How to Write a Resume About Section

If looking like 40 million other job seekers is not the impression you want to make on hiring managers then it may be time to rethink your resume's career summary. It's not that career summaries are bad, it's more that they've become so generalized that they all blend in together. Let's consider a switch to a career snapshot. So what's the difference? Here's the intro to a summary: "Successful sales professional with 30 years' experience in retail..." This generic approach: - Does not answer the big 3 questions hiring managers ask in their initial scan - Focuses on generalities and years of experience that don't differentiate you - Blends in with every other qualified applicant - Wastes your 15-20 second window to grab attention Here's a career snapshot: "Award-winning chief financial officer overseeing $500M global operations expansion, saving $50M in YTD costs while increasing market share by 40%. Analyzes financial strengths and weaknesses of Fortune 500 companies and implements corrective actions to raise cash flow a minimum of 30%/year." This modern approach: - Engages readers with quantifiable achievements - Differentiates you from competitors with specific accomplishments - Highlights skills valuable to the position and company - Proves/validates what you've accomplished Here are my top 3 tips to help you write a compelling career snapshot: 1. Brainstorm Your Unique Selling Points Don't just list generic skills everyone in your field has. Identify your specific strengths, skills, and qualifications that make you different. 2. Showcase Accomplishments, Not Capabilities Instead of "Skilled in managing capital expansions," try "Managed $45M in capital expansions, raising Amelia Urgent Care from a level 2 to a level 3 trauma center in four years." The difference is dramatic—one is vague and forgettable, while the other communicates concrete value and achievement. 3. Add Power With Metrics and Results Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Numbers provide credibility and immediate visual impact: "Expanded market share 200% for more than 75 services in 15 states" "Increased year-over-year revenues 22% and reduced staff turnover rates 34%" These statistics transform you from a potential asset to a proven one. Read this article for two more tips (with examples) for how to write an impactful career snapshot: https://lnkd.in/ewHdvvzK 📌 Save this post for your next resume update. #Careers #Resumes #JobSearch

As a recruiter, I love a 'Skills' section on a resume. It catches my attention BUT that doesn't always mean it leads to me scheduling an interview. This mistake is common across resumes including a 'Skills' section but not landing interviews. The mistake is overlying on your 'Skills" section without fleshing it out in your 'Work Experience' section. Here’s an example of what I mean. Let’s say I was applying to a recruiter job with a requirement of sourcing passive talent using LinkedIn Recruiter. Based on the job requirements, I'd highlight relevant experience in both my 'Skills' and 'Work Experience' section.   Within my ‘Skills’ section I’d have “LinkedIn Recruiter, Passive Sourcing Strategies, Boolean Search Strings”. (because of the relevance to the job requirements) I’d call this out in my 'Skills' section to catch attention. To convert that attention to interest I would continue to build upon it in my ‘Work Experience’ section. This is how I'd flesh out my ‘Skills’ section in my “Work Experience” section. “Developed passive sourcing strategies using Boolean strings in LinkedIn Recruiter to hire technical talent resulting in a 37% reduction in time to fill” This shows WHAT I know relative to the job requirements in the 'Skills" section. That catches attention. Then I showed HOW my skills were used in the 'Work Experience' section. Showing how actually gives context on the impact I had using the skills the job needs. The 'Skills' section can be great in showing WHAT you know. But that isn't enough. Recruiters are looking for HOW you used what you know. A 'Skills' section should be used in tandem with your 'Work Experience' section, not as a substitute. (PS: When I say 'Skills', do not include soft skills. I'm begging you.)

More than 90% of résumés have a skills section, but it’s useless unless you do this. Listing skills isn’t enough. Your résumé needs to prove them. Too many résumés have a generic skills section that looks like this: ➣ Teamwork ➣ Communication ➣ Leadership ➣ Data analysis Sound familiar? The problem? Anyone can list these skills. What sets you apart is showing how you applied them. ********************** 🔹 Turn skills into achievements → Hiring managers don’t care about what you claim to be good at → They care about results. ✖︎ weak: Project management ✔︎ strong: led a team of 5 to deliver a $500k project 2 months ahead of schedule ✖︎ Weak: Data analysis ✔︎ Strong: Analyzed customer data, reducing churn by 30% through predictive modeling ✖︎ : Public speaking ✔︎ Strong: Delivered keynote at APH conference, engaging 200+ industry professionals 📌 If a skill isn’t backed by a result, it’s just a keyword. ********************* 🔹 How to fix your résumé today → Integrate skills into work experience ↳ Show how you applied them in real situations → Use metrics and results ↳ Numbers add credibility and impact → Customize for the job ↳ Match your skills to what the company actually needs Your skills don’t get you hired! Your impact does. ✅ Don’t just list skills; prove them ✅ Hiring managers don’t want buzzwords, they want evidence what’s the most overused skill you see on résumés? ♻️Repost for others #careerprogress #résumétips #jobsearch #skills #hiring

