How to Structure a Career Summary

I'm a recruiter and hiring manager There is a huge trend I see that is ruining your first impression as an applicant Here's what it is: Generic professional summaries The typical professional summary I see will have the following: Results-driven Detail-oriented Great communicator Full of fluff and buzzwords The same boring professional summary Not noting anything specific to the job description Vague and overused language Here's a recent example from a candidate for a project manager role: Skilled project manager with a proven track record of success. Experienced in leading and managing complex projects from start to finish. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Seeking a challenging and rewarding project manager role where I can use my skills and experience to make a positive contribution. Yawn 🥱 You just ruined your chance at a great first impression I can tell you put zero effort into it Which means I'm going to put zero effort into reading the rest of your resume Want to catch my eye? 👀 Try this on for a professional summary formula -Use industry-specific keywords that showcase your soft/hard skills -Show quantitative results and measurable impact (it's okay if you list these in your bullet points in your resume later on, but bring them to my attention now) -Be specific, don't leave things open to interpretation -Tailor it to the job you are applying for (this takes less than 5 minutes) -Keep it at about 4 sentences maximum Here's how that candidate may do it differently: Project Manager with 10+ years of experience in the technology industry with a proven ability to lead and manage complex projects from start to finish. Expertise in Agile and Waterfall methodologies, as well as experience with various project management software. Oversaw implementation of a $600K e-commerce feature, achieving key milestones on time and under budget, resulting in a 27% increase in annual revenue. Aligned existing e-commerce framework with expansion initiatives, increasing site traffic by 30% and generating $200K+ in new revenue in just six months. Well, hello there...🔥🔥 Now you've got my attention This is a candidate I feel like I NEED to learn more about See the difference between the two? Your professional summary is your movie trailer Your appetizer or first bite into a meal How do you want people to feel about your meal or movie trailer? Do you want them feeling bored and unenthused? Or do you want them eager to learn and want more? If your average hiring manager is spending less than 10 seconds on your resume You need to make the best use of that time in the spotlight Follow this formula and you're guaranteed more callbacks P.S. I share more tips on points like this on a resume in my newsletter. Join the movement with 500 other job seekers Link: https://lnkd.in/g_-492fv

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

A client once begged me to "just stuff the resume with keywords" so it would pass the ATS screening. I refused. Because I don't create resumes that trick software at the expense of human readability. That's a short-term win that leads to long-term failure. I've always known that text-dense resumes are a barrier to getting hired. Dense paragraphs are exhausting to read, and in today's fast-paced hiring environment, "hard to read" means "won't get read." I've watched qualified executives get passed over simply because their achievements were hidden in walls of text that hiring managers naturally avoid. Let me share something interesting about resume screening: Hiring managers scan resumes in F- or Z-shaped patterns. They start at the top left, read across, then either continue down the left side or zigzag back across. If your achievements aren't strategically placed in these scanning paths—particularly in your career summary—they simply won't be seen, no matter how impressive they are. That's why I'm relentless about placement. Your career summary must answer: - What are you known for professionally? - What are you most proud of in your career? - What specific achievements differentiate you? (Awards? Publications? Sales targets?) And yes, we'll use 1-2 influential phrases for context, but like salt in a recipe—a pinch enhances, too much ruins everything. I won't compromise on strategic placement because I've seen what happens when we ignore how hiring managers actually read. Save this list for the next time you update your resume or repost it to help a job seeker in your network. #Careers #Resumes #LinkedInTopVoices