what to include in profile for resume

Protect your data

This site uses cookies and related technologies for site operation, and analytics as described in our Privacy Policy . You may choose to consent to our use of these technologies, reject non-essential technologies, or further manage your preferences.

• Resume and Cover Letter
• Resume Profile Explained...

Resume Profile Explained (with Examples)

13 min read · Updated on January 17, 2024

Make an impact with a knock-out profile

When it comes to job search success, nothing is more important than ensuring that your resume captures an employer's attention. After all, even the best resumes are useless if no one reads them. Of course, that raises an important question: is there anything you can do to make your resume get the attention it deserves?

In this post, we'll explain how a great resume profile can help you to solve that challenge. We'll explain how a resume profile works, when you should use it in your resume, and how to create a profile that immediately commands interest. Finally, we'll provide several resume profile examples that you can customize and use in your own resume.

What is a resume profile?

If you're already familiar with the resume objective statement or resume summary, then the concept of a resume profile should be easy to understand. Put simply, the resume profile is an introductory paragraph that quickly summarizes your skills and experiences in a way that motivates hiring managers to continue reading your resume.

As you'll discover in our resume profile examples later in the post, a great profile focuses attention on your best skills, experience, and achievements. You can think of it as an elevator pitch for your resume - a quick snapshot that provides just enough information to make the reader want to learn more about you.

Related: Make the Perfect First Impression With Your Resume

What types of resume profiles can you use?

To better understand the resume profile, it may help to look at some of the different types of resume profiles that job seekers can use. There are three different types of common profiles, including the objective statement, summary, and summary of qualifications.

Objective statement

The resume objective statement is often considered obsolete, since it tends to focus more on your career goals than the employer's needs. It's often used by entry level workers with little experience or career-changers who need to explain why their skill set makes them a good candidate for the job. To use it effectively, job candidates need to ensure that they include some language that explains how they can benefit the employer if they're hired. For example:

“Creative social media professional with 3 years of experience and proven results. Skilled in cross-platform engagement enhancement and brand development. Looking for an opportunity to work with a company that prioritizes customer experience and brand loyalty. Experience includes increasing customer engagement by 130% over a six-month period.”

Related : Resume Objective Examples: A Career Objective Guide

Summary paragraph

The resume summary has replaced the objective statement in most modern resumes - and for good reason. This brief paragraph may also mention one or two key skills, but its primary focus is on detailing your important work experience and measurable achievements. As a result, the summary is a preferred option for job seekers with significant experience, since it's designed to demonstrate your value as an employee. Below, is an example of this type of profile statement:

“Accomplished Project Manager with more than ten years of successful team building and project execution expertise. Skilled in process development, workflow management, and collaboration with stakeholders. Received Agile Leader award in 2018. While at ABC Corporation, developed personnel resource allocation program that increased project efficiency by 48% in the first year of use.”

Summary of qualifications

The third option is the summary of qualifications. The main difference between this type of summary and the summary paragraph involves the format choice. Instead of being one block of text, it combines a brief paragraph with several bullet point examples of notable achievements. For example:

Dynamic Team Leader with 7 years of experience in customer management, problem-solving, and team building. Proven to increase team productivity, enhance the customer service experience, and provide real value to an employer.

• Led 30-person team of technical professionals, with 95% customer satisfaction
• Reorganized project workflow for ABC Corporation, increasing efficiency by 45%
• Developed training program that reduced employee onboarding costs by 17%

What elements should you include in your resume profile?

Before you create a resume profile, it's important to think about the types of information you want to include for your reader. What types of qualification is the employer evaluating as part of its hiring decision? Does the job description focus primarily on core skills ? Do you have achievements that are likely to make a positive impression on the hiring manager?

There are many different profile elements that you can include, so you'll need to prioritize based on the employers' needs. The fact is that you won't have room in your profile to cover all these different types of information, so choose wisely:

Skills that are relevant to the position you're seeking

Your length of experience

Notable achievements, preferably ones that you can quantify with real numbers

Core personal characteristics that make you a good fit for the role

Your career aspirations - preferably noted in a way that shows how they align with the company's vision

Related : Top 15 Professional Goals and How to Achieve Them

Again, make sure that you focus attention on the job posting, taking note of every key skill and experience that the employer cites as required qualifications. You'll want to tailor your profile - and the rest of your resume - to align with those stated employer needs.

Pro tip: Make special note of those job requirements, since you will want to use the same language in your resume. Those keywords are essential for ensuring that your resume can satisfy any applicant tracking system screening the employer might be using.

You should also do some research to learn more about the company's culture. That will enable you to further tailor your resume profile to include personal traits that highlight how well you'll fit into that environment. Sometimes, those little details can make the difference between you and another similarly qualified candidate.

How to write your own resume profile: tips

When you're ready to create your resume profile, it's important to know how to do it the right way. Since it's the first thing employers will see after they're done reading your contact details, you need to make sure that it's as compelling as possible. The following tips can help.

Write this part of your resume last

Even though your profile section will be near the top of your resume, you should still create this important section last. Why? Well, it's simple: since the resume profile serves as a summary of your qualifications, it's helpful to get the rest of the resume done before you start on that summary.

Make it brief

Be as concise as you can. Again, think of this profile section as a salesperson's elevator pitch. It doesn't need to tell your entire employment story, but should instead serve as a brief highlight of your greatest hits. As a rule, try to restrict this paragraph to no more than four sentences. If you use a summary of qualifications, include just one or two brief sentences and three or four bullet points.

Choose the best profile type for your job search needs

Which type of profile should you create? If you're an entry-level employee, you may want to focus on a modified objective statement - one that focuses on your career goals, while highlighting the ways in which your skills can benefit the employer. If you have more experience, you may want to rely on the summary paragraph. Just be sure to include at least one measurable achievement to highlight your value.

If you're switching careers and need to focus attention on transferable skills, you may even want to rely on a summary of qualifications. Those bullet points can be a great way to emphasize specific skills and highlight the value that you've provided for previous employers.

Tailor the profile to your desired position

Make sure that your profile aligns with the job you're seeking. You can do this by including some core keywords from the job posting, detailing your qualifications. However, make sure that your profile ultimately aligns with who you are as an employee. If you take the tailoring to extremes, you may end up with a profile that fails to accurately represent your personality and character.

Don't be afraid to add personality

Speaking of personality, this is the place to add that personal touch. Your skills, work experience, and education sections are not appropriate for adding personality, but a few well-chosen words in your profile can help the employer to better understand you as a person.

Of course, make sure that your personal flourishes fit with the type of job you're seeking. For example, a few words about your fun work style will be appreciated if you're applying for a customer service or similar position. That same language may not be as useful if you're seeking a role in a law firm. Use your best judgment as you determine how much personality to put into any profile.

Use measurable achievements

We've already mentioned measurable achievements several times, but it's important to highlight them once again. Your resume profile should include at least one quantifiable accomplishment, backed by real numbers that demonstrate the value you've provided. For example:

• Implemented new networking system that reduced downtime by 33%, improving both efficiency and productivity and providing 12% cost savings for the company
• Led sales team effort that increased new customer acquisition by 13% while generating $12 million in new revenues in the first six months of the fiscal year
• Created an online customer engagement program that increased website visits by 45%, enhanced new sales activities by 13%, and boosted revenues by 10% within one quarter of implementation

Resume profile examples you can use

As you might expect, your approach to creating a resume profile can also differ based on the type of job you're seeking. That's because different job roles require different skill sets, experiences, and personal qualities.

To get you started, we've compiled resume profile examples covering a wide variety of professions. You can use these professional profile examples as templates for your profile, or simply refer to them for guidance as you create your own unique resume opening.

Resume profile examples for students

Recent Information Technology graduate focused on operating and security software management. Seeking employment with a dynamic software firm in need of advanced networking and troubleshooting expertise. Experience includes a one-year internship with DynacorpX, providing testing and problem-resolution that helped increase company productivity by 14%.

Resume profile example for entry-level applicants

Friendly, detail-oriented, and organized customer service professional looking to be part of an energetic, mission-focused team.

• Skilled at developing organizational processes, managing records, and engaging customers
• Successfully resolved customer complaints, with 90% satisfaction rate while volunteering with FreshStart
• Broad computer systems expertise, including database and presentation platforms

Resume profile example for career-changers

Personnel-focused Sales Team Leader with 10+ years of experience in team building, training, and sales program development. Looking to transition to a project management role to better use organizational and project implementation skills. While at ABC Corporation, successfully created and executed a sales process reorganization that cut waste by 45%, saving the company more than $40,000 per year.

Related : 21 Project Management Skills Every Project Manager Needs to Succeed

Resume profile example for a Graphic Designer

Dynamic and innovative Graphic Designer with 4 years of experience in the gaming and entertainment industry. Skilled in developing storyboards, character animation, typography, and general layouts. Creative successes include development work on more than 200 unique graphic design projects that helped to generate more than $300 million in revenue.

Resume profile example for a Marketing Manager

Creative Marketing Manager focused on data-driven solutions. More than 8 years of experience in building collaborative teams capable of overcoming any challenge. While at XYZ Inc., led a 10-person team responsible for broadening target audience by 200%, increasing company revenues by 120% over a three-year period. Expertise includes digital marketing campaigns focused on driving new customer acquisition and target audience engagement.

Resume profile example for an Accountant

Detail-oriented finance professional with 7 years of accounting expertise. Proficient in accounting best practices, including creation and management of financial reports, regulatory compliance, tax issues, and budget management and forecasting. Reorganized DEF Corporation's accounting department, reducing inefficiencies by 28%, cutting costs by 19%, and improving productivity by 33%.

Resume profile example for an Administrative Assistant

Reliable Administrative Assistant with 8 years of experience in office management and personal assistance. Comprehensive expertise in presentation development, scheduling management, reporting, and confidentiality. Reorganized filing and reporting systems at Beagle Law, improving client response times by 40%, reducing redundancies, and cutting labor costs by 12%.

Resume profile example for a Data Scientist

Fact-driven Data Scientist with 8 years of experience in data analysis, predictive modeling, and data mining. Proficient with SQL, Python, Tableau, and other common data visualization systems. While at DataCore, took the lead on development of new processes that increased decision-making efficiency by improving the company's ability to use data to gain useful insights. Project resulted in an 18% increase in overall departmental productivity.

Resume profile example for an HR Manager

Personnel-focused HR Manager with 7 years of experience managing human resources functions. Expertise in recruitment, onboarding processes, employee training and relations, and performance reviews. Designed AmAm's new HR policies to align with new firm policies, emphasizing progressive discipline and promotion of a positive work environment. Effort resulted in a 33% reduction in turnover and 43% increase in employee satisfaction.

Resume profile example for a Teacher

Results-oriented educator with 6 years of experience as a middle school Teacher. Expertise in crafting challenging but engaging lesson plans designed to encourage critical thinking and classroom participation in an inclusive way. Dedicated to professional development to stay abreast of current educational best practices and focused on enhancing each student's ability to achieve success. Specific competencies include English, US History, and Basic Civics.

Resume profile example for a Construction Manager

Task-oriented construction professional with more than 10 years of experience in both commercial and residential project management. Led teams responsible for completing more than 60 construction projects valued at more than $40 million dollars, with a 99% on-time and under-budget record of success. Bilingual (English and Spanish) manager with expertise in budget allocation, resource management, project estimates and implementation.

Craft the best possible intro for your resume!

No matter what type of resume profile you decide to use to introduce yourself to prospective employers, your goal should always be the same: to create a powerful and compelling message that inspires employers to read the rest of your resume. The tips and resume profile examples we've provided should ensure that you have everything you need to craft your own profile narrative.

Still not sure if your resume profile has what it takes to capture your reader's interest? Get a free resume review from our team of top experts today!

Recommended reading:

47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

The Best Resume Format to Get Hired

How to Advance Your Career (plus 10 Insightful Tips)

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

Career Advice Newsletter

Our experts gather the best career & resume tips weekly. Delivered weekly, always free.

Thanks! Career advice is on its way.

Share this article:

Let's stay in touch.

Subscribe today to get job tips and career advice that will come in handy.

Your information is secure. Please read our privacy policy for more information.

Every other Tuesday, you’ll get actionable tips to land your dream job.  Subscribe

20+ Resume Profile Examples for All Industries (+ How-to Guide)

A resume profile is a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) at the top of your resume that summarizes your career so far. It contains only crucial information like your proudest accomplishments, top skills, or key experiences. Based on it, recruiters will instantly know whether you’re a relevant candidate, and they’ll carefully read your resume instead of barely scanning it.

We’ll help you write an attention-grabbing resume profile statement and provide tips on how to pick out the relevant information to include.

You’ll also get 20+ resume profile examples to steal or get inspired by.

After reading this article, you’ll know:

• How to create an attention-grabbing, high-quality resume profile
• How to highlight your best achievements
• How to customize your resume profile statement for each new position (it’s easier than it sounds!)
• Most common mistakes to avoid

What Is a Resume Profile?

A resume profile is a short block of text at the top of your resume, right below contact information.

It’s an umbrella term for a resume summary and a resume objective . So when you come across the term resume profile or resume profile statement, remember that it basically means a resume summary and occasionally (for candidates who have limited experience) a resume objective. (Click the links above if you want to learn more about what makes these two different.)

A profile section of a resume contains only the key information from your career.

⚠️ Pro tip: It should always be focused on what you can do for the company, not on what you want out of the job. You can negotiate your conditions later on — in a resume profile, you need to show the value you bring to the table.

Let’s take a look at a good resume profile example.

Notice how the candidate focuses on their areas of expertise and backs them up with specific, quantifiable achievements (%). They also mention being excited about joining the company and how they can contribute.

Sample resume profile

Experienced Retail Store Manager with 5+ years in the industry, responsible for leading teams and driving sales. Increased sales year-over-year by 17% and reduced employee churn by 21%. Strong leadership and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to coach and develop others. Excited about joining Zara’s team and increasing sales through outstanding customer service and organizational skills.

Below is a bad resume profile statement example for the same position.

I’m a dedicated Retail Store Manager. My experience includes managing a store and making sales, as well as onboarding and training new employees. I speak fluent Spanish and possess outstanding communication skills. I’m looking to join a company where I could further develop my sales and managerial skills.

Not horrible? Maybe. But far from stellar. Here’s why:

• The candidate described their position, even though it’s common knowledge what that position entails.
• They did not include any quantifiable results or proof of their skills and expertise.
• This resume profile also lacks powerful words or action verbs that would make it more impactful.
• Finally, the candidate used a lot of personal pronouns, which is a big no-no (a resume is always written without a subject).

Resume Profile Examples for the Most Popular Industries and Professions

Here’s the list of resume profile examples for different industries and professions. We hope it will help you get inspired to write your own professional profile for a resume efficiently.

(Or you can just copy the example relevant to your industry, tweak the metrics and the wording a bit and you’ll be good to go!)

If you want to learn more about the ins and outs of writing a resume profile and get step-by-step tips for how to create yours, feel free to scroll down to the next section.

Store Manager resume profile

Experienced retail Store Manager with 5+ years of experience in the apparel industry. Strong leadership and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to coach and develop others. Increased sales year-over-year by 21% and decreased employee churn by 17%. Excited about joining Zara’s team and increasing sales through outstanding customer service and managerial skills.

Customer Service Representative resume profile

Patient and highly organized Senior Customer Service Representative with 5+ years of experience in the trucking and logistics industry. Extensive experience with all major electronic logging devices. Successfully finished 2022 with a 97.2% customer satisfaction rate, leading a team of 7. Looking to join Interex’s team, form a Customer Care team, and establish procedures and benchmarks for successful operations.

Call Center Representative resume profile

Resourceful Call Center Representative with 2+ years of experience in the B2B sector. Highly developed communication and problem-solving skills; thrives in fast-paced environments. At Spinfluence, increased customer satisfaction rates by 27% and handled 70-80 customer calls daily. Excited about joining Omnilert and leading customer service initiatives to boost satisfaction rates and company reputation.

Content Writer resume profile

A dedicated recent graduate with M.A. in English language and literature. 5+ years of writing experience for various types of content, including descriptive, analytical, persuasive, and critical content. Winner of the Alexander Rose Memorial Award for Excellence in Creative Writing in 2021. Excited about contributing to Big Interview’s content marketing team with superb research, writing, and editing skills.

Business Development Manager resume profile

A motivated Business Development Manager with more than 8 years of experience in the fashion industry. Secured a $3.2M contract in previous company and boosted yearly revenue by 32%. Excited about contributing to Skill Communication’s revenue with extraordinary marketing and sales knowledge and skills.

Nurse resume profile

Diligent, registered nurse with 15+ years of experience in private and public hospitals throughout Europe. Specialized in ER, ICU, and burn unit. Nurtured over 45,000 patients and increased customer satisfaction by 25% by adopting and implementing new medical quality control procedures. Wants to join Clearwater hospital and contribute to service quality with excellent medical and people skills.

