Helpful Career Summary Examples

A career summary is a section that you include at the top of your resume that highlights your professional background. It consists of a few sentences that give hiring managers a quick overview of your qualifications for the position. When writing your career summary, only include information that is directly relevant to the role you’re applying to. Try to find a way to stand out and entice an employer to continue reading through your resume.

Learn more: Important Character Traits for the Workplace

Follow these steps when writing your career summary for a resume:

1. Determine if you need one

Career summaries are best for people with a lot of work experience in the same field. It shows that you understand your industry and hope to continue to move forward doing similar work. If you are a candidate with little job experience or looking to change careers, then you may want to opt for a resume objective statement. This is essentially a line or two that explains your intentions for applying to a job along with your career goals.

2. Create an elevator pitch

If you decide a career summary serves you best, then start to brainstorm what value you can add to a company. Create an elevator pitch that essentially advertises what you can bring to the table. Think about your skills, experiences, and accomplishments in relation to the role you’re applying to.

3. Include the most important information

When it’s time to actually write your career summary, limit yourself to one to four lines. Only include information that is relevant and helps you stand out as a candidate. This shouldn’t be an entire novel, but rather an overview of your professional experience.

When writing a career summary, consider including the following:

• Keywords: Read through the job posting for keywords. Try to figure out ways to incorporate them into your summary. For instance, if you notice the job description includes specific skills the company is looking for, make sure to include which of those skills you have in your statement. These keywords can capture a hiring manager’s interest and even help you get past applicant tracking systems.
• Quantifiable data: Although qualitative information, such as your skill set, is important, employers are looking for tangible results too. Including specific numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts give employers a clearer picture of your accomplishments.
• Specific experiences: This is your chance to stand out as a candidate so include experiences that are sure to impress a hiring manager. You could also include your previous job title, especially when applying to a similar position.
• Hard and soft skills: Your hard skills are your technical abilities. For instance, having a working knowledge of a program or system is a hard skill. Your soft skills help you work well with others. They might include communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
• Accomplishments: If you have a particularly impressive achievement, share it in your summary. Whether it be leading a team to success or winning an award for your work. These things show that you’re a go-getter and strive for success.

Learn more: How to Identify and Develop Soft Skills

Use these career summary examples as inspiration when creating your own:

Example: Copywriter

Motivated wordsmith with over 11 years of marketing experience. Skilled in copywriting, copyediting, content ideation, and social media. Proficient in a variety of content management systems, including Drupal, WordPress, and Craft CMS. Worked with a variety of big-name clients, such as McDonald’s, Toyota, and Bath & Body Works.

Example: High school math teacher

Passionate educator with over a decade of experience working in low-income communities. Eager to help students of all backgrounds reach their potential and develop an aptitude for mathematics. Willing to work one-on-one with students who need extra support and guidance. Working knowledge of GeoGebra, Math Editor, and Microsoft Mathematics.

Learn more: Teaching Careers: How to Become a Teacher

Example: Personal trainer

Energetic personal trainer who loves helping others reach their goals. Worked as a Zumba instructor for over five years. Committed to creating workout plans that will lead to lasting results and meaningful lifestyle changes. Achieved a solid five-star rating on Google Reviews.

Example: Researcher

Lead researcher with four years of experience in zoology. Collected an analyzed over 10,000 samples over the course of my career. Passionate about finding solutions to climate change and ways we can protect our most vulnerable species’ habitats.

Example: Hairdresser

Licensed hairdresser and cosmetologist with an extensive background in hair conditioning treatments. Enjoys working with clients from all walks of life, from those getting their first professional haircut to A-list celebrities. Believes that quality hair treatments should be available to those of all economic backgrounds. Eager to provide my hairstyling services to a good cause.

Example: Dog handler

Dog lover with two years of experience working in dog day cares. Life-long passion for working with animals and understanding canine behavior. Experience overseeing play yards, correcting bad behavior, basic training, basic grooming, and working the front desk. Eager to learn any point of sales systems or necessary software.

Example: Web designer

Senior web designer skilled in HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Windows, and Adobe Suite. Over the course of my 10-year career, I have worked with major technology brands, such as Google and Microsoft. Recently won a Gold Award for Best Website Design in Web Design Weekly. Proven success in SEO, page loading speeds, and mobile applications.