7 LinkedIn About Sections That Land Six-Figure Jobs: 1. The Authority Opener Your professional identity and expertise are your opening line. But instead of the traditional “I am a [your role] with X years of experience…”? Lead with this template: "I help [specific audience] achieve [specific result] through [your unique method]." This immediately positions you as a solution provider rather than just a job seeker. 2. The Transformation Story Use 2-3 concise sentences that highlight key professional moments & connect your past experiences to your current expertise. For example: “I started in [Field A] where I [built X skill]. After [key moment], I shifted to [Field B]. Since then, I’ve [metric/result].” This creates an emotional connection while demonstrating adaptability. 3. The Results Showcase Include 3-5 quantifiable achievements from your career & use metrics like revenue generated, time saved, efficiency improved, etc. Then format them as bullet points for easy scanning, for example: “Grew [revenue/users] by [metric] with [project]”. This section proves you're not just talking. You've delivered measurable value. 4. The Problem-Solver Identify the top industry challenges your target employers face & briefly explain how your expertise addresses each one. Use this template to do it: [problem solved] + [measurable outcome] + [approach] For example: “Reduced churn by 22% YoY by implementing health scoring in Gainsight”; Use industry-specific terms to demonstrate insider knowledge. 5. The Value Proposition Clearly articulate what makes your approach unique & explain the specific methodology or framework you use. Then, connect your methods directly to business outcomes. For example: “Customer Success Lead combining playbooks + automation to raise retention” Use this template: [Role] combining [strength 1] + [strength 2] to [business outcome] 6. The Strategic Keyword Placement Research 10-15 industry-specific keywords from job descriptions and leverage them in your About section. Here’s how: Copy up to 5 job descriptions for your target role to a blank doc Head over to ResyMatch.io, paste the job descriptions, and run a scan Naturally incorporate these terms throughout your About section. This improves your visibility in recruiter searches. 7. The Personal Touch Add one brief personal detail that makes you memorable. For example: “I play piano and occasionally perform at neighborhood open mics.” Not only does this make your About section more authentic, but it can also create a great conversation starter during interviews! 📄 Want the exact LinkedIn optimization playbook that our clients use to land offers in ~15.5 weeks with a $44k raise (without applying online)? 👉 Book a free 30-min Clarity Call & we’ll break it down for you: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

🔹 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻! Ever feel like you're drowning in conflicting resume advice? 😅 Let’s break it down with some real talk from reviewing and writing 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 of resumes: 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗽: Your resume needs the essentials—Contact Information, Experience, Education, and Skills. These are your resume's foundation. 2️⃣ 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿-𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀: Depending on your career goals and current situation, consider adding Certifications, Affiliations, Projects, Volunteer Work, or Leadership roles. These extras can be especially helpful if you're switching careers, early in your career, or re-entering the workforce after a break. 3️⃣ 𝗕𝘆𝗲-𝗕𝘆𝗲, 𝗢𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Objectives are out. Instead, grab attention with a Professional Summary, Career Snapshot, or Executive Profile. (P.S. this is not a mandatory section, but can help provide instant credibility and set the stage for the remainder of the review of your resume.) 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲: 🔹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 / 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 / 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁: [Years of experience] [Your field/role] with [core areas of expertise]. Proven track record of [major achievement/track record]. Successfully [additional achievements/impact]. Recognized for [additional accomplishments or unique value]. Example: "Director of Finance with over 15 years of experience in corporate finance, investment management, and strategic financial planning. Expertise in financial analysis, risk management, and team leadership. Proven track record of managing a $500 million portfolio, achieving consistent annual returns, and driving organizational profitability through data-driven decision-making and innovative financial strategies." 🔍 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆: It’s crucial to understand the standards in your field. Do a quick Google search, join industry groups, and talk to your network to get the inside scoop. This helps you focus on the most relevant skills and experiences, making your resume a standout! 💼 Your resume is more than a list of jobs—it's your professional story. Let it reflect your unique journey and the value you bring! What’s the best resume tip you've picked up? #resume #resumewriting #jobsearch

