
A summary for a CV 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.
If you have very little to no experience, a CV summary won't work. So, what else can you do? It's simple—
Include a CV objective!
The objective states what you aim to achieve in your career and how the specific job you're applying for fits into your goals. Take a look at the sample below:
Dedicated high school graduate with a passion for creating exceptional coffee experiences. Eager to contribute my strong work ethic, friendly demeanor, and quick learning abilities to a dynamic coffee shop team. Seeking a barista position to deliver top-notch customer service and contribute to the cozy and welcoming atmosphere at LeBlanc Coffee.
Expert Hint: Your CV summary achievements should fit the job. Study up on the job requirements, then think: When did you ace those things?
Now you know the general formula for writing a summary on a CV. But let's put it into practice.
1. Create the bulk of your CV first.
2. Pick the best 2–3 achievements for your CV summary statement.
3. Use them to write a summary on a CV that fits the job.
Look at the CV below.
We took the achievements in red and used them to create a summary on a CV. 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 CV summary last. Go through your CV and cherry-pick the best achievements you’d really like to underline.
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What should you put in a CV 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 23 examples of achievements to put in your summary.
Got lots of achievements for a great summary on a CV? Stick to your most impressive 1–3 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.
Here are 20+ solid CV summary examples and summary of qualifications examples.
You’ve seen how to write a CV summary.
But—
How do you write a summary for CVs for your career? See CV summary examples for different jobs.
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.
More: Entry-Level CV Examples
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.
More: Executive CV Example
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.
See more: Customer Service CV Example
Expert Hint: You need numbers in a great CV summary. Why? Percents, dollars, hours, and numbers of employees make your summary larger than life.
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 practises at LZXC and cut costs 28%.
More: Project Manager CV Example
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%+.
Check out: Sales Representative CV Example
Efficient IT professional with 6+ years of experience and proven skills in hardware installation and maintenance. Seeking to raise tech effectiveness at Sheckley Medical. At Alehandru Inc., upgraded 150+ employees to Windows 10, 10% under budget with 100% HIPAA compliance.
More: IT CV Example
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 CV Example
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 practises. Implemented automated testing program that saved £75,000 per year.
See: Software Engineer CV Example
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 CV Example
Organised 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.
More: Administrative Assistant CV Example
Licenced 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 CV Example
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.
Check out: CV Examples for Teens
A detail-oriented self-appetizer working towards an MA in Linguistics at University of Manchester. Eager to join TakeOff Media as Junior SEO Specialist to help execute data-driven campaigns, develop content, and optimise conversion rate. Strong background in statistics and language, internship experience with SEO and data-driven marketing.
See more: Student CV Example
Certified and passionate barista with 2+ years of experience. Eager to join Lettuce Entertain You to help ensure paramount quality and service by focusing on engaging with the customers. In previous roles scored 95% in customer satisfaction surveys.
See more: Barista CV Example
Customer-oriented pharmacist with 2+ years of experience. Eager to join Walmart Pharmacy to provide comprehensive patient-care to customers, and support implementing business solutions. In previous roles grew sales by £20K, and consistently scored 95% in customer satisfaction surveys.
See more: Pharmacist CV Example
Certified Scrum Master with 3+ years of experience. Seeking to cut costs and raise efficiency at Sherwood-Brooks Tech. At Kolman Technology, managed 3 Scrum teams, raising revenue by £1.2M per year and increasing ROI by 25%. Beat delivery times by 15%. Cut supply costs 18%.
See more: Scrum Master CV Example
Energetic general manager with 6+ years of store management experience. Experienced in managing workforces of 90+ and generating sales exceeding £3.5m. Awarded “Manager of the Year” in 2018 and 2019, out of 120 national locations. Looking to leverage management experience to increase revenue and reign in the costs at Hilton.
See: General Manager CV Example
Dedicated journalist with 6+ years of crime reporting experience. Have covered high profile violent crime and political corruption. Published author of true-crime stories, television correspondent and editor, having written and supervised the creation of a compendium of pieces about notable cold cases.
