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11 Career Change Resume Examples Designed for 2024

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• Career Change Resumes
• Changing Careers To Resumes
• Changing Careers From Resumes
• Career Change Resumes for Teachers

Perhaps you’ve spent decades crafting your profession only to feel drawn toward a new challenge. Maybe you’ve only spent a few years in your job but realized it’s not everything you’d hoped for. 

While the decision to pursue a new career can be thrilling, it comes with a challenge—convincing hiring managers to employ you. Whatever else, don’t let  building your resume  or writing a cover letter be a source of anxiety.

We’ve compiled  11 career change resume examples and a free guide to help steer you toward your dream job in 2024 . 

Even if your new career isn’t in our samples, that’s okay! What’s essential in these samples is the how and why, so keep reading because we’re sure there’s something here for you!

Career Change Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• A summary merges your background with the opportunities you’re seeking. In other words, a summary demonstrates how your experience has prepared you for your new field. However, you should only use a summary if you’ve had  at least 10 years of experience.
• Choosing a  professional resume template  and  resume format  can help make your resume look professional and cohesive without much effort.

Multiple Career Resume

• The keywords you include will help tie your expertise together and prove that you have the right abilities for the job. 
• Start by listing hard skills (aka technical, learned skills) listed in the job description. If you don’t have a lot, then simply use soft skills like “analytical” and collaboration.”
• Whatever jobs you’ve held, find a common thread between them and the new job, then sew that thread into every job experience. It’ll be a subtle but powerful tool to increase credibility despite multiple career changes. 

Career Change To Accounting Resume

• If you’re applying to be an accountant but it wasn’t your most recent role, be sure to add a certifications section highlighting that you are a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Career Change To Administrative Assistant Resume

• Enhance your career change to administrative assistant resume with a short summary that shows recruiters where to draw parallels between your past experience and target title.

Marketing Manager Career Change Resume

• There are numbers everywhere; look for percentages relating to your skills, like how you boosted efficiency or increased sales from last quarter. The sky’s the limit!
• If you can’t find (or don’t have access to) percentages, then use plain numbers relating to how many team members you worked with, how many clients you took on, or how many referrals you gained.
• Things like only using active verbs and avoiding personal pronouns might seem minor, but they make reading your resume easier, which is huge for recruiters and hiring managers.
• And speaking of details, always  double-check your resume  for proper grammar, punctuation, and overall flow.

RN Career Change Resume

• An objective is only two to three sentences, so make sure each word packs a verbal punch by showing off your years of experience, skills, and desire for the role you’re seeking.
• For example, mentioning your adherence to HIPPA guidelines can demonstrate to hiring managers that you will stick to the rules. On the flip side, explaining how you used active listening to assist patients will show your compassion and customer service skills.

Journalist Career Change Resume

• Start by keeping your resume to a single page. Otherwise, you’ll overwhelm hiring managers (who will likely toss your resume into the recycling).
• It’s best to use reverse-chronological formatting on your resume to keep your most relevant job history at the top. While other formats are necessarily wrong, they aren’t standard, and they’re harder for hiring managers (and the ATS) to read.
• In your contact header, include your email address (make sure it’s a professional email), your phone number, and your location. 
• Consider adding a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile if you have a LinkedIn account.

Mechanical Engineer Career Change Resume

• Consider asking a friend, relative, or even a career advisor from your alma mater to scan your resume for errors and discrepancies.
• Nothing tells a recruiter you’re not the right person for the job like saying you’re great at “time management.” 
• Put color in your section headers (or company titles) and your contact header. This will add visual interest without being overwhelming.
• If you’re applying to work at a conservative financial firm, you may want to stick to traditional colors rather than pastel pink or lavender.

Teacher Career Change Resume

• Look for ways to connect your previous duties to the responsibilities listed in the job description.
• Many skills  indirectly  transfer from one job to another. Consider your collaboration skills: your ability to work well with fellow teachers will help you work on team projects at your next job.
• Of course, if you have any skills, projects, or experience in your new field, include them, and explain how you’ve mastered them in your career change cover letter .
• Using a  resume template  is invaluable here, as you can easily scooch sections to the side, adjust your margins, and fix your font type to give you some extra wiggle room.

Teacher to Project Manager Resume

• The work experience bullet points to occupy the largest share of your CV—no more than four bullets for each role. As for your contact info, education, skills, hobbies, and certifications, a side column will do the trick. The cherry on top is restricting the entire resume to one page.

Teacher to Human Resources Resume

• But more importantly, mention the relevant transferable skills you bring to this entry-level role, a requirement Elijah executes well in his teacher to human resources resume. Better yet, let your bullet points show how you used these proficiencies in previous teaching roles.

