Here’s How to Write the Perfect Resume Summary
Posted April 16, 2014 & filed under Job Search, Resume
With the idea of the six second rule looming over you, writing the perfect resume summary can be a stressful chore. You only have a handful of seconds to convince the hiring manager to keep reading your resume, and each one of them is crucial to your chances of getting the job.
But writing a good resume summary is likely different from anything you have ever written before. It requires your writing to be as brief as it is potent.
Resume Summary vs. Objective Statement
The first thing you can do to improve your resume summary is to remember that you are not writing an objective statement. Objective statements are dated resume openings that do not showcase your worth to a company. Your objective is to obtain a job, which the hiring manager already knows. He or she is reading your resume, after all.
Banish the words “objective statement” from your resume for good.
It’s not about what you want
It’s about what you can do. Your resume summary should sum up all the incredible skills you can bring to this particular company. You are essentially tasked with answering the question, “Why should I hire you?” in as few words as possible.
So make them count.
Speak directly to the company’s interests
Knowing what the company values in a candidate is the most important aspect to consider when writing your resume summary. So do your research. Read up on the company’s past projects and what went into completing them. Then, make a list of the most relevant skills and certifications that make you the most valuable asset to the company.
Writing the summary
So why should the company hire you? This is not the time to list all of your best achievements or skills. That takes up far too much space (and is what the rest of your resume is for). A powerful opening statement creates an aura of interest and intrigue in the rest of your resume, so make a bold statement – in one or two sentences – that shows the most valuable thing you can bring to the company.
From there, it is up to your skills, achievements, and work experience to back up this claim.
By Kevin Withers
