The summary section is your opportunity to make bold claims about what you are capable of, and develop enough curiosity in your reader so they will continue perusing your employment history. Your resume has 10 seconds to capture their attention and make bold claims about what you can do, trumpet your greatest accomplishments, and display your core technical and functional skills.
Another good reason to include a summary is this: Some automated systems (job boards) only allow the hiring manager to see the top third of the first page of your resume for free. If he wants to see more, he's going to have to pay. You need to make it worth his while - in both time and money - to read more.
Also, if you omit the summary section, employers will assume that your most recent job showcases the best that you have to offer, and will most likely judge you on that position alone, rather than on your entire career.
If you make generic statements or use too much detail, you'll lose the reader. Like this example:
More than 10 years' experience in various business applications in financial industry. Extensive experience in systems development. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work in a team environment to meet deadlines. Performed responsibilities of a team leader, interfaced with management, business users, domestic as well as international, other development teams, outside third party vendors.
It's boring. It could have been written by almost anybody.
As a hiring manager, if I can't find something that makes a candidate stand out (in a good way) in 10 seconds, I move on to another of the 100+ resumes that are staring me in the face. With this one, I yawned and moved on.
Unfortunately, 99 percent of resumes have similar summary sections -- maybe dressed up with formatting and bullet points, but no better at conveying what's unique about that person.
The fix:
Your summary is correct when it couldn't possibly be about anyone else. Write it using unique specifics that describe only you and what you (and you alone) will bring to your next job.
A high-quality summary section says things like this:
PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE EDITOR - PRINT AND ONLINE.
Resourceful and reliable; efficient and effective.
Over 15 years' editorial experience, specializing in women's service and spirituality topics. A congenial team player who can bridge the gaps between edit, art, and sales while maintaining editorial integrity.
Broad knowledge of all phases of publication, from idea to execution.
This summary section was written by a client of mine who thought she had nothing to offer. (I've shortened it a bit; the actual summary went on to provide some details about the person's specific skills at various phases.) Before working with me, she viewed her career as a disjointed series of jobs that did not relate to each other. I think you will agree that this is an impressive career summary. It was also effective: With this summary leading her resume, she got your dream job - even after being unemployed for three years - within a month of starting her job search.
One-Minute Makeover: Begin your summary with a description of yourself as a professional or manager or executive, starting with two adjectives that highlight your best qualities or detail the number of years' experience that you have.
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Bottom Line: Present your best in a way that matches employers' needs, and your calendar will be bursting with interviews!
I invite you to find out if your resume has any other common resume blunders that could be stalling your job search by reading my FREE 12-page report, "Resume Killers and How to Avoid Them." Just go to [http://www.magneticresume.com]
Scott Shane Holt has seen it all while hiring over 100 people on Wall Street, in good times and bad, and as an executive coach helping managers and other professionals advance in their careers.
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