What is a summary statement?
A summary statement is an opportunity to convey information quickly to the reviewer. Since the summary is the opening to your resume, it’s the first opportunity to communicate who you are and why the hiring committee should choose you over other job applicants.
Through carefully chosen words, your summary should indicate your desired area of work AND demonstrate the relevant value you bring to the position.
Should I have one on my resume?
DO have a summary statement if you are…
- Explaining a career shift or connecting professional experiences
- Demonstrating a multidisciplinary set of skills that make you a strong candidate for the job/internship
- Highlighting personal traits and skills
- Demonstrating how you will bring value to the company
DON’T have a summary statement if you are…
- An Undergraduate student
- Applying for a very technical position
- Have been working in the same field for a while
What do I call this section?
While there’s no one right or standard way to title this section, be sure to avoid the term “objective”. It should be clear your objective is to get the job. Instead, here are some common titles used:
- Professional Summary
- Summary of Qualifications
- Key Skills
- Key Qualifiers
How do I write a summary statement?
A summary statement should include:
- 2-3 sentences that effectively outline the value you bring to the position and organization to which you are applying.
- Start by saying who you are. Who are you in terms of profession and job? Even if you’ve only been in school, you may be training as an educator, scholar, analyst, or researcher.
- Provide context. Why is your experience relevant? This will probably include several industry-specific terms and keywords.
- Demonstrate how you’re unique. What strengths do you have? What makes you different from other people in your program? What evidence do you have for these traits?
- Bullet points are an option. Add succinct bullet points after an initial sentence or two.
Avoid…
- Being generic. Your summary statement should not be the same as someone else’s. What personal traits or unique perspectives do you offer? E.g., “Engineer with experience in machine learning and Python/Java/R.”
- Self-focused. Avoid personal pronouns (I, me, my) and stating what you can gain. E.g., “I’m looking for a position where I can learn and grow as a professional.”
- Vague. A summary statement should indicate your target industry or at least the key skills needed in that field. It should be tailored to each job you apply to. E.g., “Experienced writer and editor, looking to apply communication skills in this field.”
Do you have any examples?
Below are several examples for summary statements. Note the bolded phrases, which you can use as building blocks for your professional summary, but be sure to make your summary fit you.
Example #1
Award-winning poet and creative writer offering extensive storytelling, event planning, and museum curation experience. Driven to engage public audiences in artistic appreciation, conversation, and participation.
Example #2
Software engineer with a keen eye for human behavior. Dedicated to helping companies gain a competitive edge by developing and implementing intuitive technology that responds to customers’ needs.
Example #3
Summary of Qualifications
- Engaging communicator with 6+ years of progressive experience in education, group facilitation, and community development
- Strong public speaking, teaching, and training skills for a wide variety of audiences
- Proven ability to juggle multiple projects while adhering to strict deadlines
Example #4
Biochemist with 10+ years of laboratory and research experience. Adept at translating technical results in business settings; thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
Example #5
Dynamic educator with a passion for North Carolina stories. Trained in research methodology, pedagogy, and maximizing the use of technology in the classroom.
Example #6
Results-oriented data analyst driven to provide technological solutions to human problems. Experienced at helping Fortune 500 companies reimagine customer service interactions. Proven success in implementing strategies to draw in a 20 percent increase in qualified leads.
Example #7
Policy-minded architect, focused on improving physical spaces in public schools. Skilled at data analysis, grant writing, and managing projects with diverse stakeholders. Recognized for creative solutions and environmentally-driven designs in a team-based environment.
Example #8
Accomplished researcher and economic analyst with seven years of experience focusing on commercial and retail banking. Adept at combining in-depth knowledge of industry practices and legal requirements with analytical expertise, strategic negotiation, and skillful relationship building to secure new and repeat funding sources. Earned top graduate researcher award from pool of 750 students.
Example #9
Accomplished data science professional with deep expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare. Expert in integrating, mining, and analyzing key data sources for life science companies to increase ROI on marketing campaigns. Successful track record building global data science teams and analytical products using structured and unstructured data sources.
Example #10
Collaborative geneticist with a passion for uncovering insights from large complex data sets and implementing new data-driven strategies. Effective team leader with exemplary skills in mentoring and managing groups of diverse individuals.
Example #11
Adaptable environmentalist and urban planner highly skilled at developing solution-focused strategic plans for cities and municipalities. Proven success building cross-functional teams and pushing the boundaries of space planning. Specialties include urban design research, streetscape design, and mixed-use planning.
