example of executive summary on resume

24 Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

A resume summary statement usually comes right after a job seeker’s contact info and before other resume sections such as skills and work experience. It provides employers with a brief overview of a candidate’s career accomplishments and qualifications before they read further. Because of how early it appears on the document, your resume summary statement (or your CV “profile” in the UK) is one of the first places recruiters and employers look. And without the right information, they’ll doubt that you’re qualified and may move to another resume.

So I got in touch with a select group of professional resume writers, coaches and career experts to get their best resume summary examples you can use and adapt to write a resume summary that stands out and gets interviews.

As a former recruiter myself, I’ll also share my best tips to write your resume summary effectively.

Why the Resume/CV Summary is Important

You may have heard that recruiters only spend 8-10 seconds looking at your resume. The truth is: they spend that long deciding whether to read more. They do glance that quickly at first and may move on if your background doesn’t look like a fit. However, if you grab their attention, they’ll read far more. Recruiters aren’t deciding to interview you in 8-10 seconds, but they are ruling people out in 8-10 seconds. And this is why your resume summary is so crucial. It appears high up on your resume (usually right after your header/contact info) and is one of the first sections employers see. So it’s part of what they’ll see in the first 8-10 seconds.

Your resume summary statement is one of your first (and one of very few) chances to get the employer to stop skimming through their pile of resumes and focus on YOU.

Watch: Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

10 resume summary examples:.

These career summary examples will help you at any experience level – whether you’re writing a professional summary after a long executive career, or writing your first resume summary without any experience! After you finish this article you’re NEVER going to have to send out a limp, weak resume summary statement again (and you’ll get far more interviews  because of it).

1. Healthcare Sales Executive Resume Summary Example:

Turnaround & Ground Up Leadership – Concept-to-execution strategies for untapped products, markets + solutions that yield 110% revenue growth – Negotiates partnerships with leading distributors + hospitals—Medline to Centara + Novant Health to Mayo Clinic –  Revitalizes underperforming sales organizations via scalable, sustainable infrastructures emulated as best practice –  C-Level networks of clinical + supply chain leadership acquired during tenures with XXX, XXX and XXX

Why this resume summary is good:

This resumes summary example’s strength lies in the detailed, unique information that has been included. By including revenue stats, names of past employers and partners, the reader right away sees that this person will bring to the role a strong networking ability with key players in his industry, and more importantly can build, grow and revitalize a sales organization, market or product.

By:  Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor.

2. 15+ Year Business Owner Resume Summary Statement:

Dynamic and motivated marketing professional with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, designing educational strategies, and coaching individuals to success. Skilled in building cross-functional teams, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, and making critical decisions during challenges. Adaptable and transformational leader with an ability to work independently, creating effective presentations, and developing opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Why this is a good summary section:

This is a resume summary statement that was for  a candidate returning to work after having her own business for 15+ years. Because of this, we needed to emphasize her soft skills and what she can bring to this potential position. In addition, we highlighted the skills she has honed as a business owner so that she can utilize these qualifications as a sales professional, account manager , and someone knowledgeable about nutrition, medicine, and the overall sales process.

By: Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish. MBA, Ph.D., CPRW, and Founder of Feather Communications

3. Human Resources Generalist Resume Summary Example:

Human Resources Generalist with progressive experience managing employee benefits & compliance, employee hiring & onboarding, performance management processes, licensure tracking and HR records. Dependable and organized team player with the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently. Skilled at building relationships with employees across all levels of an organization. Proficient with HRIS, applicant tracking and benefits management.

Why this is a good resume summary:

The applicant highlights their experience across a wide range of HR functions from the very first sentence, and continues this pattern throughout the rest of the summary. They then use easily digestible langue to showcase their hard skills (in the first & fourth sentences) and soft skills (in the second & third sentences). They also integrate a variety of keywords to get past automated job application systems , without sounding spammy or without overdoing it.

By: Kyle Elliott, MPA/CHES,  Career Coach and Consultant

4. Social Media Marketing CV Profile Example (UK):

Social media expert with successes in the creation and management of social media strategies and campaigns for global retail organisations. Extensive experience in the commercial utilisation of multiple social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube; I build successful social strategies that increase brand awareness, promote customer engagement and ultimately drive web traffic and conversions.

Why this summary is good:

This summary is well-written, short, sharp, and gives recruiters a high-level explanation of the candidate’s core offerings in a persuasive and punchy style. A quick scan of this profile tells you the exact type of social media platforms the candidate is an expert in, as well as the campaigns they have experience running and types of organizations they have worked for. Most importantly, the summary is rounded off by showing the results that this person achieves for their employers, such as increased web traffic and conversions.

Editor’s note: This CV profile summary was written for the UK market… this is a great one to use/copy, but make sure you put it through a spell-checker if you’re applying for jobs in the US (utilisation vs. utilization, etc.)

By: Andrew Fennell, Director at StandOut CV , contributor for The Guardian and Business Insider

5. Marketing Manager Professional Summary Example:

Marketing Manager with over eight years of experience. Proven success in running email marketing campaigns and implementing marketing strategies that have pulled in a 20% increase in qualified leads. Proficient in content, social media and inbound marketing strategies. Skilled, creative and innovative.

This resume summary stands out because it gets straight to the point. By immediately introducing the number of years of experience the candidate has, the HR manager doesn’t need to spend time adding up years. The candidate also jumps right into his or her strongest skill, provides a statistic , then gives additional skills.