More: Journalist CV Example
Detail-oriented office manager with 4+ years of experience handling administrative tasks, payroll, and filing systems for busy, mid-sized company. Enhanced file flow through overhaul of documentation storage which led to a 15% increase in efficiency. Seeking to leverage administrative skills and financial expertise to become the next office manager for Symbex Oasis Group.
See more: Office Manager CV Example
Physically fit, observant lifeguard with 1 year of experience in basic life support and water rescue. Eager to deliver safety excellence at Lee Lanes Pool. At London Municipal Pool, spotted and prevented 2 dry-drownings and treated 7 cases of hypothermia.
Check out: Lifeguard CV Example
Licenced electrician with 6+ years of experience. Seeking to provide safe & efficient electrical design, installation, and maintenance at Alger Technical. At Pinecone Sage, installed and repaired key electrical systems. Identified a complex wiring issue that slashed fire risk 35%. Managed 10 apprentices with 15% efficiency increase.
See more: Electrician CV Example
Community-minded police officer with 4+ years of experience promoting public safety and preventing crime in an urban environment. Seeking to enforce laws as a peace officer at the Kelton Police Department. At SSPD, wrote request facilitating £60K in new vehicle funding and logged 15% more traffic citations than average.
See: Police Officer CV Example
Results-driven legal assistant with over 2 years of experience optimizing operations and supporting legal teams. Eager to enhance efficiency and accuracy at Dobbins & Eisengart. Drafted and meticulously reviewed 200+ error-free legal documents during tenure at Walsh, Harrison & Montana. Implemented an innovative file organization system that resulted in a time-saving of 7+ hours per week.
Check out: Legal Assistant CV Example
Detail-oriented litigation attorney with over 4 years of experience specializing in legal research and litigation strategies. Eager to join Charles & Marden to provide steadfast client advocacy. Averaged an impressive 1500 billable hours annually at WPG, showcasing exceptional dedication to casework. Orchestrated 120+ mediations with a remarkable 91% settlement rate, facilitating resolutions ranging from £1M to £50M.
Check out: Attorney CV Example
Efficient secretary with over 4 years of dedicated service, poised to excel in optimizing office operations at Ballew-Poulin. Proven track record at Speering & Ashland, consistently typing 5–20 reports daily with precision. Instrumental in orchestrating seamless schedules for 20+ employees, synchronizing work, meetings, and conferences.
See: Secretary CV Example
Proficient technical writer with over 4 years of expertise crafting precise technical documentation for engineering firms. Adeptly collaborated with 80+ engineering specialists to consolidate and disseminate best practices across diverse projects. Achieved a remarkable 47% reduction in customer and subcontractor queries for a product through the implementation of innovative documentation strategies. Recognized for catalyzing enhanced efficiency and turnover by spearheading the 2017 redesign of core company materials. Eager to leverage established skills to contribute to the success of Opto-Metrix's technical writing team.
More: Technical Writer CV Example
Diligent cybersecurity specialist with over 6 years of experience in safeguarding critical systems and data. Committed to enhancing information security at Cypherdyne Systems. Reduced security risk by 23% at S&V Inc. through a strategic blend of automation, comprehensive training, robust backups, fortified firewalls, and stringent physical controls. Eager to contribute advanced skills and knowledge to ensure the highest level of cybersecurity resilience and protection.See more: Cyber Security CV Example
Incisive data scientist with over 5 years of accomplished experience, backed by Microsoft Certification and proficiency in Python, R, Java, and Scala. Recognized for applying advanced data mining techniques to meticulously analyse and optimize ABC Inc.'s procurement processes, revealing potential annual savings of £420,000. Analysed and processed large datasets, implementing advanced machine learning algorithms that led to a 15% improvement in customer churn prediction accuracy.
Check out: Data Scientist CV Example
A dedicated and compassionate Certified Phlebotomist with 2+ years of hands-on experience. Implemented a new blood draw technique that reduced patient discomfort by 30%, improving overall patient experience. Actively participated in regular continuing education programs, staying up-to-date with the latest phlebotomy techniques and safety protocols. Collaborated with the lab team to develop and implement a more efficient sample tracking system, reducing errors by 25%. Eager to contribute my expertise and unwavering commitment to patient well-being as a valued member of the Palm Tree Clinic team.
