Career Summary
A resume contains all the information needed for hiring managers to accept your application; thus, it needs to be compelling. In order for you to write a job-admitting document, one of the thoughts that you should never forget is the fact that you are not the only possible candidate for the position you want to achieve. Provide your prospective employers with a segment that would quickly showcase your qualification; hence, include a career summary in your resume. Read through this article to learn more.
Across the world, there are numerous positions that need to be filled, and along with different jobs are different resume constructions. Correspondingly, there is various resume summary that you could utilize. To help you with that, here are some samples you could use as your reference.
Simple Career Summary Example
Professional Career Summary Example
What Is a Career Summary?
Basically, also called a summary statement, a career summary is a section in your resume that wraps up your selling points and aspects that would allure the potential employer. This segment serves as the quick reference of your prospective employer for knowing the qualification of your employment background and attributes to the aimed position. Furthermore, career summaries are more suitable to be used by individuals with two or more working experiences. You may also be curious about Resume Writing Examples & Samples.
Simple Career Summary Example
Plain Career Summary Example
Certified Nurse Assistant Career Summary Example
Why Is a Career Summary Important?
Aside from highlighting your relevant experiences, a career summary will also give you a chance to write down more resume keywords. Keywords are especially important as more and more companies opt to use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to view and sort resumes. Resume keywords can be ‘communications,’ ‘customer service,’ ‘computer skills,’ etc. Most ATS rank applicants based on how many times a certain keyword is in their resume. If a keyword is repeated a few times in your resume, you will be ranked higher than those who don’t have the specific keyword. With this in mind, it is better to indicate the job title you are applying for so your resume will surely show up when the hiring manager searches for that position.
As it may become awkward to include general terms such as your ‘entrepreneurial spirit,’ ‘writing passion’ or ‘innate organizing talent’ in your accomplishments, it can easily be included in your career summary as it feels more organic and natural. Also, see Top HR Interview Questions & Tips for Fresh Graduates & Experienced Candidates.
Summary Statement Writing Example
Accountant Career Summary Example
What Are the Information Included in a Career Summary?
In writing your own career summary, there is no standard format, but there are different details that you should consider in writing. For you to be further guided, here are the pieces of information that you must include.
Years of experience
It is important to include the number of years you have in the working industry. Your years of experience will make the hiring manager think that you are well versed and has a decent background about the job, thus, making you a qualified applicant for the position.
Relevant educational background
Your college degree will always be relevant to your resume especially if the position requires a college graduate. Some jobs don’t necessarily need a graduate from a specific course, those jobs need just the basic information as to what course you took, from what university or college and when you graduated. Your elementary and secondary education is not important in your resume, just indicate the school you graduated from and the year you graduated.
Also include a relevant certificate, training, seminars, etc. you have attended that is relevant to the position. Most relevant training and seminars should be indicated first and least relevant ones go last.
Specific accomplishments
Say you have successfully completed and defended a feasibility study about a start-up company and that information is vital to the position you are applying for, emphasize it on your resume. Other accomplishments and recognition can be successfully developing a programming technique for IT, passing a licensure exam, accreditation passer, etc.
Area of expertise
Indicate the area where you think you are an expert. For example, in IT you can indicate that you are more into animation or if you are an administrative assistant, indicate you are efficient in making formal letters and scheduling keeping.
Career Summary of Qualification Example
How to Write Effective Career Summary
Research
As they say, you can’t go into a battle empty-handed. Research about your ideal job. You have to know the basics about the job you want to apply to. List all the specific and common requirements and preferred qualifications that can be written in your career summary.
Am I qualified?
This means you have to assess your credentials. What do you have to offer? Can you help the employer achieve their goals? Aside from the indicated qualifications, do you have any unique skill to help the company?
If you are having a hard time assessing your credentials, ask for help. Ask for your instructors, colleagues or supervisor’s opinion on what they think is your key qualification. After the fact, list down and make a list of marketable your credentials. Also, see 18 Career Assessment Examples
Translate your value
After listing your credentials, insert it into your career summary. Include a brief statement about your career achievements to let your employer know that your dedication to good outputs is transferable to your next employment. Explain how you can become an asset for the company. Ask yourself how you can help the company solve its problems.
Aim for your target
If you have more than one possible goal, consider drafting different versions of your resume that cater to its specific qualifications. The most effective career summaries are focused on one specific career goal. Your summary should include keywords that relate to the position you’re applying for. Bulleted or an easy-to-read list of your key skills always make it easier for the hiring manager to find the specific keywords he/she is looking for to secure you an interview.
Structure and design
As it is important to follow a certain format for your resume, your career summary should also format and style. To make it easy on the eyes of the hiring manager and easy to navigate, you can write in a bullet or list format, and/or justifying the alignment of the sentences. Avoid using ostentatious fonts and designs, those are unnecessary. Remember that your career summary is part of your resume and resumes should be written in a formal manner. Always be consistent in the manner you are writing in. You may also see 24 Free Outline Examples
Proofread and refine
Most applicants forget to proofread and forget to edit out unnecessary information. Always proofread your resume to avoid misspelling, grammatical errors, and misinformation. As little as a misspelled word can be, it can translate to the hiring manager as you being hasty and not being keen on your craft. Refine and define your resume to the needs of your ideal position. Remember that your resume will give the hiring manager a first and long-lasting impression about you, aim for the best if not perfect.
Writing your resume is not a bad experience at all. If you are on the verge of giving up and submitting an unpolished resume, it may cost you the chance of getting hired. Coming up with an effective career summary just needs dedication, a little creativity and an ample amount of time.
You have to discern and figure out what you should and shouldn’t include in your career summary. If you continuously ask yourself why you’re not getting a call for an interview after submitting resumes to your ideal job position, it may be because you have not tailored it to the specific qualifications the job needs. It may take time but once you’re done refining your resume, expect an immediate callback for your ideal job.
A career summary is different from a career objective statement. As mentioned above, a career summary is a concise and focused overview of your work history. On the other hand, a career objective is best for fresh graduates who are looking for a job and are sending unsolicited job applications to potential employers. It tells the employer what job position you would prefer to be hired for.
Sales and Marketing Manager Career Summary Example
Physician Career Summary Example
Difference between Career Summary and Career Objective
Let’s say that it is your first time to write a resume, and you browse the internet to be educated regarding its essentials and how-tos. Now, let’s assume that you have encountered the terms “career summary” and “career objectives.” If these confuse you, you don’t have to worry a thing. Who could blame you? Besides, they are both intended to brief and to be on the top area of your resume. However, these resume sections have more differences than you thought. Read through this section, to learn more.
First of all, let’s focus on contrasting the goals of both statements. The purpose of writing a career objective is for the applicant to be helped by the company he/she is applying to. Thus, it focuses more on the target of being employed. On the other side, the career summary intends to help to showcase qualities that would be greatly beneficial to the company as a result of the candidate’s employment.
Another difference is the voice used in both segments where passive voice is applied in writing a career objective while active voice is used in composing a career summary. Also, they differ in usability. Considering that every individual that wishes to apply has different levels of job experience, people with two or more working experience are more suitable to include a career summary in their resume. This is due to the fact that they already have considerable credentials to present. In contrast, career objectives are more advisable to be used by job-seeking fresh graduates.
A career summary would go like “A dedicated, keen Administrative Assistant with experience in the public and private sectors. Able to work independently and perform tasks effectively, such as schedule and paperwork keeping and information dissemination. Willing to do work overtime and weekends if required.”
While a career objective goes like this: “To secure regular employment as an Administrative Assistant with an esteemed employer in a corporate setting, with room for promotional direction based on performance.”
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