By: Sarah Landrum, career expert and contributor at Entrepreneur.com and Forbes

6. Warehouse Supervisor Resume Summary Example:

Warehouse Supervisor with Management, Customer Service, & Forklift Experience –  Dependable manager with 15+ years of experience in warehouse management and employee supervision. –  Skilled at managing inventory control, shipping & receiving, customer relations and safety & compliance. –  Certified Power Equipment Trainer, Forklift Operator and Reach Operator skilled at coaching other staff. –  Promoted to positions of increased responsibility given strong people and project management skills.

The applicant was applying for a warehouse supervisor position that required them to have demonstrated management, customer service and forklift experience. As such, the applicant showcased their experience in these areas with a few keywords in the title, followed by additional details in the accompanying bullet points. Their final bullet shows a record of promotions, while reinforcing the applicant’s customer service and project management skills.

7. IT Project Manager Resume Summary Example:

Experienced Project Manager with vast IT experience. Skills include computer networking, analytical thinking and creative problem solving. Able to apply customer service concepts to IT to improve user experience for clients, employees and administration.

Because this candidate is switching career paths, it’s important he or she take skills used for previous positions and apply those skills to the new job listing. This is a great example because the candidate makes it clear that his or her experience is not in the new field, but that they are still able to bring relevant experience to the table. When writing your resume summary, keep these tips in mind: Use writing that is straight to the point, clear and concise, you’ll have a higher chance of getting noticed by the hiring manager.

8. Career-Changer Resume Summary Example:

Earn trust, uncover key business drivers and find common ground as chief negotiator and identifier of revenue opportunities in sales, leadership and account management roles spanning e-Commerce, air travel and high-tech retail. Navigate cultural challenges while jumping time zones, lead international airline crews and manage corporate accounts to deliver an exceptional customer experience. A self-taught techie sought after as a go-to for complex billing systems and SaaS platforms alike—bridging the divide between technology and plain-speak. – Tenacious Quest for Success + Learning . Earned MBA and BS in just 3 years while working full-time – gaining hands-on experience in research- and data-driven product roadmap development, pricing and positioning. – Results-Driven Leadership. Whether leading Baby Boomers, Gen X or Millennials—figures out what makes teams tick, trains and transforms individuals into top-performers. – Challenger of Conventional Wisdom. Always ask the WHY. Improve the user experience through smart, strategic thinking that anticipates outcomes. Present cases that influence, and lead change that drives efficiency and profitability.

This client was eager for a career change and had moved from role to role and industry to industry. After completing her Master’s degree, she was eager to tie her skills together to land a role – which she did – as a Senior Technology Account Strategist for a global travel company. Although a bit longer than a traditional summary, its strength lies in the details. Without ever getting to the experience section, the reader gets a clear idea of the scope of responsibility, and hard and soft skills the candidate brings to the table.

By: Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor.

9. Project Management Executive Professional Summary Example:

15+ years of initiating and delivering sustained results and effective change for Fortune 500 firms across a wide range of industries including enterprise software, digital marketing, advertising technology, e-commerce and government. Major experience lies in strategizing and leading cross-functional teams to bring about fundamental change and improvement in strategy, process, and profitability – both as a leader and expert consultant.

Why this resume summary is good:

“Project Manager” is one of those job titles that’s REALLY broad. You can find project managers earning $50K, and others earning $250K. The client I wrote this for was at the Director level, and had worked for some of the biggest and best tech companies in her city. So this resume profile section shows her level and experience, and the wide array of areas she has responsibility for in her current work. You can borrow or use some of the phrasing here to show that you’ve been responsible for many important areas in your past work.

By: Biron Clark, Founder of  CareerSidekick.com.

10. Startup And Finance Management Consultant Career Summary Example:

Experienced strategist, entrepreneur and startup enthusiast with a passion for building businesses and challenging the status quo. 8+ year track record of defining new business strategies, launching new ventures, and delivering operational impact, both as a co-founder and management consultant. 

Why this resume summary example is good:

This summary was for a highly-talented management consultant looking to break out of finance, and into trendier tech companies like Uber . His track record and educational background were great, so the goal of this summary section was to stand out and show he’s more than just the typical consultant with a finance background. So we emphasized his passion for startups, and his ability to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. That’s something that companies like Uber and other “disruptive” tech companies look for.

14 Resume Summary Examples for Various Industries

Compassionate and effective 5th-grade teacher with experience overseeing the classroom and preparing lessons. Extensive experience encouraging students through positive reinforcement and motivational techniques. Collaborate well with school administration and other members of the teaching team. Ensure all students meet learning requirements, including literacy, social, and arithmetic skills.

2. Teacher’s Assistant

Goal-oriented teacher’s assistant with ten years of experience working with elementary school children. Aid teachers with lesson planning, classroom settings, and group instruction. Model positive behavior and maintain order in the classroom. Willingness to take on additional responsibilities to meet learning objectives.

Tech Industry

3. computer programmer.

Innovative computer programmer with a proven track record of writing high-quality code and supporting team needs with subject matter expertise. Adept in multiple programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and C++. Ability to troubleshoot complex programming issues with inventive solutions. 

4. Cybersecurity Analyst

Dedicated cybersecurity analyst with ten years of experience in online security research, execution, planning, and maintenance. Proven track record of identifying business risks and proactively resolving them. Experience designing and instituting layered network security for large-scale organizations. Train users and other staff members on IT safety procedures and preventive techniques.

