Just as if there is a rule that says a cookie eaten has no calories if it is crumbled, there ought have be a rule that states a résumé without a Summary (Profile or Highlights of Qualifications) section is not really a résumé. Regrettably 95% of the thousands of résumés that I have viewed during my career have not had a summary statement positioned at the top of their résumé.
The summary section should be the first section on your résumé following your personal information. A summary section delivers an impact right at the top of your résumé—it’s the employer’s first impression of you. It is the Summary that causes employers to say, “We have to meet this person.” Including a summary statement on your résumé helps you shine above the competition. Ensures that you phrase the skills and qualifications to meet the employer’s needs rather than your own goals.
The summary statements (should) complement your skills to the targeted job description. Your summary statement should be customized to fit each position that you pursue. Make adjustments on your summary to fit the position. Change your statements to match your skills to the position you seek. Your summary will not meet the employer’s need if you wrote your summary in advance of reading the job advertisement.
A clearly focused summary differentiates you from other candidates. Sadly however those résumés that do include a summary, a huge majority of these summaries missed their mark. Quite frequently those job seekers with a summary fail to tweak the summary to match the job announcement. This generally translates to your résumé becoming two points in the office ‘basket’ ball game.
Elements of the Summary Statement
Summary statements do not begin with action verbs. These statements are not the same as the ‘Task Statements’ that you position under the employer’s name on a reverse chronological résumé or the statements that are listed in your skill groups on a combination functional reverse chronological résumé. Summary statements begin with nouns and adjectives to promote your skills and abilities.
Summary statements can be written in paragraph form, or as bulleted sentences. Summary paragraphs should consist of approximately 75 words. Formatting your summary paragraph in full justification at the top of your résumé has a nice appeal. This is the only time you should format a section on your résumé in full justification. (Full justification (or fully justified) aligns the left and right edges of text with the margins. For more information, consult your preferred formatting reference.)
Bulleted summaries typically comprise five, single-line statements. If you utilize bulleted statements, their length MUST extend across the page—four or five words (1/2 line) usually indicate a weak statement. On the other hand do not allow your bulleted statements to extend to a second line (for example, with one or two words dangling). This reflects poor planning. It is like an accountant being a penny off in the checking book or on a financial statement. Revise such statements so they fit on a single line.
Think of your summary statement as an abbreviated résumé. It should be able to stand on its own, and the reader must be able to connect you to the position advertised. If you cannot give your résumé summary a resounding WOW, it is not ready yet for publication.
[Note: Not every résumé requires an Objective but every résumé calls for a Summary. If you include an “Objective” on your résumé, ensure that a “Highlights or Summary of Qualifications” follows just below the “Objective.”]