Software Engineer resume profile

Dedicated Software Engineer with more than 4 years of experience in the education industry. Advanced knowledge of Ruby on Rails, Java, JavaScript, SQL Server, and No SQL. Created numerous features for an interviewing and resume-building platform that generated more than 1M users. Eager to join Big Interview and build advanced features for users around the world.

HR Professional resume profile

People-oriented HR professional with 5+ years of experience. Skilled at employee retention and development. Created and implemented a new learning and development system, which resulted in a 32% employee churn decrease. Excited about joining Aventura and building a world-class team with exceptional human capital and workplace culture development skills.

Marketing Manager resume profile

Data-oriented Marketing Manager with 7 years of experience in the advertising industry. Focused on and excelling at content marketing and email marketing. Successfully handled 7 key accounts with a 95% customer satisfaction score. Looking to join Essence’s Marketing team and increase revenue through tried-and-tested marketing tactics.

Security Guard resume profile

Reliable Security Guard with over 10 years of experience in retail settings. Highly skilled in non-violent crisis management. Overlooked the entire building with only 2 safety incidents in the last 3 years. Wants to join Sephora and ensure a safe working environment through outstanding surveillance and property safety skills.

Receptionist resume profile

Dependable Receptionist with 15 years of experience at luxury hotels. Excels at administrative and front-desk tasks. Fluent in Spanish and Italian. In 2022, handled telecommunications and scheduling with 100% accuracy. Excited about building White Lotus’s image through outstanding customer service skills.

Food Delivery resume profile

Efficient and dependable Food Delivery Driver with 2 years of experience. Skilled in meeting strict deadlines in hectic environments. Winner of the Employee of the month award three times in a row at Dominic’s Pizza. Looking to join Vega and drive brand loyalty through punctual, customer-oriented service.

Accountant resume profile

Ethical Accountant with over 20 years of experience in tax accounting and financial auditing. Skilled in data analysis and budgeting. Reduced a client’s overall business expenditure, saving the company $1M over the course of one year. Enthusiastic about joining Lira IT, managing accounting transactions, and improving company profits.

Project Manager resume profile

Highly organized Project Manager with 5 years of experience in the SaaS space. Excels at planning and managing product implementation and development. Planned and forecasted resource requirements with 98% accuracy in the last 2 years. Excited about joining BackEight and building a successful email automation solution.

Administrative Assistant resume profile

Reliable Administrative Assistant with 3 years of experience. Possesses a strong understanding of corporate policies and procedures. Increased Operations’ team productivity by 32% by simplifying existing operational regulations. Looking to join Evito and support the team with outstanding organizational skills.

Teacher resume profile

Dedicated English teacher with 9 years of experience in high schools. Skilled at implementing numerous pedagogical strategies to successfully teach and develop adolescent students. Winner of the Teacher of the Year award in 2022. Excited to join Eagleton High School and contribute to youth education and development through extensive pedagogical experience.

How to Write a Resume Profile

Here’s a foolproof formula for you:

[Your position + years of experience + industry]. [General experience + key skills]. [Your biggest achievements (quantitative or qualitative)]. [How you can contribute to the company you’ve applied for].

And here’s the process of writing a resume profile statement:

Mention your job title and years of experience

List your key skills, mention your top achievements, describe how your past experience can translate into success for the new organization, write your resume profile last.

• Tailor each resume profile statement to a specific job ad

Let’s break it down and help you craft a show-stopping professional profile for a resume that will land you that interview.

Adding your current (or latest) job title and years of experience (and optionally industry) will give recruiters some context right away. Spice it up with one or two key adjectives that best describe you.

For example:

• A creative Content Writer with 4+ years of experience in the B2B space.
• A dedicated Customer Service Representative with 2 years of experience in the trucking and logistics industry.
• Senior Retail Manager with 9+ years of experience.

In the next sentence, list your key skills relevant to the position. If you’re changing industries or have limited experience, think of relevant transferable skills you could bring up. As always, try to be as specific as possible.

• Skilled at writing long-form, educational content for one of the top 10 largest HR firms in the US.
• Highly developed communication and problem-solving skills; thrives in fast-paced environments.
• Excels at training and leading email marketing teams and driving sales.

Remember those quantifiable achievements you need to list in the Work Experience section ?

It’s time to pick out the most impressive one and list it in the profile section of a resume.

Remember the time you saved the company some money; or increased sales; or engaged and retained customers or team members? List that.

Can’t come up with an impressive achievement?

Think about your duties and view them through the lens of:

• Frequency: how often you delivered, how many calls you took per day, etc.
• Scale: how many people you managed, how big the budgets you handled were.
• Qualitative achievements: if you don’t have hard numbers but you know you did something well, mention it. This can be a promotion, employee of the month award, etc.
• Increased blog traffic by 21% in 2022.
• Increased customer satisfaction rates by 19% in 2021 by developing and implementing a new operational policy.
• Increased monthly sales by 37% in Q3 2022 and decreased employee churn by 13% through a new reward and development program.
• Winner of the Employee of the Month award 3 months in a row.
• Successfully taking 50–70 customer calls per day and resolving issues within 10 minutes.

For more help, read all about How to list achievements and accomplishments on a resume (tons of examples included).

Remember that you need to focus on how you will contribute to the company, not on what you need from it.

Now’s the time to do it.

This sentence is usually the last one. In it, say that you are excited to join their company and do X by means of Y.

X = The plans or initiatives that were mentioned in the job ad; or the goals planned for that particular position.

Y = Your experience and expertise.

• Excited about joining Big Interview and leading customer service initiatives to boost satisfaction rates and company reputation.
• Looking to contribute to Big Interview’s content strategy with superb writing, editing, and SEO skills.
• Excited to join Zara’s retail team to boost sales and increase customer satisfaction with excellent customer service and communication skills.

A friendly piece of advice: although a resume profile statement comes at the top of your resume, make it the last section you write.

This is a very short paragraph that needs to contain only the essential information. If you write it first, you’ll likely forget to include a valuable piece of info. You’ll also probably be a bit vague and waste precious space.

So write it at the very end. You’ll be able to see the bigger picture, prioritize information, and pick out the jewels of your career thus far.

Tailor each resume profile to a specific job ad

We always recommend tailoring your entire resume to a specific job ad — the resume profile is no different.

Each job ad contains specific requirements and keywords. Including those keywords will prove that you have the exact experience they’re looking for.

In addition, it will help you pass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) easily.

Here are some tips on how to make your resume stand out:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here’s a bad example of a professional profile for a resume for a Store Manager. On the face of it, it looks fine. Heck, it actually seems to follow the formula we outlined above! But let’s take a closer look.

Let’s dissect it to see which common mistakes you need to avoid.

Being generic

Whenever you can, include details about the industry you’re in, the type of clients you worked for, work achievements and not duties, and how exactly you can contribute to the company.

The example above is generic as it contains a lot of words that say essentially nothing.

“Motivated store manager with over 5 years of retail experience”.

❌ “Motivated” might not be the best adjective to use, as it’s not painting an exact picture and it’s a general trait that is not THAT relevant to a store manager position. Highly organized? Reliable? Process-driven? Much better! These tell us a bit about the person’s capabilities and priorities.

❌ “…Over 5 years of retail experience” — if they’re a store manager, it’s very likely they’re in retail. Instead of being generic, they could have mentioned the industry (apparel; cosmetics, auto retailers, home furnishing, etc.).

Be as specific as possible; otherwise, you’ll leave recruiters in the dark.

Using buzzwords and meaningless jargon

Buzzwords waste space. They’re the fast food of your resume. Tempting but useless.

❌ “Looking for new opportunities to utilize my skills and experience to drive business success”. Utilize what to do what? What does business success even mean?

Not to mention the fact that this candidate appears focused on themselves and their goals only.

Not referring to the job ad

We’ve said this so many times we’re getting a bit tired of ourselves.

The resume profile, the work experience section, skills, tailor everything.

Not quantifying your achievements

Always quantify your achievements; otherwise, recruiters won’t know how good at your job you are.

Key Takeaways

• A resume profile is like a trailer for the movie that is your resume. You need to crush it or your resume’s box office will be a flop.
• Use this bulletproof formula: [Position + experience + industry] + [General experience + key skills] + [Biggest achievements (quantitative or qualitative)] + [Potential contribution] .
• Hand-pick your key skills and best achievements.
• Explain how your experience can contribute to the prospective company’s success.
• Write your resume profile last, after you’re done with the rest of the resume.
• Tailor each resume profile statement to a specific job ad.
• Don’t be generic and don’t use buzzwords.
• Have someone check your resume (look for missing info, formatting inconsistencies, typos, etc.). A quick and easy solution is to upload your resume to our Resume AI tool which will give you exhaustive feedback and help you polish your profile section of a resume and the rest of it.

_______________________

Need a hand? There’s 3 ways we can help you:

• Learn how to write an eye-catching resume that lands jobs
• Discover how to list work experience in a resume
• Get Resume AI and improve your resume minutes

Now go and write! Good luck!

How to write a resume profile if I have no experience?

If you don’t have relevant experience, you can create an effective resume objective (remember that resume profile is an umbrella term for both resume summary and resume objective). In your resume objective, you will focus on who you are as a professional and what you look for in your career and in a particular role. Emphasize your potential, your transferable skills, relevant certifications and courses, and how you can contribute to the company. As always, you’ll want to tailor your resume objective to each role you apply for.

Do I have to include the profile section on my resume?

It is recommended to include a profile section of a resume, resume summary, or resume objective because they help grab recruiters’ and hiring managers’ attention. Including a resume profile also helps save the hiring decision maker’s time, immediately presenting how your skills are relevant to the job.

What’s the difference between a resume profile, a resume summary, and a resume objective?

A resume profile is an umbrella term for resume summary and resume objective. A resume summary is a paragraph at the top of a resume that provides a short overview of your key achievements, skills, and qualifications. It’s suitable for experienced professionals. It is focused on what you bring to the table and how the company will benefit from having you on their team. A resume objective, on the other hand, focuses on your career goals and aspirations. It includes the type of job you’re seeking and what you want to achieve in that role. It’s suitable for candidates with no experience, for entry-level positions, or career changers.

What are the best words to use in a resume profile?

The best words to use in a professional profile for a resume are action verbs which showcase your drive and achievements (accomplished, administered, achieved, increased, decreased, doubled, converted, solved, executed, established, implemented…), and power words to better describe you (result-oriented, analytical, innovative, adaptable, committed, experienced…).

What to include in a professional resume profile?

Include your position, years of experience, and industry. Then, a bit of general experience and some of your key skills. Add your proudest accomplishments and quantify them, and finish off with a short description of how you can contribute to the company.

Should a resume include a profile picture?

In the US (and many other countries), it is not recommended to include a headshot on a resume in order to avoid discrimination and unconscious bias. Besides, the whole point of your resume is to highlight your achievements and skills which have nothing to do with the way you look. However, in some countries (mainly in Asia and South America) people usually include their photos. Although we still don’t recommend it, it’s best to check best practices for the company and the country in which you’re applying. Of course, certain job ads will require a photo, so you’ll need to include it in your resume (like for modeling, acting, etc.).

Maja Stojanovic

Turn interviews into offers

Share this article

• Big Interview
• Plans & Pricing
• Higher Education
• Editorial Process
• Resume Templates
• Interview Preparation
• Interview Q&A
• Career Advice
• Create an Account
• Knowledge Base

©️ 2024 Skillful Communications, Inc. | Big Interview is a trademark of Skillful Communications, Inc.

Terms | Privacy Policy

How to Write a Convincing Resume Profile [+23 Examples]

On average, a recruiter looks at your resume for around 6 seconds. 

Yep, that’s right - they give your CV a quick skim, and if they don’t find what they’re looking for, they just move on to the next one.

Think fast!

How can you convince the recruiter to read your resume, the same instant they look at it?

The answer is simple: you should create a resume profile.

And in this guide, we’re going to teach you how, exactly, you can do that.

• What a resume profile is and why it’s important
• How to create an effective resume profile in 3 easy steps
• 26 practical resume profile examples

How to Write a Resume Profile (Step-by-Step)

OK, let's start with the obvious - what even is a Resume Profile?

The resume profile is a short,3-5 sentence paragraph that summarizes your career. It covers your top achievements, skills, and years of experience. 

The resume profile is also known as a resume summary and resume profile statement.

Here’s what a resume profile looks like on a resume:

Now, let’s talk about why you should include a resume profile:

• It shows the recruiter that you’re relevant from the get-go, giving them a reason to read the rest of your resume.
• It helps you stand out. You don’t just show the recruiter that you’re relevant - you show them that you’re THE right candidate.

And here's an example of a well-written Resume Profile:

Customer Service Team Lead with three years of experience in a multicultural BPO environment. Specialized in the creation & monitoring of KPIs, compliance with SLAs and being the main POC for all key internal and external stakeholders. Looking to transfer process management and performance quality control skills into the exciting position as Quality, Control and Compliance Specialist at XYZ Ltd.

Keep in mind, though, that a resume profile is different from a resume objective.

• The resume profile summarizes your work experience to date and your relevant skills and achievements.
• The objective , on the other hand, is more about your professional goals. You DON’T include work experience here. Instead, you focus more on why you want to work at company X, and how your background makes you the right fit.

So, if you don’t have much relevant work experience (recent graduate, career change, etc.), you should opt for a resume objective instead.

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, here's a thorough Step-by-Step on how to build YOUR resume profile:

Step #1 - Tailor Your Resume Profile to the Position

The first thing to do is to tailor your resume profile to the position you're applying for. 

You can’t just take the lazy way out and create a one-size-fits-all resume profile. That way, you’re pretty much setting yourself up for failure.

Instead, it should 100% be written with the job you’re applying for in mind.

When writing your resume profile: 

• Look at the job ad you want to apply to;
• See the requirements;
• Tailor your profile accordingly.

Now, here’s what this looks like in practice. Let's say you're applying for a position in digital marketing.

• 1 - 3 years of experience with Google Ads
• Experience with Facebook Ads
• Excellent copywriting skills
• Experience using Google Tag Manager and Google Data Studio is an advantage

We highlighted all the must-have requirements with Bold and underlined what’s optional.

Now, let’s create the right resume profile for the job:

Google Ads Specialist with 2 years of experience in the creation and management of Google search, display and video ads. Six-month-long project experience with social media marketing. Highly skilled with Google Search, Facebook Ads Manager, and Google Tag Manager. Experienced in creating project reports for clients with Google Data Studio.

Step #2 - Mention Your Top Wins

Now let's look at what you CAN and CAN'T include in your resume profile.

DO's - Relevant :

• Top skills;
• Problems solved;
• Key achievements;
• Awards won;
• Anything that is irrelevant to the job applied for, no matter how big the achievement, how top the skill or how much effort you put into winning that award.

Now, let’s cover a practical example.

Let’s say that 2 candidates are applying for a Junior Javascript Developer position.

Here’s a resume profile done right:

• Recent Computer Science graduate with hands-on experience. Took part in 6-month-long Agile development process project, working with: JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, Ajax, Rest, XML, Angular 2+ and jQuery. Completed “The Complete JavaScript Course 2019: Build Real Projects” course from Udemy. PMP Agile Certified Practitioner.
• Recent Computer Science graduate with 6 months of experience with JavaScript. Currently ongoing Master’s in Photography. Certified lifeguard and professional football player. Freelance writer with over 200,000 regular monthly readers.

See the difference between the two? The first is 100%, completely focused on the role.

The second, well, not so much.

Which one would you call in for an interview? Exactly!

Step #3 - Focus on Achievements (Instead of Responsibilities)

And last but not least – focus on achievements. 

Your resume profile should be a summary of the biggest wins in your career (not a list of things you’ve done).

Your goal here is to “Wow” the recruiter, not to get them saying “Oh, well, that’s OK, I guess.”

So for example, let’s see how this is NOT done

• Seasoned recruiter with experience in publishing job ads, sourcing candidates, and conducting interviews.

See the issue here? Anyone that’s into recruitment can say they’ve done this. You’re not saying anything special.

Now, what if we turn this example into an achievement:

• Seasoned recruiter with X+ years of experience in tech hiring. Hit and exceeded hiring KPIs by over 50% for 2019’s first and third quarter. Specialized in working with senior talent in software engineering and executive management.

See the difference? The first example is a very generic candidate, while the second is a high-achiever.

In some fields, you might not have a lot of achievements to mention - and that’s totally OK.

If you’re a cashier, for example, you can’t say that “you’ve processed over 1,000 transactions per month.”

In such cases, it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities and experiences instead!

[Bonus] The Novorésumé Formula for Writing Resume Profiles

Having some difficulties with your resume profile?

• [Your Field] professional with X+ years of experience, skilled in [Skill 1], [Skill 2], and [Skill 3]. Looking to apply my [Domain] knowledge as a [Job You’re Applying For] at [Company X]. Experience in [Top Achievement #1] and [Top Achievement #2].

Now, here’s what the template looks like when put into practice:

UX / UI Designer with 5+ years of experienced, skilled in Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. Looking to apply my software design know-how as a lead UX designer at Company X. Previous experience in designing most of [Software Startup A] and [Software Startup B]’s software UX and UI.