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Switching Careers? Here’s How to Write a Strong Resume.

• Benjamin Laker,
• Vijay Pereira,
• Abhishek Behl,
• Zaheer Khan

Start with a personal statement.

When you’re switching career paths, there’s one essential thing you need to focus on: updating your resume. Crafting a smart resume is key to showing your potential employer why you wish to make a change. While there’s no one right format to write a resume, here are some tips you can follow:

• Begin the resume with a personal statement. This is a short description about who you are, your reasons for changing your career, your new goals, how your previous experience can be transferred to the new industry, and why you’re perfect for the job.
• Next, instead of highlighting your work experience first, showcase the skills you’ve learned throughout your career. That’s because when changing careers, the hiring managers reviewing your application may not always be familiar with the roles and responsibilities of a different industry.
• Below your skills, you can include a more traditional description of your relevant work history. You don’t need to include every job you’ve ever had, especially if you’ve held a number of positions that don’t highlight any essential skills required for this role.
• Finally, end with a chronological list of your educational qualifications. You can also include details about any certifications or courses that you may be undertaking that may be relevant to the position you’re interested in.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Switching career paths and trying something completely new can open you up to exciting opportunities, help you learn new things, and even earn you more money. But it’s not always easy — especially if you’re looking to move into an entirely different field. Apart from doing your research and unearthing opportunities, there’s one essential thing you need to focus on before you make the leap: updating your resume.

• Benjamin Laker is a professor of leadership at Henley Business School, University of Reading. Follow him on Twitter .
• Vijay Pereira is a professor of strategic and international human capital management at NEOMA Business School.
• AB Abhishek Behl is an assistant professor of information management at the Management Development Institute Gurgaon.
• ZK Zaheer Khan is a professor in strategy and international business at the University of Aberdeen.  

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How to Write a Resume Summary if You're Changing Careers

A resume summary is especially useful if you’re changing careers, and it helps hiring managers and recruiters understand why you’re a good fit. Here’s how to write one with a few examples for inspiration.

3 years ago   •   5 min read

A resume summary is a short, optional section at the beginning of your resume highlighting something that might not otherwise be obvious. It can be used to direct a recruiter’s attention to a specific role you’re interested in or to highlight specific skills or achievements that don’t have a place elsewhere in your resume. It’s also commonly used as a space for career changers to explain the context of their application and why they’re a good fit for the role, even if their experience is in a completely different field.

Do I need a resume summary?

Not necessarily. If your skills and job history are relatively straightforward and in line with the type of jobs you’re applying for, you probably don’t need one. Despite the name, a resume summary isn’t just a place to rehash the information already in your resume, which should already be a concise summary of your achievements. A resume summary should only be used to add extra information or context, like drawing attention to the fact that you’re changing careers or illustrating how seemingly-unrelated experience is relevant to the role you’re seeking.

Related: How To Write an Executive Summary

Example resume summary templates for career changers

Writing anything from scratch without a guide can be daunting, so we’ve put together a handy template you can use to structure your resume summary. This template has everything your summary needs to include — it quickly explains that you’re changing careers, emphasizes the transferrable skills you’ll be bringing with you to the new role, and draws attention to a specific accomplishment to help you stand out. What it doesn’t do is exhaustively list your past experience or explain in detail why you’re changing careers — those things are better suited to the body of your resume and cover letter.

Here's the first template:

Ex-[Current Job Title] transitioning into an [Future Job Title] role after [completing X relevant certification] and [relevant accomplishment]. Diverse experience [doing X transferrable skill in new job], [Y transferrable skill in new job] and [Z transferrable skill in new job]. Over 5 years of experience managing global teams of 5-20 people and working with C-Suite executives. [Describe one significant accomplishment in the format of Action Verb + Accomplishment + Metric].

This template quickly summarizes the achievements you most want to highlight while remaining concise. Here are a couple of examples of what that template can look like in action.

Example #1 (Sales Manager moving to an HR Manager role)

Ex-Sales Manager transitioning into an HR Manager role after completing HR CIPD Level 5 certificate. Diverse experience creating hiring plans, setting performance objectives and OKRs, conducting interviews and delivering 7-figure projects that create lasting organizational change. Over 5 years of experience managing global teams of 5-20 people and working with C-Suite executives. Promoted three times in 24 months due to strong performance and organizational impact.

Example #2 (Product Marketer moving to a Project Manager role)

Ex-Product Marketer transitioning into a Project Manager role after completing PMP certification. Diverse experience managing advertising campaigns, partnering with sales and development teams to ensure on-time project delivery and maintaining successful customer relationships. Over 5 years of experience managing global teams of 5-20 people and working with C-Suite Executives. Successfully organized a marketing fair which resulted in a 45% increase in company clientele over the next quarter.

