how to write phd student on resume

If you are creating your first resume, take some time to brainstorm a running list of your skills and experiences. Include every position you’ve had (paid or unpaid), organizations to which you’ve belonged, leadership positions, special projects you’ve initiated, honors or awards, languages you speak, computer skills, special interests or hobbies, travel, and anything else significant.

Resume formatting can be somewhat flexible, but there are a few guidelines that will ensure it is easy to read.

• Font: 11–12 point professional font (like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman), with no more than 2 sizes used.
• Margins: 0.5–1 inch margins.
• Length: 1 page ideal, 2 pages maximum for those with significant experience.
• Font Style: Use select font styles (bold, italic, all caps) to highlight important elements, such as headings.
• Description Style: Use basic bullet points rather than paragraphs.
• Spacing: Use white space intentionally but don’t overdo it. Single-space the lines within a set of bullet points. Use 1.5 line space between items in the same section, such as between 2 different jobs in your experience section. Use double line space between sections.

Required Sections

• Header: Place at the top of the page and include your name, email, and phone number. Optional: You can include links (portfolio site, Linkedin profile) or your address.
• Education Section: Include degree title, university name and location, and month/year of graduation (or expected graduation). For most students and new graduates, this section should be first. Optional: Relevant coursework or study abroad information should go here.
• Experience Section: Include position title, organization name, location, and date span (with month and year). The heading for this section can be more specific to your experience, such as Lab Experience or Professional Experience.

Optional/Additional Sections

After the required sections, include any other section that would be helpful to display your skills and experiences related to the specific position:

• Honors/Awards
• Leadership Experience or Activities and Leadership
• Internship Experience
• Additional Experience
• Volunteer Experience

General Notes on Resume Sections

• The first section on the page should be most important and the final section should be least important.
• Within each section, items listed should start with most recent and work backward in time (reverse chronological order).

Show Impact and Results

In the information about each role, focus on the impact and results of your work rather than a description of your responsibilities and tasks. Include quantifiable information where possible. For example, if you led the organization of a student group event, include details like ticket sales (or attendance), the number of performers, or the time it took to pull it together.

View samples of demonstrating skills and competencies, plus a list of strong verbs.

Make It Scannable and Easy to Read

On average, employers spend less than 10 seconds on each resume they are screening. This means that, in order to get a second (longer) look, your resume needs to be scannable, with important and relevant information easy to find without fully reading it.

Get Proofreading Help

Typos can be easy to miss, especially when you’ve read through something many times. Get help checking for typos and other errors. In addition to friends or family helpers, use VMock to catch spelling, spacing, and other presentation mistakes.

Updating Your Resume

Once you have a solid resume, you’ll want to keep it up-to-date so it is ready to use. This can feel daunting if you have a lot to add. To make it easier, update your resume 2–3 times per year. Add new experiences, projects, coursework, activities, and anything else that makes sense for you.

You might also use this opportunity to create more than one version of your resume, particularly if you are interested in a few different fields. Adjust your resume to be as relevant as possible to make the best impression. For example, you might focus on operational impact on one version and customer service on another.

Sample Resumes

• Education resume (pdf) , showing education and student teaching experience plus licensure
• First-year student resume (pdf) , showing high school experience and related coursework
• Graduate student resume (pdf)
• Humanities resume (pdf)
• International graduate student resume (pdf) , showing graduate and undergraduate experience
• Science resume (pdf) , showing research, clinical, and leadership/volunteer experience, plus inclusion of preferred pronouns
• Study abroad experience resume (pdf) , showing study abroad and study abroad internship experience
• Tech resume (pdf) , showing GitHub link, project experience, and technical skills section

Video Series: How to Write a Resume

Learn how to write a resume that stands out! Our video workshops cover everything from tailoring your resume to the job description, resume formatting tips, essential content, and resume organization strategies.

Get Started Writing Your Resume

Formatting a Resume

Resume Content

• Attend a resume presentation to get started. Check the calendar for upcoming sessions .
• Read more tips and advice on the blog .
• Once you have a draft, get instant feedback with VMock or bring it in for a resume review .

How to structure your PhD thesis

Organising your PhD thesis in a logical order is one of the crucial stages of your writing process. Here is a list of the individual components to include

Shama Prasada Kabekkodu

• More on this topic

Created in partnership with

You may also like

Popular resources

.css-1txxx8u{overflow:hidden;max-height:81px;text-indent:0px;} The secrets to success as a provost

Using non verbal cues to build rapport with students, emotionally challenging research and researcher well-being, augmenting the doctoral thesis in preparation for a viva, how hard can it be testing ai detection tools.

The task of writing a PhD thesis is top of mind for many aspiring scholars. After all, completing one is no small task. And while these pieces of writing often share a standard format, this can differ slightly based on the requirements of your institution or subject. So what elements make up a PhD thesis?

A doctoral thesis usually contains:

• A title page
• Declarations from the candidate and supervisor
• A certificate from the candidate and supervisor
• A plagiarism report
• Acknowledgements 
• A table of contents
• Abbreviations 
• An abstract

Chapters typically cover:

• A general introduction 
• Literature review
• Analysis of the gap in research with aims and objectives
• Materials and methods
• Summary and conclusion
• References or bibliography. 

You should also include a list of papers you have published and any relevant achievements at the end. 

An explanation of each of the components of a PhD dissertation 

Title page: a PhD thesis starts with a title page that contains the complete title of the research work, the submitting university, names of the candidate and supervisor, affiliation and month and year of submission.

Abstract: this serves as a concise synopsis of the dissertation, covering the research context, purpose of the study or research questions, methodology, findings and conclusions. This section is usually one to two pages in length. 

Table of contents: this page lists the thesis content and respective page numbers.

General introduction and literature review: this component is usually 20 to 40 pages long. It presents the readers with the primary material and discusses relevant published data. It provides an overview of pertinent literature related to the thesis such as texts that critically assess the existing literature to identify the gap in research and explain the need behind the study. 

Aims and objectives: this section of the thesis is typically one to two pages long and describes the aims and objectives of the study. Structure them as three to four bullet points describing specific points that you will investigate. Approach this by thinking about what readers should understand by the end of the thesis. Ensure you:

• Give a clear explanation of the purpose and goals of your study 
• Outline each aim concisely
• Explain how you will measure your objectives
• Ensure there is a clear connection between each aim
• Use verbs such as investigate, evaluate, explore, analyse and demonstrate.

Materials and methods: this section briefly explains how you have conducted the study and should include all the materials you used and procedures you implemented. For example, if your research involves working with chemicals, list the chemicals and instruments used, along with their catalogue numbers and manufacturers’ names. This section should also explicitly explain the methodology you used, step-by-step. Use the past tense while writing this section and do not describe any results or findings of the study yet.

Results: this section is sometimes called the “findings report” or “the experimental findings” (referring to data collection and analysis). Write the results concisely and in the past tense. Include text, figure and table infographics created with tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator and BioRender to visualise your data . 

Discussion: this is a chance to discuss the results and compare the findings of your study with the initial hypothesis and existing knowledge. Focus on discussing interpretations, implications, limitations and recommendations here.

• Resources on academic writing for higher education staff 
• Tips for writing a PhD dissertation: FAQs answered
• How to tackle the PhD dissertation

Summary and conclusion: this section should be shorter than the discussion and summarise your key findings. The summary and conclusion should be brief and engaging, allowing the reader to easily understand the major findings of the research work. Provide clear answers to the research questions, generate new knowledge and clarify the need for the study. 

Future perspective: this section of the thesis (which is often combined with a summary or conclusion) talks about the study's limitations, if any, and indicates the directions for future studies based on your findings. 

References or bibliography: the last section should include the list of articles, websites and other resources cited in the thesis.