Resume Profile Q&A

Still have some questions on how to polish up your resume profile? We’ve got you covered:

Q: How do I list a resume profile as a student ?

A: Simple! Go for a resume objective, instead of a profile. In that case, you’ll focus more on your skills and goals instead of work experience.

Don’t forget to specify where and how you got those skills. No need to go into in-depth explanations, but make sure they sound realistic and avoid vagueness at all costs.

Still have some space left? Feel free to add relevant university projects you’ve completed. 

Soon-to-be graduate from XYZ University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. 4.0 GPA in Experimental Psychology. Took part in a month-long internship at the university psych lab. Excelled at psych questionnaire development and implementation, and SPSS data analysis. Excited to transfer and develop skills further as a Junior Psychological Measurement Specialist at ABC Ltd.

Are you struggling with creating your first student resume? Check out our guide on how to create a resume with no experience!

Q: How do I list a resume profile as a career-changer ?

A: What you need to do here is focus on your transferable skills . Like so:

“Customer Support Specialist with over three years of experience in first and second-line phone and chat technical support, looking to transfer communication skills as a Sales Representative at XYZ Ltd. Excellent track record of reliability, being the main POC for all escalation points, and likeability, having received an average of 9.3/10 customer rating for the last two quarters.” 

23+ Practical Resume Profile Examples (For Every Field)

Need some inspiration with your resume profile?

Here are 23 practical resume profile examples you could borrow ideas from...

Customer Service & Sales

Customer service specialist resume profile.

“Motivated and experienced first-line customer service and support specialist with over three years of work put into tech support, troubleshooting and customer satisfaction. Experienced with LiveAgent and ZenDesk. Excellent track record in providing excellent support service. XYZ Ltd.’s employee of the month for May 2019 for receiving a 99.99% support satisfaction rate.”

Not sure how to build a customer service resume ? We have a guide for that!

Sales Associate Resume Profile

“Accomplished Sales Associate with experience in business and private persons insurance sales. Excellent people and communication skills, proven by last two quarters’ personal success in exceeding department’s KPIs by 25%.”

Want to create a sales associate resume that lands you the job? Check out our guide!

Administration

Executive assistant resume profile.

“Executive Assistant with 2+ years of experience as the companies’ CEO right-hand man. Successfully carried out all key administrative tasks, from communicating with company clients to data entry and creating well-researched office documentation. Highly skilled at MS Office tools.”

Receptionist Resume Profile

“Motivated, communicative receptionist with 5+ years of experience as an office administrator and receptionist in both big and small companies. Meticulous record-keeping, and experience working with MS Office Pack, Intranet and physical bookkeeping.”

For more examples, check out our receptionist resume guide.

Data Entry Clerk Resume Profile

“Data entry clerk with 3+ years of experience in high quantity complex data screening, entry and maintenance . Highly skilled at Excel; extremely fast typer and knowledgeable about digital databases. Strong attention to detail and dedication to the job.”

Copywriter Resume Profile

“SaaS copywriter specializing in landing page optimization. 2+ years of experience writing compelling content for e-mail, Facebook and Google marketing. Experienced in using Google Optimizely and Firebase for A/B testing. Previously worked with Unbounce to create and test new landing pages from scratch.”

PPC Specialist Resume Profile

“Driven PPC Specialist with over 4 years of experience in digital marketing. Proficient at: Google AdWords, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads Manager and LinkedIn Ad Platform. Some copywriting skills gained through freelancing. Experience handling an advertising budget of $80,000 with excellent ROI results.”

Need help creating your marketing resume ? We’ve got your back!

Business and Management

Project manager resume profile.

“Dedicated project manager with 3+ years of experience managing IT projects. Managed 5+ software projects from beginning to completion. Basic understanding of several programming languages, including React, Node.Js, and Java. ”

Check out our project manager resum e guide for more examples!

Business Analyst Resume Profile

“Results-driven Business Analyst with over 7 years of experience in consulting businesses, analyzing their processes and operations and presenting them with practical business solutions. 2 years of experience consulting one of the Fortune 500 companies. Experience using several business process management software solutions, including Appian BPM. Helped increase XYZ LTD’s manufacturing output by over 2.5%.”

Human Resources (HR)

Human resources resume profile.

“HR Specialist with two years of experience in developing small companies’ HR strategies, employee training and organizing company events, while under a tight budget. Experienced with the entire talent acquisition process from recruitment to the retention of employees.”

Recruitment Specialist Resume Profile

“Recruitment Specialist with a B.A. in Human Resources and M.A. in Work and Organizational Psychology with full-scope recruitment experience with both active and passive candidate sourcing. Sourced, interviewed and hired 15+ software engineers in Company X’s expansion efforts to Canada in 2021. ”

Finance & Accounting

Bank teller resume profile.

“Bank Teller with one year of experience as the front office cashier and customer service representative at XYZ Bank’s main office. Experienced with handling customer transactions and inquiries. Highly skilled at customer satisfaction, following bank SOPs and complying with data privacy and safety deposit box standard guidelines.”

Check out our bank teller resume guide for more examples!

Accountant Resume Profile

“Certified Public Accountant with over 8 years of experience. Solid knowledge of US GAAP and accounting systems. Top skills include budget forecasting, advanced computer skills, and analytical reasoning. Looking for a new challenge as an accountant at Company X.”

Check out our accountant resume guide for more examples!

Food & Service

Waiter/waitress resume profile.

“Experienced Waitress with a polite and friendly demeanor. Skilled at working in fast-paced environments; extremely good memory and able to memorize menus quickly and without fault. Previous experience includes working in Restaurant X and Bar Y.”

Check out our guide to server resumes for more examples!

Supermarket Cashier Resume Profile

“Experienced and reliable cashier with a polite and friendly demeanor. Worked at Happy Fun Resort over the past 2 summers as cashier in Company X and Company Y. Strong computer skills and experience working with PoS systems. ”

Discover how to make a cashier resume that excels with our article!

Housekeeper Resume Profile

“Dedicated and hard-working housekeeper with 6+ years of experience with both hotel and private home housekeeping. Very punctual and efficient. Previous experience working at Hotel X and Uncle Bob’s Private Cleaning Crew.”

Technical & IT

Data analyst resume profile.

“Data Analyst with 3+ years of experience. Highly data and detail-oriented with excellent analytical thinking. Background in mathematics, statistics, and computer science. Proven track record of using data to improve company operations. ”

Check out our guide to the data analyst resume for more examples.

Software Engineer Resume Profile

“Full-stack software engineer with 5+ years of experience developing end-to-end software solutions. Worked as head engineer at Tech Company X, leading a team of developers working on a new software solution in the Fin-Tech industry. Expert in Node.Js, React, and Java.”

Discover how to make a software engineer resume that excels with our article!

IT Specialist Resume Profile

“Dedicated IT specialist with 5+ years of experience. Previous positions involved network management and database administration. Advanced knowledge of SQL, C++ and Linux. ”

Need an extra push with your resume? Discover top tips on creating an IT resume in 2024.

Computer Science Resume Profile

“Results-oriented computer science student from University Y looking for an entry-level software engineering position. Good communication skills and team player, having led several teams for university projects. Practical experience working with JavaScript, MySQL, and PHP. ”

For more on computer science resumes , check out our dedicated guide.

Nurse Resume Profile

“Nurse RN with 8+ years of experience providing excellent patient care. M.A. in nursing. Expert at charting, patient care, and medicine administration. Seeking to leverage my experience as a nurse at Hospital X.”

Discover more nurse resume examples in our dedicated guide!

Dental Assistant Resume Profile

“Dental assistant with over 5 years of experience in the field. Charged with direct patient care, patient record-keeping, and routine lab works. Strong knowledge of the Dentrix software.

Graphic Design

Graphic designer resume profile.

“Graphic design specialist with 3+ years of experience working with design and marketing agencies. Responsible for every step of the design process, from conceptualization, to execution. Practical experience in designing flyers, websites, landing pages, and more. Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office. Good communication skills.”

Need an extra push with your resume? Discover top tips on creating a graphic designer resume in 2024.

UI/UX Designer Resume Profile

“Detail-oriented UX / UI designer with 5+ years of experience creating end-to-end digital experiences. Designed software solutions in the fin-tech and hr-tech industries. Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French.”

Other Fields

Architect resume profile.

“Architect with 4+ years of experience in landscape design, interior and exterior design, with a focus on designing commercial and residential buildings. Strong attention to detail and creative thinker.”

Discover the top tips for creating an architect resume in 2024 with our guide.

Warehouse Worker Resume Profile

“Hard-working warehouse worker with 4 years of experience in the industry. Physically fit, able to lift heavy objects. Previous experience at Made Up Delivery Solutions involved shipping, receiving and packaging goods.”

Discover more nurse warehouse worker resume examples in our dedicated guide!

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

Now, let’s summarize everything we’ve learned:

• A resume profile is a short, 2-4 sentences run-down of your top career highlights and achievements
• A resume profile is also known as a resume summary and resume profile statement.
• Don’t have much work experience? You might want to go for a resume objective instead.
• Every good resume head should include your years of experience (“5+ years of experience doing…”), top achievements (“Increased XYZ LTD’s ROI by X%”), and relevant skills (“Skilled in React, Node.JS, and Java”).

Looking for more career and resume advice? We recommend checking out our career blog for industry-leading articles on how to land the job & succeed in your career!

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

• Career Blog

Resume Profile: Examples & What to Put in Your Own Profile

A resume profile is a short summary of your skills, experiences, and qualifications written at the top of your resume. It introduces you as a candidate and highlights what you can offer to a potential employer. This section is becoming increasingly popular among job seekers, and for good reason.

What is a Resume Profile?

As mentioned, a resume profile is a short paragraph at the top of your resume that provides a snapshot of who you are as a candidate. It usually consists of 2-3 sentences or bullet points that summarize your professional background, relevant skills, and achievements. It’s also known as a summary or a personal statement.

Why is a Resume Profile Important?

Hiring managers and recruiters receive hundreds of resumes for each job opening. To save time, they often skim through resumes, especially at the initial screening stage. A resume profile grabs their attention and gives them a quick overview of your qualifications. It also helps them decide whether to read on or not. A well-written profile can make you stand out from the sea of applicants and increase your chances of getting an interview.

How to Write a Good Resume Profile

A good resume profile should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. It should highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that match the requirements of the job. It should also be concise, easy to read, and error-free.

To write a good resume profile, start by researching the job you’re applying for and the company you’re targeting. Identify the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job and make a list. Then, craft a short paragraph that summarizes your qualifications and how they align with the job requirements. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements to make them more compelling. Finally, proofread your profile and make sure it’s free of typos and grammatical errors.

A resume profile is a powerful tool that can help you market yourself effectively to potential employers. By following these tips, you can write a compelling and effective profile that sets you apart from other applicants.

The Basics of Creating a Strong Resume Profile

A resume profile is a brief statement that summarizes your skills, qualifications, experience, and career objectives. It is one of the most critical parts of your resume, as it serves as your introduction to potential employers. A well-written resume profile can help you stand out from the crowd of applicants and increase your chances of getting hired. Here are some tips on how to create a strong resume profile:

Tips for Writing a Great Resume Profile

• Be concise and to the point: Your resume profile should be no longer than a few sentences. Avoid long paragraphs and unnecessary information.
• Focus on your skills and qualifications: Highlight your most relevant skills and qualifications that match the job you are applying for.
• Use keywords: Use keywords that are specific to the job you are applying for. This will help your resume get picked up by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Be specific: Use concrete examples to illustrate your skills and qualifications. For example, if you have experience managing a team, mention the number of people you managed and the results you achieved.
• Customize your profile: Tailor your profile to the job you are applying for. Use the job description and company information to craft a profile that showcases how you are a strong fit for the role.

How to Make Your Profile Stand Out

There are several ways to make your resume profile stand out:

• Show your personality: Inject some personality into your profile to make it memorable. Use humor or anecdotes that highlight your unique qualities.
• Use a professional tone: While you want to show your personality, you also need to maintain a professional tone in your profile.
• Highlight your achievements: Use your profile to showcase your past achievements and how they relate to the job you are applying for.
• Use numbers and percentages: Quantify your achievements with numbers and percentages to make them more impactful.
• Be relevant: Ensure that everything you mention in your profile is relevant to the job you are applying for.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Resume Profile

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when writing your resume profile:

• Being too general: Avoid using generic statements that could apply to anyone. Be specific about your skills and qualifications.
• Being too long-winded: Keep your profile short and to the point.
• Being too informal: While you want to show your personality, avoid being too informal in your profile.
• Focusing on duties rather than achievements: Instead of focusing on your day-to-day duties, focus on what you achieved in your past roles.
• Using cliches: Avoid using phrases like “team player” or “results-driven.” Instead, use specific examples to illustrate your skills and qualifications.

Your resume profile is a crucial part of your job application. By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, you can craft a strong profile that showcases your skills, achievements, and personality.

The Structure of a Strong Resume Profile

A strong resume profile is essential for making a great first impression on potential employers. It should showcase your expertise, accomplishments, and unique qualities that make you the right fit for the job. Here are the key elements that should be included in a strong resume profile:

Overview of Key Elements

The key elements of a strong resume profile include a headline statement, professional summary, professional experience, education and certification, skills and expertise, and personal interests and achievements. Each of these elements should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for and highlight your unique skills and qualifications.

Headline Statement

The headline statement is the first thing potential employers will see on your resume. It should be attention-grabbing and clearly state the type of job you are seeking. For example, if you are a digital marketer looking for a job in social media, your headline statement could be “Social Media Strategist with 5+ Years of Experience.”

Professional Summary

The professional summary is a brief overview of your skills, experience, and accomplishments. It should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for and highlight your most relevant qualifications. For example, if you are applying for a marketing position, your professional summary could include your experience in branding, strategy, and analytics.

Professional Experience

Your professional experience is one of the most important elements of your resume profile. It should detail your work history, focusing on key accomplishments and responsibilities that demonstrate your ability to excel in the job you are applying for. Use bullet points to make this section easy to read and highlight the most important aspects of each position.

Education and Certification

Your education and certification should be listed in reverse chronological order. This section should include any degrees or certifications you have earned that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Be sure to list the institution where you earned your degree or certification, as well as any honors or awards you received.

Skills and Expertise

The skills and expertise section should highlight your technical and soft skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Include any software or technical skills you have, as well as any certifications you have earned. Soft skills, such as communication and leadership, should also be listed here.

Personal Interests and Achievements

The personal interests and achievements section may not seem like an important part of your resume profile, but it can help you stand out from other candidates. This section should highlight your hobbies and interests that demonstrate your work ethic, creativity, and leadership skills. It can also include any awards or recognition you have received outside of work.

A strong resume profile should showcase your skills, experience, and unique qualities that make you the right fit for the job you are applying for. By tailoring each element of your resume profile to the job you are applying for, you can increase your chances of getting hired.

Examples of Effective Resume Profiles

Example of a strong headline statement.

A headline statement is an attention-grabbing sentence that highlights your professional branding, experience, and career goals. A strong headline statement emphasizes your unique value proposition and contributes to your employer’s knowledge about your background.

Example: Sales Professional with 8+ Years of Experience Driving Revenue Growth and Building Customer Relationships.

Example of a Powerful Professional Summary

A professional summary is a brief overview of your career objective, relevant experience, and accomplishments that will impress hiring managers. A compelling professional summary showcases your potential to add value to the organization and encourages the recruiter to see your resume as a worthwhile investment.

Example: Highly motivated Project Manager with 10+ years of experience in IT, always striving for efficiency and successful project delivery. Skilled in team management, stakeholder communication, and project tracking techniques for effective task completion.

Sample Job-Specific Profiles

Customizing your resume for a particular job is essential for demonstrating your qualifications, suitability, and interest in the role. A job-specific profile highlights your relevant skills, achievements, and experience that meet the employer’s requirements.

Example: Healthcare Professional with 5+ Years of Experience in Nursing.

Profile Examples for Job Seekers with Limited Experience

If you are starting your career, you may not have a wealth of experience to draw from, but you can still create a competitive resume profile by other means. A job seeker’s profile for individuals with limited experience should focus on transferable skills and personal attributes that demonstrate a strong work ethic, motivation, and willingness to learn.

Example: A recent college graduate with a degree in Marketing, who excelled in research, analytics, and communication, seeking an entry-level marketing position.

Profiles for Career Changers

Career changers seeking to shift to a new industry, function, or role need to draw attention to their transferable skills, experience, and education that align with the new career direction. By emphasizing skills that are relevant to the new job, hiring managers can see how you can successfully pivot to a different career path.

Example: Experienced sales professional with a demonstrated track record of exceeding sales quotas, looking to transition into a business development role in the tech industry.