Skilled healthcare professional with ten years of experience in patient care, diagnosis, and providing appropriate treatments and medical services. Manage medical staff and resolve complex medical cases with maximum efficiency. Communicate the patient’s condition and treatment plan in easily understood terminology. Remain current with the latest advancements in medicine and research to ensure patients receive proper care.

6. Registered Nurse

Seasoned registered nurse offering comprehensive patient care in emergency room settings. Experience handling diverse patient populations and caring for various conditions. Proven leadership managing nursing teams and other staff. Focus on enhancing patient care and satisfaction through empathetic communication and excellent customer service. 

7. Digital Marketing Manager

Forward-thinking digital marketing manager experienced in all facets of digital marketing, including social media management, PPC advertising, SEO, and email marketing. Proven experience creating comprehensive marketing plans that improve lead prospecting and enhance brand awareness. Up to date with the newest tools available for digital marketing campaigns.

8. Marketing Analyst

Industrious marketing analyst well-versed in analyzing marketing campaign analytics and making recommendations to improve performance. Collaborate with account managers and use KPI metrics to explain the results of marketing initiatives. Meticulous with a strong work ethic and robust communication skills.

Food and Service Industry

Experienced wait staff member capable of managing orders, processing payments, and upselling menu items. Ensure restaurant guests feel welcome with attentive service catered to their needs. Remain current on updates to the menu and assist guests with selecting orders to meet their dietary requirements. Maintain a positive attitude and focus during busy restaurant periods.

10. Hotel Receptionist

Friendly hotel receptionist with extensive experience handling guest check-ins, check-out, and payments. Facilitate a positive guest experience with polished customer service skills and a readiness to address common inquiries and complaints. Collaborate well with other hotel team members, including executive administration and on-site restaurant staff.

Business/Office Jobs

11. financial analyst.

Highly motivated financial analyst with a proven track record of recommending appropriate financial plans based on financial monitoring, data collection, and business strategizing. Experienced in qualitative and quantitative analysis, forecasting, and financial modeling. Excellent communication skills for building and fostering long-term business relationships across the organization.

12. Tax Accountant

Experienced tax accountant with ten years of experience preparing federal and state tax returns for corporations and partnerships. Monitor changes in laws to ensure the organization properly complies with reporting requirements. Assist with tax audits, ensuring the team receives proper supporting evidence for tax positions. Analyze and resolve complex tax issues. Look for available tax savings opportunities for corporations with an aggregate savings of $500K last year. Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.

Sales and Customer Service

13. sales representative.

Enthusiastic sales representative with expertise in identifying prospects and converting qualified leads to paying customers. Provide quality customer service and contribute to team sales success. Offer exceptional communication skills and seek to understand client needs before making the appropriate product recommendations. Continually meet and exceed sales goals. Leverage extensive knowledge of available products to provide appropriate client solutions and enhance customer loyalty and retention.

14. Customer Service Associate

Knowledgeable customer service professional with extensive experience in the insurance industry. Known as a team player with a friendly demeanor and proven ability to develop positive rapport with clients. Maintain ongoing customer satisfaction that contributes to overall company success. Highly articulate, with a results-oriented approach that addresses client inquiries and issues while maintaining strong partnerships. Collaborate well with the customer service team while also engaging independent decision-making skills.

Now you have 24 professional resume summary statements and some explanations of why they’re effective. Next, I’ll share tips for how to write your own in case you’re still unsure how to begin based on these examples above.

How to Write a Resume Summary: Steps and Hints

We’ve looked at 10 great resume summary examples above. As you begin writing a resume summary for yourself, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Read the employer’s job description. Your career summary shouldn’t be a long list of everything you’ve done; it should be a refined list of skills and experiences that demonstrate you’re a fit for their job.
• Mention your current job title if relevant. One common way to begin your resume summary is to state your current job title.
• Explain how you can help employers achieve their goals or solve their problems.
• Consider using bold text to emphasize one or two key phrases.
• Include any relevant metrics and data like dollar amounts, years of experience, size of teams led, etc. This helps your resume stand out.
• Focus on making the employer want to read more. The goal of your resume summary isn’t to show everything you can do, but to grab their attention and show enough that they continue reading.

Creating a Customized Resume Summary

While general summaries are appropriate when applying for jobs requiring similar skills and experience, a customized resume summary can enhance your chances of moving on to the next step in the hiring process. 

That’s because most companies use automated tracking systems (ATS) to review submitted resumes for content directly related to the job posting. If you use keywords and natural language phrases in your summary that interlink to the job description, you’ll have a much higher chance of passing the ATS review.

Let’s look at an example of a resume summary that is customized for the specific job description below:

“Highly motivated social media specialist with strong project management skills. Creative marketer skilled in crafting innovative social media campaigns that resonate with a target audience. Regularly develop compelling copy and social media content to enhance lead generation and brand awareness. Detail-oriented with extensive project management skills that ensure proper prioritization of tasks and projects. Work with various social media management and analytics tools to examine results and make adjustments as necessary.”

This summary directly addresses the key points in the job description but rewrites them so the customization is natural and flows well. It’s personalized for the open role and uses similar terms with a few strategically placed keywords, such as “social media content” and “project management.”  

How Long Should a Resume Summary Be?

