Need Help With The Summary?
One of the more challenging pieces to a resume is the resume summary section. Especially since this is the first thing the client reads, having a bulky summary can be a big risk: Higher risk of spelling/grammatical errors, run-on sentences, phrasing that is too generic, phrasing that is too specific.
I put together example resume summaries below that I have used in the past. You'll notice that they are very close variations of the same formula: 3 sentences that start with common phrases that I recycle.
However, (and this is important) I use specific content related to the client's resume experience and career goals. Please review these examples and try to implement similar strategies for your summary paragraphs.
The hard part is making the summary general enough so it can apply to multiple roles, but specific enough so that it sounds like the client and their career goals.
Example Summary #1
Analytical and innovative project management professional with interest in auditing and advisory services. Highly adept people manager (including global/remote teams) with comprehensive educational background spanning international finance, audit and assurance procedures, and corporate reporting. Proven success liaising communications and project goals between high-level clients, various project teams, and executive stakeholders.
Example Summary #2
Well-rounded, analytical leader with a strong work ethic a passion for technology/process improvement and experience withmultimillion dollar/multi year IT Project Management initiatives. Proven track record of successful global program execution with large firms ($1B - $80B in revenue). Exposure to a broad variety of business areas including strategic planning, management consulting, finance & accounting shared services, and transformation and outsourcing.
Example Summary #3
Aspiring marketing professional and a trilingual executive assistant with corporate experience in document preparation, agenda/scheduling, and database administration. Proven problem-solver and a promoter of high-level customer service. Reliable with meeting deadlines in high stress client facing environment.
Example Summary #4
A dynamic and enterprising sales/business development professional with experience in mergers, franchise sales, sales management, sales training, financial planning, commercial asset management and acquisitions. Proven success negotiating exclusive agreements with leading companies nationwide, managing cross-functional teams, and managing P&L/budget to promote growth. Experienced liaising strong relationships executive stakeholders and driving innovative solutions for high-profile clients/accounts.
Example Summary #5
Detail oriented pharmacist with a background in high volume pharmacy and experience fostering collaborative relationships with other health care professionals. Proven ability in improving patient care and workflow efficiencies through hiring, training, and evaluating staff. Effective liaison successful with building relationships between health care professionals and staff to promote quality patient care.
Example Summary #6
Program Management: Oversee execution of up to 12 simultaneous projects, including timelines, milestones, escalations, resource staffing, budgets, content development/analysis for quarterly executive quarterly business reviews
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Recovered $40M for a Fortune 10 client by performing a procurement analysis, working with the partner’s finance team and supporting client’s legal team in the contract renegotiation
Client Management: Develop new channel program for a Fortune 100 client with limited oversight by leveraging previous industry knowledge. Iterate on test plan to incorporate learnings and pilot program in three countries
Global Leadership: Led global projects and teams across 16 countries, including USA, Canada, China, South Korea, India, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Poland, and Israel
Example Summary #7
Highly motivated and sharply focused technical business leader with strong history of success in creating best-of-breed fully-integrated solutions, including software development, database design, firmware, hardware design and development and overall project leadership and oversight. An accomplished Information Technology expert with a track record of creating and delivering system solutions for multiple industries’ enterprises.
Example Summary #8
Defense-side Litigation Attorney with a background in representing employers in wage & hour class actions and single-plaintiff matters including: discrimination, harassment & retaliation, wage & hour class actions, case strategy & development, and draft & review employment contracts. Provider of advice and counsel to clients regarding leaves of absence, terminations, reductions in force, the WARN Act, wage and hour issues, and various employment matters. Experienced in drafting/updating employment resources, employee handbooks, arbitration agreement, policies, and new hire materials.
