What Is a Resume Summary?
A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence overview at the top of your resume. It's the first thing recruiters read and should immediately communicate your value.
Think of it as your 30-second elevator pitch. It answers: Who are you? What do you bring? What are you looking for?
The Formula
[Title] + [Years of Experience] + [Key Skills] + [Top Achievement] + [Career Direction]
Entry-Level Examples
Computer Science Graduate
"Detail-oriented CS graduate from Georgia Tech with internship experience at a Fortune 500 fintech. Built a real-time data pipeline processing 50K events/second. Proficient in Python, Java, and AWS."
Marketing Graduate
"Creative marketing graduate managing social media accounts totaling 25K+ followers. Led a campaign that increased organization membership by 180%. Skilled in content creation and Google Analytics."
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Project Manager
"PMP-certified project manager with 7 years leading cross-functional teams of 10-25 in healthcare tech. Delivered 20+ projects totaling $15M, averaging 12% under budget."
Data Analyst
"Data analyst with 4 years transforming complex datasets into actionable insights. Built dashboards saving the marketing team 20 hours/week. Reduced customer churn 15% through predictive analytics."
Sales Professional
"Top-performing SaaS rep consistently exceeding quota by 120-150%. Closed $2.3M ARR in 2025, ranking #2 of 45 reps nationally. Expert in consultative selling and enterprise deal cycles."
Senior / Executive Examples
VP of Engineering
"Engineering leader scaling organizations from 10 to 200+ engineers. Built platform powering $500M in annual transactions. Led two launches generating $30M+ first-year revenue."
Marketing Director
"Strategic marketing director with 12 years driving B2B SaaS growth. Scaled company from $2M to $25M ARR. Reduced CAC by 40% while increasing pipeline 3x."
Career Change Examples
Teacher → Corporate Trainer
"Experienced educator transitioning to corporate training with 8 years of curriculum development. Designed programs for 500+ students annually — 92% pass rate. Skilled in instructional design and LMS platforms."
Military → Project Manager
"Former Army logistics officer with 6 years coordinating operations across multiple time zones. Managed supply chains supporting 3,000+ personnel with $12M in assets."
Key Takeaways
- Lead with your strongest credential
- Include at least one number
- Match the job description language
- Keep it to 2-4 sentences
- Update for every application