Career Summary

A career is an individual's journey through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define a career and the term is used in a variety of ways.

A career summary is a section of your resume that includes a brief overview of your experience, skills, and accomplishments targeted to the job you are applying for.

Career Summary is also known as the following:

☛ Career Profile

☛ Career Objective

☛ Career Highlights

☛ Summary of Qualifications

The Career Summary section of your resume, also known as a Career Highlights, Career Profile or Summary of Qualifications, focuses on your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job.

Much like a cover letter, it is beneficial to modify and tailor your Career Objective to target the specific needs of each employer.

If you are having a hard time assessing your skills, get help. Ask your colleagues, instructors and supervisors what they see as your key qualifications. Review your performance evaluations. What do others say about the quality of your work? Then write a list of your top five marketable credentials.

A well-written career summary can make your resume shine amongst competitors in the applicant pool.

You should take following steps to create a winning career summary:

☛ Conduct Research on Your Ideal Job

☛ Assess Your Credentials

☛ Relay the Value You Bring to the Table

☛ Add a Headline

☛ Focus on Your Goal

☛ Proofread, Refine and Perfect

The summary is the first item on the resume, after your contact information.

The purpose:

☛ Briefly overview your accomplishments that are relevant to the position you want.

☛ Effectively capture your relevant skills and experience.

☛ Match the qualifications that the company is asking for in the job description.

State your area of expertise if you do not have a professional title but you have experience or training in the field of your career objective.

Two Types of career summary statements:

☛ State your professional title

☛ State your area of expertise

State your professional title (which you have earned through experience, education, or training), along with a few relevant points such as how much experience you have or areas you specialize in.

It is important to take the time to write a career summary that is a strong match with your jobs of interest.

The more closely you can target your profile to the employer's needs, the better your results will be. Start by searching jobs for your ideal position. Compare the ads and write a list of common job requirements and preferred qualifications.

A professional career summary in a resume exists to attract the attention of employers. It gives a brief summary of your experience and skill, with emphasis on what the employer might want to see first.

Use your knowledge of the company you want to work for. Do a bit of research and it will not be time wasted.

Write an effective summary and put it right at the top of your resume. Immediately command attention with relevance and vitality.

Carefully write and rewrite the summary for optimal results. In a few clear words describe your experience, accomplishments, primary and secondary skills, job objectives and personal characteristics.

It is good to use technical specifics in your descriptions to convey real and relevant knowledge. Incorporate each technical detail into short descriptions of no more than 2-3 words.

First impressions are lasting impressions. Is your summary persuasive and free of errors? Is your tone appropriate for your career field? Avoid empty, generalized statements such as "excellent communication skills."