When you meet someone in person for the first time, how do you make the best impression? With a strong handshake and confident introduction.
Making a good impression is what a summary paragraph or bullet points should do for you on your resume. In this post, I’ll teach you how to write a solid summary so that your introduction on paper can be strong and confident, too.
But first, do the necessary prep work to write compelling content for your summary. If you haven’t already, read the first two parts of the “How to Write a Solid Summary Statement for Your Resume” series.
In “Part I: Job Description and STAR,” I described why a summary is crucial to representing yourself professionally. I also detailed the first two steps for writing your resume summary:
Step #1: Find a job description.
Step #2: Explore your career successes.
Once you’ve done that prep work, read “Part II: Parts of the Summary Statement and Job Title Line,” where I outline Step #3: Write the sections of your resume summary.
As a review, the five components of the resume summary include:
1. Job Title (Covered in the last post.)
2. Summary Paragraph or Bullet Points
3. Branding Statement
4. Technical Skills / Areas of Expertise
5. Quote
This post covers Step 3.2: Structure your summary paragraph or bullet points. Keep reading this blog series for Steps 3.3–3.5.
Step 3.2 Structure your summary paragraph or bullet points.
After the job title line, you can go right into your summary paragraph. (Or, you might have a branding statement first, but I’ll discuss that later.) Like any paragraph, there will be an introductory sentence, the body of the paragraph, and a concluding sentence. Let’s dissect these parts of an impactful summary paragraph or bullet points.
What’s the best way to start your summary?
You might lead off the introductory sentence of your summary with an action verb, a noun that further describes your job title, or an adjective/noun combination. The choice is yours.
In the following example, I opened with an adjective Strategic / noun Growth / noun HR Partner combination. However you decide to start your summary paragraph, do so with strong words that show your impact.
If you prefer the look of bullet points, you might use this style instead:
What’s in the rest of your summary?
However you decide to start the first sentence of your summary, the remainder (the body of your paragraph) should contain information about what you’re most known for in the workplace or the skills you want to use. Those items should match what the employer needs from your analysis of the job description.
In this case, working on targeted staffing policies, talent acquisition, and organizational development initiatives were three of the primary duties this person performed at her previous job, which matched what the job lead stated as responsibilities for that position.
The rest of the paragraph should contain sentences that substantiate the first sentence. Show how you do what you do. Recruit high-quality personnel shows how this candidate worked to have successful talent acquisition programs, for example.
Use numbers or achievement metrics whenever possible. State years of experience or highlight exceptional successes with monetary amounts or percentages.
Write in parallel to keep your summary grammatically correct.
Another essential rule to follow when writing the sentences in your summary is to write them in parallel to each other. When you’re writing a list of bullets, sequence of sentences, or phrases within a sentence separated by commas, begin each one with the same type of word. For example, if you have a list of bullets beginning with action verbs, don’t suddenly start one with a noun.
However, you can start the first sentence in the sequence with one type of word, then switch all of the following items to a different one. But you should not then switch back to the first type of word or to a third word type.
In the above example, the summary begins with the adjective/noun combo, Strategic Growth HR Partner. The following sentences all begin with a verb. This is correct.
Here is an example, first NOT written in parallel, then corrected to show how writing in parallel reads smoother.
Switching from the original noun Recipient to the verb Recognized in the first bullet point is fine. But changing it back to a noun Educational preceptor and then back to a verb Granted is incorrect. That’s too much mixing and matching of word types.
Writing the bullets in parallel looks like this:
Rewriting the second bullet to start with a verb, Oversaw, and moving educational preceptor to the end of the sentence starts all three bullets with a verb. Using consistent word types lets the reader glance through the bullet points more efficiently.
Writing in parallel is a crucial rule to follow when writing your summary, and all bullets in your resume, for that matter. This makes it easier for the hiring manager’s brain to comprehend your achievements. If you’re not used to writing this way, it’s common to slip up and start a sentence with a new word type. Be sure to double-check for this when proofreading.
What else should I include?
Weave in words that showcase your philosophy about your work and what makes you thrive in your job. In the example for the HR executive, Orchestrate change and next level of success were used in the concluding sentence of the summary paragraph not just because it was necessary for the job but also because my client believed it was important to have that mindset in co-creating a successful organization.
Plus, orchestrating change was what she loved to do. She saw value in making companies more enjoyable for employees by creating inclusive policies and, at the same time, improving the business's financial well-being. Writing about your thought leadership, workplace values, and what you find most enjoyable about your career will help the hiring manager determine if you’re a good fit for their corporate culture.
The strategy of a well-put-together summary statement with an introduction, body, and conclusion will show your prospective employer that you “get it.” The statement should bring together your role, top responsibilities, most significant accomplishments, and values to demonstrate that you understand what the employer needs.
In addition to your job title and summary paragraph or bullet points, you may also decide to include a branding statement, a section of technical skills or areas of expertise, and/or quotes. I write about these additional useful sections of the professional summary in the next three parts of this series. Keep reading to create a solid summary section that will win you the interview.
Want to have all six posts on this topic in one convenient e-book? Download “How To Write a Solid Summary Statement for Your Resume.” (Coming soon.)
Need personal assistance with your resume or job search? Book a complimentary consultation today and grow your career with Kristin.
Kristin S. Johnson, CJSS, CCMC, COPNS, CG3C, CBBSC
Job Search Coach and Resume Writer
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