Your resume profile sets the tone for your entire resume and is a critical component of your job application. By using these effective resume profile examples, you can create a powerful narrative that highlights your qualifications and passion for the job, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

How to Tailor Your Resume Profile to Different Job Opportunities

If you’re like most job seekers, you probably have a standard resume that you send out to all potential employers. However, it’s important to remember that not all jobs or companies are the same, and a one-size-fits-all approach may not be the most effective way of presenting yourself to potential employers. Here are some tips on how to tailor your resume profile to different job opportunities:

Research the Job and the Company

Before you begin writing your resume, take the time to research both the job and the company you’re applying to. This will give you a better idea of the specific skills and experiences that the employer is looking for, as well as the company culture and values. Use this information to tweak your resume profile and ensure that you’re presenting yourself as the ideal candidate for the job.

Highlight Your Relevant Skills and Experience

When it comes to your experience and skills, don’t be afraid to spotlight only those that are most relevant to the job opening. This means emphasizing your experiences and skills that align with what the job posting or company description is indicating that they need from candidates.

Don’t Overdo It

At the same time, it’s important not to overdo it when highlighting your relevant skills and experience. You don’t want to come across as over-qualified or desperate. Instead, strike a balance between showcasing your talents and keeping it concise.

Be Concise and Relevant

Finally, make sure that all the information you include in your resume profile is concise and directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. You don’t need to include every detail of your work history or accomplishments. Instead, focus on the most impactful experiences that illustrate your qualifications for the job at hand.

Tailoring your resume profile is not just important, it’s essential if you want to stand out from other candidates and land the job of your dreams. Take the time to research and customize your resume to each job opportunity you pursue, and you’ll increase your chances of success.

Making Your Resume Profile ATS (Application Tracking Systems) Friendly

As technology advances, more recruiters and hiring managers are using Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes and filter out candidates who do not meet specific criteria. Unsurprisingly, this means that optimizing your resume for ATS is important to ensure that your profile has the best chance of making it to the next phase of the hiring process. Here is what you need to know about ATS and how to optimize your resume profile for them.

Understanding ATS

An ATS is a software program that is used by recruiters to manage the recruitment process efficiently. They enable hiring managers to track resumes, screen candidates, and process job applications more quickly. ATS parses submitted resumes by breaking them down into relevant sections. These sections are then analyzed, and the software’s algorithms determine if a candidate’s profile matches the job’s requirements.

Tips to Optimize Your Resume Profile for ATS

Here are several steps to make your resume profile ATS friendly:

Use keywords: The first step to optimizing your resume for ATS is to use relevant keywords. These include job-specific technical skills, industry buzzwords, and certifications. Use these keywords in the job titles, skills, and experience sections of your resume.

Use clear formatting: Keep your resume formatting simple and avoid graphics or complicated layouts that could confuse the ATS. Stay clear of columns, tables, and strange characters. Stick to standard bullet points and avoid text boxes.

Use simple language: Avoid using overly complicated language when writing your resume profile. The ATS will struggle to understand technical jargon and use simple language to detail your experience.

Customize your profile: Each job application will require a different approach. Tailoring your resume to each role you apply for will increase the likelihood of it getting picked up by ATS software.

Avoiding Common ATS Mistakes

Here are some common ATS mistakes to avoid:

Resumes submitted as PDFs: While PDFs look professional, they can be challenging for ATS software to parse, potentially resulting in an incomplete or incorrectly parsed resume.

Unusual fonts or characters: Avoid using fonts that are difficult to read or contain characters that ATS may not be able to read.

Too much information: Keep your resume relevant and concise, and avoid including extraneous information that may confuse the ATS system.

Objective statements: While it may have been common to include an objective statement in the past, they are not useful for ATS in selecting an appropriate candidate. Instead, emphasize your relevant experience and skills.

In today’s job market, creating a resume profile that is ATS-friendly is essential. By understanding what ATS is looking for and using the right keywords, formatting, and language, you can maximize your chances of getting selected for interviews. Avoiding common ATS mistakes will also help your resume get through to the next round.

Formatting and Design of Your Resume Profile

When it comes to creating a professional-looking resume profile, formatting and design are essential components that can make or break your chances of getting noticed by potential employers. Your profile should be visually appealing, well-organized, and easy to read. Here are some tips for formatting your profile:

Tips for Formatting Your Profile

• Use a clean and simple layout that is easy on the eyes.
• Divide your profile into sections with clear headings and subheadings.
• Use bullet points to break up the text and make it easier to read.
• Make sure your font size and type are easy to read.
• Use white space to make your profile look less cluttered.

Color Schemes and Typography

While the design of your resume profile is important, it’s essential you don’t forget about the color schemes and typography. Choosing the right color schemes and typography is crucial because it can communicate the right message to recruiters and increase the chances of you getting hired.

When it comes to typography, use a font that is easy to read and suits your profession. For example, if you’re a designer, you might use a more creative font to reflect your skills, but if you’re in finance, a traditional font might be more appropriate.

When it comes to choosing color schemes, focus on using simple and professional colors. Avoid using too many colors or garish color combinations that can detract from your profile. Using the right color schemes can help convey the right message and make you appear more professional.

The Role of Visual Elements in Resume Profiles

Using visual elements in your resume profile can make it more attractive, engaging and help you stand out from the crowd. Images, charts, and graphs can help demonstrate your skills and achievements in a way that is easy to understand.

Moreover, using visual elements is a great way to break up your text and make your profile easier to scan. Although visual elements can be advantageous, be sure not to overload your profile with too many images or graphs that can make it look cluttered or confusing.

Formatting, color schemes, typography, and visual elements play a critical role in creating an effective and compelling resume profile. By following the tips and guidelines mentioned above, you can create a standout profile that can enhance your job search by grabbing the attention of employers and hiring managers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Profiles

Common questions and concerns.

What is a resume profile?  A resume profile, also known as a professional profile or career summary, is a brief statement that highlights your skills, experience, and accomplishments as a job candidate. It is typically placed at the top of your resume, just below your name and contact information.

Is a resume profile necessary?  Absolutely! A resume profile serves as a powerful marketing tool that can make or break your chances of getting noticed by potential employers. It provides a concise overview of your qualifications and helps you stand out from other applicants.

What should you include in your resume profile?  Your resume profile should highlight your most relevant skills and achievements, as well as your career goals and objectives. Use strong action verbs and quantify your results whenever possible to showcase your impact.

How Long Should Your Resume Profile Be

How long should a resume profile be?  Your resume profile should be a brief statement of 3-4 lines or 50-100 words at most. It should be concise and focused on your most important qualifications.

Can you write a longer profile?  While it’s important to keep your resume profile concise, you can provide additional information in your resume’s experience and education sections. However, be mindful of the overall length of your resume – it should typically not exceed two pages.

Can You Expand Your Profile With Supplemental Materials

Can you include supplemental materials in your resume profile?  While it’s not recommended to include supplemental materials in your resume profile, you can provide links or attach relevant documents such as a portfolio or writing samples in your application.

What should you include in your supplemental materials?  Your supplemental materials should showcase your skills and provide evidence of your accomplishments. Select items that are directly relevant to the position you are applying for.

Should You Update Your Profile Regularly

Why is it important to update your resume profile regularly?  Your skills and achievements may change over time, and it’s important to keep your resume profile up-to-date to reflect your current qualifications. Additionally, updating your profile regularly can help you stay on top of your career goals and objectives.

How often should you update your resume profile?  You should update your resume profile whenever you experience a significant career change, complete a major project, or learn a new skill. It’s also a good practice to review and update your resume profile every six months to a year, even if there have been no significant changes in your career trajectory.

A strong resume profile is a key component of an effective resume. Keep your profile concise and focused, highlight your most relevant skills, and update it regularly to showcase your career growth and progress.

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter That Complements Your Resume Profile

When it comes to job search, a cover letter is just as important as your resume. In fact, it complements your resume profile by providing an opportunity for you to showcase specific skills and experiences that match the job requirements. Here’s the breakdown of the tips on how to write an effective cover letter that complements your resume profile:

Overview of the Cover Letter

A cover letter is a one-page document that accompanies your resume when you apply for a job. Its purpose is to introduce yourself, highlight your relevant qualifications, and convey your motivation for applying for the position. It should grab the employer’s attention and convince them to consider you for an interview.

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter that Stands Out

To make a great impression, your cover letter should be tailored to the company and the job requirements. Here are some tips to make your cover letter stand out:

• Start with a strong opening sentence that hooks the reader’s attention and creates an immediate interest in your application.
• Personalize the cover letter by addressing the hiring manager by name and demonstrating a knowledge of the company and its products or services.
• Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match the job requirements. You can use bullet points to showcase your achievements.
• Show your motivation and enthusiasm for the job by explaining why you are interested in the position and how it aligns with your career goals.
• Close your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering your application and expressing your willingness to further discuss your qualifications in an interview.

How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to Your Profile

Your cover letter should complement your resume profile by highlighting specific skills and experiences that match the job requirements. Here are some suggestions:

• Identify the key skills and experiences listed in the job posting and highlight those that you possess.
• Use specific examples to demonstrate how your skills and experiences have helped you succeed in your previous roles. Use numbers and data when possible.
• Be concise and selective with your content. Don’t repeat information that’s already in your resume.
• Emphasize your key achievements and how they align with the job requirements.
• If you’re applying for a job in a different field, explain how your skills and experiences translate to the new role and industry.

By following these tips, you can write a cover letter that complements your resume profile and convinces the employer to invite you for an interview. Remember to proofread your cover letter for typos and errors and tailor it to each job application.

Related Articles

• 40+ Modern Resume Templates to Stand Out in 2023
• Project Manager Skills to Boost Your Resume in 2023
• Give Me an Example of a Time When You Solved a Problem
• Channel Marketing Manager Job Description for 2023
• Flexible Scheduling: Navigating a Flexible Work Schedule

Rate this article

0 / 5. Reviews: 0

More from ResumeHead

How To Write An Effective Resume Profile (With Examples)

In This Guide:

Tackling the difficulty of writing “about me”, do you need a resume profile, professional resume profile: how to write one, examples from different industries, what else can you include besides a resume profile, what is the difference between a resume profile and resume summary, resume profile: gotchas & takeaways.

Title: “How To Write An Effective Resume Profile (With Examples)”

In a world full of distractions, it’s extremely hard to get someone’s attention.

Recruiters and hiring managers are no exception.

That’s why starting with a decent resume profile is a great way to hook the reader and get their attention.

This way, you can significantly increase your chances of landing a job interview.

In the following article you will learn:

• How to overcome the struggle of writing about yourself
• When and why you need a resume profile
• How to write one that will put you ahead of other applicants
• Real industry examples to help you find inspiration

Let’s dive right in!

Writing about yourself is simply the easiest task for some and at the same time the most difficult one for others.

But why is that so?

In most cases, the reason is a lack of confidence or no clear idea of what information is most pertinent.

Luckily, we are here to help you.

We will provide you with an outline of how to write a great resume profile, and help you feel more comfortable with describing your ambitions, goals, and previous achievements.

But before we discuss why you need a resume profile, here are a few tips on how not to sound awkward:

• Don’t try to make people like you
• Don’t use jokes in your resume profile
• Rephrase your sentences to find the best, yet simple, wording
• Shorten your sentences and be specific

But first and foremost, what is a resume profile?

A resume profile is a section of a resume that includes a brief summary of an applicant’s previous experience, skills, and future goals related to a specific job opening.

With that being said, you know that this  resume section  can really help you stand out among the rest of the candidates.  

To fully understand what to include in it, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you changing careers?
• Are you an experienced professional?
• Are you an entry-level worker, a recent college graduate, or still a college student?

If you are changing careers, you should highlight your previous achievements and proven track record of successful case studies in your recent jobs. You can briefly describe why you decided to change your career path and embark on a new journey, professionally.

If the answer to the second question is yes, you can write even more about your previous success stories.

Mention how you helped your former company achieve great results and why you were a valued member of the team. You might also include a “promise” of how you can help your new employer achieve their goals based on your experience and knowledge.

And last, if you are an entry-level worker or still a college student, focus on the future! Set new goals that you want to achieve and describe how you fit the company’s mission and culture.

We know it may sound overwhelming, but don’t worry. If you follow the structure, creating a resume profile is simple!

As we mentioned, it’s all about the right structure and points you want to highlight.

Based on our long-term experience, we found the formula to create the perfect resume profile!

All you need to highlight is:

• Key achievements

Start with your experience. If you have a long employment history, tailor your resume and your resume profile in a way it suits the position you’re applying to.

If you are not sure how to tailor your resume properly, don’t hesitate to check out our detailed article where we guide you through the process!

Key achievements are also a great way to show your expertise and convince the hiring manager that you are the right applicant for the job. Add them right after the experience to bring more value to the opening lines.

Last but not least, highlight your technical and soft skills to enrich your resume profile even more. Present yourself as a professional with great technical knowledge and a colleague who is always there for the team!

Where does it go in your resume?

Your resume profile is a perfect fit for the top of your resume. Most recruiters won’t read the document if the start is not relevant to the position. Always begin with the header, followed by the resume profile.

The hiring managers will get to know you and your goals and will be able to decide whether to give you a chance or not.

Let’s check out some great industry examples!

Project Management Resume Profile example:

As you can see, Alex writes about his 5 years’ experience in covering project and product management to demonstrate strong experience in the field. After that, he presents himself as a fast and eager learner, who can quickly adapt to any changes and project requirements.

The whole resume profile is simple, clear, and straight to the point!

Interior Design Resume Profile Example:

In this case, John Seamore lacks a work history but has 3 years of freelance and volunteer experience. He plays well with the numbers to strengthen the statement in his resume profile.

The resume profile is simple, clear, and gives enough valuable information to the hiring managers!

Computer Science Resume Objective Example:

<>Here, the applicant again lacks work experience, but the approach is different. He speaks more about what his goal is – to join the ABC development team as a software engineer. He mentions his position as a co-founder of SaveIt student finance management service, which shows he has an entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to develop. Again, the whole summary is clear and straight to the point.

CHECK OUT 10 MORE EXAMPLES OF RESUME PROFILES HERE

A resume profile is only one of the  secondary resume sections  you might want to include to empower your CV.

Some other sections to consider are:

• Headline title – This is the opening section at the top of your resume that serves as a way for the recruiters to get to know who you are and how to contact you. It’s the first thing an employer should see and the one that makes the first impression.
• Key achievements section – In this section, it’s appropriate to give more information about your greatest achievements and any certificates earned.
• Strengths – If you have strong characteristics that you want to share with your future employer, this section is the right place for that!
• My time – The distribution of your time is a great way to describe what type of person you are as well as outline your hobbies and interests.

Frankly, there is no difference at all.

A resume profile is another way to say resume objective or resume summary. The purpose of these sections is the same – to grab the attention of the reader, present you in the best possible way and tilt the scales in your direction.

Let’s summarize:

• It’s not so hard to write about yourself if you know the right structure and process.
• No matter if you just finished university or if you are on the path to a career change, you need a resume profile.
• Following our formula can help you write a professional resume profile quickly and easily.
• Your resume profile should be unique, depending on the industry you are operating in.
• There is no difference between a resume profile and summary.

What did you think of this article? Do you feel ready to create an awesome resume profile? Share your thoughts in the comments! :)

• Resume Guides

How Do I Conduct a Resume Review?

Should you include irrelevant experience on your resume, should you use "dear sir or madam" on your cover letter, 17 catchy resume headlines: tips and examples, is it better to staple or paperclip a resume, how to answer the “what do you think this company could do better” interview question.

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Examples
• Resume Templates
• AI Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• Resume Skills
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Simple Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Career Planning
• Finding a Job

Resume Profile Examples for a Variety of Jobs

What Is a Resume Profile?

Why add a profile to your resume, what is included in a resume profile, how to write a resume profile, examples of resume profiles.

• Resume Template With a Profile

Including a profile statement on your resume can be a great way to show a hiring manager, at a glance, why you are well qualified for the job for which you're applying. What's a profile, and how do you include one on your resume?

A resume profile is a section of a resume or curriculum vitae (CV)  that includes a brief summary of an applicant’s skills, experiences, and goals as they relate to a specific job opening. The profile can be listed as an overview or summary, or a headline that includes the candidate's job goal can be added above the profile to help get the employer's attention.

Resume profiles are the first opportunity to highlight a person's relevant career experiences, skills, and what goals they are looking to achieve while in their next position.  

Your profile should be customized to match the qualifications the employer is seeking. Well-written resume profiles are concise yet informative.

A resume profile is typically several sentences or a short paragraph that summarizes an applicant's goals and ambitions for his or her next job. It also highlights the candidate's most relevant qualifications and skills for the position.

Profile sections can be titled “Overview,” “Qualifications Profile,” "Professional Summary," or “Qualifications Summary.”

When written effectively, this section of your resume will catch the eye of a recruiter or employer, setting you apart from other applicants and helping you to secure an interview. Your profile is an opportunity to show the hiring manager that you're an excellent fit for the job.

