How to Write a Resume About Section

I was working with a Product Designer who didn’t have a summary on her resume. Once we added one, her experience and focus became clearer. I’ve seen this a lot lately where people either skip the summary entirely or fill it with vague lines like “strong communicator” or “team player.” That doesn’t show us what you actually do. Your summary is your first impression. It should help someone quickly understand: - Who you are as a professional - What kind of work you do - The industries or types of problems you’ve worked on - What you bring to the table Here’s the example we landed on for her: Senior Product Designer with 7+ years of experience driving end-to-end UX for B2B SaaS and fintech products. Deep expertise in 0→1 product launches, complex user flows, and building scalable design systems from scratch. Skilled in Figma, user research, and cross-functional collaboration with product and engineering teams. Why it works: It’s specific and includes relevant keywords (B2B SaaS, fintech, 0→1). It highlights real skills and strengths, not fluff. If you’re writing (or rewriting) your summary, keep it simple: - Lead with your title and years of experience - Mention the industry or product type you’ve worked on - Highlight a few core strengths or skills - Keep it short 2–3 sentences max This might seem like a small section but it’s actually one of the most important parts of your resume. Why? Because it’s often the first thing a recruiter or hiring manager reads. In a matter of seconds, they’re deciding whether to keep reading or move on. A clear, focused summary can make all the difference in getting their attention and getting the interview.

Have you ever stopped to think about what recruiters REALLY notice on your resume? Most candidates believe recruiters are instantly drawn to their skills, education, or qualifications. But here’s the truth—recruiters don’t start there. In fact, there are two key areas they focus on first: 🎯Your Career Summary/Introduction 🎯Your Most Recent Job Experience Let me explain why these sections are make or break when it comes to getting noticed: Career Summary/Introduction: This is your first shot to make a lasting impression. Think of it as your personal elevator pitch, where you get to showcase who you are and what value you bring. If your summary resonates with the recruiter, they’ll want to dive deeper into your experience. But if it's lackluster, they'll move on quickly. How to nail your career summary: 📍Lead with impact: Focus on your key achievements and what sets you apart from the rest. 📍Keep it concise: You don’t have time for fluff, get to the point and make every word count. 📍Highlight your value: What can you do for them? What makes you stand out? Most Recent Job Experience: Once your career summary catches their eye, recruiters turn their attention to your most recent roles. They want to quickly assess whether your experience aligns with what they need in the job. This is where you really want to shine! Here’s what to focus on: 👉Relevance is key: Prioritize your most recent roles that directly relate to the position you're applying for. 👉Be results-driven: Use numbers, stats, or specific outcomes that prove you made an impact. (Don’t just tell them you have to show them!) 👉Action-oriented language: Use strong, active verbs that demonstrate what you’ve achieved, not just what you’ve done. Why this matters: Recruiters are looking for candidates who can make an immediate impact. Your career summary and recent job experience need to clearly show why you’re the best fit for the job. The goal? To grab their attention from the moment they open your resume. ✔️Bonus Tip: The reason my candidates consistently land interviews at top companies? I help them craft resumes with the recruiter’s perspective in mind. It’s all about understanding what the employer needs—and making sure you stand out as the solution. That’s the secret to success in today’s competitive job market. Remember: First impressions matter, and your resume is the best chance you’ve got to make one that sticks!

Over 90% of the resumes I have reviewed underutilize this section of their resume Surprising fact: Most people treat the Summary section like filler. ❌ A random list of tools. ❌ Generic soft skills. ❌ No strategy. And that’s a huge missed opportunity. Because when used right, this section becomes your personal pitch. Here’s how to turn it into a power-packed headline: ⸻ 🔁 Don’t Do This: 🔴 “Motivated team player with strong communication skills. Proficient in Excel, SPSS, and multitasking.” This tells me nothing about who you are, what you do, or where you’re headed. ⸻ ✅ Do This Instead: Personal Summary Example 1 Public health analyst with 3 years of experience translating health equity research into actionable community programs. Skilled in data storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and program evaluation. Passionate about using policy to close health gaps. ⸻ ✅ Personal Summary Example 2 (for Students or Early Career) MPH candidate with a background in behavioral science and a strong focus on social determinants of health. Experienced in survey design, SPSS analysis, and community engagement. Committed to advancing equity through data-informed strategy. ⸻ 📌 Quick Formula: → Who you are → What you’ve done (and how) → What you care about / where you’re going Think of it like your LinkedIn headline but with more context and confidence. ⸻ ♻️ Repost to help others rewrite their “filler” section into a feature. 🔔 Follow for more expert-level resume and career content. #resumetips #MPH #publichealthcareers #gradschool #careerstrategy #LinkedInGrowth

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