If you are not changing careers and want examples of other resume summaries, use our resume summary generator .

What makes a good resume summary?

A good resume summary provides a recruiter with at-a-glance information about why you’re applying for a specific role. To do that, it needs to be concise — generally, no more than 2-6 lines or 100 words, and shorter is better. Anything longer than that means that you’re probably including way more details than is necessary and will prompt a recruiter to skim over what you’ve written, which you don’t want. If you find yourself having to leave out information you consider essential — like why you’re changing careers or what draws you to the new role — consider featuring it in a cover letter instead.

Your resume summary should draw particular attention to any transferrable skills that you’ve acquired. These can include technical skills — for example, proficiency in specific programming languages, graphic design skills or experience with software programs or social media platforms — as well as soft skills . Make sure these skills are relevant to the role you’re applying for — for example, a data analyst is better off highlighting their experience with machine learning than their video editing skills. This also depends on what industry you’re in — a creative director for an advertising campaign likely has no need for C++, but it might come in handy for the creative director of a video game.

When including skills and achievements in your resume summary, remember to be specific. This can be a great place to include any skills or keywords from the job description that don’t have a place elsewhere on your resume, which in particular can help you get past any resume screeners or applicant tracking systems . Limit yourself to your single biggest accomplishment, using specific metrics if you can (similar to how you should be listing accomplishments in the body of your resume).

An easy way to find out if you’ve added the right skills and keywords to your resume, is to use the tool below to search for skills for the job you’re applying to - it’ll provide you with a list of skills relevant to the job. It also gives you the option to scan your resume and tells you which skills are missing.

Find out if your resume summary is effective enough

A good resume summary needs to be clear, concise, and for a career changer, it also needs to highlight any transferable skills you’ve acquired. A good way to find out if your resume summary properly explains the context of your application and shows hiring managers why you’re a good fit for the role, is to upload your resume to the tool below. You’ll get an instant, confidential review of your resume, powered by Artificial Intelligence and backed by insights from hiring managers and recruiters.

Quick Tips: Here’s what does not belong in your resume summary.

• Personal pronouns . This is a formal document, which means no ‘I,’ ‘my,’ or ‘we.’ Save the personal touch for your cover letter, where it belongs.
• Details that are already included in the body of your resume . The resume summary is a place to highlight information that doesn’t have a place elsewhere, not to repeat information the recruiter already has access to.
• Buzzwords . Phrases like ‘team player,’ ‘flexible,’ and ‘hardworking’ might sound like what a recruiter wants to hear, but the reality is that they’re vague, overused, and ultimately meaningless. There’s no quicker way to make a recruiter’s eyes glaze over than by filling your resume with endless fluff. Instead, demonstrate these qualities through well-chosen examples of your experience and achievements.

I'd recommend uploading your resume to Score My Resume . It takes a minute to scan your resume for common errors that cause your resume to get instantly rejected.

Remember: Not everybody needs a resume summary. If you’re including it just because you think you need one, consider what purpose it’s serving.

If you’re applying for jobs in line with your industry experience and background and can highlight relevant achievements in the body of your resume, leave it out. On the other hand, if you’re looking to change careers and want to draw attention to transferrable skills and achievements that might not otherwise be readily apparent, a concise, well-written summary might be exactly what you need to make the leap.

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How to Write a Career Change Resume Summary With Examples

The importance of a strong resume summary

Career change resume summary examples, final thoughts on creating a strong career change resume summary.

You’ve spent years developing your skills and perfecting your craft.

You’ve built a career in your industry, but now it’s time for a change.

Whether it’s because you’re ready to move on to the next level or just want something different, deciding to take the leap on a career change can be scary.

Your resume is going to be up against countless qualified candidates, how will you stand out when you’re new to the field?

A strong career change resume summary is important. It can show recruiters why you deserve a chance, even if you haven’t been in the business that long.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Why a strong resume summary is so important
• Key takeaways for writing a great career change resume summary

When you’re ready to dive into writing your career change resume , use our resume builder to get started.

Before you start writing your resume summary, it’s necessary to understand its purpose.

You might think your resume doesn’t need a summary, but it can make a big difference in your impact on recruiters.

What is the purpose of a resume summary?

Your resume summary is the first thing recruiters see following your header . It is your first opportunity to showcase your value in the industry and a bit of your personality.

Summaries put specific career highlights and accomplishments on display. They help you make maximum impact in minimal time.

This can be especially valuable when making a career change. You want to let recruiters know right away that you’re a strong candidate, even if your experience is lacking.