Here's how to make your most relevant credentials stand out:

• Use a profile to highlight your accomplishments and draw the reader's eye to your most important attributes.
• Include percentages , skills mentioned in the job posting, certifications, and a brief overview of your related experience, when writing a profile for your resume.
• Try to make a close match between your qualifications and the employer's requirements.
• Take a few minutes to edit your profile to match the employer's job requirements each time you apply for a job.

Review resume profile descriptions for a variety of different jobs. Be sure to tailor your resume profile to fit the specific job opening for which you are applying and indicate the skills that qualify you for it.

Accounting manager with five years of accounting experience in real estate and marketing industries. Fully knowledgeable in general accounting, payroll, budgeting, and journal entry preparation. Adept at implementing innovative accounting practices and procedures to improve efficiency.

Career Change

A self-starter and quick learner. Versatile skill set with experience in customer service, sales, and written and oral communication. Received multiple awards for excellence in customer service. Recognized skills in mentoring, mediating between employees, and in leading team projects.

College Student (Museum Internship)

Detail-oriented History student at XYZ University with experience in preservation and museum work. Praised for the ability to give well-organized and informative museum tours. Award-winning customer service and communication skills.

College Graduate (Editorial Position)

Detail-oriented English major with extensive journalism experience. Managing editor of college paper with strong leadership skills, particularly in assignment delegation and maintenance of set deadlines. Well-versed in proofreading strategies and APA guidelines.

Customer Service

Customer services specialist with extensive management experience. Strong interpersonal skills with certification in employee mediation and team-building. Innovative problem solver; developed and implemented new service strategies to increase customer satisfaction by 30%.

Editor and Writer

Award-winning editor and technical writer with five years of experience. Successfully implement current web design technology to develop and maintain sites for start-up IT companies.

Master’s degree in English Literature with four years experience teaching high school literature, creative writing, and grammar. Certification in teaching English as a Second Language and educating mentally disabled high school students.

Entry Level (Sales Assistant)

• Detail-oriented worker with administrative experience.
• Successfully implemented innovative scheduling system to more efficiently organize meetings and travel schedules.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Fluent in Spanish.

Health Care

Bilingual nursing graduate with experience in rural health care. Successfully established multiple clinics with nonprofit health care groups, providing service for thousands of rural women, children, and infants.

High School Student (Tutor)

Honor-roll student with extensive tutoring experience. Create worksheets and practice exams to improve students' grades by an average of 10 points in Algebra I, Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus. Praised for the ability to break down problems and clearly communicate mathematical concepts.

Information Technology (IT)

Detail-oriented IT professional with ten years of experience as a software support specialist and systems/network technician. Skilled at operating in a wide range of platforms. Excellent written and oral communication skills; capable of explaining complex software issues in easy-to-understand terms.

Marketing director with twenty years of experience in marketing and sales. Successfully create and implement marketing policies, increasing sales by as much as 45%. Excellent interpersonal and team management skills.

Dedicated restaurant manager with over ten years of experience. Outstanding interpersonal, negotiation, and mediation skills. Adept at cost control; reduced labor and cost of goods by 15% through strategic staffing and budget development.

• Detail-oriented fundraiser with three years of experience.
• Plan and execute events for nonprofit organizations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with training in conflict mediation.
• Proficient in current web design technology.
• Enthusiastic, driven sales clerk with five years of retail experience
• Award-winning customer service and interpersonal skills
• Excellent money-handling skills, with zero overages/shortages

Sales executive with experience managing insurance and healthcare sales companies. Create and implement sales strategies to achieve 35% revenue growth per year. Highly effective management skills; able to motivate sales force and design incentive programs to achieve short and long-term sales goals.

Sales Management

Accomplished sales management professional with over 15 years of experience. Success in delivering sustainable revenue and profit gains in competitive markets. Well-versed in leading staff training and mentoring with experience instilling motivation and promoting teamwork.

Biology teacher in small independent school. Successfully develop marine biology curriculum for grades 5-8. Strong interpersonal skills with certification in youth conflict management.

Resume Template With a Profile Section

This is a resume example with a profile. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).

Resume Sample with a Profile Section (Text Version)

Elias Applicant 100 Ordway Street, Boston, MA 02215 (123) 555-1234 elias.applicant@email.com

Driven guidance counselor with 10+ years experience teaching and advising high school students. Fluent in Spanish; skilled at communicating and developing relationships with ESL students and their families. Developing knowledge of American Sign Language. Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Related Experience

Guidance Counselor,  Whitman Charter High School, Boston, MA Sept. 2014 – Present Provide one-on-one and group academic counseling to 300-member student body at innovative charter high school focused on vigorous college planning and preparation.

• Design and teach weekly course for high school seniors on college application process.
• Created and updated database of scholarship opportunities for student use.
• Conceptualized and launched new family educational / support program to ensure success of ESL and underrepresented students who would be the first in their family to apply for and attend college.

Assistant College Counselor,  Levine Academy, Boston, MA Sept. 2011 – July 2014

Met individually with high school seniors to discuss all aspects of the college application process, including college review and selection, application and essay preparation, transcript acquisition, and the financial aid application process.

• Taught summer courses on college application process to ESL students and their families.
• Organized college admission visits to the high school; moderated Q&A sessions.

English Teacher’s Aide,  Whitman Charter High School, Boston, MA Aug. 2010 – July 2011

Honed expertise in teaching ESL students from a wide variety of cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.

• Led reading groups with ESL students during class to improve reading and comprehension.
• Awarded Outstanding Aide of the Year for excellent work performance.

Education & Credentials

Master of Science, Counseling, 2014, Boston College, Boston, MA Bachelor of Education, Boston University, 2010, Boston, MA

CareerOneStop. " Headline and Summary Sample ." Accessed April 21, 2021.

CareerOneStop. " What Are the Sections of a Resume? " Accessed April 21, 2021.

100 Good Skills to Put on a Resume [Complete Guide]

Jeff Gillis 0 Comments

By Jeff Gillis

Updated 6/4/2022.

When you’re adding skills to a resume, you don’t just want to focus on what you’re good at. Instead, relevancy has to be part of the equation. After all, every job you’re trying to land requires a very specific skill set, one that you need to show that you have.

Choosing the skills to put on a resume when you’re applying to a role isn’t something you should do haphazardly. Instead, you want to use the job description, company mission, and company values as a guide, creating a sense of alignment.

Additionally, it never hurts to have a handy list of skills by your side, making it easier to explore your options. So, if you’re on the hunt for good skills to put on a resume, here’s what you need to know.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

There are two basic types of skillsets that a job seeker can have and include on their resume: hard skills or soft skills.

Hard skills are the skills or abilities for a resume that are easily quantifiable…that can be learned through classroom work, apprenticeships, or other forms of learning. These include things like operating tools, computer programming, speaking foreign languages, or different kinds of technical prowess.

Soft skills are more subjective and harder to quantify and are often grouped together by what we know as “people skills.” Some examples of soft skills include communication, relationship building, self-awareness, and patience.

Which Skills Are More Important?

The debate rages on about which of these two types of skills is more important.

According to executive consultant and Forbes contributor Naz Beheshti , “…There is an ongoing debate about the relative importance of soft and hard skills that imply a competition between the two. However, they are both necessary and complementary to one another.”

On the one hand, job seekers with proficiency in a specific hard skill may get hired more quickly. Many employers want to hire people that can deliver value with fewer resources (ex., the need for training, etc.), making hard skills their priority.

However, we are also seeing that many hiring managers are choosing to hire candidates with highly developed soft skills.

In the end, as Indeed puts it, “soft skills are necessary to create a positive and functional work environment.” Plus, hiring managers feel that they can always train the candidate in the hard skill that is required to complete the job, but soft skills are often skills that cannot necessarily be taught.

So, what does this mean for you? Mainly that you can’t simply just pick one or the other and cross your fingers. Instead, the best strategy is to take a balanced approach and make sure that your resume contains both hard and soft skills.

How Do You Choose the Skills to List on a Resume?

Here’s the deal; there’s a good chance you know what you’re good at in a professional sense. Often, you can use your experience, duties, training, and education as a guide, giving you a strong foundation. Then, it’s about diving a bit deeper, looking at traits that could help you stand out, and comparing it all to the job description.

By using a simple process, you can make progress faster. Here’s a quick way to get started.

1. Make a List of the Skills You Know You Have

As mentioned above, the easiest way to get a grip on your current skills is to reflect on your academic and professional experiences. Consider the tasks you’ve taken on, the training you’ve completed, and the courses you had in school. In most cases, that’ll give you some solid ideas about your hard skills.

After that, it’s time for soft skills. Here, you want to think of traits or capabilities that help you engage with others and navigate professional relationships. Often, these are reflections of your personality, so use that as a jumping-off point.

2. “Mine” the Job Descriptions for Must-Have Skills

The next step is to take a look at the job description for the position you are applying for and make a list of the required skills it includes. Then, compare it to your capabilities. Are any of the skills on both of the lists you just created? If so, these are must-haves for your resume.

Now, notice if there are any skills on the job description that you don’t have. If there aren’t any, great!

But if there are…don’t panic. There are things you can do, which we’ll dig into shortly.

If you’re dealing with a vague job description, you aren’t stuck either. Here is a link to a ton of job descriptions that can give you an idea of the skills needed.

3. Tailor Your Skills to the Company/Position

As you may have read in our other blog articles, it is always very important to “tailor” your resume to the company and position you want to land. For an in-depth look into how to make that happen, check out our Tailoring Method article. 

If you want a quick overview, the idea is to focus on capabilities the company wants to find. Every job requires a unique skill set, and you want to show you have it. As a result, it is absolutely essential that skills from the job description make an appearance on your resume.

However, you also want to dig deeper. Spend some more time researching the company, including going through all of their various web properties, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.

Why? Because they will leave clues about the types of people they hire. That gives you more ideas about the best skills to put on a resume to land a job there, particularly when it comes to soft skills you may not find in a job description.

100 Resume Skills Examples

If you’re struggling with coming up with a list of skills based on your past experience, it can be easier if you have existing resume skills lists to work with. You don’t have to think up every possible skill; you can simply review the list and find the matches.

Here is a list of resume skills examples, divided into hard skills and soft skills, that you can use when applying for a job.

Hard Skills for a Resume

• Advanced Bookkeeping
• Appointment Setting
• Automotive Repair
• Cold Calling
• Computer Programming
• Conversion Testing
• Copywriting
• Customer Engagement
• Customer Service
• Data Analysis
• Digital Marketing
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Cleanup
• Forklift Operating
• Graphic Design
• Heavy Machinery Operation
• Installation
• Landscaping
• Mathematics
• Medical Coding
• Paid Online Traffic
• Patient Care
• Photo Editing
• Picking and Packing
• Project Management
• Schedule Management
• Search Engine Optimization
• Server Maintenance
• Social Media
• Spanish Fluency
• Statistical Analysis
• Systems Analysis
• Technical Support
• Telecommunications Systems
• Travel Booking
• Video Editing
• Website Design
• Word Processing

Soft Skills for a Resume

• Accountability
• Active Listening
• Adaptability
• Brainstorming
• Business Etiquette
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Contextualizing
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Emotional Intelligence
• Flexibility
• Goal-Setting
• Handling Pressure
• Influencing
• Insightfulness
• Interpreting
• Negotiation
• Open-Mindedness
• Organization
• Prioritization
• Problem Solving
• Relationship Building
• Reliability
• Resource Management
• Responsibility
• Self-Confidence
• Strategical Thinking
• Strong Work Ethic
• Time Management

What If I Don’t Have the Required Skill?

Whether you need to possess a specific skill depends on the job and the skill in question. Usually, here’s where you have to be honest with yourself. If the skills required are part of the core competencies of doing the job, you may want to reconsider your application.

For example, if a golf course posts a job posting for a golf pro, you probably shouldn’t apply if you’ve never swung a golf club.

However, you will come across situations where what you bring to the table is close. In this case, moving forward might be okay.

You need to be able to demonstrate, using examples from your past, that you are capable of doing the required skill, even if you haven’t specially done it. So, go over your work history with a fine-tooth comb and try to come up with a few examples of you doing something in the right ballpark.

They are going to ask about it in your interview, so don’t think you can just wing it, and everything will be fine.

Also, many job descriptions have “nice-to-have” skills on the list. If you happen to possess them, great. But if not, don’t assume you shouldn’t apply if you have the must-have skills. In the end, those capabilities aren’t outright requirements, so don’t screen yourself out based on them.

How To List Skills on a Resume

There are a few different schools of thought when it comes to deciding where to put (or how to list) the skills on your resume.

According to our friends over at online resume-builder Zety.com , “…skills are so very, very important that they should show up all over your resume. Not just in the resume skills section.” In other words, it is imperative that there are elements of your skills throughout your resume, including your resume objective/summary and experience sections.

In addition, there isn’t one right answer for where to include your skill section because that depends on the industry, company, and position you’re trying to land. For example, for a job where technical competencies are of the utmost importance, it is often beneficial to list the skills closer to the top of the resume, right underneath the resume objective or resume summary statement.

However, if through your research you determine that the hiring manager will put more weight into your experience, you may want to lead with your experience. Then, put the skills section further down your resume.

At the end of the day, the selection of the skills themselves is the most important thing. After all, most hiring managers will easily find your skill section regardless of where it is on your resume.

What About Skills for My Job Application?

When you’re looking for skills to put on a job application, you do have to treat it a little differently than skills for a resume. Usually, you’re working with a finite amount of space on an application, not just in an overall sense but in each applicable section.

Since that’s the case, you need to lean heavily on the job description. Look for any capabilities that are listed as must-haves or that are repeated through the job ad. Then, make sure those skills are featured prominently in several areas, including in work history descriptions and skills areas.

If you have to answer essay questions, discuss those skills there, too, whenever possible. Use any other relevant capability as a supplement, treating it as supporting information instead of the primary point you’re sharing.

However, if an essay question asks about a skill that’s not in the job description, feel free to dig in a bit. It’s a capability that’s clearly on the hiring manager’s mind, so touch on it occasionally to show you shine in that area.

Putting It All Together

If you were wondering, “What are some good skills to put on a resume?” you should now have a solid answer. The most important thing to remember is to select skills that are relevant to the position you are interviewing for and, more important than that, skills that your company puts a tremendous amount of value in.

Once you get your skills straightened out, you should make sure that the rest of your resume is congruent with the skills you just selected, namely, that your experience shows that you both used those skills in a work environment and developed the skill with on-the-job tasks.

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site , with his work being featured in top publications such as INC , ZDnet , MSN and more.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Jeff gillis.

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site , with his work being featured in top publications such as INC , ZDnet , MSN and more. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

Copyright © 2024 · TheInterviewguys.com · All Rights Reserved

• Our Products
• Case Studies
• Interview Questions
• Jobs Articles
• Members Login

How To Write a Resume for Your First Job

Imagine yourself stumbling across your dream job listing. You’re reading through the responsibilities and job tasks and you find yourself getting more and more excited as the list goes on. Then, it’s time to apply. But you have no real-world job experience. You’re just a student! How will you ever write a resume for your first job when you haven’t had one yet?

Knowing how to write a resume for your first job does not come naturally. In fact, it feels like a daunting task. If you have little applicable experience yet, or you’re just entering the workforce, how can you prove you’re the right fit for the position? 

Resumes are an excellent way to tout your knowledge, training and (if applicable) skills in the field. You can create an attractive resume highlighting your candidacy without any direct experience or prior work history.

We’ll show you how to write a resume for your first job so you can kick off your work experience with preparedness and confidence.

• Do you need a resume?
• What should you put on a resume?

Crafting a resume with no experience

Finalizing your first job resume, quick guide: write your first resume in 6 steps, do you need a resume for your first job.

While a resume may not be required to apply for your first job, it is highly recommended that you do so, and it will undoubtedly set you apart from the other applicants. A resume reflects your professionalism and commitment to the job application process. It showcases your knowledge, skills, training and prior experience in an easy-to-digest and relatively standard format, making it easy for potential employers to decipher between candidates to choose the best person for the job.

Even for entry-level positions, when many applicants don’t have a prior work history, sharing a resume will give you a competitive edge when written persuasively.

The role of a resume in job applications

A resume plays an important role when applying for jobs. It serves as an introduction to potential employers and those in the company who will decide whether or not to move forward with your application. It also provides a summary of what you bring to the table for those who will be interviewing you during the application process.

The resume is essential for showcasing your skills. A well-crafted and persuasive resume can highlight your achievements and knowledge, even if you have limited work experience in the field you’re applying to. Because your resume is the first contact point between you and a potential employer, it’s crucial to understand how to write a resume for your first job – and how to write it well.

What should you put on a resume for your first job?

There are a few things every resume must include – and those are some of the most essential details.

Contact information

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include the most important part of your resume – sharing your contact information. Start by listing your full name, phone number, email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Without your contact information, potential employers will have a hard time contacting you, which can prevent you from getting an interview.

Why share a link to your LinkedIn profile ? LinkedIn is now an essential part of the job search market. It serves as a shareable resume in addition to showcasing your network. Employers can see if you have any professionals in common from work or personal life, which may help build your credibility as a candidate.