Always remember that, depending on the department, university or field of study, you might have to follow specific guidelines on how to organise your PhD thesis. Ensure you consult your supervisor or academic department if you have any doubts.

Shama Prasada Kabekkodu is a professor and head of cell and molecular biology at Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India.

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, sign up for the Campus newsletter .

The secrets to success as a provost

Emotions and learning: what role do emotions play in how and why students learn, the podcast: bringing an outsider’s eye to primary sources, a diy guide to starting your own journal, formative, summative or diagnostic assessment a guide, harnessing the power of data to drive student success.

Register for free

and unlock a host of features on the THE site

Resume Sample Philippines 2024 [Free Downloadable Templates]

Seven seconds. That’s how quickly recruiters scan a resume. Is yours impressive enough to get invited for a job interview ?

Your resume is like an advertisement for promoting your work experience and skills. It’s your tool for selling yourself as the best candidate for the job to prospective employers.

With tighter competition in the job market, creating a solid resume has become more critical than ever.

Here’s everything you need to know about writing a resume, including samples and tips to help you craft an impressive resume.

Table of Contents

At a glance: sample resumes.

What Is a Resume?

A resume (also spelled résumé) is a written account that summarizes a job seeker’s work history, skills, professional achievements, education, and other qualifications. The word comes from the Middle French “résumer,” which means “to sum up.” Similar to but more concise than the biodata , the resume is usually the first document employers request from job applicants.

What Is a Curriculum Vitae?

A curriculum vitae (CV for short) is a comprehensive and detailed document describing a person’s professional and academic career. It’s a Latin term that means “course of life.”

What Is the Difference Between a Resume and a CV?

A resume and curriculum vitae are not always interchangeable. A resume summarizes one’s qualifications, while a CV provides a more in-depth and extensive career overview.

These documents differ mainly in terms of what each is used for, how long it is, what details are included, and how each is designed.

If you’re applying for a job in the Philippines , it’s easy to differentiate a resume from a CV. However, it’s tricky when you apply for jobs abroad.

Different countries have different requirements for resumes and CVs. Here are some pointers to remember when sending a resume or CV to the following countries:

• The United States and Canada – A resume is used for job applications, while a CV is used only for academic applications.
• Europe and New Zealand – When a company asks for a CV, you should submit a brief account of your qualifications (equivalent to a US resume). The term resume isn’t used in these locations.
• Australia , South Africa, and most Asian countries – Used interchangeably, a resume and a CV refer to the same short job application document. However, resumes are most common for private-sector jobs, while CVs are preferred for government jobs .

How To Write an Effective Resume in the Philippines: 8 Steps

1. use the right resume format.

Start by knowing which resume format will work best for your job application. Resume formats differ in the qualifications they emphasize. So choose a format highlighting whatever you want recruiters to notice on your resume.

When deciding on a resume format, consider your work experience, skillset, career goals, and the job you’re applying for.

Here are four resume formats, including the pros and cons and when to use each:

a. Reverse-chronological

This traditional resume format is what most candidates use (and employers are most familiar with). It highlights career progression by listing work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with the latest and working through past jobs.

Advantages:

• Easier to see a candidate’s career development
• Preferred by most employers because it’s easier to read and scan

Disadvantages:

• Hard to stand out since most candidates are using this format
• Highlights the lack of experience for fresh graduates, undergraduates, job hoppers, and those with long employment gaps or frequent career changes

Best resume format for:

• Candidates with plenty of work experience relevant to the job they’re applying for
• Showing career advancement (e.g., promotion, lateral movement, overseas assignment, etc.)

Sample reverse-chronological resume format:

b. Functional

Also called the skills-based resume, the functional format emphasizes an applicant’s skills rather than work experience.

Instead of listing your work history first, put your qualifications and skills at the top of your resume. Organize your functional resume by grouping abilities with similar themes together (e.g., “Leadership Skills,” “Customer Service Skills,” Marketing Skills,” etc.).

Advantage: Highlights skills and downplays lack of experience

Disadvantage: It might be perceived as hiding one’s shortcomings

• Anyone who lacks relevant work experience, such as fresh graduates, working students, applicants with employment gaps, job hoppers, and career switchers
• Candidates with an expert level of experience who want to emphasize a specific skillset

Sample functional resume format:

The hybrid resume format combines some aspects of both reverse-chronological and functional formats. Also called a combination resume, this format consists of two parts: the first highlights relevant qualifications and skills, and the second lists your work history.

• It provides the same benefits as the reverse-chronological format but with more flexibility
• Can address questions about potential red flags such as employment gaps, job-hopping, and career changes
• Not as familiar to employers as other resume formats
• Not suitable for entry-level applicants
• Experienced pros in a particular industry
• Showcasing a diverse and developed skillset, especially for positions that require skills in at least three different fields or categories
• Candidates switching careers or with gaps in work history

Sample hybrid resume format:

d. Infographic

An infographic resume uses graphic design elements such as colors, illustrations, icons, charts, and font styling instead of just basic text. Regarding content structure, this type of resume can be either reverse-chronological, functional, or hybrid.

Advantage: Grabs attention and can easily stand out

Disadvantage: Hard to pull off and can leave a wrong impression if not executed well

• Designers and other creative professionals
• Marketing and advertising professionals with design skills (or who can hire a freelance designer to create a resume)

Sample infographic resume format:

2. Create Your Resume Header

Regardless of your resume format, always put your name and contact information at the top. If you make the next cut, the recruiter or hiring manager will quickly know how to contact you.

Must-have information on a resume header:

• Telephone number/Mobile number
• Email address

Optional information on a resume header:

• Professional title (e.g., “Marketing Professional,” “Web Developer,” etc.)
• LinkedIn profile URL
• Website/Blog URL
• Link to an online portfolio

3. Write a Resume Introduction

The introduction is one of the most critical parts of a resume, as it highlights the candidate’s most important qualifications. Since it’s placed somewhere at the top of the page, recruiters notice the introduction first before everything else.

There are four ways to present a resume introduction. The right option depends on the job applied for, as well as the candidate’s skillsets and work experience.

a. Qualifications Summary

A summary of qualifications lists crucial career accomplishments with four to six bullet points . Use this type of resume intro if you have much work experience with measurable achievements and diverse skill sets.

Sample Qualifications Summary:

b. Career Objective

This resume section states in two to three sentences why you want a specific position in the company. Using a career objective on a resume is ideal for fresh graduates, entry-level candidates, and career switchers with little or no relevant work experience.

Sample Career Objective:

c. Professional Profile

This resume intro combines the qualifications summary and career objective . The professional profile can be either a bullet-point list or a brief paragraph.

Use a professional profile if you are applying for a position in the same industry, have particular expertise, and have a significant career achievement to highlight.

Sample Professional Profile:

d. Professional Summary

This section highlights the top skills, experience, and achievements in your career in two to three sentences. It may also mention the job title and years of experience.

A professional summary works for experienced and skilled candidates, allowing them to showcase their most important qualifications.

Sample Professional Summary:

4. List Your Relevant Work Experience

The work experience section (also labeled “Professional Experience” or simply “Experience”) is your opportunity to prove your qualifications to potential employers.

You don’t have to list your entire career— choose up to three to five experiences most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

If you use the reverse-chronological format, place your work experience near the top, right below your resume intro. But this section should be placed somewhere lower for the functional format, like below the education section.