How to format a resume summary

Like every section of your resume, your summary needs to be clear and concise. Recruiters have stacks of resumes to review. Don’t waste time and get to the point quickly.

Your summary should be no more than 3-5 sentences. Cover the most important and most relevant information.

A good formula to use when writing your summary is the following:

Introduce your role > State your greatest accomplishment > Show that you’re the right fit for the role.

For more specifics on everything that goes into a good resume summary, check out our detailed summary guide and collection of examples.

Including a career change in your summary

The formula above may be simple enough when you’ve got extensive experience on your side, but what about when you’re making a career change?

How can you introduce the idea of a career change in your summary without losing the interest of recruiters?

The key to a strong career change summary - and an entire career change resume - is focusing on transferable skills.

Where is the overlap between your current position and your desired job? What skills do you have that are relevant to your target role?

Even if you don’t have experience in the specific field, hiring managers should be able to see what you will accomplish at their company.

Now that you have an idea of what goes into a career change resume summary, let’s take a look at some examples.

The summaries below capture some of the most common career changes in different industries. Use them as inspiration when you’re ready to write your summary.

Project manager to product manager

In the example above, the candidate highlighted management experience in their work history and desired role.

They also shared an accomplishment that is relevant to both project management and product management.

The focus of the summary is on transferable skills and relevant achievements rather than specific job titles.

Product manager to product consultant

This example shows a different kind of career change. After building a long career in a particular area, you may decide to step out on your own.

For a career change summary from employee to consultant, focus on your accomplishments and the expertise you can share.

Sports journalist to celebrity journalist

This candidate is making a change to a different niche within their industry.

Like any other summary, focus on transferable skills and what you will bring to the company. In this example, the candidate focuses on reporting and viewership rather than subject knowledge.

Let’s look at a few more examples.

Project manager to COO

Graphic designer to ux designer, web developer to technical writer, software engineer to ux designer, data scientist to software engineer, product manager to sales manager, marketing to advertising, director to vice president, manager to director.

Take the time to include a summary when writing a career change resume. Let recruiters know right away why you’re a strong candidate.

Keep your summary clear and concise. In 3-5 sentences, introduce yourself, highlight an accomplishment, and explain why you’re the right fit for the role.

Focus on transferable skills and relevant accomplishments. Show hiring managers what you will achieve at their company.

Add a career change summary to your resume and get ready to start applying to jobs!

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Career Change Resume for 2024 [9+ Examples]

Thinking of switching careers?

It might feel a lot like taking a leap of faith. 

You’re stepping into the unknown - that alone takes a lot of courage and determination.

You might even feel like a recent graduate all over again.

You have 0 experience, entering an entirely new field, competing with people who’ve been doing it forever!

That sounds pretty scary.

But here’s the thing:

As long as you’re armed with the right resume, the transition can be a piece of cake.

And luckily, we’re here to help and guide you through the process.

So, if you’re thinking of breaking into a new career industry, be sure to read on.

• How to pick the best resume format for a career change
• How to create a skill summary and wow the recruiter
• How to show off transferable work experience
• 3+ other ways to impress the recruiter (even if you have 0 relevant work experience)

Choosing the Best Career Change Resume Format

A big part of creating an effective resume is choosing the right resume format to tell your story with.

You need to structure your resume in a way that best shows your transferable skills and experience.

And when it comes to switching careers, the combination resume format does that best.

Here’s why:

This format places equal emphasis on skills and important work experience . 

This way, you can show you have the right industry transferable skills , even if you haven’t had the actual job title.

The format is ideal for people:

• Making a career change with transferable skills or work experience.
• With some employment gaps.
• With a diverse range of skills and experience .
• Applying to both creative and traditional roles.

And here’s what you include within this format:

• Contact information
• Resume objective or summary
• Skills summary
• Work experience
• Certification

Now, we’re going to go over each of those sections and explain how to write them step-by-step.

Here’s what you need to know:

How to Add Your Contact Information the Right Way

Your contact information is arguably the most important part of your resume.

Even if you’re the most qualified person in the world, it’s not going to matter much if you misspell your email and the HR manager can’t contact you.

So, here’s what you should include in this section:

• First name, last name 
• Phone number - Make sure to include your country code if you’re applying outside your country.
• Email address - Something professional like [[email protected]].
• Location - The company needs to know if you’re located in the region or if they may have to sponsor your relocation.
• Title - Either your current professional title or your new desired one. We’d recommend including the job title you’re applying for word-for-word.

Once you’re done, we’d recommend that you double-check, even triple-check everything. You wouldn’t want to miss your chances of landing the job because of a typo, would you?