As you read the resume summaries above, you probably noticed there are some short single-paragraph resume summary examples and much longer career summaries that are two to three paragraphs plus bullet points. So how long should YOUR professional summary be? If you have relevant work experience, keep your summary to one or two paragraphs. The piece you really want the hiring manager to read is your most recent work experience (and you should make sure you tailored that info to fit the job description). The resume summary is just a “bridge” to get the hiring manager into your experience.

If I were writing my own career summary right now, I’d likely use one single paragraph packed with skills, accomplishments, and exactly why I’m ready to step into the job I’ve applied for and be successful!

Even for a manager resume summary, I recommend a very short length. However, if you’re changing careers, or you’re looking for jobs without any work experience , the summary section needs to stand on its own, and should be longer. That’s why some examples above are a bit longer.

Formatting Your Resume/CV Career Summary

You may have noticed a variety of different formats in the career summary examples above. There isn’t one “right” way to format this section on your resume or CV. However, I recommend either using one or two brief paragraphs, or combining a short sentence or paragraph with bullets. Avoid writing three or four long paragraphs with no special formatting like bullet points. That’s simply too much text for your summary section and will cause recruiters and hiring managers to skip over it in some cases.

Should You Include a Resume Objective?

You do not need to include an objective on your resume, and doing so can make your resume appear outdated. Use a resume summary instead of an objective. Follow the resume summary examples above and focus on discussing your skills, qualifications, and achievements, rather than stating your objective. Employers know that your objective is to obtain the position you’ve applied for, and the resume objective has no place on a modern resume/CV in today’s job market.

Examples of Bad Resume Summaries

Now that we’ve seen a few exemplary resume summaries, let’s look at some that you should avoid at all cost.

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors

“Experienced cashier who knows how to run the register cash. Responsible with the money and can talk with the customer. Knows when to stoc up the invenory and checks it all the time. Can count change and run credit card tranactions. Get the customer happy by good service. I am always cheerful and organized.”

Why this resume summary is bad:

If you read the summary carefully, you’ll notice several spelling errors. The words “stock,” “inventory,” and “transactions” are all spelled wrong. Grammatical errors make the summary choppy and difficult to follow (“Get the customer happy by good service”).  A summary like this probably won’t fly with a company looking for a detail-oriented cashier responsible for managing in-person sales.

2. Lacks Relevant Keywords

“Talented worker with experience managing a team of staff. Creative and responsible with knowledge of organizational processes. Can keep up with the busiest of environments. Stays focused when at work, ensuring prompt task completion. Dependable and willing to collaborate with a team to get things done.”  

In this example, the chef doesn’t use keywords relevant to cooking, restaurants, or kitchens. The summary is very generic and can apply to nearly any job. A manager who receives the application isn’t likely to understand what value the candidate can bring to the restaurant.  To fix the summary, the applicant must rewrite it to include relevant keywords and phrases. 

3. No Numbers to Quantify Achievements

“An experienced and hardworking manager ready to align procedures for maximum revenue and profits. Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in higher sales and better customer satisfaction. Collaborate well with sales team members, ensuring they have the resources and knowledge to support customer purchases and inquiries. Develop strong rapport with clients and maintain ongoing relationships.”

This isn’t a terrible summary for a sales manager, but it has room for improvement. For one, the first two sentences essentially duplicate each other, mentioning an aptitude for improving processes with the objective of higher sales. The other issue is a lack of quantifying achievements. 

The applicant mentions they have a proven record of increasing sales, but they could strengthen the summary by quantifying their results. For example, they might say, “Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in a 25% increase in sales over the past year.” The quantifier provides additional credibility. 

4. Not Targeting the Specific Job

“Looking for work in a role that requires great customer service, project management, and communication skills. Able to collaborate with people from diverse and varying backgrounds. Highly organized and reliable worker with a strong work ethic. Responsible and reliable worker you can count on.”

While the candidate lists various skills they have, including customer service and project management, there’s no indication of prior roles held or what position they’re applying for. The summary could apply to numerous positions in a variety of industries. To improve the resume summary, the applicant must specify the job they’re applying for and indicate their prior experience in a similar role, if they have any.

After You Start Getting Interviews, Make Sure to Take Advantage…

If you follow the advice above, you’ll have a great professional resume summary to make your qualifications stand out to employers. But landing the interview is only half the battle… So make sure you go into every interview ready to convince employers that they should hire you, too! If you write a great resume summary example that gets employers excited to interview you, they’re going to ask you questions like, “tell me about yourself” early in the interview to learn more about your background. So make sure you’re prepared with an answer.

I also recommend you review the top 20 interview questions and answers here.

Your resume caught their interest, so naturally, they’re going to follow up with a variety of questions to learn more about your professional background.

The bottom line is: A strong professional resume summary, followed up by other well-written resume sections will get you the interview, but your interview performance is what determines whether you get the job offer!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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I would recommend to customise the skills section of your resume, and ensure that it matches the job posting. The higher the number of phrases within the resume matching the job requirements the more are the chances that the recruiter will pick you for the job.

I just wanted to say, “thank you!”. This was very helpful. Instead of jumping from one website to the next there’s so much useful, relevant information right here.

Hi, I have been having trouble creating a resume as My old one is so long, I’ve worked for a government agency for the past 14 years and held multiple positions doing many different duties for each and now I have to relocate to another area where they do not have an agency like mine in my new area within a 3 hour drive, how can I squeeze all my experience and duties on one page and where do I even start, I’m so nervous, it’s been so long since I’ve attempted the job hunt. So I’m wondering, I do not want to cut anything out that may hurt my chances and I can’t afford to have my resume rewritten by a professional. Can you guide me as to where you think would be a good place to start, I’ve been staring at this laptop for weeks trying to decide on a resume template, there are so many. I thank you for your time and any input will help.

