Your professional summary is your resume's first impression, your chance to captivate potential employers from the get-go. It's the section where you introduce yourself and highlight what makes you a standout candidate. To make the most of this prime real estate, follow these tips to create a powerful and attention-grabbing professional summary. Most resumes for mid-career professionals (at least 5 years of post-graduate work experience) should have one!
1. Begin with a Strong Title
Start your professional summary with a clear and compelling title. Use keywords relevant to your profession or industry, which immediately signal to employers what you bring to the table. For example, if you're an HR leader, start with "Human Resource Leader."
2. List Your Key Highlights
Under your title, create a bullet-point list of 3-5 key highlights or descriptors that define your professional identity. Use adjectives, achievements, or expertise areas that set you apart. Think about the strengths that make you uniquely qualified for the position.
3. Quantify Your Experience
In the following sentences, provide some quantifiable information about your experience. How many years have you been in your field? What specific achievements or milestones have you reached? For instance, "Dynamic and Strategic Human Resource leader with 10 years of experience."
4. Showcase Your Expertise
Highlight your strengths and areas of expertise. This is your chance to let employers know what you're exceptionally good at. Use strong, action-oriented words to convey your skills and accomplishments.
5. Mention Specific Achievements
Provide examples of your achievements that illustrate your abilities and potential contributions. Talk about how you've made an impact in your previous roles. Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments.
6. Make It Specific and Relevant
Tailor your professional summary to the specific job you're applying for. Use keywords from the job description, and align your achievements with the company's needs values.
7. Include Your Personal Strengths
Integrate your personal strengths into your professional summary. Strengths give employers insight into your unique skills and how you can contribute to the workplace. (Need help identifying your unique strengths? Check out Strengths Coaching)
8. Keep It Concise
Brevity is key. Your professional summary should be concise, typically spanning 3-5 bullet points. Employers want to quickly grasp your qualifications, so be succinct and to the point.
9. Edit and Revise
Once you have written your professional summary, revise and edit it. Make sure it's clear, free of grammatical errors, and that it effectively represents your skills, achievements, and personal strengths.
Remember, your professional summary is your first chance to make a strong impression. Craft it to showcase your unique strengths, number of years in the industry, and how you can be a valuable asset to the organization you're applying to. Keep it action-oriented and focused on the value you bring to the table. With a compelling professional summary, your resume is sure to stand out from the crowd.
Check out these 3 samples below:
DEDICATED EDUCATOR
Passionate Classroom Leader • Student-Centered Instructor • Curriculum Innovator
• Committed and passionate educator with over 10 years of teaching experience
• Recognized for creating engaging and inclusive learning environments
• Skilled in developing and implementing student-centered instructional strategies
• Experienced curriculum innovator, adapting lessons to meet diverse student needs
MARKETING STRATEGIST
Results-Driven Innovator • Creative Ideator • Digital Marketing Expert
• Dynamic and creative Marketing Strategist with 5 years of experience
• Proven track record of aligning marketing strategies with business goals, driving growth, and increasing ROI
• Expert in creating innovative and data-driven marketing campaigns that deliver measurable results
• Adept at optimizing digital marketing channels, including SEO, social media, and email marketing
• Strong communicator, collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve marketing objectives
FUNDRAISING DIRECTOR
Visionary Fundraising Strategist • Financial Growth Catalyst • Donor Engagement Expert
• Innovative Fundraising Director with 15 years of experience
• Strategic partner aligning fundraising strategies with organizational goals to drive financial growth
• Results-focused change catalyst, delivering transformative fundraising campaigns and donor outreach
• Globally recognized for empowering high-impact fundraising teams that are responsive to the organization's financial objectives
• Inclusive donor engagement leader, acknowledged for building strong relationships and instilling a philanthropic mindset
By: Clare Feiner
Clare is a Career Coach, Certified Professional Resume Writer and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach who empowers her clients to make their best career move. Her background includes 10+ years of coaching students and adults of all ages in career development, an M.S. in Applied Psychology, with a focus on Counseling and a B.S. in Business Administration. Clare infuses a strengths-based, positive psychology coaching framework with the C&C Empowerment Coaching model, and individualizes each session based on clients needs.