• Got an online portfolio? You can also mention the links here. For example, if you’re a developer, you can include a link to your GitHub profile. If you’re a writer, a Medium link, and so on...

All clear? Good!

Now, let’s cover how to write a successful career change resume objective or summary.

Impress the Recruiter With a Career Change Resume Objective or Summary

So you’ve got your contact details down.

Now, you need a reason for the HR manager to continue reading the rest of your resume.

So, how do you get the recruiter to stop and read your career change resume when they only look at resumes for 6 seconds on average?

The answer: by using a resume objective or summary.

Both of these sections explain why you’re the best person for the job and act as a preview to the rest of your resume.

Here’s how the two differ:

Your resume summary shows your best accomplishments that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Your resume objective highlights how your current skills are relevant and will transfer to your new position.

As someone going through a career change, you can include either one.

But as a rule of thumb, if you were working in a related field and have some transferable skills, go for a resume summary.

On the other hand, if you were working in a completely unrelated field, go for a resume objective.

Check out these examples to get a better idea of what both of these might look like:

Career Change Resume Summary Example

• “Customer support specialist with over 4+ years of experience in over-the-phone technical support looking to leverage communication skills as a Sales Agent at Company XYZ. Excellent track record of delivering quality support, with an average rating of 4.6/5 over the past 2 years.”

A career change resume summary helps the HR understand how your skillset from your previous job can translate into your new one.

In that case, it’s best to mention:

• Your current relevant skills or experience.
• How your background can help you excel at the current job.

Career Change Resume Objective Example

• “Organized and hard-working employee looking to join XYZ as a marketing assistant. Looking to take advantage of my skills in Photoshop, graphic design, and creative copywriting to help XYZ with their marketing efforts.”

See the difference here?

Even though the person doesn’t have any relevant work experience, their resume objective still shows how their skill set is relevant to the new job.

Show Off Your Know-How With a Skills Summary Section

Your resume summary / objective is only an introduction. Now, you need to show the HR what you’ve got.

To do that, you need a good skills summary section.

Skills summary is a must-have section for just about any career change resume.

It puts more emphasis on your skill-set, as opposed to your work experience. This allows you to show how you’re a qualified candidate, even though you haven’t done the job before.

Here’s what a sample skills summary section might look like for a front-end developer.

Career Change Resume Skills Summary Example

• Built an online personal portfolio and resume website using HTML, CSS, JS.
• Created an online JS/jQuery quiz game that takes multiple answers and shows results to the user.
• Built a beautiful weather app with Angular 8 from scratch, designed UI with Sketch.
• Created responsive website templates (that are also mobile friendly) using modern CSS techniques and JS libraries.
• Worked with design and development groups to create applications from mock-ups in Sketch, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Familiar with Git, XDebug, and Chrome Developer Tools.
• Debugged over 10 JS web apps for a SaaS project.

Simple enough, right?

You list out each of your key skills, and then back it up with how you’ve used it in the past.

Now, you might be thinking, “what about the work experience section?” Do I just skip it, and use a skills summary instead?

Nope - you still need to list your work experience.

In this case, though, you’d want to use it to show off your transferable skills. Here’s how:

Use Your Work Experience to Show Off Transferable Skills

Let’s take a different example and say you’re moving from a job in sales to copywriting.

A resume you’d use for sales compared to a more creative field like copywriting is probably going to be a bit different.

But what do both of the roles have in common?

Well, for one, they both require you to have excellent communication skills. You also need to be good at understanding your target market and conveying complex information in simple language.

And that’s the common thread you want to focus on in your work experience section.

So, when listing your previous jobs, think of some transferable skills that you bring to the table that are going to be relevant.

Even unrelated jobs have some universal skills that are helpful everywhere.

To give you a better idea of what we mean, let’s look at some examples:

Sales Executive

Company X - 11/2016 - 04/2019

• Created and presented pitch deck that secured a $500,000 deal - largest for Company X to date.
• Boosted sales for the most underperforming product by 40% by developing helpful and instructional material for prospects.
• Created and edited sales materials, scripts, and technical documents for accuracy and consistency.

Here’s what’s done right:

• Shows transferable skills and achievements.
• Highlights only the parts from the experience that are related to the new role.

While the above example doesn’t talk about product descriptions or ads, communication materials and sales scripts do show that the candidate can write.

So, for a copywriting position, it’s going to be relevant and worth mentioning.

Now, compare that to the career change work experience below:

• Cold-emailed 100+ prospects daily.
• Closed 14+ deals in 2019 so far.
• Hit and exceeded company KPIs for the past 2 years in a row.

Sure, this example is good. But only if the candidate is applying for a sales job.

For copywriting, though, none of the skills mentioned are going to come in handy.