How to list work experience on your resume

The standard format for listing work experience includes the following information:

• Job title – Your job titles should be prominent on a resume to make it easy for potential employers to scan and find your relevant experience for the job. Put each job title at the top of each entry;
• Company name and location – Below or next to your job title, put the name of your past or present employer and its city and/or country of location. If you’re employed by a prestigious or well-known company in the industry, you may place its name on top of your work experience instead of the job title. If the company name is unfamiliar, you may write a short description of the organization;
• Employment dates – Add the timeframe of your employment in each company. You can indicate the year or the month and year when each position started and ended. No need to write the full dates. If you’re still employed with a particular company, put “present” after your start date (e.g., August 2018-present);
• Key responsibilities and achievements – This part describes what you did and how well you did your job. List the duties and notable accomplishments most relevant to the new job (around three to five bullet points) in order of decreasing importance. To stand out, focus on your achievements rather than your daily responsibilities. Mention exactly how you helped the business grow, exceeded your KPIs, got promoted quickly, and so on.

5. Add Your Education

The education section shows that you meet any academic requirements for a specific role, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field.

Where you put this section and how much information you include depend on your experience level. If you’ve worked for a long time, keep your education short and place it after the work experience section.

However, if you lack experience, you may want to highlight your education by making it detailed and putting it near the top (above your work experience). This is also a good strategy for professionals emphasizing academic success, such as those in legal, medicine, accountancy, and education.

How To List Education on Your Resume

List your education, starting with your highest degree, in this format:

• School name
• Location (city/province or country, if you studied abroad)
• Graduation date (month and year)
• Honors and awards received (e.g., cum laude, dean’s lister, leadership excellence, scholarship , etc.)

If you have a college degree, there is no need to add your high school and grade school information.

6. List Your Hard and Soft Skills

Your resume should have a good mix of hard and soft skills because employers are looking for both.

Hard skills are measurable abilities that get a job done, such as coding in different programming languages, video editing, bookkeeping, and social media management.

Soft skills are personality traits that shape how you do your job, work, and interact with co-workers. Soft skills include leadership, professionalism, teamwork, initiative, persistence, and self-motivation.

The growing trend in recruitment nowadays is that employers value soft skills more than hard skills. Consider that fact when writing the skills section of your resume.

JobStreet.com’s 2018 Fresh Graduate Report 2 , for instance, found that most employers consider three things when screening candidates: attitude/work ethic, analytical thinking, and communication skills.

An iCIMS Hiring Insights report 3 notes that the top fields where soft skills matter more than hard skills are customer service, human resources, and sales/marketing.

According to the report, more recruiters place greater importance on soft skills for management than entry-level positions. The most valuable soft skills for senior-level posts are problem-solving, oral communication, and adaptability.

How To List Skills on Your Resume

• Choose five to eight of your hard and soft skills most relevant to the position you’re applying for. For an easy read, list them as bullet points.
• If you have a long list of hard skills, group them into categories. For example, if you’re a virtual assistant , you can categorize your skills into administrative, email management, social media management, etc.
• For each hard skill, include your proficiency level (beginner/intermediate/advanced/expert).

7. Personalize Your Resume With Additional Sections

Chances are, hundreds of applicants for the same position have the same (or higher) level of work experience, education, and skills as yours.

How do you set yourself apart?

Add a personal touch to your resume. Show employers that you are well-rounded and do something outside of work. After all, the experience and skills you gain from it can also be applied to the workplace.

Depending on your profession or industry and what you prefer to highlight, here are the optional sections you may list on your resume.

a. Certifications/Licenses

Include any relevant information in your resume if you’re in a profession with certification or licensing requirements (such as nursing, medicine, and engineering).

Even if your industry doesn’t require licensing, you may include any professional development courses you’ve earned, like a professional certificate in digital marketing.

b. Volunteer Work

Do you spend your free time helping others? Your volunteering experience is worth adding to your resume.

Studies find that listing volunteer work raises a candidate’s chance of getting hired. Showing that you help the community gives the impression that you’re a loyal, committed employee. You can also prove critical skills such as leadership, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, networking, event planning, fundraising, etc.

It’s a great strategy for students and fresh graduates without work experience and candidates with long unemployment periods.

For this section, the typical format lists the organization’s name, inclusive dates of volunteer work, achievements, and a short description of volunteer experience.

c. Languages

The ability to communicate in two or more languages is valuable in fields such as translation, ESL teaching, writing, and customer service.

It’s also valuable for multinational companies where the chance of career growth is high for multi-lingual employees who may be assigned to work in different countries.

So if you’re well-versed in a foreign language, add that info to your resume. To list your language skills, write the languages you can speak and understand and your proficiency level for each one (basic/intermediate/proficient/fluent/native).

d. Hobbies and Interests

The hobbies and interests section may be the least important, but it can boost your resume if it’s related to the position you’re applying for.

For example, being a basketball coach means you have the leadership, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills required for a management position in a company.

8. Proofread and Review Multiple Times

Save yourself from potential embarrassment and rejection due to glaring mistakes. When you’ve finished writing your resume and cover letter , edit and proofread them multiple times to catch and correct errors, including the following:

• Incorrect, incomplete, or outdated contact details;
• Grammatical errors, particularly misspellings and wrong verb tenses (Use past tense for former positions and present tense for your current position);
• Formatting inconsistencies (different date formats, font types, heading formats, etc.).

Remember these pointers when proofreading your resume and cover letter:

• Read the document slowly from the beginning. Then read it backward per phrase. Pay close attention to every phrase.
• Proofread your resume several times at different times of the day.
• Run a grammar and spelling check on your computer. You can install online tools like Grammarly to help you spot errors you missed from your manual proofreading.
• Ask a friend or family member for help. Please take note of their feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Best Resume Samples for Every Type of Applicant in the Philippines

• Resume samples for fresh graduates .
• Resume sample for OJT students .
• Resume sample for undergraduates and working students .
• Resume samples for high school graduates .
• Resume samples for call center agents.
• Resume samples for healthcare workers.
• Resume samples for government job applications.
• Resume samples for lawyers.
• Resume samples for accountants.
• Resume samples for civil engineers.
• Resume samples for architects.
• Resume sample for teachers.
• Resume sample for seaman.
• Resume samples for factory workers.
• Resume samples for freelancers.

Top 11 Free Tools for Creating a Resume

Without Photoshop skills, developing a resume that doesn’t look sloppy is hard.

Enter online resume builders with professionally designed templates that let you plug in your information for a polished look. Especially for first-timers, these tools are beneficial.

Use a resume builder so that you can focus more on writing your resume than obsessing about its design.

Here are free resume builders that are among the easiest to use:

1. CakeResume

This online resume builder allows users to upload a PDF file of their LinkedIn profile and use the drag-and-drop feature to add design elements they like. After creating a resume, the file can be downloaded in PDF format.

Want a creative, custom-designed resume? Canva is the right tool for you. It has a vast collection of templates, photos, illustrations, colors, and other elements made by professional designers. You can use them for free to create or modify a layout for your resume.

3. Cultivated Culture

The easy-to-use resume-building tool on Cultivated Culture is perfect for job seekers who are not so tech-savvy. It allows full customization and the creation of unlimited resumes for free.

What’s great about this online platform is that its resume templates are created based on feedback from real recruiters and hiring managers from some of the best companies in the world. The templates have also been tested with real job seekers with different backgrounds, experience levels, and industries.

4. CV Maker

This beginner-friendly online tool has a simple interface that makes creating a resume quick and easy. A broad array of pre-designed resume templates are crafted per profession, so you don’t have to modify the layout manually. You can also organize the sections as you’d like.

5. Novorésumé

Unlike other resume builders, Novorèsumè specializes in resume writing rather than design. This is a must-use tool if you want to optimize your resume content. It analyzes text and recommends revisions to improve your resume quality.

Once you finish your draft, you can customize and preview your resume layout and download it as a PDF file.

6. Resume.com

If you’re looking for the fastest resume creation tool, use Resume.com. This free resume builder can extract information from your LinkedIn profile and place it on a template of your choice. You can immediately work on your resume from its homepage and download the final output as a PDF, DOCX, RTF, or TXT file.

