Photo credit: Morillo
If you had 30 seconds alone with a hiring manager from your dream company, what would you say to them? How would you get them interested in your skills? The resumé summary is a lot like that. It is also called a summary statement, career or executive summary. It gives hiring managers a glimpse into the jobseeker’s expertise.
It is recommended that jobseekers with limited or entry level experience shouldn’t use this summary in their CV. Instead they can opt for a career/resume objective. Those who have more experience/skills in their field are best suited. It appears at the beginning of your resumé to highlight your unique qualities. Many hiring managers read through hundreds of resumés in a day, a strong summary can enhance your resumé to stand out from the pack. What do you need to write a great summary statement?
1. Sell yourself
Begin by stating who you are, what you do and your level of experience. The last thing you want is to appear underqualified. So, ensure you tailor your resumé to the specific job offer. It increases your relevance for the role in the company. An example can be, “Self-motivated and personable customer service professional with more than years of experience…”
2. Use keywords
Find words that describe your strong traits. Don’t put random things there. Use words that are specific to meet the employer’s needs as outlined in the job offer. Give details that will make an impact and make them shortlist you for an interview. You can mention numbers or percentages to quantify your achievements e.g. “As a business writer for Forbes, increased employees’ understanding of key metrics by 25%.”
3. Keep it short
The summary shouldn’t be a long paragraph. Remember that you are trying to make a lasting first impression and the appearance of your summary statement matters. It needs to be three to four sentences long. Keep it brief and clear by examining what the employer wants to achieve and mention how your experience will help get them where they want.
Do not forget to mention and describe your type of disability, to let employers know that you have a disability and so they can adapt their application and recruitment processes for you.