Hi, I am a new graduate and do not have any experience in my field which is Nursing. I want to apply for the jobs but I have no idea about what to mention in my resume.

Hi, this article should help with the resume summary, at least: https://careersidekick.com/summary-for-resume-no-experience/

Other than that, you need to put your academic experience. And internships/part-time jobs if you’ve had any.

Dear Biron,, Thanks for sharing the 10 examples of professional summaries in your article, and especially the reasons why they were considered to be good. However, as a HR professional, I would most likely skip over most of them and would not read much past the first or second sentence. The summaries were mostly too wordy and boring, and did not demonstrate ‘oomph’ at first cursory reading. Simply indicating certain skills or behaviors does not give an idea of the level of expertise, and could simply be wishful thinking on the part of the resume writer.

Just goes to show that there are many ways to see what makes a good summary.

I am a chemical engineer and project management professional with 15+years experience. My experience is between process engineering and project management . How can I marry the two in my profile summary?

It’s not about showing everything you’ve done. It’s about showing employers evidence you’ll succeed in their job. You can show a bit of both but focus heavily on what’s most relevant for the jobs you’re applying for right now. 80/20.

This was absolutely helpful and amazing! Thank you very much!

Hello, I am an active job seeker. I hold a law degree from a foreign country and currently in college for an associate degree. My question is, how do I blend both my foreign job experience with that of the United States in my resume. Thank you.

I’d put your work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent up top. That’s what I’d recommend for 95% of people actually. Then it doesn’t matter where you held each job.

And then in your Education section, I’d include your foreign degree and the current degree you’re pursuing in the US, too (for the US degree, you can say “in progress” or “graduating May 2019” for example).

I am 40 years old & B.A degree holder I have experience in many fields.I would like to join any one fields

I am a fresh graduate, who has five years teaching experience and some months customer service representative experience. Pls kindly assist me to put the resume summary together

I’m an active duty service member and finding in a little difficult creating a good transitional summary from 20 year profession in tactical communications to a drug and alcohol counselor. Do you have any recommendations how I should approach this? Any assistance would be helpful. Thanks

Great piece

How to write the CAREER ABSTRACT in resume for ware super visor retail business?

Just wanted to say thank you.Your advise and information was clear and easy to understand , sometimes there is nothing pertaining to what im looking fot in particular, buy you have sermed to cover everything I n a short quick easy to understand method.It will help tremendously.

Thanks! Glad to hear it helped :)

Very informational

What if you have work experience, but the job your going for(teachingeducation) has nothing to do with warehouse work? How should I build my resume?

In the summary, describe yourself and then say, “…looking to transition into ___” (the type of work you want to be doing now).

This is a bit like a resume “Objective”. I normally don’t recommend an Objective section (and I recommend a Summary section instead), however the one time an Objective does make sense is when you’re trying to change industries or make a big change in the type of role you have.

So that’s why my advice here might seem like I’m telling you to combine an Objective with your resume Summary.

Then “tailor” your previous work to be as relevant as possible. Even if you worked in a different industry you can still show things like leadership, accountability, progress/improvement, hard work, achieving goals, strong teamwork skills, etc. You can do all of that in your resume bullets and work history.

Don’t u have Resume Summary of legal secretary/legal assistant?

No, sorry about that. There are hundreds of different professions/job titles, and we aren’t able to include an example for every scenario out there. These resume summary examples are designed to give you a general idea of how to write yours.

The summaries listed are excellent example and have helped me develop a stand out summary for a new position.

Hello, I been trying to land the job of my dreams. I need help with my resume if i want the recruiters in airlines to notice me. I’ve applied before but haven’t had complete success to making it to a face-to Face Interview. It is a career change – yet i feel i am a great candidate bc i have had many customer service and I even attended an academy for that specific position. Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong on my resume ?

what if i never had a job experience?

Great question. If you don’t have any work experience, take one of the formats/examples above and put your accomplishments and qualifications from your academic studies.

Your headline could say: “Motivated Bio-Sciences Graduate With Expertise in ____”.

And then you might talk about accomplishments in school, group projects you worked on or led, etc.

Basically, when you have no work experience, your school/studies BECOMES your recent work. You should talk about that like it’s a job, because that’s the experience you do have.

really amazing article and too useful , thanks

Hi Mr. Clark, I have been out of the work force for about 18+years and I have been a small business owner for the same number of years. However, I want to go back to the work force. But my problem is that, I don’t know how to prepare my resume or resume summary statement. I had a degree in Communication,Arts and Sciences and a postgraduate degree in Public Administration. I’m a bit confused as to how to incorporate all these experiences into my resume. Please can you help?

Hi Dorothy, I can recommend a professional resume writer if you want. But they’re typically not cheap, so it’s something you’d have to be willing to invest in. If not, there’s a lot of free info online about how to “tailor” your resume for specific jobs. I can’t help one-on-one unfortunately, but I’d recommend thinking about which type of jobs you want, and think of what experience you have that is most relevant. that’s what to put on your resume. Your resume isn’t only about you, it’s about them – what do they want/need? (if you want to get a ton of interviews, that’s how to do it :) ).

Can I have a professional resume writer?

I use a similar format when writing my opening statement for my coverletter. How do you recommend differentiating the two? Or is it ok to use largely the same language?