Energetic line cook with a track record of 4+ years in delivering exceptional culinary creations within high-pressure kitchens. Eager to bring my culinary prowess and innovation to the Leedio team. Orchestrated and executed the daily preparation and plating of over 300 dishes, maintaining a 99% accuracy rate and exceeding customer expectations consistently. Collaborated with the executive chef to develop and launch a seasonal menu that led to a 20% increase in customer engagement and repeat business.
See: Line Cook CV Example
Skilled mechanic and accomplished Level 3 IVQ Technician with over 6 years of hands-on experience. Aiming to contribute my technical expertise and commitment to excellence to the team at Marsh Motors. Elevated workshop efficiency by 20% by implementing a streamlined workflow and optimizing inventory management, contributing to improved customer turnaround times. Collaborated with a team of 6 technicians to achieve a 10% reduction in average repair time, enhancing overall shop productivity and customer experience.
More: Mechanic CV Example
Dynamic video editor with 5+ years of experience in crafting compelling visual narratives. Committed to delivering impactful videos efficiently to Bent Lodgepole Productions. At Media Northwest, orchestrated the post-production process for a series of 20 promotional videos, resulting in a 20% increase in viewer engagement and a significant boost in client satisfaction. Innovatively introduced a streamlined video cataloguing system, reducing video search time by 30% and enhancing overall project turnaround for a diverse clientele.Check out: Video Editor CV Example
Expert Hint: “How important are cover letters?” They’re quite important. We conducted a study which revealed that 83% of recruiters take cover letter into consideration when deciding who to hire.
Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
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Here’s a recap of how to write a summary on a CV:
Got a question about how to format a CV summary? Wondering how to pick achievements for your summary statement? Leave a comment. We are happy to reply.
A CV summary is a brief introduction at the top of your CV. It introduces your key qualifications, skills, and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the job. The CV summary should highlight your career goals, relevant achievements, and the value you can bring to the potential employer.
To write a good CV summary, you should do the following:
Your finished CV summary should look like this:
Diligent Accountant with over seven years of experience in financial management and reporting. Implemented a comprehensive cost-saving strategy, resulting in a 20% reduction in operational expenses. Spearheaded a cost-reduction initiative, reducing overall operational costs by 15% and contributing to annual budget savings of $180,000. Eager to contribute to Washington Financing's success through strategic financial planning and expertise in streamlining processes.
A CV objective is a concise statement outlining your career goals and aspirations. It is typically used by entry-level candidates or those who are changing careers. The objective states what you aim to achieve in your career and how the specific job you're applying for fits into your goals. Unlike a CV summary, which focuses on your qualifications and what you can offer to the employer, a CV objective is more centred on what you want to gain from the job opportunity.
If you’re creating a CV with no experience, instead of using a CV summary, you should write a CV objective. It’s a similar statement, but focusing on your career goals and how the job aligns with them. It may frequently highlight academic achievements and non-work qualifications such as certifications.
Yes, it's a good practice to tailor your CV summary for each job application. Customizing your professional summary for a CV allows you to highlight the most relevant qualifications that match the specific job you're applying for. By doing so, you prove to the employer that you have reviewed the job description and understand their needs.
Adapting your CV professional summary also helps you stand out among other applicants. It shows your genuine interest in the position. It also presents your ability to align your strengths with the employer's requirements.
A CV summary should be concise and to the point. We recommend you keep it between 2 and 4 sentences, or around 50 to 100 words. The goal of a personal summary for a CV is to provide a quick overview of your key qualifications and experiences relevant to the job you're applying for. Keep it focused on your most impressive points. Also, ensure it is easy to read and captures the recruiter's attention.
Tom Gerencer is a career expert covering a wide range of job-related topics. He’s shared his insight for jobseekers at all career levels in over 200 articles, reaching over a million readers every month. His written pieces are based on meticulous research and feature insider tips from key industry experts.
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