So, when listing previous job positions, you should focus only on what’s relevant.

Now that you know how to properly list work experience, let’s move on to the next section: Education.

Make Your Education Section Shine

Your education section is going to be an important requirement for just about any position above entry-level.

Listing education on your resume is pretty straightforward.

All you have to do is list your latest educational entry (e.g. college degree), and then include all the important stuff below it.

For example, you can include things like:

• Name of degree (Minor - optional): e.g. B.A. International Business Administration.
• Name of educational institution: e.g. University of Groningen.
• Years attended: e.g. 2015 - 2019.
• Location of the program (optional): e.g. Groningen, Netherlands.
• GPA (optional): 3.84 (only include if you excelled).
• Courses that are relevant to the job (optional): e.g. Advanced Business Finances.
• Exchange programs (optional): e.g. exchange program in Florida, U.S.

Here’s what the full listing for this educational entry might look like:

You might be wondering, what if I don’t have the right education for the job? Maybe, you have an M.A. in Philosophy, but you’re applying for a job in marketing. Do you still list it?

The answer is a definite yes.

Even if the degree is not relevant at all, it still shows that you’re passionate about learning and education.

In some cases, you might even be able to show off some transferable skills with your degree.

Let’s say, for example, you have a B.A. in English Literature , and you’re applying for a job in marketing. 

You could stress on how your degree gave you amazing writing skills (a must-have for most marketing roles), like so:

B.A. in English Literature.

University XYZ - 2014-2018

• Excelled in creative writing courses
• Part-time as a reporter for the university website

PS - Do you still have some questions on how to list your education section? Maybe you’re wondering what else you can include? Check out our full guide on how to list education on a resume with 13+ real-life examples.

Done with your education section? Awesome!

This brings us to the next section on your career change resume.

How (and Why) to List Skills On a Career Change Resume

When it comes to the skills section, what most recruiters want to know is if you can actually do what the job ad asks for.

And like with the other sections till now, relevance is key.

You should only ever list skills that are appropriate to the job you’re applying for.

To find out what’s relevant, start by scanning the job listing.

Most job ads usually include a list of requirements or skills they expect for a good candidate to have.

So, all you have to do is mention those exact skills on your resume.

Let’s take a look at an example.

Career Change Resume Skills Example

Assuming the job ad is for a junior front-end developer who has:

• 2-4 Years of professional experience using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
• Up to 1 years of visual design experience focusing on strong UX/UI.
• Good communication skills and team-player

You’d want to list the following skills:

• Communication Skills
• Team-Player

So, all you have to do is mention these skills, and you’re good to go!

• Not sure which skills are a must-have for your role? Check out our complete list of all must-have skills for any given field or position!

Showing Career Certifications on a Resume

When you’re switching careers, certifications are an amazing way to show you’re serious about your craft.

This shows you’re willing to put in the work and that you’ve already taken the first steps.

When listing certifications though, make sure they’re relevant to your field.

For a marketing role, here’s what that might look like:

• HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified, 2019.
• Google Analytics Individual Qualification, 2018.
• SEMrush Content Marketing Toolkit Course, 2018.

And here’s an example done wrong:

• TechCamp Python Bootcamp, 2019.
• Udemy JavaScript 101 Course.

For a marketing role, those certificates are completely irrelevant and aren’t even in the same field.

While they might be impressive on their own, that doesn’t mean they make you a better marketer.

Listing Personal Projects

Another great way to show that you’re the right person for the job is to list personal projects.

This can be just about anything:

• Founding a sports team in university
• Project you did for business class
• A Part-time online store you created on Etsy
• Passion-project for wood-working
• And whatever else you love (that’s relevant for your new career)

Pretty much anything that can make up for your lack of experience in the field counts.

But of course, keep in mind that your projects should be relevant to your new job.

Getting into coding? Here’s what your projects section could look like...

Make sure to stick to relevant projects, though.

The HR manager cares about your CODING experience, not about the fact that you started a basketball team in college.

Now, compare that to:

• Excelled in Anthropology and Archaeology classes at University X.
• Self-taught knitting pro.

You shouldn’t list projects just for the sake of standing out or filling up space. 

The more irrelevant information you mention in your resume, the more likely it is for the recruiter to accidentally skip out on all your must-have sections.

• Still have some space on your resume? You can also include the hobbies & interests section. Check out our guide to learn how (and why)!

How to Write a Career Change Cover Letter

Done with your resume?

But wait, before you get too excited - you’re still not done.

You need to back up your resume with a career change cover letter.

And no - it’s not like the usual cover letter you’re used to writing. 