7. ResumeGenius

This is another excellent tool for resume writing and design, especially for those without a good command of English. Users must answer multiple-choice questions about their work experience and education and fill in the blanks with the necessary information.

ResumeGenius also lets users add pre-written bullet points for making customized job responsibilities in the work experience section. Resumes created with this tool can be downloaded in PDF, DOCX, and TXT formats.

8. Resume.io

Building a resume using Resume.io is simple. Just choose a template, add your information, and download your resume.

You can also check the website for resume samples from people hired in different industries to get an idea of how to write a resume.

9. VisualCV

With its professionally designed templates, you can create visually stunning resumes for jobs you want to apply for. Creating a resume is also easy—you can upload your document on the website instead of cutting and pasting text.

More than just a resume builder, Zety lets you create a cover letter in the same design as your resume. It also features a text editor for minimizing typos and a resume checker that suggests revisions for improvement.

11. ResumeGiants

ResumeGiants is a free online resume builder boasting many resume templates in different formats and for different jobs. Expert guidance and coaching are incorporated in the instructions so you can rest assured that your resume is optimized for success.

Tips and Warnings

1. use powerful action verbs.

A common mistake in resume writing is starting every phrase with “Responsible for.” These words take up space and don’t add value to your resume. Instead, use strong action verbs that instantly grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Choose action verbs 4 that goes beyond just stating your duties. Use words that show how you delivered results, exceeded expectations, solved problems, did something innovative, or accomplished anything.

Here are some of the most potent action verbs that can help you accomplish that:

• Accelerated
• Accomplished/Achieved
• Awarded/Won
• Created/Established
• Implemented
• Increased/Boosted
• Decreased/Reduced/Minimized
• Led/Managed
• Promoted (to a higher position)
• Strengthened
• Trained/Mentored
• Transformed
• Volunteered

2. Quantify Your Accomplishments

Using the right action words alone is not enough to convince employers that you’re a strong candidate for the job.

As much as possible, support your list of accomplishments with data . Include numbers, percentages , monetary values (in peso, dollar, or any applicable currency), timeframe, and other performance metrics to support your successes.

For example, instead of simply stating you “Reduced average customer waiting time,” you can improve it by adding numbers: “Reduced average customer waiting time from 24 hours to 1 hour.”

If possible, briefly state how you accomplished something. The example above can be further improved: “Reduced average customer waiting time from 24 hours to 1 hour by organizing the customer service team’s workflow and prioritizing customer requests.”

Other specific, measurable achievements to add to your resume include the following:

• KPIs/Performance targets achieved or surpassed
• % increase in sales, revenues, profit margin, conversion rates, website traffic, production efficiency, etc.
• % cost savings generated or expenses reduced
• Number of people managed, trained, or mentored
• Number of customers handled or served daily
• Amount of grants, funding, or donations generated

3. Have a Simple and Consistent Layout

To get their resume noticed, some applicants go overboard with colors, illustrations, and other design elements—which are unnecessary and distracting.

Remember: less is more. Go easy on your layout. Let your credentials speak louder than your resume design. Use colors, icons, and what not to enhance your resume’s visual appeal, not overshadow its content.

So, how should your resume look to make an impression?

A 2018 Ladders eye-tracking study 5 found the common elements of resumes where recruiters spent the most time and focus on :

• Clear, simple layouts with marked section headings
• An overview at the top of the resume
• Position titles in boldface supported by accomplishments in bullet points
• Clear, easy-to-read fonts

The same study also identified the common elements of worst-performing resumes to avoid :

• Cluttered design with long sentences, multiple columns, and very little white space
• Little use of section headings
• Keyword overuse (Keyword use is helpful in resume writing, but overdoing it can make your document sound robotic.)

In addition, having ample white space makes a resume more readable. For most resumes, a one-inch margin around the page works. This also gives the recruiter and hiring manager enough space to write comments on a printed resume.

If you must reduce the margin size to fit your content on a page or two, ensure it isn’t lower than 0.5 inches.

Consistency in your resume formatting is important , too. If you italicize company names, for instance, all the others should also be in italics. All job responsibilities and accomplishments must be in bullet lists. Also, use the same font for all text in your document.

The key is to keep your resume’s look uniform throughout. Otherwise, the recruiter would think you’re careless, which might spill over your work performance.

4. Choose the Right Font Type and Size

The best font and text size won’t make the reader squint.

What to use:

• Easy-to-read font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Verdana, etc.)
• Different font sizes in decreasing order for your name (24 pt), section headings (14-16 pt), and bullet points/paragraphs (10-12 pt)

What to avoid:

• Ornate and cursive fonts that are difficult to read
• Fancy and wacky fonts, including Comic Sans, that don’t look professional
• Font size below 10 pt
• Using one text size throughout

5. Submit Your Job Application Properly

All it takes to botch your job application—even with a perfectly written resume and cover letter —is failing to follow the employer’s instructions on document submission.

Take the time to carefully read the job posting’s submission requirements before you send your application. Keep an eye out for these usual requirements:

• Where to send the materials – While most employers require submission through email, others ask applicants to upload their resumes online.
• Email subject line – Look for a specific subject line format. If there’s none, use this standard format: [Position Title] Resume – [Your Name]. Example: Marketing Assistant Resume – Juan Dela Cruz.
• Types of required attachments – Besides the resume and cover letter, the employer might have other requirements, such as a portfolio or work samples. Make sure to attach them as well.
• File format – Should you send your documents in a specific format? Check the job ad to find out. If it doesn’t specify anything, attach your job application materials in either PDF or DOCX, as these are employers’ most preferred file formats.
• Attachment name – Be specific when naming your attachments. If the employer has no specifications for attachment naming, you can use this format: [Your Name] – [Position Title] – [Attachment Type]. Example: Juan Dela Cruz – Marketing Assistant – Work Sample
• Cover letter submission – Check if the job posting mentions how to submit a cover letter. The employer might require you to attach it to your email. Otherwise, you can copy the text and paste it into the body of your email message.
• Submission deadline – Never overlook this detail, or your job application will be ignored. Government job postings, in particular, set a deadline for document submission.
• Others – Some employers test applicants’ ability to follow instructions by asking them to insert a specific word in the subject line or cover letter.

Additionally, use a professional email address (ideally one with only your name or initials) when sending your resume and other documents. An email address that’s cutesy or filled with odd characters doesn’t only come off as unprofessional but also shows that you’re not taking your job application seriously.

Lastly—and most importantly—never mass email your resume. It reeks of carelessness and lack of attention to detail.

Put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager. Would you hire someone who sent a generic job application to multiple companies at once?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. do i need a different resume for every job application.

While submitting just one version of a resume to all possible employers is the most convenient thing to do, it won’t be as effective as customizing your resume to each position you’re applying for.

What works for one position or company may not work for another. Your resume and cover letter must be tailored to each job application. It takes more time and effort to write different resumes and cover letters for different job openings, but all will be worth it when you get selected for interviews.

There are several ways to write a targeted resume and cover letter without rewriting the entire document.

a. Choose details that are directly relevant to the role.  The work experience and skills you include in your resume should closely match the requirements in the job ad. You don’t have to list your entire work history. Exclude information that’s not related to the position you’re applying for.

b. Write a custom resume intro.  You can rewrite your resume’s overview according to the company’s challenges (and how you can help solve them), the top skills each employer seeks, and the level of experience required for the job.

c. Re-arrange your lists . If you specialize in two or more fields, highlight the one required for the specific role. For example, if you have both a writing and SEO background, focus on your writing skills for your writing job applications and your SEO expertise for SEO-related jobs.

d. Use keywords.  An effective customization strategy is finding the most important keywords from the job posting and mentioning them in your resume and cover letter. These job-specific keywords are what employers look for when scanning resumes and cover letters.