Be sure to act professionally on LinkedIn. Share relevant news and insights to highlight your interest and knowledge of an industry, but be wary of getting too personal or engaging in inappropriate dialogue. Behave on LinkedIn as you would in an office setting with colleagues.

Educational background and achievements

Start by listing your educational information, such as schools attended, graduation dates and relevant academic achievements or awards. Include your major and minor, field of study and GPA. If you were enrolled in courses, projects or study abroad programs relevant to the job, include details to show your knowledge and interests.

Skills section

While you likely have some combination of hard and soft skills, a skills section will showcase the hard skills you’ve learned to prepare you for the job. Soft skills are best to be included in the bullet points to describe your accomplishments in your experience section.

• Hard skills include specific technical skills you’ve learned along the way. For example, computer proficiency, language skills, lab skills or specific training or certifications.
• Soft skills , or human skills, include job aspects that apply to many (if not all) job roles. These include communication, teamwork and problem-solving. If you’re particularly adept in any of these, showcase them and be prepared to share real examples of these skills in action.

Extracurricular activities and volunteer work

Employers look for candidates who go the extra mile to be involved in extracurricular activities. This demonstrates your commitment to becoming a well-rounded human being. Highlight clubs, sports or volunteer activities that you were involved in, especially emphasizing leadership roles or particular responsibilities you had in these activities. This extracurricular activity showcases your ability to multi-task, prioritize time and develop skills and interests.

Example Resume & Writing Guide

See a real-life example of a strong resume, including tips for gathering your own persuasive experience and skills using our Resume Writing Guide !

As a young adult or new graduate, you may wonder how to write a resume for your first job with no real-world experience. Don’t fear – there have been many in your shoes before you!

What does a resume look like for a first job?

Your resume should be straightforward with a clean and concise design. It should be easy to read with a simple flow highlighting information from most important to nice-to-have details. Do not go overboard with design details, fonts or graphics. 

Furman recommends that you use Microsoft Word to build your resume as it can be easier to make changes to a Word document than it is to change a template. However, you can use free resume builder tools online to build your resume in standard formats.

• Myperfectresume.com
• Resumenerd.com

Using strong action words and job-specific keywords in your resume for your first job will significantly impact you. Describe experiences and achievements using strong action verbs, such as:

• Collaborated
• Volunteered

What to put on a resume with no experience?

You can learn how to write a resume for your first job that impresses potential employers, even without relevant work experience, by emphasizing relevant coursework. Doing this demonstrates skills learned in a classroom or group project setting. Highlight personal or academic projects showcasing your abilities, such as experiences where you took the lead as a group or team leader.

Before submitting your first job resume, review and edit the document for mistakes or improvements.

Proofreading and editing

Attention to detail is critical to potential employers. Check your resume for typos and grammatical errors. Mistakes on your resume may eliminate you as a candidate, especially if grammatical adeptness or attention to detail is essential to the job.

Similarly, ensure a consistent design throughout your resume. Stick to one format, using one legible font and minimal design details. A professional resume appearance can set you apart from other applicants’ resumes that may appear messy or disorganized.

Seeking feedback

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from friends, mentors or even career services at schools or community centers. A peer review from your fellow students, teachers or mentors can provide invaluable input on skills you may be forgetting, plus the extra set of eyes can help detect errors and typos.

Career services at your school or library also serve as an excellent third-party validation and review resource. Furman’s Malone Center for Career Engagement offers in-depth career preparation services for students, such as resume and cover letter assistance , career fairs and networking , personalized advice from advisors and interview prep – just to name a few.

Webinar: Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch

Watch the free Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch webinar for an in-depth look at creating your resume and preparing a pitch to potential employers straight from a Furman career advisor.

Now, do you feel ready and excited to write a resume for your first job? We hope you jotted down notes specific to your experience as you read through the post, but in case you didn’t, writing your resume can be simplified to these simple steps.

• Start with your contact information , including full name, phone number and email address. Consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile.
• List your education experience , including relevant projects, courses and extracurricular activities.
• List both hard skills and soft skills relevant to the job.
• Explain your roles and responsibilities in your projects and extracurricular activities, especially those where you acted in a leadership capacity, using strong action verbs.
• Proofread and gather feedback.

If this is your first time writing a resume for your first job, approach the process with confidence and positivity. Your attitude will shine through the resume, so stay positive!

The perspectives and thoughts shared in the Furman Blog belong solely to the author and may not align with the official stance or policies of Furman University. All referenced sources were accurate as of the date of publication.

How To Study Abroad: A Full Guide for Students

What can you do with a chemistry degree, master of arts in teaching: an alumnus speaks | go further podcast.

How to Write an Effective “About Me” Page (Examples Included!) 

An “About Me” page is one of the most crucial elements of any personal website, portfolio , or blog. It’s where visitors get to know who you are, what you do, and why they should care. Whether you're a freelancer , entrepreneur , or creative professional , this page can make or break a visitor’s first impression of you.

Let’s dive into the essentials of creating a standout one pager about yourself, provide actionable tips, and share examples to inspire you.

Add an “About Me” to your resume or portfolio and then put it to the test! Apply to these open jobs on The Muse »

What is an “About Me” page?

An “About Me” page is a dedicated section on your website where you introduce yourself to your visitors. This page goes beyond a simple biography and a list of your credentials; it's an opportunity to convey your personality, share your story, and connect with your audience on a deeper level. 

It often includes key elements such as a brief professional summary , personal anecdotes, and highlights of your skills and experiences. By providing a narrative of your journey, accomplishments, and aspirations, you create a relatable and authentic presence that can engage and build trust with your visitors.

An “About Me” page serves multiple purposes:

• It outlines your mission and vision, helping visitors understand what motivates you and what sets you apart.
• It can serve as a platform to showcase testimonials, notable projects, and any media coverage or recognition you have received.
• Your story helps humanize your brand. People connect with people, not faceless entities. 
• It lets visitors know what they can expect from your site and how you can help them.
• A well-crafted “About Me” page can improve your website’s SEO for Google by incorporating relevant keywords and phrases.

Where can you usually find “About Me” pages? 

An “About Me” can be a valuable addition to various platforms and contexts. Here are some common uses:

• Personal website: Whether it’s a blog or a personal brand site, an “About Me” page helps visitors understand who you are and why they should follow you.
• Portfolio: For creatives like designers, writers , and photographers, an “About Me” page showcases your background and expertise, helping potential clients or employers get to know you better.
• Resume: Adding an “About Me” section to your online resume provides a personal touch and highlights your unique strengths and career journey.
• Business website: Entrepreneurs and small business owners can use an “About Me” page to share their story, mission, and the values behind their business.
• Freelance profiles: On freelance platforms, an “About Me” page can differentiate you from other freelancers by highlighting your experience and skills.
• Social media profiles: Sites like LinkedIn benefit from a detailed “About Me” section, helping you network and connect with potential employers or collaborators.
• Author pages: For writers and authors, an “About Me” page helps readers connect with you on a personal level and understand the inspiration behind your work.
• E-commerce sites: Store owners can add an “About Me” page to build trust with customers by sharing their journey and the story behind their products.
• Professional associations: Members of professional organizations can use an “About Me” page to share their professional background, expertise, and contributions to their field.

Checklist for “About Me” pages 

What to include in an “About Me” page? Effective content should include the following elements:

• Your name and profession : Clearly state who you are and what you do.
• A photo : Adding a photo humanizes your profile and makes it more relatable.
• Your story : Share your background, journey, and what inspired you to pursue your path.
• Your values and mission : Explain what drives you and what you aim to achieve.
• Your skills and expertise : Highlight your key skills, qualifications, and achievements.
• Testimonials : If applicable, include testimonials from clients or colleagues to build credibility.
• Contact information : Provide a way for visitors to get in touch with you.

How to write an “About Me” in 5 steps

Writing an “About Me” page involves balancing personal storytelling with professional insights. Here are five tips to help structure yours.

1. Start with a strong—and catchy—opening

Begin with a compelling hook that grabs the reader’s attention. This could be an interesting fact, a personal anecdote, or a bold statement about your mission.

2. Who are you?

Provide a brief introduction that includes your name, profession, and a high-level overview of what you do. Make sure to keep it concise and engaging.

3. Tell your story

Narrate your journey—how you got started, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the milestones you’ve achieved. This is where you can infuse your personality and make your story relatable.

4. Highlight your expertise

Explain what you do and how you can help your audience. Call out your skills , qualifications, and any notable accomplishments.

5. Include a call to action (CTA)

A call to action is a prompt that tells your visitors what to do next, like contacting you, following you on social media, or checking out your portfolio. Make sure your CTA is clear and compelling so they know exactly what action to take.

Bonus tips on writing an “About Me” page

To write an “about me” paragraph that not only introduces you effectively but also engages your audience and enhances your online presence, follow these recommendations:

• Know your audience: Understand who you are writing for. Tailor your tone and content to resonate with your target audience.
• Be authentic : Authenticity is key. Be genuine in your storytelling and avoid overly formal language.
• Keep it concise: While it’s important to provide enough detail, avoid overwhelming your readers with too much information. Aim for clarity and brevity.
• Use visuals: Incorporate photos, videos, or infographics to make your page visually appealing and engaging.
• Optimize for SEO: Incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout your “About Me” page to improve search engine visibility.
• Update regularly: Your “About Me” page should evolve as you grow. Regularly update it to reflect new experiences, skills, and achievements.

“About Me” template text

How to write an “About Me”? Here’s a simple and general template to get you started:

[Your name]

[Your profession/title]

Introduction:

Hi, I’m [Your name], a [Your profession] with [number] years of experience in [your field]. I’m passionate about [your passion] and have dedicated my career to [your mission].

Your story:

My journey began [describe how you started]. Over the years, I’ve [mention key milestones and achievements]. My work has been featured in [mention notable publications or collaborations].

Your expertise:

I specialize in [mention your key skills and areas of expertise]. My clients have included [mention notable clients or projects].

Call to action:

If you’d like to [mention what you want your readers to do next – contact you, follow you, etc.], feel free to [provide contact details or a CTA].

“About Me” page examples for different scenarios

You might be looking for information on how to write your “About Me” page for your new blog, maybe your LinkedIn profile, or other context. These could have some differences, so find the “About Me” paragraph example that suits you best.

For a website: “About Me” blog example

Hi, I’m Sarah, a passionate travel blogger who has visited over 50 countries. I share my adventures, tips, and travel guides to help you plan your next trip. My journey began in 2010 when I left my corporate job to explore the world. Since then, I’ve been featured in numerous travel magazines and have collaborated with top travel brands. Follow along as I explore new destinations and share my insights.

Portfolio “About Me” example

Hello! I’m Mark, a freelance graphic designer with over 10 years of experience in creating stunning visuals for brands. My work includes logo design, branding, and digital marketing materials. I started my career working for a design agency, but my passion for creativity led me to freelance. My clients include Fortune 500 companies and startups alike. Take a look at my portfolio to see my work and let’s collaborate on your next project.

For your resume: What is an example of best “About Me”?

I’m Emily, a marketing professional with a decade of experience in digital marketing and brand strategy. I specialize in SEO, content marketing, and social media management. My career highlights include leading successful campaigns for high-profile clients and earning industry awards. I’m currently seeking new opportunities to leverage my skills and drive impactful marketing initiatives.

Other type of site: “About Me” example

As a bestselling author, I’ve always been passionate about storytelling. My journey began with a love for reading, which soon transformed into writing my own stories. Over the years, I’ve published five novels and numerous short stories. My work explores themes of love, loss, and resilience, drawing inspiration from my personal experiences. When I’m not writing, you can find me at book signings or conducting writing workshops.

Top Personal Skills for CV Success (with Examples)

Personal skills are growing in importance across the job market. More than ever, employers are seeking candidates with excellent personal skills, rather than focusing on technical skills and previous experience. If you want to achieve success with your job applications, it’s a good idea to learn the top personal skills for CVs. In this article, we discuss what are the most effective personal skills for your resume, with examples on how to showcase them.

Understanding Personal Skills

Personal skills are soft skills that show how well you work with other people, and how likely you are to fit into a company’s workplace culture. They showcase aspects of your character and personality that you can put to use in almost any work environment. These skills can affect how you build relationships, how you interact with clients, how you respond to conflict or adversity, and how well you fit into a team. Well-developed personal skills can help you achieve success in your career through fostering positive work relationships and contributing to collective objectives.

Studies suggest personal skills are becoming more crucial than ever in the modern world of work. Forbes has reported that 78% of job postings globally mention foundational soft skills such as interpersonal skills (1) . According to a study by McKinsey, companies are increasingly focused on skill-building among employees, with soft, transferable skills being a key part of efforts to equip the workforce for new challenges (2).

Expert tip:

Use the job description to understand the key personal skills the employer is looking for, but remember to include a few unique personal skills in your CV. Think about the qualities only you can bring to the role, and add personal skills that reflect your personality and working style. This can help you stand out in a crowded field of applicants.

Highlighting Communication Skills on Your CV

Communication skills are one of the top personal skills to add to your CV . Almost every role requires communication skills, and your ability to show these on your CV is likely to be valued by employers. If you want to showcase your communication skills, use keywords like ‘communicate’, ‘present’, ‘liaise’, ‘collaborate’, ‘convey’, ‘network’ and ‘converse’ throughout your CV.

Communication skills can be written or verbal, and also include listening skills. Your CV itself is one of the best places to showcase your written communication skills. You can demonstrate verbal communication skills and networking skills on your resume by mentioning presentations, meetings you’ve chaired or networking conferences you’ve attended. Here are some resume examples of how to show verbal communication skills in your work experience section:

• ‘Presented to a group of 100 executives at a national sales networking conference.’
• ‘Liaised with account management team to ensure smooth customer relations with key clients.’

Showcasing Problem-Solving Abilities

The ability to think on your feet and address challenges head-on is always valuable. Showing employers that you have this skill will reassure them that you can take the ups and downs of work life in your stride. Think about how you’ve overcome challenges in your career to date, and particularly situations where you have figures and evidence to back up the impact you made. This could be recovering falling sales figures, increasing efficiencies or resolving customer complaints. Take a look at these examples of problem-solving abilities:

• ‘Responded to customer complaints in a polite and efficient manner, resulting in a 12% increase in customer satisfaction.’
• ‘Developed a new invoicing system to overcome issues with late payment, improving cash flow while maintaining customer relations.’
• ‘Responded to new environmental regulations by redesigning quality control systems, leading to a 26% reduction in waste.’

Demonstrating Teamwork and Collaboration

It’s rare to work completely on your own in any role, so teamwork is a key skill that most employers expect candidates to possess. Collaboration skills show that you can work in groups towards a common goal, whether internally or with external partners and clients. Teamwork skills incorporate communication, and the ability to deliver in a timely and efficient manner, understanding your role in the wider team.

Most resume formats provide plenty of opportunities for showcasing teamwork and collaboration. Your work experience section is the most obvious section to mention teamwork on CV templates , but you could also show it through hobbies or volunteer roles. Here are some sections from CV examples demonstrating teamwork and collaboration:

• ‘Collaborated with designers, web developers, research and marketing teams to deliver a new company website, increasing traffic by 56%.’
• ‘Volunteered at a food bank, working with 12 other volunteers to deliver 260 food packages per week to local families.’ 

Emphasising Adaptability and Flexibility

Nothing stands still for long in the world of work, so it’s crucial to show you’re adaptable and flexible to changing circumstances. Being adaptable means being open to new ideas and new ways of working, or adjusting to last-minute changes, expectations or demands.

Demonstrating adaptability and flexibility could include any examples where you’ve thrived despite being placed in challenging circumstances. Think of times when expectations have changed, such as shorter deadlines, increased pressure from management or unforeseen difficulties leading to changes in working patterns. Here are some examples that could feature in a resume or cover letter:

• ‘Adapted to rising interest rates by approaching top 10 lenders to offer bespoke mortgage solutions for high-net-worth clients.’
• ‘Adjusted key project deliverables in response to changing social media algorithms, delivering 22% higher engagement.’

Illustrating Leadership and Management Skills

The ability to demonstrate leadership skills for your CV can help your chances of success, even if you’re not applying for a management role. Leadership skills involve guiding a team towards specific goals and objectives, and empowering colleagues to achieve success. Management skills are slightly different from leadership, and reflect the specific ability to manage colleagues, dealing with the challenges that can occur in the workplace and fostering a positive team environment.

Here are some examples of leadership skills you could use for your resume:

• ‘Managed a team of six business development colleagues to exceed sales targets by £950,000, creating a sense of healthy competition while working towards collective goals.’
• ‘Supervised the transition of a team of 30 employees to a remote-first working environment, maintaining high staff retention rates and experiencing an increase in staff satisfaction (from 3.9 to 4.2 out of 5).’