When you’re switching careers, you want to use your cover letter to highlight WHY you’re switching fields and WHY your skills are a good match for the new role.

To do this, make sure you bring up a ton of examples and call out any key statistics or measurable results to draw upon, if possible.

To help you craft the best career change cover letter, check out the example below:

Here’s what’s done right with this cover letter:

• Addresses the reader (i.e. “Dear Doris” or if you can’t find their name, “To Whom it May Concern.”).
• Makes it clear they want to transition into a different career (from marketing and retail sales into public relations in this case).
• Shows they’ve done the research and the letter is tailored to the company's products and brand.
• Provides specific examples and achievements (“raised more than $ 10,000 for the event.”).
• Ends on a confident note and provides a call-to-action (and where to contact them).

Think your cover letter game is lacking? Check out our complete, step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter.

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Key Takeaways

To recap, going through a mid-career transition probably sounds intimidating. 

But if you craft your career change resume focusing on transferable skills and experience - then you’re good to go!

Just make sure you follow these main key tips while working on your resume:

• Use the combination resume format to highlight your transferable skills and work experience.
• Include all the essential career change resume sections - contact information , resume objective or summary , skill summary , work experience , soft and technical skills , certifications and personal projects.
• And while doing so, highlight only what’s relevant to your new position.
• Finally, make sure you attach a tailored cover letter to your resume and mention WHY you’re switching fields and what unique skills you’re bringing with you.

At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you land your dream job, every step of the way. Be sure to check out our career blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice and more actionable tips.

Suggested Reading:

• How to Get Your Resume Layout Right [3 Free Templates]
• How to Write an ATS Resume
• 20+ One-Page Resume Templates [Free Download]

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How to Write a Career Change Resume [With Template]

Starting a career in a new field is exciting, but getting your foot in the door often presents a challenge. If you’re worried about your application being overshadowed by candidates with more experience than you, don’t underestimate the role that a well-written resume can play in the hiring process. Even if you don’t have the work experience an employer is looking for, your resume can effectively convey why you’d be a great fit for the job. 

According to iHire’s 2020 Talent Retention Report , 66% of survey respondents have recently considered changing careers. The report also found that not knowing how to write a career change resume was a commonly cited roadblock for would-be career switchers. 

In this guide, we explain what a career change resume is and how to write one. We’ve also included a free template, so you can get to work on crafting a resume for your dream role.

How to Write a Resume for a Career Change

In general, most best practices for writing a resume also apply to career change resumes. However, there are a few areas you’ll want to be sure to emphasize when writing a resume for a new career path. While a traditional resume focuses heavily on work experience, career change resumes focus more on transferable skills.

In terms of how your resume is structured, a combination resume format may be the way to go. This type of resume places an equal emphasis on both skills and experience. Instead of starting the resume with your work experience, combination resume templates typically begin with an objective and a summary of relevant skills. 

The steps listed below can help you adapt your existing resume into one that is tailored for career switching. 

1. Craft a resume objective  

A resume objective is a short summary of your professional experience, skills, accomplishments, and career goals. 

Resume objectives and summaries are often considered optional, especially if you are trying to save room on your resume, but this section is crucial for those looking to change careers. The hiring manager may not make an immediate connection between your experience and the role you’re applying for, so your resume objective is essential for helping convey why you’re interested in this industry. 

Your objective should be no longer than a couple sentences. If it takes up more than two or three lines on your resume, try to shorten it.

2. Include a skills summary 

If you’re in the midst of changing careers, you’ll want to feature your skills prominently on your resume. In fact, we recommend listing them above your work experience. 

In the skills summary section, list a few skills you want to highlight, and add bullet points underneath each skill that provide examples of when you’ve used this skill. 

Not sure what type of skills to include in this section? Scan the job description for the position you’re applying for and use some of the required skills as your starting point. Some soft skills—such as leadership skills —are applicable for almost any job. Including some of the same keywords as the job description can help ensure that your resume makes it past automatic review filters.

In some situations, you might also choose to make a separate section for “Technical Skills.” In this section, you can briefly list your proficiency with various industry tools or software. This can be a great way to capture additional keywords from the job description, without having to list full examples of when you’ve used each tool. 

3. Focus on the most relevant work experience 

For a career change resume, the work experience section is all about transferable skills. You don’t necessarily need to list all of the responsibilities you had at your old job. Instead, focus on the responsibilities that are the most relevant for the new position you’re applying for. For example, if you’re a customer service representative hoping to land a job in digital marketing, you may choose to narrow in on your ability to find creative solutions for your customers. 