I think it’s okay to use something similar. I might be more brief in the cover letter… it needs to be about them just as much as it’s about you. Whereas the resume is all about you, at least in the summary section. (The later sections should still be tailored to THEIR needs..)

Struggling to write a Summary Statement for a Secretary/Administrative Assistant position. I have 15 years government experience but have been away from the government since 9/1993 and have spent 15 years as a Substitute Teacher after taking off for 10 years to raise my children.

Hiya! I am a mother of three attempting to return to the workforce. I have been a stay at mom for about 13 years, so I have a (large) gap in my employment history; which doesn’t look great. I have a college education and have obtained a few certifications whilst not employed, plus many volunteer hours. I know that I should probably use a functional resume format. Would love some advice on what I should include in my summary statement.

Hi Juniper,

I rarely like functional resumes, but it might be worth trying. I’d “split-test” it (a marketing term). Create two resume styles, send out 50% one way, 50% the other way, and track results for a week.

I’d treat the resume summary statement just like any other resume. Highlight your skills and past wins/accomplishments.

how do i explain long term gaps in employment? leave them out?

Hi Paulette,

Don’t mention them on a resume summary. But do mention the gaps on a cover letter or lower down on the resume. Here’s an article on how to explain gaps in employment:

https://careersidekick.com/explaining-gaps-in-employment/

I am student in civil engineering field. Have 1.5 yrs of work ex. How should i structure my resume. Thanks.

Hello My name is Shataka and I’m a current job seeker trying to land my dream job as a Counselor. I have Master degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. My experience lies in many different fields. I’m currently a Substance Abuse Counselor, with a teaching background and over 5 years of social service experience. I guess my question is how would I sum up all my experience to help me find a job as a Counselor.

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How To Write an Executive Summary

A guide, with clear examples, to writing an executive resume summary that gets interviews. Targeted at senior job seekers, written by hiring managers.

2 years ago   •   5 min read

This is part 4 of our how to write an executive and senior-level resume guide. Navigate through different parts of the guide:

•  Part 1: Overview, templates and key tips •  Part 2: Executive resume summary [ you are here! ] •  Part 3: Work experience and bullet points on executive resumes •  Part 4: Skills section on executive resumes •   Education, optional sections, and additional executive resume tips

An executive summary is a short section at the top of your resume briefly outlining your key skills and experience. Despite the name, the purpose of an executive summary is not to summarize the information already in your resume, but to provide additional context about the scope and relevance of your accomplishments.

Key tips to take into account for your resume's executive summary

Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your executive summary:

• Keep it short — no more than 100 words or 3-5 lines
• Lead with the job title and mention how many years of experience you have in the role or industry
• Be specific — use hard numbers and metrics to let your accomplishments speak for themselves

The point of an executive summary is to put the most important information about your candidacy upfront, where it’s more likely to catch a recruiter’s eye. Think of it like an elevator pitch for a resume — instead of scattering details about your expertise over 2-3 pages of a resume, the executive summary provides that information all in one place for easy reference.

How to write an executive summary for your resume

• Lead with a job title that's specific to the role you want. e.g. Marketing Director or CMO if you are going for an executive marketing role.
• Highlight 2-3 of your biggest accomplishments from your career that show your seniority and impact at your previous companies.
• Include metrics and hard numbers to give additional context. Try to relate your accomplishments to your previous company's bottom line (e.g. increase in revenue, decrease in costs)
• Run your resume through a resume checker which will check your resume's summary and tell you how it scores.

Find out if your executive summary is strong enough

Executive resumes often follow different rules to that of more junior-level job seekers. For example, most entry-level to junior-level resumes are not expected to have a resume summary , but for an executive it is important to have a summary at the top of your resume that highlights your experience and expertise. A good way to check if your executive summary highlights the right accomplishments is to upload it to the tool below — it’ll tell you if your resume has shown enough quantifiable accomplishments, leadership and management skills and other skills fit for executive roles.

Tailor your summary to the roles you want

You also want to make sure you’re tailoring your summary to the company and position you’re applying for. Hiring managers are picky about applicants who apply to any and all executive positions, so make sure your summary focuses on the specific role. For example:

• If you’re applying for a financial role (e.g. CFO), highlight major finance projects
• If you’re applying for a technical role (e.g. CIO or CTO), include tech-heavy accomplishments
• If you’re applying to larger companies (e.g. Fortune 500), emphasize big structural projects
• If you’re applying to startups , focus on projects you took from the idea stage through to launch

Executive summaries should also be more detailed than a standard resume summary . You can use a handful of bullet points to emphasize your most noteworthy accomplishments . These can include highlights from your professional experience, qualifications , awards, or anything else that speaks to why you’d be the ideal candidate for the job.

An easy way to check if you have tailored your resume to the executive position you’re applying to, is to use the tool below to search for the role and it’ll give you a list of skills and keywords that executive recruiters look for. For example, search for a job like Chief Marketing Officer, or other executive positions and the tool will provide a list of skills relevant to the job.

Examples of executive summaries

Here are two templates that senior-level job seekers find a lot of success using for their executive summaries:

Template 1:

[Executive] with experience leading [industry] businesses [describe size of businesses]. [Describe impactful element of role, with specific numbers]. Proven experience [mention 2-3 skills that are relevant to the job]. [Optional: Describe relevant educational certification/accomplishment, or one significant accomplishment in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric].

