How to Write a Better Career Summary

With competition for jobs higher than ever, getting recruiters to take notice of your application can be a challenge. Including a strong career summary in your resume can help you to stand out from the crowd, increasing your chance of landing that dream job.

A career summary should clearly set out why you are the best candidate for the job. Rather than using the same career summary for every application you send out, you should tailor it to the particular role for which you are applying. Select the experiences you have had during your career that demonstrate skills relevant to the role, and focus on highlighting these experiences in particular.

The key to writing a successful resume is to practice reflective listening. This means tailoring your resume to reflect the description of the ideal candidate given in the job posting. For example, if the job description states that the company is looking for a self-motivated individual who is able to work independently, then you need to focus primarily on experiences where you solved a problem on your own. In contrast, if the job posting is looking for a team player with great communication skills, then focus on the successes you have had while working as part of a team.

Similarly, you should use the keywords used in the job posting to describe your skills and experiences. If the job posting states that experience in handling purchasing is a must, then make sure you use the keyword "purchasing" in your career summary, rather than a synonym such as "buying" or "procurement." Recruiters will sometimes use software to search for particular keywords before deciding which resumes to read manually.

A career summary does not have to include every job you have ever held. It is important for this summary to be concise and clear, so cut out experiences that add nothing to the presentation of your skills. On the other hand, if you are a new graduate who struggles to find enough material to fill the career summary, don't discount the experience you do have. For example, a part-time job might have taught you how to work as part of a team, even if the industry in which you worked isn't relevant to your chosen career. You can also draw on skills and experiences you gained while volunteering or working on projects related to your studies.

Finally, make sure you proofread your career summary, as well as the rest of your resume. Even better, ask a trusted friend or relative to read it for you. A simple spelling mistake in a resume can make a very poor first impression, which could impact your chance of getting an interview.

The above tips can help you to write a career summary that impresses the recruiter who reads your resume. Making your career summary clear, concise and highly relevant to the role can help you to get an interview for the job you want.

Photo courtesy of phasinphoto at FreeDigitalPhotos.net