2. Which is better: a traditional-looking or a modern/creative resume?

The right resume design depends on the position you’re applying for and your industry.

For traditional industries such as business, finance, banking, legal, and healthcare, stick to the conventional, formal-looking resume. Sending a creative resume for a position in these industries would be seen as unprofessional.

Suppose you’re pursuing a career in advertising, marketing, or any industry that values creativity and innovation. In that case, a modern resume (like an infographic or interactive resume) will make you stand out. This is especially true for graphic designers, animators, multimedia artists, and other creative professionals whose resume design and layout skills will be assessed.

3. How long should a resume be?

Studies have conflicting recommendations on the  optimal resume length . Some say one page is what most employers prefer, while others claim that two-page resumes showcase a candidate’s qualifications better. In reality, recruiters wouldn’t mind whether you submit a page or two. What matters is that your resume is concise and lists all your relevant experience and skills.

The correct number of pages depends on the position and the level of experience required. As a rule of thumb, here’s when to use a particular length for your resume:

a. One-page resume  – This is ideal for most job applications, as it’s faster to read than a multi-page resume. Entry-level candidates with little experiences, such as fresh graduates and career changers, should aim for a single-page resume.

b. Two-page resume  – For mid-level positions that require at least 5 to 10 years of experience, two pages allow candidates to include all relevant information. A second page is also necessary for jobs requiring technical skills, as well as government job applicants who must list all training and conferences attended.

c. Three-page resume (or CV)  – Three or more pages are generally acceptable for senior management positions or candidates with over ten years of experience. This is because they need more space to make a detailed list of their experiences and accomplishments. The same goes for professionals in the academic, scientific, and medical fields who need to elaborate on their work experience and educational background.

Still undecided?  Just write your resume first without thinking about the length. Once you’ve finished, please review it and cut out unnecessary details.

4. How can I cut down the length of my resume to make it more concise?

Avoid cramming as much information as possible onto your resume. Omit irrelevant details that don’t relate directly to the job and are unnecessary for the employer’s hiring decision.

Here are some examples:

a. Personal details that could lead to hiring discrimination , such as age, birthdate, sexual orientation, civil status, height, weight, religion, name of spouse and children, and political affiliation, unless the position requires it.

b. Second phone number or email address – This information wastes space on the page and may confuse the recruiter.

c. Personal website or blog  – Not necessary unless you’re a writer, web designer, or SEO professional who wants to showcase your relevant skills.

d. Social media profiles  – Provide only your LinkedIn profile. Other social networks are too personal and unnecessary. The hiring manager might “stalk” your online profiles anyway.

e. Salary history and expected salary  – The recruiter will ask for this information during the interview. It’s too early (not to mention imprudent) to bring up your salary in the first stage of your application.

f. Work experience dating back over 15 years , unless the roles are still relevant to your current career.

g. Unrelated hobbies  that remotely have anything to do with the job.

h. Obsolete skills  – The employer doesn’t need to know that you are proficient with outdated technology or no longer have current and relevant abilities in your industry.

i. Street addresses of companies and schools  – State the city and province (plus the country if located abroad) of your employers and schools.

5. Should I put my photo on my resume?

Generally, the candidate’s photo isn’t necessary on a resume. After all, your resume should be about your credentials and not your looks. The only exceptions are positions where appearance matters, such as acting, modeling, customer service, and brand ambassador jobs.

Another consideration when deciding whether to add a photo or not is the country where you plan to work. Resume photos are acceptable in the Philippines, Japan , China, South Korea , and most European countries. But in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Sweden, including a photo on a resume is generally unacceptable.

If you decide to put your photo, make sure it’s a headshot (2 x 2 size) that looks clear and professional with a plain background, similar to your passport picture . You should also be dressed appropriately in your resume photo. Please place it in the upper left or right corner of the page.

6. Are character references in a resume required?

References are generally not required for resumes. The references section is just optional. Skip it altogether, especially if you’re trying to fit more critical information onto your resume.

Also, you don’t have to indicate “References available upon request” on your resume because it’s understood that you have them. You can wait until you’re asked to provide your references.

If a job posting requires character references, be careful who you choose to include in your resume. These people should be able to vouch for your character and abilities, especially those who know you well and think highly of you (except for your family and friends).

Your references could be present or past managers/supervisors, colleagues, professors/teachers, coaches, or clients. Ideally, these people are professional and articulate.

There are other reasons why adding references to your resume can be a good strategy. You might know or have worked with someone well-known and respected in your industry. Or someone in an executive-level position, such as a university dean, CEO, VP, or director in your former company. You can impress the recruiter by including people with such stature in your references.

Also,  character references can boost your job application if you don’t have much work history yet.

As a common courtesy, get the consent of the people you’ll enlist as your references before you share their contact information with recruiters. Let them know that someone might contact them and ask questions about you.

When writing your references, include the necessary details: complete name, position title, mobile number, landline number (if any), and email address. Put the reference section at the bottom of the page.

7. I don’t have any work experience. What do I put in my resume?

Even if you don’t have a formal work history,  you can focus on qualifications other than paid work experience.

If you’re a student, fresh graduate, or career shifter, there are other details worth adding to your resume.

a. Internship experience b. Part-time ,  freelance , or summer jobs (as long as the experience and skills gained from them are relevant to the job) c. Volunteering experience in charities, non-profit organizations, barangay-sponsored programs or activities, etc. d. Extracurricular activities in school (such as membership or leadership experience in student organizations, campus publications, etc.) e. Certifications, languages, hobbies, and interests f. Past projects or a small business you’re currently running g. Character references h. General weighted average (GWA) i. Relevant seminars, workshops, conferences, or online courses attended

Moreover, highlight your education and soft skills. To do that, use the functional resume format that plays up skills and education and downplays work experience.

8. I was a freelancer/entrepreneur, and now I want to get an office job. How do I list self-employment on my resume?

Adding freelance or  business  experience to your resume resembles listing formal work experience. You need to make some tweaks. Here’s how to pull it off:

a. Place a job title . Even if your position in your freelance work or business has no official title, give yourself a job title that accurately describes the nature of your work, e.g., “Freelance Software Developer,” “ Real Estate Agent ,” “Financial Advisor,” “Marketing Consultant,” “Small Business Owner,” etc.

b. Add a company name . Yes, you can add a company name even if you’re not employed by one. If your business is registered with the DTI and BIR , use your official business name.

c. List your duties or services.  Briefly describe your work in each bullet point if you’re a freelancer. Worked for multiple clients? Summarize your responsibilities and accomplishments with your clients. If you’re an entrepreneur, describe your business’s nature and essential duties and achievements as the owner. Emphasize notable projects and clients. If you’ve worked for or done business with well-known clients, mention them in your resume (except if you have a confidentiality clause in your contract). It’s also great to single out a project that helped you gain more knowledge and skills required for the job.

Here’s an example of how self-employment is listed on a freelancer’s resume:

Freelance Writer ABC Writing Services, Inc. (May 2015-2019) *Produced blog posts, sales copies, and product descriptions for various e-commerce websites *Assisted in editing clients’ website content *Consistently delivered outputs on time

Here’s an example of how self-employment is listed on an entrepreneur’s resume:

Owner/Operator XYZ Enterprises, Inc. (2017-present) *Started own business selling healthy homemade meals online *Took charge of the overall operations, including raw material sourcing, marketing, website maintenance, shipping, customer service, and  accounting *Successfully expanded the product line to include healthy desserts and  meal plans  in 2019

9. How do I handle employment gaps on my resume?

A study 6 found that work gaps on a resume lower the chance of getting an interview by 45%. Employers assume the worst when they see gaps between work experiences on a resume. A gap might mean the person may do it again.