Here's the template in action:

Template 2:

[Chief Executive Officer] with [X] years' experience [doing x and y; brief description of the types of companies you've worked at; if you worked at big brand names, mention them here]. Results include: • [Bullet point achievement in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric] • [Bullet point achievement in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric]

Here's an example of this template:

Fortune 500 Executive with 25 years' experience working in a range of executive leadership roles, including SVP Marketing and Executive Director of Marketing, for technology businesses with annual sales ranging from $250 million to $2 billion. Selected achievements include:  •  Acted as lead advisor and strategist to 5+ Mergers & Acquisitions deals resulting in $80M ROI.  •  Led sales and marketing strategy behind Company A’s 10X growth from $120 million to $1.4 billion.  •  Managed large teams of 50-100 people to launch 3 new software projects which generated over 15M in recurring revenue.

On a resume, it might look like this:

Here's a second example executive summary for a senior level resume:

The executive summary is also an ideal place to include important keywords. Create a headline that includes your core competencies and insert it on a single line below the job title.

Next up : Work experience and bullet points on executive resumes

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Steps on How to Write an Effective Executive Summary for Your Resume

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Statistics prove that recruiters spend only 7.4 seconds initially scanning your resume. In this window, you need to quickly hook the recruiter’s interest and make them want to read the rest of your resume . As a seasoned executive, you can do that by writing a compelling executive summary for your resume.

But how do you exactly distill your experiences, achievements, and expertise into a concise executive summary? This guide will help you.

6 steps on writing an executive summary for your resume

The summary for your executive resume serves as a snapshot of your qualifications, skills, and achievements. It gives employers and recruiters a quick overview of your professional background and what you bring to the table.

Here are tips on how you can craft your executive resume summary:

Step 1. Identify your value proposition

One of the key elements of a powerful executive summary for your resume is identifying your unique value proposition. This is what sets you apart from other candidates and makes you the ideal fit for the job.

To identify your unique value proposition, conduct a thorough analysis of the job and industry you are applying for. Understand the needs, desires, and pain points of your target company and identify the gaps that you can fill.

Next, think about your own background, skills, and experiences. What unique perspectives, ideas, or expertise do you bring to the table? How can you leverage your strengths to create value for the organization?

Step 2. Start with your professional title and years of experience

Begin your executive summary with a clear and concise statement of your professional title. This should be a brief description of your role or position, such as:

• Senior Marketing Manager
• Experienced Financial Analyst
• Chief Operations Officer

Next, include the number of years of experience you have in your field. This will provide the recruiter with an understanding of your level of expertise and establish your credibility.

For example, your executive resume summary could start like this:

Experienced Sales Director with over 10 years of proven success in driving revenue growth and exceeding sales targets.

Step 3. Highlight your most relevant skills and achievements

Start by identifying the key skills that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

These could include:

• Technical skills
• Leadership abilities
• Project management expertise
• Any other skills that are highly valued in your industry

Next, highlight and quantify your most significant achievements that demonstrate your ability to deliver results and make a positive impact.

• Successful projects
• Revenue growth
• Cost savings
• Process improvements
• Any other accomplishments that showcase your capabilities

For example, you could mention something like:

Proven track record of driving revenue growth through strategic sales planning and effective team leadership. Achieved a 25% increase in sales revenue in the first year of implementing a new sales strategy.

Step 4. Demonstrate your impact on your previous roles

Doing this will provide concrete evidence of your capabilities and showcase your ability to drive results.

Start by identifying the key responsibilities and achievements from your previous roles that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Quantify the impact of your achievements whenever possible. Use numbers, percentages, or other metrics to show the tangible results you have achieved.

Led a cross-functional team to successfully launch a new product, resulting in a 50% increase in market share and $1 million in additional revenue.

Step 5. Include relevant industry-specific keywords

When you submit a job application, it goes into an applicant tracking system (ATS). This is software that most companies use to streamline their hiring process and go through hundreds of resumes.

Through the ATS, recruiters can search for top candidates based on keywords such as job titles, job-specific hard skills , soft skills , and other industry-specific keywords.

You may be the best person for the job but, if your resume lacks the right keywords, it may not appear in search results.

Here’s how to know which keywords to include:

1. Study the job description

Carefully study the job description and list down all the relevant keywords mentioned, especially those that are mentioned more than once. This could include skills, certifications , software, or tools.

Here’s an example of a job description for a Fintech API Developer with some keywords.

2. Incorporate the keywords into your resume summary

Once you’ve noted the relevant keywords, you need to work them into your executive summary. Here’s an example:

Experienced Fintech API Developer adept at creating and maintaining top-tier APIs for fintech applications. Skilled in collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify API requirements and enhance functionality. Proficient in conducting thorough API testing, debugging, and troubleshooting, staying updated on industry trends for continuous improvement.

To make sure you don’t miss out on keywords recruiters would look for, you can use tools such as Jobscan’s resume scanner . It quickly matches your resume to the job description and gives you a list of keywords you need to include in your resume.

Step 6. Tailor your executive summary to align with the job or industry you’re applying for

You must tailor your executive summary for different jobs or industries. This is crucial to ensure that it resonates with employers.

For example, if you are applying for a job in the tech sector, the summary for your executive resume should highlight your technical skills. It should also show your experience with relevant technologies and any notable projects or achievements.

Each industry has its own expectations and requirements. Tailoring your summary to match them can give you a competitive edge.

