

Here's a quick step-by-step guide to get you started: A summary doesn’t add anything to your resume simply by existing, so only include one if it’s actually necessary. The same thing applies if your work history is self-explanatory and doesn’t need clarification. If you’re a student or recent graduate, or otherwise don’t have a lot of work experience, you’re unlikely to need a resume summary. If a summary doesn’t add anything to your resume, or is just restating information that’s already included elsewhere, leave it out. Unless you fall into one of the categories discussed above, or your situation is otherwise unique, your resume is probably enough on its own. Remember that your resume should already be a succinct summary of your work history and achievements - if yours is self-explanatory or less than a page long, there’s no need to re-summarize it again at the top. Probably not! Most people don’t need a resume summary. small knit, cross-functional teams) to specific qualifications (e.g. This could be anything from experience with startups (e.g. If the job description asks for anything specific or particularly unusual and you fit the bill, emphasize that in your summary.

If the job is looking for something specific
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You don’t want a hiring manager assuming your skills aren’t relevant or that you’re simply applying for every job you can find, so use your summary to demonstrate why that isn’t the case.įor a more detailed guide to resume summaries for career changers, check out How to Write a Resume Summary if You’re Changing Careers. The same thing applies if you’re pivoting to a new role within your current industry or career. If you’re changing careers completely, a resume summary is the best way to briefly contextualize your experience, highlight your transferable skills, and explain why you’re a good fit for the position - especially if those things aren’t obvious from the body of your resume. People who are changing careers or job titles Think of it as the highlights reel of your resume. If you have extensive relevant work experience, use your resume summary to distill the key elements.

It can be a struggle to summarize 15+ years of work experience in a way that’s concise enough not to make a recruiter’s eyes glaze over without leaving out valuable accomplishments. Who needs a resume summary?Ī resume summary is completely optional, but it can be beneficial in a number of situations. Despite the name, it isn’t supposed to simply summarize the information already in your resume. The purpose of a summary is to highlight something that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for but isn’t included elsewhere in your resume, like transferable skills or a context that makes your accomplishments stand out. A resume summary is a short section at the top of your resume.