If appropriately addressed, however, your employment gaps shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Here’s what you can do:

a. Use the functional or combination resume format  to emphasize your relevant skills and education.

b. Show the gap on your resume . There’s no point in hiding it. But briefly explain what you were doing during that period in your cover letter. Some reasons are legitimate (like job loss due to an economic crisis, starting a family, becoming a stay-at-home parent, recovery from an accident or severe illness, etc.), so there’s no harm in stating yours.

c. List any projects or activities —paid or unpaid—that you’re involved in during the work gap. These may include part-time, freelance, and volunteer work.

d. No need to explain an old gap that occurred more than ten years ago or a short gap that happened for less than six months. It doesn’t matter and will perhaps go unnoticed.

e. Never apologize for the gap.  The hiring manager will understand if you assure them the work gap won’t happen again.

10. I have frequently changed jobs. How can I avoid appearing to be a job-hopper?

Lack of consistent work history doesn’t look good on a resume. It’s a red flag for hiring managers—they might assume the candidate either kept getting fired due to poor performance/lousy workplace behavior or easily lost motivation to work.

Whatever your reason for having short-term stints, you can still create a strong resume and avoid the “job-hopper” label. Here’s how:

a. Use a functional or combination resume format , focusing more on your skills than work experience.

b. Write a compelling career objective.  Emphasize your desire to stay in a position or stick to a company for a long time.

c. List transferrable skills  that you gained from an unrelated job or industry that you can apply to the new position.

d. Have a separate section for your work achievements.  Show that you contributed something valuable to your former employers, even if you stayed only briefly.

e. Omit short-term jobs that are irrelevant  to the new position.

f. Combine work experiences, if possible.  This strategy works for candidates with related freelance projects with different clients. Instead of listing each freelance gig, you can group the projects under one entry and indicate that it’s for various clients.

g. Let your cover letter do the talking.  Mention that you’re looking for a career change and briefly explain why. If the job-hopping was involuntary, state the reason (e.g., layoff, redundancy,  business closure , etc.). You can also list what you will do to help address the team or company’s challenges.

• Yang, P. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/90483955/4-ways-to-boost-your-chances-of-landing-a-new-job-during-the-pandemic
• JobStreet 2018 report: Work ethic, communication skills important for employers . (2018). Retrieved 2 May 2020
• The Soft Skills Job Seekers Need Now . (2017). Retrieved 2 May 2020
• Action Verbs . Retrieved 2 May 2020
• Eye-Tracking Study . (2018). [Ebook].

Written by Venus Zoleta

in Career and Education , Juander How

Last Updated May 2, 2024 05:20 AM

Venus Zoleta

Venus Zoleta is an experienced writer and editor for over 10 years, covering topics on personal finance, travel, government services, and digital marketing. Her background is in journalism and corporate communications. In her early 20s, she started investing and purchased a home. Now, she advocates financial literacy for Filipinos and shares her knowledge online. When she's not working, Venus bonds with her pet cats and binges on Korean dramas and Pinoy rom-coms.

Browse all articles written by Venus Zoleta

Copyright Notice

All materials contained on this site are protected by the Republic of the Philippines copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, or broadcast without the prior written permission of filipiknow.net or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright, or other notice from copies of the content. Be warned that we have already reported and helped terminate several websites and YouTube channels for blatantly stealing our content. If you wish to use filipiknow.net content for commercial purposes, such as for content syndication, etc., please contact us at legal(at)filipiknow(dot)net

Privacy preference center

We care about your privacy

When you visit our website, we will use cookies to make sure you enjoy your stay. We respect your privacy and we’ll never share your resumes and cover letters with recruiters or job sites. On the other hand, we’re using several third party tools to help us run our website with all its functionality.

But what exactly are cookies? Cookies are small bits of information which get stored on your computer. This information usually isn’t enough to directly identify you, but it allows us to deliver a page tailored to your particular needs and preferences.

Because we really care about your right to privacy, we give you a lot of control over which cookies we use in your sessions. Click on the different category headings on the left to find out more, and change our default settings.

However, remember that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of our website. Finally, note that we’ll need to use a cookie to remember your cookie preferences.

Without these cookies our website wouldn’t function and they cannot be switched off. We need them to provide services that you’ve asked for.

Want an example? We use these cookies when you sign in to Kickresume. We also use them to remember things you’ve already done, like text you’ve entered into a registration form so it’ll be there when you go back to the page in the same session.

Thanks to these cookies, we can count visits and traffic sources to our pages. This allows us to measure and improve the performance of our website and provide you with content you’ll find interesting.

Performance cookies let us see which pages are the most and least popular, and how you and other visitors move around the site.

All information these cookies collect is aggregated (it’s a statistic) and therefore completely anonymous. If you don’t let us use these cookies, you’ll leave us in the dark a bit, as we won’t be able to give you the content you may like.

We use these cookies to uniquely identify your browser and internet device. Thanks to them, we and our partners can build a profile of your interests, and target you with discounts to our service and specialized content.

On the other hand, these cookies allow some companies target you with advertising on other sites. This is to provide you with advertising that you might find interesting, rather than with a series of irrelevant ads you don’t care about.

How to Write a Professional Resume Summary? [+Examples]

Do you want to land more job interviews? The easiest way to achieve this is by attracting a recruiter’s attention straight away by summarizing the highlights of your career right at the start of your resume — in a section called the resume summary. 

The purpose of this resume section, which is also known as a professional summary or resume statement, is to create a good first impression. It sums up your work experience , skills, and achievements into a short and concise sales pitch where you are the product. 

Do it well, and your future employers will be more inclined to read the rest of your resume.

Without further ado, let’s show you how to write an exceptional professional summary that will not only get you to more job interviews but will also help you land a job. 

This guide will show you:

What is a professional summary?

Why do you need a professional summary, how to write a professional summary.

• What to do when you don’t have any experience in the field?
• What are a resume objective and a resume profile?
• Examples of professional summaries from real professionals.

TL;DR video guide: How to write a professional summary for a resume 

A professional summary gives the hiring manager a quick overview of your skills and achievements without them having to dive into the rest of your resume. It sits at the top of your resume, beneath your name and contact information. You can think of it as a teaser for the rest of your resume.

It should sum up your top skills, experiences, and achievements as they pertain to the job description.

Take a look at the sample below to see what it looks like in practice: 

The professional summary section is also known as a:  

• Resume summary 
• Qualifications summary 
• Resume statement 
• Heading statement 
• Competencies 
• Career summary
• Experience summary
• Personal statement 

However, don’t mistake a professional summary for a resume objective or profile . We’ll discuss the differences between them later in this guide. 

How long should a professional summary be? 

Generally speaking, a resume summary should be quite short. The most common length is 3-5 sentences or bullet points. It shouldn't be longer than 5-6 concise bullet points , but it also shouldn't be shorter than 2 bullet points. 

You can also replace the first bullet point with a short introductory paragraph that includes your job title, years of experience, and specialization. 

While many people still don't include the resume profile section in their resumes, it's a mistake. But why is it a mistake?

• You want to grab the recruiter's attention from the get-go.
• You'll make their life a bit easier because you'll immediately tell them who you are.

The thing is, recruiters are busy people , they go through dozens, sometimes hundreds of resumes before they can find a few qualified candidates. 

Do you know what this means? Shortcuts. At first, recruiters will be skimming resumes in search of specific keywords and phrases that align with what the company is searching for.

That’s why you want to include the best resume summary you can come up with because a good summary section consists of nothing but these juicy bite-size phrases and keywords that a recruiter can spot at a glance. 

In short, a professional summary allows you to turn a recruiter's time limitation into an advantage. 

Christy's word of advice

While recruiters are indeed busy, did you know that the information that recruiters only give each resume 6 seconds of their time isn't true? 