You can scan your resume into Jobscan to see whether it matches the job you are applying for. All you have to do is upload your resume and job description and click ‘Scan.’

Jobscan will then generate a report to show you how well your resume matches the job and a list of tips you can follow to improve your resume.

Executive summary template

Here’s a simple template you can use when writing your own executive resume summary.

[Your Target Professional Title] with [Years of Experience] years of experience in [Expertise/Industry]. Proven track record in [Top Achievement 1] and [Top Achievement 2]. Skilled in [Skill 1], [Skill 2], and [Skill 3]. Known for [Unique Value or Strength or Top Quantifiable Achievement].

10 examples of effective executive resume summary statements

Here are examples of compelling executive summary statements to help you craft your own. Remember to tailor your resume summary to the specific role you are applying for to increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and landing interviews.

Seasoned Marketing Executive with 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Spearheaded innovative marketing campaigns that elevated brand visibility and doubled customer engagement. Proficient in market analysis, brand positioning, and digital marketing strategies, driving a 30% increase in market share within two years.

Veteran Financial Strategist with over a decade of expertise in investment banking and wealth management. Led initiatives that optimized investment portfolios and generated substantial returns for clients. Skilled in financial modeling, risk assessment, and market research, resulting in a 25% increase in client assets under management.

Strategic Operations Leader with 20 years of experience in the logistics sector. Pioneered operational efficiencies that streamlined supply chain processes and reduced costs by 25%. Proficient in supply chain optimization, process reengineering, and strategic planning, achieving a 40% improvement in overall productivity.

Innovative Tech Architect with 12 years of experience in software development and IT solutions. Engineered scalable software solutions and led cross-functional teams in delivering cutting-edge projects. Expertise in full-stack development, cloud computing, and agile methodologies, accelerating project delivery timelines by 20%.

Dynamic Construction Manager with 15 years of experience in the real estate sector. Oversaw the successful completion of multimillion-dollar projects, exceeding quality standards and client expectations. Skilled in project planning, risk mitigation, and stakeholder communication.

Strategic Chief Finance Officer with two decades of experience in corporate finance and strategic planning. Directed financial operations and implemented cost-saving measures that enhanced company profitability by 25%. Proficient in financial modeling, budgeting, and risk management, driving sustainable growth and expansion initiatives.

Seasoned Legal Advisor with 12 years of experience in corporate law and compliance. Negotiated complex contracts and navigated regulatory landscapes, ensuring legal compliance and mitigating risks. Expert in intellectual property rights, regulatory affairs, and corporate governance, safeguarding company assets and interests.

Experienced Healthcare Administrator with 15 years of expertise in healthcare management and patient care. Directed operational improvements that enhanced service quality and patient satisfaction scores by 20%. Skilled in healthcare regulations, budgeting, and staff development, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

Strategic Supply Chain Executive with 20 years of expertise in global logistics and procurement. Implemented supply chain strategies that reduced lead times and inventory costs by 30%. Skilled in vendor management, strategic sourcing, and distribution optimization, ensuring seamless operations and on-time delivery in complex supply chain networks.

Innovative Product Development Executive with 18 years of experience in the consumer goods sector. Led cross-functional teams in launching market-disrupting products that generated $50 million in annual revenue. Skilled in product lifecycle management, market research, and trend analysis, driving continuous innovation and market leadership.

Check out more resume summary examples in this guide . You can also check our comprehensive guide on writing an ATS resume and our library of resume examples and templates .

Use Jobscan’s free ATS-friendly resume templates and start building your resume that gets noticed by recruiters!

Key takeaways

Here are important pointers to remember when writing your executive summary:

• Your executive summary should grab the recruiter’s attention and show what you bring to the table.
• The purpose of an executive summary in your resume is to highlight your key skills, achievements, and qualifications in a concise and compelling manner.
• To write a powerful executive summary, you need to showcase your unique value proposition.
• Enhance your executive summary by integrating keywords for ATS optimization.
• Tailor your resume summary to the specific job you are applying for.

Frequently asked questions

An executive resume summary is a key section at the top of your resume. It gives a high-level overview of your qualifications and achievements. It serves as an introduction to the rest of your resume and should grab the reader’s attention and entice them to continue reading.

The goal of an executive summary in your resume is to quickly grab the recruiter’s attention. It gives employers a compelling overview of your qualifications and achievements. It also shows the value you bring to the table.

Here’s a list of what to include in your executive summary: 1. Professional title 2. Years of experience 3. Unique value proposition 4. Key skills and expertise 5. Quantifiable achievements 6. Industry-specific keywords

The length of your executive resume summary should be concise. It should typically range from 3 to 5 sentences or around 100-150 words. The goal is to provide enough information to pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to read further without overwhelming them with excessive details.

While it may be tempting to use the same executive summary for every job application, it is crucial to tailor it to each specific opportunity. Customization shows your dedication and commitment to the specific role.

To make your executive summary stand out, highlight your unique value proposition, competitive advantage, and impactful differentiation. Use specific examples and quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your success and expertise.

If you don’t have executive-level experience yet, don’t worry. Instead, here’s what you should do: 1. Highlight your career progression, skill set, potential, and adaptability. 2. Emphasize your achievements and responsibilities in previous roles that demonstrate your leadership abilities and strategic thinking. 3. Showcase your transferable skills and ability to learn and adapt quickly. By demonstrating your potential and showcasing your relevant experiences, you can show recruiters why you are ready to take on an executive-level role.

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