I reviewed 50+ Data Science resumes in the past months. Here are the most common (and easy-to-fix) mistakes 👇 𝟭/ 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹) Your summary section is the FIRST impression that you give recruiters, hiring managers and interviewers. Make this section unique to you, and highlighting your BEST work. → Avoid vague statements, like "Passionate data scientist with experience in machine learning." → Include at least 1 project from your past experience that has a significant impact. → Keep it concise: aim for 3-4 impactful sentences. 𝟮/ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 Soft skills are as important as technical skills in Data Science. However, soft skills are often missing from Data Scientists’ resumes. → Highlight examples of teamwork and collaboration with cross-functional teams. → Showcase any mentorship or leadership experience, such as guiding junior data scientists or leading project teams. 𝟯/ 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆-𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 Using industry-specific jargon limits your resume's accessibility. Instead opt for commonly-used terminology that resonates with a broader audience, especially non-technical recruiters. → Use well-known business metrics such as revenue, ROI, or customer retention rate to quantify your impacts. → Always pair technical tools or methods with their purpose and impact. 𝟰/ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Career progression is a strong indicator of your value and growth potential. Highlighting your promotions shows that you've consistently exceeded expectations. → Clearly show your career trajectory by listing job titles chronologically. → Quantify the impact of your work at each level, showing how your contributions have scaled as you've advanced in your career. 𝟱/ 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 Recruiters often scan resumes quickly, so your achievements need to be digestible at a glance. → Keep each bullet point to a maximum of two lines for better readability. → Use strong action verbs at the beginning of each bullet point to convey contributions. → Focus on key achievements and results rather than listing every task you've performed. (𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀) 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 Adding a personal touch can make your resume stand out and provide talking points for interviews. → Include 2-3 unique facts about yourself that are NOT related to Data. → Demonstrate interesting hobbies, volunteer work, or personal achievements. → Keep this brief and engaging – this section should be a conversation starter. ♻️ Found this useful? Repost it. 👋🏽 Follow me for daily Data tips & tricks!

As a recruiter for top tech companies, I’ve reviewed 1,000+ resumes. You only need to get these 5 sections right to land 6-figure interviews. 1. Positioning Statement Forget the generic “motivated team player” summary. Your top section should tell me in 3 lines: - Who you are - What kind of problems you solve - Where you’ve done it Example: “Backend engineer with 4 years of experience scaling infra at early-stage startups. Shipped distributed systems handling 50M+ requests/day. Currently focused on latency, observability, and developer experience.” If this section is clear, I’ll keep reading.  If it’s vague, I won’t. 2. Experience (But Structured Like a Case Study) Instead of dumping tasks, each role should answer: - What were you hired to do? - What did you actually build or own? - What changed because of your work? Bullet points should reflect results, not responsibilities. Redesigned caching logic → reduced API latency by 47% across 3 services. Led incident response for system outage → cut recovery time by 60%. That’s what hiring managers remember. 3. Company/Team Context Especially if you worked at a large company, give 1 line of context. “Worked on the Ads ML Infrastructure team at Meta, supporting $XXB in annual revenue.” It helps recruiters understand the scale and environment — fast. 4. Projects Section (Optional, but powerful) For newer engineers or people transitioning into tech, 1-2 serious projects can carry a resume. But only if you show real thinking and impact. Instead of: Built a web app using React and Node. Try: Built a budgeting tool used by 800+ users; integrated Stripe and Plaid APIs, reduced error rate to <0.3%. Show that you didn’t just code, you shipped. 5. Skills That Support the Story Don’t list everything you’ve ever touched. List the tools, stacks, and domains that match what you’re applying for. And reinforce them in your bullet points. “Python” in your skills section means nothing if your experience doesn’t prove you’ve used it in real scenarios. Your resume's job isn’t to tell your life story. It’s to get you in the room. If yours isn’t built to convert, it’s time to rethink it. Repost if this helped. P.S. Follow me if you are a job seeker in the U.S.  I talk about resumes, job search, interview preparation, and more. 

Last week, I reviewed a lot of resumes, and I noticed most didn’t have a summary section. The one that did? It was way too long. The summary section is one of the most important parts of your resume - it’s the first thing recruiters and hiring managers read. Keep it concise, 3–4 sentences max, and use it to highlight who you are, the skills you bring, and the impact you’ve made. No fluff—every sentence should add value. Make sure your summary is tailored to the role (or at least the industry) and includes relevant keywords from the job description. A strong, focused summary sets the tone for your resume and can help you stand out!