“This one's a little bit of a myth. It takes about six seconds to screen the resume for the key information that I'm looking for, such as location, summary, keywords, or if there's a skills section. Within this time frame, I should be able to get a feel for who you are and what you're looking for. But it's mainly about six seconds for me to pick out the basic information I need. It doesn't mean that I'm going to spend just six seconds on it or that I won't continue reading after. ” —   Christy Morgan , Kickresume's Resident HR Expert

As we said before, a good professional summary should compel an employer to read the next section of your resume — that’s all. If it manages to do that, then it has accomplished its purpose. 

However, doing this is easier said than done, as it can be tricky to cram the most exciting bits of your career into a 3-5 bullet points summary. 

Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to craft an impressive resume summary.

Before you start writing:

• Write other resume sections, and then write your professional summary last. It’s surprisingly easy once you’ve already written other sections of your resume. All you have to do is cherry-pick the most impressive facts and stats.
• Pick the essential keywords from the job listing, so you can tailor your summary. Start with the job listing that made you apply for the job. Carefully reread it and find the most important keywords. These are the nouns or phrases that best describe the job position, related skills, as well as the ideal candidate. Before you begin to write, think about how they intersect with your own skills and experiences. In this way, you also have a higher chance to get through the ATS systems which companies use .

Once you start writing:

• In the first bullet point, write your professional title. Don’t forget to add the number of years of experience. You want to communicate your professional identity immediately. You can also write it in bold. It can look something like this: “Certified Project Management Professional with over 4 years of experience”.
• Pick the 3-4 most impressive parts of your resume and reword them into snappy bullet points. Tease your potential employer into reading further. Did you earn a recognition for the best customer service? Or hit 95% of sales targets for five consecutive years? These are the things that deserve a mention at the top of your resume!
• Translate each achievement into numbers. Each bullet point should contain at least one piece of quantifiable data. Use percentages, numbers, or impressive sales figures. It gives the hiring manager a better idea of how you performed in your previous jobs. Numbers attract attention. Take advantage of that.
• Sum up what you have to offer. Instead of saying what you want, keep in mind what they want. Make clear what values you can bring to the company. Look for common threads in your work history and for skills that apply most to the job.

How to use keywords in a resume summary

A professional summary can do more than catch the attention of the recruiter. It can also make your resume more ATS-friendly. 

It's a great place where you can squeeze in one or two ATS-friendly keywords , and it will still look natural.

Such keywords can be your industry-relevant hard skills, previous job positions, notable clients, certificates and courses from notable institutions, or a note-worthy university (if you recently finished your degree). 

Moreover, you should add keywords and relevant skills from the job listing.

Don't get too creative with the heading, though. While replacing the professional summary headline with “Snapshot” sounds great, ATS doesn't know what it means and therefore wouldn't recognize it.

Pro tip: Remember, while it's important to incorporate keywords into your resume summary, it's crucial to ensure these keywords align with your abilities and experiences. The ATS might shortlist your resume, but the hiring manager will quickly realize in an interview if those keywords were merely resume filler. Always maintain honesty and authenticity while drafting your summary.

Professional resume summary examples for most common careers

Now that you know the ins and outs of writing a resume summary, here are a few examples that can inspire you when writing your summary:

Professional summary example for customer service

Performance-driven and motivated customer service rep offering 4+ years of relevant experience. Eager to join the Techia team and contribute to the growth of the company. In the previous role, the ability to make customers comfortable and relaxed allowed for 98% customer service survey results and had 25% more sales than the average employer. 

Professional resume summary example for retail

Dedicated and hard-working storekeeper with a Business Administration degree. Eager to bring my strong attention to detail and accuracy to J&R inc. Adept at communicating with vendors and suppliers, coordinating various business operations, and maintaining documents and files in order. In the past jobs brought an extra $50k of sales per quarter and increased customer satisfaction by 20%. 

Professional summary example for nursing resume

Motivational and resourceful Orthopedic Nurse with 10 years of experience with in-depth knowledge in trauma recovery, aggressive pain management techniques, and post-surgical recovery. Especially proficient in providing external fixation care and continuous motion therapy along with neuromuscular status monitoring. Committed to work as an orthopedic nurse for people who are struggling with mobility issues due to accidental injuries and degenerative disease affecting bones and muscles.

Professional summary example for administrative assistant

Self-driven and accurate Executive Assistant skilled at performing various office/administrative duties, such as coordinating meetings, maintaining calendar and schedule, filing documents, and managing company correspondence. Highly self-motivated with a solid work ethic and multitasking abilities.

Professional summary example for data analyst

A graduate in Information Systems with two years of hands-on data analytics experience. Passionate about working with large amounts of data and to turn this data into information, information into insight and insight into business decisions. I also have a keen interest in the field of data visualization and am fascinated by the power to compress complex datasets into approachable and appealing graphics.

Professional summary example for warehouse worker

Hard-working and dedicated Warehouse Worker with 2+ years of extensive experience in inspecting incoming shipments, preparing and processing orders, and performing various administrative duties. The Employee of the Month Award winner with a strong attention to detail and accuracy and determination to achieve exceptional results. Offers excellent time management skills and important ability to work independently or in a team.

Professional summary example for receptionist 

Customer-oriented and performance-driven Front Desk Assistant skilled at performing various administrative tasks, improving all office processes and procedures, and providing support to Office Managers. Great communicator with a Business Administration degree from a well-known university and an exceptional ability to remain calm in stressful situations. Possess well-developed communication skills and excellent time management abilities.

Resume summary example for management

A Project Manager with 16 years of experience in IT projects. Responsible for the management of teams of up to 15 direct and 7 indirect employees. Has High level knowledge in project execution using best practices of waterfall and agile methodologies. High level knowledge of Jupyter Notebook, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Word. 

Professional summary example for project manager

Logistics & Planning PMO for Anheuser-Busch InBev with +7 years of experience in Supply Chain Operations & Project Management. Lived and worked for ABI in 6 cities in past years, managed +300 direct & indirect employees and +0.5 billion BRL over the years. At ABI experienced the routines in breweries operations & urban distribution. As Project Manager build the Zone Logistics Project area for ABI LAN, being responsible for 4.0 Supply Chain, integrating the technologies WMS, YMS, TMS and Tracking.

Resume summary example for stay-at-home mother

Performance-driven and knowledgeable Stay At Home Mother skilled at conducting detailed market research, developing new sales tools, creating reports, and promoting products and services. Certified Marketing Management Professional with an extensive knowledge of multiple marketing software programmes, great communication skills, and excellent teamwork abilities. Currently looking for any Marketing related remote part-time job.

Professional summary example for student

Self-driven and knowledgeable computer science student with demonstrated experience in developing user-friendly software applications, coding and testing features, and providing engineering support. Oracle Certified Professional with extensive knowledge of multiple programming languages and software development tools, excellent problem-solving skills, and ability to perform well in a team.

How to write a resume summary if you're a fresh graduate/student?

If you’re a student or a fresh graduate, you probably don’t have much to brag about in your resume yet.

But that’s true only to some extent. Even as an entry-level candidate, you already have at least some experience and skills. You just have to find the right way to articulate them.

What’s more, it’s quite likely that the other candidates are just as inexperienced as you are. After all, experienced professionals rarely apply for entry-level positions. 

Because of that, your primary goal is to stand out and make the employer remember you . And you can do that even if your experience is limited.

It’s not like you’ve just spent most of your life at school and learned nothing. You just need to understand how your studies intersect with the job’s requirements.

 Here’s how you can write your professional resume summary as a student/fresh graduate:

• State your field of study, degree, and GPA (if it’s above 3.0).
• Mention relevant skills gained in internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work.
• Add related coursework or school projects.
• Also, try to translate your most notable achievements into numbers. Maybe you were on the student council. You can mention how you received 800 votes and helped organize 5 large school events that were attended by 2,000 students.