Featuring Time Management and Organisational Skills

In the stressful and busy world of work, time management and organisation are essential skills to help you get through the workday. They not only ensure you can deliver your work on time and on budget, but they also mean you can be a more effective colleague and reduce your stress levels. Effective time managers track their tasks efficiently, organise their workload and understand how they contribute to wider team efficiency.

You can demonstrate your time management and organisational skills on your CV by drawing on these examples:

• ‘Produced project plans for complex, multi-million pound construction developments, detailing deadlines, budgets and key responsibilities for a team of 50 construction employees.’
• ‘Delivered film and multimedia projects to tight deadlines, providing flexibility to client needs and prioritising my workload to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction.’

Showcasing Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is a valuable workplace trait, as it involves the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as those of others. Using your emotional intelligence at work means remaining rational, self-aware, even-keeled and in-control at all times. It also means understanding other people’s emotions, showing empathy and compassion and adjusting where necessary to ensure continued team harmony.

These examples can help you show emotional intelligence in your own CV:

• ‘Line-managed a team of three junior employees, creating an open and supportive work environment for them to raise concerns and working together to solve problems.’
• ‘Provided bespoke training and career development to graduate jobseekers, understanding their unique circumstances and suggesting solutions to increase their employability.’

Highlighting Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills

Critical thinking is linked to problem-solving, and involves the ability to come up with new ways of thinking and solutions to everyday workplace challenges. Being a critical thinker means understanding and identifying that there might be better ways of doing something than the established norm. Analytical skills are also highly desirable, and showcase the ability to understand a problem from all sides, unpack data and explain complex concepts and ideas.

If you’re hoping to demonstrate your analytical and critical thinking skills on your resume, take a look at these examples:

• ‘Evaluated company CRM system and developed a new suite of customer management applications to respond to the specific needs of the business.’
• ‘Analysed complex statistical datasets and developed compelling narratives to inform key policy decisions for major clients in local and national government.’

"Well-developed personal skills can help you achieve success in your career through fostering positive work relationships and contributing to collective objectives."

How to Incorporate Personal Skills in a Cover Letter

Your cover letter is the ideal place to emphasise your personal skills, adding to the interpersonal skills on your CV, elaborating and offering further examples for greater impact. While it’s important to keep your cover letter brief and to-the-point, there are opportunities to highlight several key skills and experiences that can help you stand out from other applicants.

Use keywords from the job description to show the employer you have the skills they’re looking for, and tailor your skills to the unique requirements of every role. Pick out a couple of key interpersonal skills that are particularly relevant to the job. Where possible, support your credentials by including feedback from managers or clients, the outcomes of appraisals and any facts or figures that help to prove your skills. These could be sales figures, key performance indicators or even staff and customer satisfaction scores.

Just remember to be concise and clearly explain how your personal skills make you the ideal candidate for the role. Cover letter templates can help you to write an effective cover letter to support your applications, while sticking to an established structure to ensure your letter remains as brief and relevant as possible.

Key Takeaways for Personal Skills on a CV

Almost any job you apply for will require a certain degree of personal skills. Pay attention to the job description and add any of your personal skills that match those listed, offering evidence that shows the impact they’ve had on your career.

Jobseeker’s CV tools and resources can help you showcase your personal skills on your CV. Sign up today and follow the easy steps to create a CV that complements your personal and professional skills. You can also find CV articles with various tips on how to create a winning CV. In addition, our cover letter articles can help you draft a cover letter that really makes an impact with employers.

(1) Forbes: Why Soft Skills Are More In Demand Than Ever

(2) McKinsey: Building workforce skills at scale to thrive during—and after—the COVID-19 crisis

Get ahead of the competition

Make your job applications stand-out from other candidates.

Should You Include a Photo on Your CV?

How To List Volunteer Work Experience On Your CV

How to Write a CV title - with Examples

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• 3D & Animation
• Game Design & Development
• Graphic Design & Illustration
• UI/UX Design
• Office Productivity
• Video Editing
• Audio & Music
• Free Learning Resources
• Free Online Courses

20 Essential Skills to Put on Your Resume in 2024

Skills to put on a resume refer to the specific abilities and expertise that you highlight to potential employers. These skills are essential in demonstrating your qualifications for a position.

When you effectively present your skills on a resume, you not only catch the eye of hiring managers but also increase your chances of landing an interview. In this article, I will show you various resume skills that can enhance your application for your career success.

1. Communication Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills allow you to clearly convey ideas, collaborate with colleagues, and build relationships with clients. To showcase your communication skills on your resume, provide specific examples of how you've used these skills to achieve positive outcomes. 

For instance, you could highlight your experience in delivering presentations, writing reports, or facilitating team discussions. Additionally, emphasize your active listening skills and ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner.

2. Leadership Skills

These skills demonstrate your ability to guide teams, make decisions, and drive results. When highlighting your leadership skills on your resume, focus on key qualities such as decision-making, problem-solving, and the ability to motivate others . 

Provide concrete examples of your leadership experience, such as leading a project team, managing a department, or spearheading an initiative. Additionally, emphasize your management skills and ability to delegate tasks effectively.

3. Teamwork

Employers seek candidates who can work well with others, contribute to team goals, and build positive relationships. To showcase your soft skills on your resume, highlight your ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts. 

Provide specific examples of how you've contributed to successful team projects, such as working together to meet deadlines or brainstorming innovative solutions.

4. Problem-Solving Skills

Employers value candidates who can think critically, analyze information, and develop creative solutions. Provide examples of how you've identified and addressed challenges in your previous roles. 

Emphasize your ability to break down complex problems, gather relevant information, and implement effective solutions . Additionally, showcase your critical thinking skills and ability to make data-driven decisions.

5. Adaptability

Employers value candidates who can adjust to new situations, learn new skills, and thrive in dynamic environments. Highlight your ability to learn quickly, embrace change, and adapt to new challenges. 

Share examples of how you've successfully navigated transitions, such as learning new software, adapting to organizational changes, or taking on new responsibilities.  

6. Time Management

Companies seek candidates who can prioritize tasks, manage their workload, and work efficiently. Emphasize your ability to set goals, create action plans, and use tools and techniques to stay organized. 

7. Critical Thinking

To highlight your critical thinking skills on your resume, provide examples of how you've used these skills to solve problems, make decisions, and drive progress in your previous roles. 

Emphasize your ability to gather and analyze relevant information, consider multiple perspectives, and develop well-reasoned conclusions. Additionally, showcase your relevant skills and ability to apply your critical thinking abilities to specific tasks or projects.

8. Technical Skills

Organizations seek candidates who are proficient in relevant software, tools, and platforms. To highlight your technical skills on your resume, list specific software, programming languages, and tools you're proficient in.  

Provide examples of how you've used these hard skills to complete tasks, develop projects, or solve problems. Additionally, showcase your ability to learn new technologies quickly and adapt to changing technological environments.

9. Project Management

Employers value candidates who can manage timelines, allocate resources, and coordinate team efforts . To present your project management skills on your resume, provide examples of projects you've successfully managed, including the scope, timeline, and outcomes. 

Focus on your ability to set goals, create action plans, and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Additionally, showcase your management skills and ability to lead teams to achieve project objectives.

10. Data Analysis

As data becomes increasingly important in decision-making, data analysis skills are in high demand across various industries. Employers seek candidates who can gather, analyze, and interpret data to drive insights and inform decisions. 

Emphasize your proficiency in relevant specific skills such as statistical analysis, data visualization, and data mining. Also, showcase your ability to communicate complex data insights in a clear and concise manner.

11. Customer Service

Strong customer service skills are essential for building and maintaining positive relationships with clients and customers . To highlight your customer service skills on your resume, provide examples of how you've delivered exceptional service, handled customer inquiries, and resolved customer complaints. 

Emphasize your ability to communicate effectively, empathize with customers, and find creative solutions to meet their needs. Additionally, showcase your service skills and ability to contribute to a positive customer experience.

12. Creativity

Employers seek candidates who can think outside the box, generate innovative ideas, and contribute to the development of new products, services, or processes. To highlight your creativity on your resume, provide examples of how you've contributed to creative projects, developed innovative solutions, or generated new ideas. 

Focus on your ability to think critically, challenge assumptions, and explore alternative perspectives. In addition, showcase your soft skills and ability to collaborate with others to bring creative ideas to life.

13. Organization

To highlight your organization skills on your resume, provide examples of how you've used specific skills such as task prioritization, record-keeping, and project management to achieve successful outcomes. Emphasize your ability to maintain a clean and organized workspace, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and ensure the accuracy and completeness of your work.

14. Research Skills

Employers seek candidates who can conduct thorough research, synthesize findings, and apply insights to drive progress . 

On you resume, emphasize your ability to use various research methods, such as literature reviews, interviews, and data analysis, to gather relevant information. Additionally, present your ability to communicate research findings effectively.

15. Attention to Detail

Paying attention to detail is crucial for ensuring accuracy, quality, and consistency in any work environment. To highlight your attention to detail on your resume, provide examples of how you've used this skill to catch errors, ensure the accuracy of your work, and contribute to the overall quality of projects. 

Showcase your ability to follow instructions precisely, double-check your work, and maintain a high level of accuracy even under pressure. 

16. Digital Literacy

Highlight your digital literacy on your resume, listing specific computer skills and technical skills you possess, such as proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, or project management software . 

Provide examples of how you've used these skills to complete tasks, communicate with colleagues, or contribute to digital projects. Additionally, showcase your ability to l earn new digital tools quickly and adapt to changing technological environments.

17. Presentation Skills

To highlight your presentation skills, provide examples of how you've used these communication skills to deliver presentations, facilitate discussions, or train colleagues. 

Focus on your ability to create visually appealing and informative presentation materials, speak clearly and confidently , and engage audiences effectively. Additionally, showcase your ability to adapt your presentation style to different audiences and contexts.

18. Interpersonal Skills

Show your interpersonal skills providing examples of how you've used these soft skills to collaborate with colleagues, resolve conflicts, or build positive relationships with clients or customers. 

Emphasize your ability to communicate clearly, listen actively, and empathize with others. Present your people skills and ability to contribute to a positive and productive work culture.

19. Initiative

Taking initiative is a valuable skill that demonstrates self-motivation, proactivity, and a willingness to go above and beyond. To highlight your initiative, provide examples of how you've provided examples of how you've taken on additional responsibilities, identified and solved problems, or contributed to the development of new projects or processes. 

20. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, manage, and express emotions effectively in the workplace. Employers value candidates who can empathize with others, manage stress, and contribute to a positive work culture. 

To highlight your emotional intelligence on your resume, provide examples of how you've used these soft skills to resolve conflicts, provide support to colleagues, or contribute to a positive work environment.

Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills

When it comes to resume skills , it's important to strike a balance between soft skills and hard skills. 

Soft skills refer to interpersonal abilities, such as communication, teamwork , and problem-solving , while hard skills are technical skills specific to a job or industry. Hard skills are often easier to quantify and demonstrate on a resume, as they are typically learned through education, training, or experience. 

For example, proficiency in a programming language or expertise in a particular software tool would be considered hard skills. However, soft skills are equally important, as they enable you to effectively apply your hard skills and collaborate with colleagues.

Skills Section on Your Resume

The skills section of your resume is a crucial component that allows you to highlight your most relevant and impressive abilities. When crafting an effective skills section, it's important to tailor it to the specific job you're applying for and ensure that it complements the other resume sections, such as your work experience and education.

To create a compelling skills section i recommend you to:

• Identify the most relevant skills for the role
• Draw from the list above and the job description
• Group similar skills together and arrange them in order of importance, with your strongest and most relevant skills at the top. 
• Use concise, action-oriented language to describe your proficiencies, and consider including a mix of soft skills and hard skills to create a well-rounded picture of your abilities.

When presenting your skills section, consider using bullet points or columns to make it easy for the reader to scan and absorb the information. Avoid lengthy descriptions and focus on highlighting your most impressive achievements and proficiencies. 

Remember, the skills section of your resume is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Tailor it to each job description of the job you apply for, ensuring that you highlight the skills that are most relevant to the position and organization. 

Tailoring Your Skills to the Job

Analyzing the job description is the first step in identifying the most relevant skills for the role. Look for keywords and phrases that highlight the employer's needs and preferences, and use these as a guide for selecting the skills to feature on your resume.

As you review the job description, make a list of the skills that are most important for the position. These may include both soft skills and hard skills, such as proficiency in a particular software or experience leading teams. Once you've identified the key skills, match them to your own experiences and achievements , providing specific examples of how you've applied these skills in professional settings.

Hiring managers will appreciate your attention to detail and ability to align your qualifications with their specific needs, increasing your chances of moving forward in the application process.

Conclusion: Skills to put on a resume

In today's competitive job market, having the right skills on your resume is essential for standing out and securing your dream job. By highlighting a combination of soft skills and hard skills , you can create a well-rounded and compelling resume that showcases your unique qualifications and potential for success.

Remember, the skills you choose to feature on your resume should be tailored to the specific job you're applying for. Analyze the job description carefully, identify the most relevant skills, and provide concrete examples of how you've applied these skills in professional settings. 

As you continue your job search, it's important to continually develop and update your skills. Stay informed about industry trends, seek out opportunities for professional development, and be proactive in acquiring new knowledge and abilities. Good luck on your job search experience!

About Author:

Latest posts:, 10 top apps to scan receipts for money in 2024, how to make money as a teen - 24 online and offline ideas, how to become a mystery shopper: your guide to secret shopping success, best things to sell on etsy in 2024: trending items & top categories, more from our blog:, 500 creative restaurant name ideas to inspire your new venture, is solitaire cash legit can you play games to earn money 2024 review, 10 legit games that pay real money in 2024, 600 creative clothing brand name ideas for 2024, how to make extra income while working full-time, 10 proven ways to get a free shein gift card, 12 ways to get instant sign up bonus without direct deposit in 2024, 25 useful skills to learn in 2024 (for career and personal growth), featured reviews, featured posts, information.

How Many Jobs Should You List on a Resume?

Ideal Number of Jobs to Include on the Resume

How to identify relevant work experience, should my resume only cover 15 years of experience, will older positions invite age bias, eliminate internships if you’re an experienced job seeker, maintain a complete professional timeline, combine similar experience, include additional information on your linkedin profile, focus on accomplishments.

Job seekers often wonder how many positions they should include on their resumes. Although there isn’t a set number for how many jobs you can feature, you want to ensure that the information you’re providing is advantageous to your current career goals. Determining whether the content you’re including will strengthen your application is a fundamental building block for constructing an accomplishment-driven document. Throughout this guide, we’ll help you identify the right approach to older experience during the resume-building process.

Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t an ideal number of jobs you should aim for as you build your resume. Instead, evaluate whether your previous positions are relevant to your current career goals. In most cases, it’s best to focus on including as much content as possible for your three most recent positions and keeping older jobs brief. If you’re an experienced job seeker, you can include as many positions as you’d like as long as your document doesn’t exceed the two-page mark. You can also visit our topical authority page on this subject for more information on creating a concise resume for the job search.

Identifying relevant work experience can be more complex than you might think. For example, if a position isn’t directly related to your current field but has objectively impressive accomplishments, you may want to consider keeping the job on your resume. Remember that some achievements and skill sets are transferable across fields. For instance, if you were managing a team to execute a multi-million-dollar project, you wouldn’t want to omit this detail simply because you’re pursuing a role in a different field. Consider whether the information you’re providing will help you to make a positive impression on the hiring manager and remove content that doesn’t support this objective.

This again comes down to whether the content will enhance the strength of your job application. Many resume writers and career coaches recommend only covering up to 15 years of professional experience on the resume, but there are exceptions to this rule. If the experience that you’re thinking about incorporating helps to further substantiate you as a thought leader within your space, it might be worth it to mention a position, even if it was from 20 years ago.

While you want to focus primarily on content from your three most recent jobs, you should feel comfortable including older accomplishments if they can help you to tell your story better.

One concern that many job seekers have is the risk of inviting age bias by including older positions on the resume. While this can be true in many instances, if you feel that a position from 15 years ago has accomplishments worth highlighting, you shouldn’t let the fear of potential age bias prevent you from doing so. In fact, emphasizing your career achievements is often the right approach for overcoming these types of obstacles during the hiring process. If information doesn’t provide valuable insights to enhance your application, you’re probably best leaving off some of your older experience.

If you have ten or more years of experience, you can feel free to remove old internships from your resume. Including bullet points describing entry-level experience isn’t ideal for a senior-level professional applying for a management position. The only situation where you may want to consider mentioning an internship at this stage of your career is if removing the content will disrupt your professional timeline. In this case, you can simply list the internship in an additional work experience section to avoid a timeline gap.

One issue with eliminating jobs from the resume is that this tactic may create gaps in your employment history. This is normally an area of concern for hiring managers, so you’ll want to ensure that you avoid fully omitting positions that will cause a break in your timeline. If you feel that a position is not relevant or may hurt your application, one potential solution is to include the dates, company, and employment title in an Additional Experience section. This will allow you to save space on your document and keep your content focused on your relevant work experience.

