Resume Writing - Importance of a Professional Summary


The Summary is the preview of your entire resume. This may be be the only part that an interviewer or employer might read for shortlisting your resume. This may be the only section an employer reads prior to the interview. Gear up the summary to be the show window where the goodies are lined up to entice the person into entering the shop. Include your professional characteristics like highly energetic, an ability to solve complex problems, a dynamic team player, exceptional interpersonal skills, committment to excellence etc. Describing your professioanl qualities with power words.

A well written summary should include:

A powerul phrase describing your job or profession
A broad statement of expertise
A stement your your skills
A view of multi skills you possess
Range of experience and environment worked in
Well documented accomplishments
List of awards, recognitions, promotions, commendations on superior performance
An outstanding personal trait
One sentence describing your objectives

A good summary may include all of the above or some of these elements. Whatever elements you decide to include, ensure that it does not run into large paragraphs. The entire summary may at best be in 3 to 4 sentence. Write and rewrite your summary to reach a perfect statement without nnecessary words. Check a sample summary below.

Export/Import Management professional with over 10 years in the International trade and global franchise development. Highly proficient in structuring international joint ventures, quickly evaluating international procurement sources, and finacing imports and exports. Comfortable working in different cultural and ethnic environments with multiple language skills.

Note how quickly the summary establishes the experience, job objective, skills in the specific job function, expertise and additional skills of language and interpersonal skills. All these would be further supplemented in the body of the resume.

R.G. Srinivasan is a Certified Trainer, Writer and Author. He also writes a regular blog on home-business resources which you may check out at http://www.home-businessresources.blogspot.com for online marketing tips, resources, opportunities and online promotional strategies