In the end, a fresh graduate resume summary should look a bit like this: 

Hired by Bupa — Business Administration Intern

• An adaptable and responsible graduate seeking an entry-level position in the Business Analytics market, Business Consultancy or Financial market.
• My double degree in Business and Law and my previous job as a financial controller have provided me with a well-rounded background and enabled me to develop an analytical/logical approach to tasks, software skills, and the ability to work under pressure.
• In short, I am reliable, hard-working with strong attention to detail and eager to learn about new technologies and business issues. I am able to work well both on my own initiative and as a part of a team. I’m also able to travel abroad.

How to write a resume summary as an experienced professional?

If you have 10 to 15 years of professional experience under your belt, you’ve probably developed a long list of job-related accomplishments. Your qualifications summary is the ideal place to showcase the most impressive of them. 

On the other, with that extent of experience, it may be quite challenging to pick and choose the right information for your professional summary. 

So what should you do? 

• Start by carefully rereading the job advertisement.
• Highlight any skills you already possess that match this job offer.
• See if you can think of any past accomplishments that show how you successfully used those skills in your previous job.

For instance, are you an experienced sales and customer service professional? Sell it. Mention how you developed strategies that resulted in an over 15 % increase in new customers. Or how your rewards program reached a customer success rate of over 45 %. Numbers can be much more persuasive than words . 

Also, always remember to use action words and relevant keywords.

Here’s a professional summary resume example from an experienced professional: 

HubSpot — Director of Business Development Resume Summary Example

• Passionate Business Amplifier.
• Thrives in complex market segment entry and sales and marketing launch plans for technical products and services. Founder of the highly-impactful "HubSpot for Veterans" initiative. 
• Proven Growth Consultant and Entrepreneurial Coach for over 200 organizations. Advocate of lean startup and data-backed strategy. 
• Leadership spans career with direct application towards startups, Techstar accelerators, corporate business development, and government. ROI-focused relationship builder.
• Lifelong teacher and learner: Startup Institute, Techstarts, HubSpot Partner programs.

How to write a professional summary if you’re changing careers?

As a career changer , try to show how your past experience relates to the position you’re applying for or how it can help your future employer grow.

Are you a software developer who wants to work with a new programming language, let’s say Python? You can mention how you’ve already developed 7 mobile apps using JavaScript and HTML. Even something as small as completing a Python online course on CodeAcademy can work wonders.

But if you still feel like you don’t have any relevant job experience, consider writing a resume objective instead. Instead of past achievements and experiences, it highlights your transferable skills and motivation. Moreover, it explains why you seek to switch to a different industry.

On the other hand, make sure that you have absolutely no other solution, as a resume summary always makes a better impression than a resume objective . To learn more about a resume objective just scroll to the following chapter. 

Here’s an example of a professional summary for someone changing careers:

• Marketing professional with over three years of experience in digital advertising, aiming to transition from marketing to human resources
• Certified Human Resources Assistant with a working knowledge of all software programs needed for the position such as Bamboo HR and Zenefits.
• Was in charge of recruiting and supervising summer interns and co-managing marketing budgets.
• Won the Employee of the Month Award for completing all assigned tasks and projects in a timely manner.

How to write a professional summary for a resume with no work experience? 

A lot of people with no work experience default to writing a resume objective because they think they have nothing to summarize.

However, this usually ends up backfiring as the resume objective brings little to the table. That’s because the resume objective’s main focus is on you as opposed to a professional summary which focuses on solving the needs of a company.

Also, writing a summary objective can make you appear more inexperienced than you truly are. 

Instead, as someone with no work experience, you can write a professional summary by including: 

• Your education level;
• Adjectives that emphasize your work ethic (such as competent, decisive, and accountable);
• Relevant skills gained at school, volunteering , or internships; 
• Professional hobbies (for example if applying for an IT position, include that app side project you worked on). 

In addition, if you have volunteered or interned, know that regardless of whether they were paid or not, they're still considered work experience. As the skills and knowledge gained as a volunteer or intern can be quite valuable to an employer. 

With that said, here’s an example of a professional summary for someone with no work experience:

People United Foundation – Fundraiser Volunteer 

• Resourceful and talented fundraiser who uses new forms of technology and existing techniques to help raise money for organizations and groups. 
• Experienced in raising funds for various charitable and nonprofit institutes. 
• Adept at researching and presenting an array of innovative fundraising ideas to a variety of donor audiences. 
• Keen negotiator with exceptional communication time management and networking abilities. 

Resume summary vs resume objective and resume profile

While these terms are often interchangeable, a resume summary, a resume objective, and a resume profile are all slightly different things. Scroll below to see how. 

What is a resume objective?

First of all, a resume objective isn't the same thing as a resume summary. They share several common features but each serves a different purpose.

Like a resume summary, a resume objective also sits at the top of your resume. Though, it’s a bit shorter — usually about one to two sentences long . 

The biggest difference is that instead of your past accomplishments, it details your future goals.

Although a resume objective might not help hiring managers decide whether you’re qualified enough to solve their company’s problems, it may help you shift their attention away from your lack of experience.

With that said, resume objectives are a bit old-fashioned as they used to be more common in past. So it should only be written as a last resort.

What is a resume profile?

Most people think that the resume profile and resume summary are the same exact thing. And they aren't that wrong. 

However, there are some slight differences between the two. 

A resume profile tends to be a little longer than a resume summary. Still, you should try to keep it under 500 characters. Additionally, while a resume summary is simply a condensed version of your resume placed at the top of it, a resume profile focuses more on your professional accomplishments and successes. 

Still — a resume summary and a resume profile are basically the same thing. So don't worry too much about the difference between the two. Just make sure you'll include either of them in your resume. 

Final tips and tricks

We've already mentioned almost everything you need to write an effective professional summary. These are some of the final tips that didn't fit anywhere else in this guide:

• Emphasize proven experience. Instead of simply listing your skills , mention your previous accomplishments. For example, it’s much more impactful to say that you had your articles published in Forbes than to plainly claim that you’re a skilled writer.
• Try to avoid using the word “I” . It's not really necessary, especially if you write in bullet points. 
• Structure it well. Take it from a professional writer — bullet points are a godsend when you need to structure your text clearly without giving it too much effort. Not only will they naturally order your resume statement into clearly delineated logical parts, but they'll also make it look good and read well. Also, make sure to write your current job title in bold.
• Keep it short. Your summary shouldn’t be longer than 5 short sentences (or bullet points). Having a long summary sort of defeats the point of having a resume summary at all. Don’t add random things. The key is to be specific.
• Read it after yourself. When you’re finished writing, read through your summary from the perspective of a hiring manager, asking “Why should we hire you?” .

Oh, and if you want to turn your LinkedIn profile into a polished resume with just one click, we've got you covered.

How to write a resume summary?

Write your professional summary last. It’s surprisingly easy once you’ve already written other sections of your resume. In the first bullet point, include your job title and years of experience. Then cherry-pick the most impressive achievements and cram them into 4–5 bullet points.

There are some slight differences between a resume profile and a resume summary. A resume profile tends to be a little longer than a resume summary. Still, you should try to keep it under 500 characters. A resume profile also focuses more on your professional accomplishments and successes than a resume summary. 

Kaja Jurčišinová

Kaja Jurcisinova is a fresh graduate and a junior copywriter at Kickresume. Kaja completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at the University of St Andrews in 2018 and graduated with a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen in 2021. She was an intern at multiple cultural institutions across Europe, including the Dutch Museum Association in Amsterdam, the Matter of Art Biennale in Prague, and the European Cultural Centre in Venice. At the moment, she resides in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland.

Hungry for more?

How to put your education on a resume [+examples], how to describe your work experience on a resume [+examples], let your resume do the work..

Join 5,000,000 job seekers worldwide and get hired faster with your best resume yet.