What Should I Put in the Summary of My Resume? (A 5-Step Expert Guide)

Meta Description: Wondering what to put in the summary of your resume? Our expert 5-step guide shows you how to write a powerful, ATS-friendly summary that grabs attention and lands interviews. Learn the formula now!

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Your Resume Has 6 Seconds to Make an Impression. Here’s How to Win.

You’ve spent hours perfecting your resume, but here’s the hard truth: the average recruiter spends just six seconds deciding if it’s worth a closer look. Forbes. In that time, their eyes go straight to the top—to your resume summary. This isn’t just an introduction; it’s your 30-word elevator pitch.

Furthermore, before a human even sees it, your resume will likely be scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). An estimated 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to filter candidates. Forbes. A weak summary, lacking the right keywords, will get your application rejected before it even begins.

The internet is full of generic advice. This guide is different. We’ll provide a step-by-step, actionable framework to craft a compelling summary that satisfies both the robot and the recruiter, establishing you as the must-interview candidate.

First, What is a Resume Summary (And What It Isn't)?

A Resume Summary (also known as a Professional Summary or Summary of Qualifications) is a 2-4 sentence paragraph at the top of your resume. Its job is to concisely present your most relevant qualifications, skills, and achievements that match the specific job you are applying for.

It is not a "Resume Objective." Objectives focus on what you want, while a summary focuses on what you can offer the employer.

Resume Objective (Outdated)	Resume Summary (Modern & Effective)
"Seeking a challenging position as a Marketing Manager where I can utilize my skills and experience to contribute to the company's growth."	"Results-driven Marketing Manager with 8+ years of experience developing and executing high-impact digital campaigns. Proven ability to increase lead generation by 150% and boost brand engagement across major social platforms. Certified in Google Analytics and HubSpot."

The difference is clear. The summary is specific, packed with value, and tailored to the employer's needs.

The 5-Step Formula to Writing a Powerful Resume Summary

Follow this proven, step-by-step process to write a summary that gets results.

Step 1: Deconstruct the Job Description

Before you write a single word, open the job description and identify the top 3-5 most critical requirements. Look for specific keywords related to skills (e.g., "SEO optimization," "project management"), experience ("5+ years," "B2B sales"), and qualifications ("PMP certification," "Bachelor's Degree").

Step 2: Start with Your Title and Years of Experience

Begin your summary with your professional title and total years of relevant experience. This immediately frames you as a qualified candidate.

• Example: "Highly motivated Project Manager with 10+ years of experience..."

Step 3: Weave in 2-3 Key Skills and Achievements

Next, select your top 2-3 achievements that align with the keywords you identified in Step 1. Crucially, you must quantify these achievements with numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts. This provides concrete proof of your value.

• Weak: "Responsible for increasing sales."
• Strong: "...with a proven track record of increasing territory sales by 35% year-over-year."

Step 4: Highlight Your Value Proposition

Connect your skills directly to the company's goals. What can you do for them? Use action verbs and focus on results.

• Example: "...skilled in reducing project costs by an average of 15% through strategic vendor negotiation and resource management."

Step 5: Add a Final, Tailored Skill or Certification

End with a specific skill, technology, or certification mentioned in the job description. This shows you've done your homework and are a perfect match.

• Example: "...Expert in Agile methodologies and a certified ScrumMaster."

Putting It All Together: A Real-World Example

Job Target: Senior Accountant

Summary:

"Detail-oriented Senior Accountant with 7 years of experience in corporate finance and GAAP. Proven expertise in financial reporting, budget management, and reducing month-end closing time by 20%. Seeking to leverage advanced proficiency in SAP and Oracle to improve financial accuracy at [Company Name]."

Do's and Don'ts for Your Resume Summary

• Do: Use the same keywords found in the job description.
• Do: Keep it between 2-4 sentences (or 3-5 bullet points).
• Do: Quantify your accomplishments with numbers.
• Do: Write a new, tailored summary for every job application.
• Don't: Use first-person pronouns like "I" or "me."
• Don't: Use generic fluff phrases like "team player" or "hard worker."
• Don't: List your career objectives. Focus on the employer's needs.
• Don't: Make it longer than 5 lines.

Take Your Summary to the Next Level

Once you've drafted your summary using our 5-step formula, how do you know if it's truly optimized? JobSeekerTools offers a powerful Resume Scanner that analyzes your resume against any job description, giving you an instant match score and highlighting which keywords you're missing. It’s the perfect final check to ensure your summary will beat the ATS and impress the hiring manager.

Conclusion: Your Summary is Your First Impression

Your resume summary is the most valuable real estate on the page. It's your chance to immediately signal to both automated systems and human decision-makers that you are the right person for the job. By ditching the generic objective and adopting a concise, quantified, and tailored summary, you transform your resume from a passive document into a powerful marketing tool that opens doors to interviews.

Visual Guides

The Anatomy of a Perfect Resume Summary

An infographic showing what to put in the summary of my resume using a 5-step expert formula for crafting a professional summary.

1. Deconstruct the Job Description

• Identify key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for.
• Note down recurring keywords and phrases.
• Understand the core responsibilities of the role.

2. Identify Your Key Selling Points

• Brainstorm your most relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments.
• Match your qualifications to the requirements of the job description.
• Select 2-3 of your most impressive achievements.

3. Quantify Your Accomplishments

• Use numbers and data to demonstrate your impact.
• Example: Instead of saying "Increased sales," say "Increased sales by 20% in the first quarter."
• Highlight metrics like revenue growth, cost savings, or efficiency improvements.

4. Draft Your Summary Statement

• Start with a powerful adjective and your job title.
• Combine your key selling points into a concise 3-4 sentence paragraph.
• Focus on what you can bring to the company.

5. Refine and Tailor

• Read your summary aloud to check for flow and clarity.
• Ensure it is free of typos and grammatical errors.
• Customize the summary for each specific job application to align with the employer's needs.

Resume Summary vs. Resume Objective

A comparison chart explaining what to put in a resume summary versus a resume objective for a modern job search.

A resume summary is a brief statement at the start of your resume that highlights your most relevant qualifications and experiences. A resume objective, on the other hand, is a statement of your career goals.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Feature	Resume Summary	Resume Objective
Focus	Your value to the employer	Your career goals
Content	Highlights skills and achievements	States the position you want
Impact	Shows what you can do for them	Tells them what you want
Good for	Experienced professionals	Entry-level or career changers
Example	"Results-driven marketer with 5+ years of experience..."	"Seeking a marketing role to utilize my skills..."
Quantified Data	✅	❌
Focuses on Employer Needs	✅	❌

In short: Use a resume summary to sell yourself, and a resume objective if you have little experience or are changing careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long should a resume summary be? A resume summary should be concise, ideally between 2 to 4 sentences or 3 to 5 bullet points. It should not take up more than 4-5 lines of text on your resume.

2. Should I write a new summary for every job I apply for? Absolutely. This is critical. Customizing your summary with keywords and skills from each specific job description is the most effective way to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catch the attention of the hiring manager.

3. Can I use bullet points in my resume summary? Yes, using 3-5 bullet points can be a very effective alternative to a paragraph. It makes the information highly scannable and allows you to clearly list your most impressive, quantified achievements.