How to Write a Clear Resume Summary

This weekend, I reviewed 32 resumes from job seekers in my LinkedIn network. These weren’t candidates applying to my Comcast roles. They were people who simply needed help…  so I did the reviews on my own time. Here’s what I found: A few were excellent and didn’t need a single edit. (Bravo to each of you 👏) About a dozen needed minor tweaks: clearer accomplishments, stronger summaries, or trimming very old roles that could invite age bias (yes, unfortunately that’s still a thing). The rest? They all had something in common: These job seekers weren’t getting any interviews after months of applying. After 20+ years in recruiting, that’s a big red flag that there’s an issue with the resume itself… not your worth, not your potential. Most of those resumes had the same two problems: 🔎 Problem #1: No profile summary or a generic objective Many resumes jumped straight into experience or had an objective like: "Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills…” In today’s market, that’s not helping you. Your profile summary is the cover letter of the 3rd millennium. It’s the first place a recruiter’s eyes land. It should: Tell me who you are. Highlight what you do best. Point to the value you bring. Think: 3–5 hard-hitting lines that make me want to keep reading. “Senior Sales Leader with 8+ years driving multimillion-dollar growth in B2B telecom. Known for turning underperforming territories into top producers through data-driven strategy, coaching, and relationship-building.” That kind of summary gets my attention. 📄 Problem #2: The resume read like a job description If your bullets look like they were copy/pasted from your posting, you’re not alone, but it’s hurting you. Recruiters don’t just want to know what you were responsible for. We want to know what happened because you were there. Instead of: “Responsible for managing a sales territory and meeting monthly quotas.” Try: “Grew territory revenue by 32% in 12 months by rebuilding the pipeline, re-engaging dormant accounts, and launching targeted outreach campaigns.” See the difference? One sounds like a task. The other sounds like impact. Impact is what gets you to the interview stage. If you’ve been applying for months with no callbacks, please hear this: It doesn’t always mean you’re not qualified. It often means your resume isn’t telling your story in a way that recruiters and hiring managers can quickly see your value. Start by: Adding a clear, compelling profile summary at the top and rewriting your bullets to focus on impact, not duties. Your resume is not a placeholder. It’s your introduction. If this resonated, share it with a friend who’s been stuck in the “no interview” loop and if you’d like more behind-the-scenes tips from a recruiter’s perspective, let me know in the comments. Rooting for all of you! Your Favorite Recruiter

Looking to make your resume shine and grab attention? With over a decade of recruitment experience and having reviewed nearly 250,000 resumes while working for industry giants like Amazon, Accenture (Avanade), Cognizant, and various startups through my agency, Proven Patterns, I’ve seen what truly makes a resume stand out. Here are some top tips to help you create a powerful resume that will leave a lasting impression: ☑ Keep It Concise: Aim for 2-3 page resume when possible. Focus on your most relevant experiences and achievements without overwhelming the reader. ☑ Tailor for Each Job: Customize your resume for every position you apply for. Incorporate keywords from the job description and highlight skills and experiences that match the role. If you don't have enough time at least match the resume summary section with the job description. ☑ Showcase Achievements: Use specific numbers and examples to quantify your accomplishments. Instead of saying "improved sales," say "boosted sales by 20% within six months." ☑ Professional Format: Opt for a clean, professional layout with consistent fonts and spacing. Save the flashy graphics for creative fields. ☑ Include a Strong Summary: Start with a compelling summary that highlights your key qualifications and career goals. Make it engaging and tailored to the job you're targeting. ☑ Highlight Skills: Clearly list your core skills and competencies. Be honest and focus on those that are directly relevant to the position. ☑ Proofread Carefully: Ensure your resume is free from typos and grammatical errors. A polished resume reflects attention to detail and professionalism. ☑ Add a Personal Touch: Include a brief section on your interests or volunteer work. This can help convey your personality and values beyond your professional skills. Your resume is your first impression; make it count! 🚀 If you found these tips useful, please repost ♻ and follow me, Kumud Deepali R. for more insights and advice on jobs and career!

Here's a common mistake I see on resumes: The Professional Summary is too long. Our eyes glaze over big blocks of text. And if you're a recruiter, scanning hundreds of resumes at a time, those long paragraphs at the top of a resume can be especially exhausting. If possible, keep your Professional Summary limited to three or four lines (or two to three sentences). Here's a template that will help: Sentence #1: "[Award-winning / Accomplished / Experienced] job title with x years of experience doing this kind of work for these kinds of companies." Ex: "Digital marketing professional with 10+ years of experience leading marketing teams and creating content for small businesses and Fortune 500 companies." Sentence #2: "Skilled in / known to / recognized for these top skills from the job description." Ex: "Known to increase engagement 20% and online sales 10% through targeted ad campaigns." Sentence #3 (OPTIONAL): "Looking to do ... then describe the job." EXAMPLE: 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬 "Award-winning digital marketing professional with 10 years of experience boosting social media engagement and increasing sales through targeted outreach campaigns for small and mid-size firms. Proven expertise in 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘀, 𝗦𝗘𝗢, 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀, and 𝗛𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁. Looking to join an eCommerce startup and build innovative marketing strategies for new product launches." Ultimately, keep your Professional Summary RELEVANT to the job description. Use the keywords and highlight the skills the job requires. To sum up: • Keep the Professional Summary short • Keep the Professional Summary relevant PS: Follow up the Professional Summary section with a "Career Highlights" section that lists bullet points of your most impressive accomplishments. Try to lead with numbers and use the RESULT by ACTION format. EXAMPLE: 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦  • 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟬% by creating a popular referral program  • 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝟭𝟱𝘅 in six months through strategic storytelling and user testimonials  • 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟬% by conceiving and implementing a new CRM system I'm rooting for you. 👊 ♻ Please repost if you think this advice will help others. ***** Hi, have we met? I'm Emily and I'm on a mission to get the #GreenBannerGang back to work, one actionable step at a time. #jobsearch #jobhunt #jobseekers

Last week, I reviewed a lot of resumes, and I noticed most didn’t have a summary section. The one that did? It was way too long. The summary section is one of the most important parts of your resume - it’s the first thing recruiters and hiring managers read. Keep it concise, 3–4 sentences max, and use it to highlight who you are, the skills you bring, and the impact you’ve made. No fluff—every sentence should add value. Make sure your summary is tailored to the role (or at least the industry) and includes relevant keywords from the job description. A strong, focused summary sets the tone for your resume and can help you stand out!