If you received a promotion at your current company and held many of the same responsibilities across multiple roles, you may want to consider combining this experience to save space on your document. Here, you could include the dates for each position above the company title and craft bullet points that feature your most impressive accomplishments during your time with the organization. This way, you’ll be able to showcase the promotion without redundant content. This will make all the difference during the job hunt.

If you decide to omit older experience because it doesn’t fit your current career goals or you don’t have room on your document, you could include these details on your LinkedIn profile. While you’ll still want to be careful to avoid creating an employment gap on your resume, you can use LinkedIn to provide a fuller overview of your professional experience. Unlike the resume, there isn’t any real downside to having a lengthy profile, so you can feel free to incorporate older experience here.

When describing roles from the earlier phases of your career, you’ll want to avoid mentioning day-to-day job responsibilities and instead focus on highlighting your most significant accomplishments. If the hiring manager is evaluating a position on the second page of the document, the expectation is that you have a good reason for including it, and they won’t be interested in reading through a list of mundane job duties. Using numbers and metrics to your advantage can also be a valuable tactic to help older bullet points stand out.

Craft your perfect resume in minutes

Get 2x more interviews with Resume Builder. Access Pro Plan features for a limited time!

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

Build a Resume to Enhance Your Career

• How to Build a Resume Learn More
• Basic Resume Examples and Templates Learn More
• How Many Jobs Should You List on a Resume? Learn More
• How to Include Personal and Academic Projects on Your Resume Learn More

Essential Guides for Your Job Search

• How to Land Your Dream Job Learn More
• How to Organize Your Job Search Learn More
• How to Include References in Your Job Search Learn More
• The Best Questions to Ask in a Job Interview Learn More

How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets You a Job Interview

Learn to avoid the biggest mistake job seekers make and write a cover letter that truly makes an impact.

Customers Interviewed by:

Most job seekers don’t know how to write a proper cover letter. They believe a cover letter is just a “here is my resume” note. This is a wasted opportunity!

In this article, you’ll discover the secret to writing a professional cover letter that’s truly effective. It’s not hard to do and will give you a significant edge over the competition. We’ll walk you through the process in a few straightforward steps and provide examples to help you along the way.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and create a cover letter that opens doors to your next opportunity.

What is a cover letter and do you really need one?

A cover letter is a short document (around 300 words) that accompanies your resume. Your cover letter should not simply repeat what your resume says . Instead, it should complement your resume, highlight your personality, and potentially address any weaknesses that could otherwise prevent you from getting an interview.

But do you really need a cover letter in 2024? The short answer is YES.

“Over 80% of hiring managers read a cover letter and 60% of applications require one as part of the application,” says career coach Madelyn Mackie . “Even hiring managers and recruiters who say they never read cover letters may find themselves drawn in by a particularly compelling letter.”

In fact, Jobscan analyzed nearly 1 million job applications and found that including a cover letter with your resume makes you  1.9 times more likely  to be invited for an interview compared to those who left out a cover letter.

What’s the biggest cover letter mistake?

The biggest mistake job seekers make when writing their cover letter is to focus only on themselves .

“It’s not about you,” says career coach Susan Schwartz . “It’s about what you can do for them. Talking to them about what they care about—not about what you want—is what’s going to make them want to read your letter. And to hire you!”

According to Schwartz, this is the best way to write a cover letter:

Paragraph 1. A single sentence (maximum two) stating the PROBLEM that the company faces. What is the issue/need/opportunity that this role will address?

Paragraph 2. what solution do you offer how are you the answer to their need again, keep it to a sentence or two., paragraph 3. explanation: what experience do you have that supports your assertion that you can help this paragraph can be 3-4 sentences, but keep it short., paragraph 4. call to action: suggest next steps. not “thank you” but let’s plan to discuss this next week..

Since hiring managers often spend less than 20 seconds on an application, your cover letter needs to grab their attention and get them to look at your resume. By highlighting how your experience matches the job, you make it easier for them to see you as a great fit for the role.

Now let’s examine each of these steps in more detail.

How to write a strong cover letter step-by-step

Now that you know the basics of what to include in your cover letter, let’s go through the process from start to finish to see how you can write a cover letter that will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates.

1. Do your research

Before writing your cover letter, research the company to understand its current challenges and goals. Visit the company website, read their latest news and press releases, and follow their social media channels.

Don’t skip this step! It’s crucial for writing a cover letter that truly resonates with a potential employer and sets you apart from other candidates.

After you’ve researched the company, carefully read the job description. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What specific problems or challenges is this role designed to address?
• How do my skills and experiences align with the job requirements?
• Am I a good fit for the role?
• What unique value can I bring to the company in this role?
• Are there any keywords or phrases that I should incorporate into my cover letter?

After researching the company and the role, you’re ready to start writing your cover letter.

2. Write your opening paragraphs

Many job seekers make the mistake of being too wordy in their cover letters. You’re not writing a novel. Use short words in short sentences. Remember, a hiring manager is going to quickly scan your application, so you need to get right to the point.

Here are some examples of how to start a cover letter:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’ve noticed that NexGen is working hard to stand out in a crowded digital market, and keeping your brand top-of-mind for customers can be tough.

That’s where I come in—I specialize in creating engaging content and smart SEO strategies that boost online presence and drive customer engagement.

I understand that Weissman is seeking to maintain its innovative edge in the dancewear industry while consistently meeting sales and margin targets.

I am confident that my experience and passion for design can help Weissman continue to create stunning, market-leading dancewear.

I understand that Timmons Company needs motivated individuals to manage sales territories and boost product visibility in retail grocery stores around Quincy, IL.

I am excited to bring my self-motivation and sales-oriented mindset to your team, ensuring your products not only maintain their shelf presence but also thrive.

3. Prove you can do the job

Now you need to provide evidence that you’re the right person for the job. The best way to do this is to highlight your relevant experience and achievements. Here are some things you should focus on:

• Specific Accomplishments : Share examples of your successes, such as increasing sales, leading projects, or improving processes.
• Relevant Skills : Highlight the skills that match the job requirements, like planning, organizing, technical proficiencies, or specific industry experience.
• Problem-Solving : Discuss times when you successfully tackled challenges, such as resolving issues, managing conflicts, or implementing solutions.
• Industry Knowledge : Demonstrate your understanding of the field and awareness of current trends and standards.
• Team Collaboration : Mention how you’ve effectively worked in teams, mentored others, or collaborated across departments.

Remember to keep it concise. Your letter isn’t meant to tell your whole story; it’s about making a compelling case that you understand the key aspects of the job.

Your goal is to leave the reader eager to learn more about you. Here are some examples:

“Over the past five years, I’ve led digital marketing campaigns that ramped up organic traffic by 40% and bumped up conversion rates by 25%. I’ve worked with diverse teams to create compelling content that resonates with audiences and used data analytics to refine strategies for maximum impact. My experience with social media management and email marketing also ensures a holistic approach to your digital marketing needs.”

“With over ten years in apparel design, specializing in activewear and dancewear, I have a proven track record of developing designs that resonate with customers and drive sales. My expertise includes conducting global trend research, selecting inspiring materials, and leading teams to transform creative concepts into market-ready products. I am proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and have experience with CLO3D, ensuring that my designs are both innovative and technically sound. My leadership skills have been honed by mentoring junior designers and managing cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative and efficient design process.”

“With several years of experience in CPG retail sales and merchandising, I have successfully managed sales territories, maintained product placements, and executed promotional strategies. My ability to plan and organize, combined with proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with iPads, positions me well to contribute effectively to your sales team. I am adept at thinking on my feet and delivering results in dynamic environments, ensuring that products are always tagged, rotated, and optimally displayed.”

4. Conclude with a call to action

When wrapping up your cover letter, it’s crucial to include a strong call to action in your closing paragraph. This isn’t just about expressing gratitude—it’s about setting the stage for the next steps in the hiring process.

Instead of a simple “thank you,” aim to propose a specific plan, such as scheduling a meeting or a call to discuss how you can contribute to the company.

Here are some examples of how to end a cover letter :

“Let’s discuss how I can help NexGen Creative Agency achieve its sales goals next week. Please let me know your availability for a meeting.”

“How about we chat next week about how I can help Weissman shine even brighter? Let me know when you’re free.”

“Let’s plan to discuss how my self-motivation and sales-oriented mindset can boost product visibility for Timmons Company next week. Please let me know your availability for a meeting.”

There is no need to add anything more. Time is valuable, so hiring managers won’t spend it on a cover letter that isn’t concise and to the point.

Expert tips for writing a cover letter

We’ve gone over the basics of how to write a good cover letter. Here are some expert tips for formatting and how to make your cover letter even better.

Format your contact information correctly

Before diving into the content of your cover letter, it’s important to format the contact details and header correctly. You’ll need to include your name, full address, phone number, and email address.

Here’s an example:

Personalize your greeting

To whom should you address your cover letter to? “For maximum impact, see if you can find the hiring manager or recruiter for the role, and send your letter to them,” says career coach Susan Schwarz . “Addressing your letter to a specific person will significantly increase the likelihood of someone reading it.”

Check the company’s website or LinkedIn profile to find the name of the hiring manager. However, if you can’t find a specific name, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice.

To end a cover letter, you can use “best regards” or “kind regards” followed by your full name.

Show your personality

While it’s important to maintain a professional tone in your cover letter, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. But remember, you don’t want to overdo it—keep it concise and relevant .

Here are some ways to show your personality in your cover letter:

• Briefly mention a specific project or experience you enjoyed.
• Highlight a distinctive skill or trait that sets you apart.
• Talk about how your values align with the company’s mission or culture.
• Describe a unique volunteer experience.

Emphasize your adaptability

According to LinkedIn , the top “skill of the moment” is adaptability . This means being open to new ideas, ready to pivot when needed, and always looking for ways to improve. In a world where the only constant is change, being adaptable can set you apart.

Here’s an example of how to incorporate adaptability into your cover letter:

“In my previous role as a CPG retail sales merchandiser, I consistently demonstrated my ability to adjust to changing market conditions, customer preferences, and sales strategies. This adaptability allowed me to increase sales by 25% in a highly competitive market.”

Show enthusiasm

Research shows that 40% of employers would not hire a candidate if they lacked enthusiasm. Remember, you’re much more attractive to employers when you’re on fire .

Here’s an example of how to show enthusiasm for the company you’re applying to:

“I’ve long admired Weissman’s commitment to the dance community and the artistry of your costumes. Your dedication to empowering performances and celebrating creativity is inspiring, and I’m excited about the opportunity to join your passionate team.”

Balance professionalism with friendliness

Try to strike a balance between a professional and friendly tone. Don’t use overly formal language, but make sure your writing is polished and error-free. Use humor sparingly, as it can be easily misinterpreted.

This approach helps you come across as both competent and personable, making you an ideal candidate.

Cover letter do’s and don’ts

• Do personalize . Address your cover letter to a specific person whenever possible.
• Do be concise . Keep your cover letter to one page.
• Do show enthusiasm . Mention specific reasons why you want to work there.
• Do include measurable accomplishments . These are achievements that can be quantified , such as increasing sales by a percentage.
• Do show your personality . Share brief anecdotes or unique experiences relevant to the job.
• Do be professional yet friendly . Avoid overly formal language.
• Do proofread your cover letter. A single mistake can damage your chances of getting an interview.
• Do include a call to action. Suggest scheduling a meeting or a call.
• Don’t be too formal . Strike a balance between professionalism and friendliness.
• Don’t overuse humor . Humor can be easily misinterpreted or come off as unprofessional.
• Don’t repeat your resume . Your cover letter should complement your resume, not repeat it.
• Don’t include irrelevant information. Focus only on what’s most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Don’t use clichés . Phrases like “I am a hard worker” or “I think outside the box” are overused and add little value.
• Don’t make excuses . Avoid explaining gaps in employment or other potential negatives.
• Don’t forget to tailor each letter . Customizing each cover letter will help it pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Cover letter examples

Here are a few cover letter examples that show how to highlight your skills, show your personality, and match your experiences with the job.

Cover letter example for someone with no work experience

Starting your career can be challenging, especially when you don’t have much experience to showcase. But don’t worry—a well-written cover letter can highlight your strengths and potential.

• Addresses the company’s needs : The letter begins by acknowledging the challenges the company faces, demonstrating an understanding of the industry and the company’s needs.
• Offers a solution : The candidate clearly states how they can provide value by offering a fresh perspective and innovative ideas.
• Highlights relevant experience : Even with limited work experience, the letter mentions a successful internship project that aligns with the job’s requirements.
• Shows enthusiasm and passion : The mention of a passion for sustainability and eagerness to contribute to the company’s efforts showcases the candidate’s genuine interest.
• Proposes next steps : The call to action is clear and professional, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute, which shows initiative and confidence.

Cover letter example for someone changing careers

Changing careers can be a bold and exciting move, especially when you have a strong foundation of transferable skills. The following example of a cover letter demonstrates how to effectively highlight your previous experience and enthusiasm for a new industry.

• Engaging opening : Starts with a bold question that captures attention and sets the tone for the rest of the letter.
• Clear value proposition : Quickly establishes how the candidate’s project management skills can benefit the finance industry.
• Relevant experience : Highlights a specific project that showcases the candidate’s ability to improve efficiency and manage complex tasks.
• Expresses enthusiasm : Shows genuine excitement about the career change and the specific company.
• Call to action : Concludes with a clear and confident call to action, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute to the company’s success.

Cover letter example for someone re-entering the workforce

Re-entering the workforce after a significant break can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase your resilience and the valuable skills you’ve developed during your time away.

The following cover letter example demonstrates how to effectively address employment gaps while highlighting your strengths and enthusiasm for the role.

• Strong opening statement : The cover letter begins with a compelling statement about the importance of adaptability and innovation, setting a positive and forward-thinking tone.
• Addresses employment gap : It acknowledges the employment gap upfront, providing context without dwelling on it, which demonstrates honesty and transparency.
• Highlights relevant experience : The letter emphasizes past accomplishments and specific projects, showcasing the candidate’s skills and ability to deliver results.
• Shows enthusiasm for the role : The candidate expresses excitement about re-entering the workforce and aligns their values with the company’s mission.
• Proposes next steps : It ends with a clear call to action, suggesting a meeting to discuss how the candidate can contribute to the company’s success.

Generate a perfectly crafted cover letter in seconds

If you’re still having trouble writing your cover letter, try Jobscan’s AI cover letter generator . It analyzes both your resume and the job ad to create a completely original cover letter customized for the job you’re applying for.

To learn more about how the cover letter generator works, watch this brief video:

You can try Jobscan’s cover letter generator for free below:

Key takeaways

Follow these key takeaways to write a compelling cover letter that sets you apart from other candidates and opens doors to new career opportunities.

• Write with the employer’s needs in mind. Explain how you can address their specific challenges and contribute to their goals.
• Keep it brief . Use short sentences and paragraphs to make it easy for hiring managers to scan quickly.
• Address your letter to a specific person . If you can’t find a name, “Dear Hiring Manager” will suffice.
• Showcase your relevant experience. Use specific examples to demonstrate your abilities.
• Inject your personality. Share brief anecdotes or unique experiences relevant to the job.
• End with a strong call to action . Suggest a meeting or a call to discuss how you can contribute to the company’s success.
• Proofread your letter. A single error can torpedo your chances at getting an interview.
• Show enthusiasm. Showing excitement and a willingness to learn can make you a more attractive candidate.

A cover letter should be one page long, consisting of three to four paragraphs. The total word count should be around 250-400 words.

When you don’t have a specific name, you can use “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid using “To Whom It May Concern,” as it is considered old-fashioned.

When emailing a cover letter, use a clear subject line like “Application for Content Developer – [Your Name].” Paste your cover letter into the email body. Attach your resume.

Yes, a cover letter is necessary because good first impressions are important. By highlighting your qualifications and showing enthusiasm for the role, you can gain an advantage over someone who doesn’t send one.

Employers look for personalization in a cover letter, showing that it’s tailored to the specific job and company. Highlight relevant experience and skills that match the job requirements. Include specific achievements that demonstrate your capabilities and contributions.

Yes. Providing specific examples of your achievements helps demonstrate your skills and qualifications, making your application more compelling to employers.

A cover letter starts with your contact information, first and last name, the date, and the employer’s details. Begin with an introduction about your suitability for the role. Include a brief section highlighting relevant experience and skills with examples. Conclude by asking for an interview.

The primary goals of a simple cover letter are to make a good impression, get someone to read your resume, and offer you a job interview. It also shows you have good communication skills, which are highly valuable in today’s workforce.

The opening sentence should state the problem the company faces or pose a thought-provoking question to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Robert Henderson, CPRW, is a career advice writer and a resume expert at Jobscan.

Related Articles

August 2, 2024

July 8, 2024

June 27, 2024

November 8, 2023

April 3, 2023

March 28, 2023

June 10, 2021

June 9, 2020

Join 2 million job seekers who get bi-weekly job search tips

Get insider knowledge and ready-to-use job-seeking tips and hacks delivered to your inbox.