Here are a few tips for describing your work experience:

• Connect your work experience back to the skills listed in your skills summary section
• Focus on achievements, providing numbers and data whenever possible
• Tailor your descriptions to each job you apply for, working in keywords from the job description

If you’re running out of space on your resume, keep in mind that you don’t need to list every job you’ve ever had. Stick to your most recent two or three jobs, and leave older, irrelevant jobs behind. 

Related: How to Successfully Navigate a Midlife Career Change and Avoid a Crisis

4. Highlight your education (including certificates) 

Whether or not your education is directly related to the job you’re applying for, it’s still important to include this section on your resume. If you have limited professional experience, you can bolster your resume with some descriptions of your academic achievements, such as your GPA or relevant coursework you’ve completed. 

For example, imagine you have an undergraduate degree in history and are applying for a role as a business analyst. If you took any courses in business or analytics during college, be sure to mention them. They might not have been a part of your degree, but they show that you’ve had an ongoing interest in understanding how businesses operate. 

If you’ve earned any certificates outside of a degree program, be sure to list these, too. Online programs and certificates offer a way to expand your knowledge in a specific subject area, without the time commitment of a full degree program. They can show employers that you are serious about your professional development and would like to gain more experience in a particular industry. 

Related: Top 10 Most In-Demand Online Courses from Wharton Online Right Now

5. Add in notable projects and accomplishments 

Dedicating a section of your resume to projects and accomplishments isn’t always necessary, but if you’re changing careers or do not have much work experience, this can be a valuable way to round out your resume. You can use this space to highlight any personal achievements that are not directly related to work or school—for example, personal projects, volunteer work, or involvement in industry-related clubs or organizations. 

If you choose to include a section for projects or accomplishments, make sure that everything you list ties back to a key skill or characteristic that is relevant for your desired career path.

Career Change Resume Example 

Now that we’ve covered some tips for creating a resume tailored to a career change, let’s explore an example. We crafted this resume for a customer service representative who is applying for a digital marketing specialist position. 

Name and Contact Information 

Abigail Jacobs 

Philadelphia, PA

267-555-0176 | [email protected]

linkedin.com/in/abigail-jacobs-example

Driven and hardworking professional with a proven track record of increasing customer satisfaction levels. Looking to leverage my problem-solving skills and build upon my 3+ years of customer service experience by transitioning into the digital marketing space.

Professional Skills 

Problem Solving

• Developed creative solutions for unsatisfied customers at Platinum Auto Insurance and Accelerate Call Center
• Lead brainstorming sessions with team members to improve customer satisfaction metrics

Communication 

• 3+ years of experience in customer services roles, frequently communicating with customers both on the phone and over email 
• Completed a B.A. in Communications and was an active member of the Public Speaking Club while in college 

Organization 

• Used Excel to organize and track customer service metrics, and compiled these metrics into weekly reports for management 

Technical Skills 

• Microsoft Word
• Google Suite 
• Google Analytics 
• Google Search Console 

Work Experience

Senior Customer Service Advisor

Platinum Auto Insurance | Sept 2019 – Present

• Resolved over 100 customer complaints per week, communicating with customers via phone and email 
• Tracked KPIs for each ticket and delivered weekly customer satisfaction reports for management, consistently exceeding target satisfaction ratings by 5-10%
• Collaborated with team members to identify creative solutions for customers

Customer Service Representative 

Accelerate Call Center | Jul 2018 – Sept 2019 

• Responded to 50+ calls per day, answering questions from customers and redirecting to other departments as needed 
• Demonstrated written communication skills by revamping customer service phone scripts, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction ratings 

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

University of Pennsylvania | Jun 2018

• Completed courses in advertising and social media

Digital Marketing Certificate 

Wharton Online | Mar 2022

• Completed a six-week program from The Wharton School
• Learned about topics such as marketing analytics, customer relationships, social media, and e-commerce marketing 

Personal Projects

Marketing Assistant for Public Speaking Club 

2017 – 2018

• As a member of the Public Speaking Club at University of Pennsylvania, assisted the club with creating a monthly newsletter
• Managed social media accounts for the club, consistently posting content and engaging with followers 

Marketing Consultant 

2020 – Present 

• Assisted a friend with the creation and management of photography business website
• Used Google Analytics and Google Search Console to measure the performance of website content 

Career Change Resume Template

We’ve adapted this example into three different template formats, with the hope that it can serve as a jumping off point for your own career change resume. Click on the links below to download the template:

• Microsoft Word .DOCX
• Google Docs (click on “File > Make a copy” to save to your own Google Docs folder)

Stand Out From the Crowd With Wharton Online

If you’re looking to switch careers in the near future, an online certificate program can help set you up for success. In addition to gaining valuable insights into a specific industry, you’ll be able to list your certificate on your resume and LinkedIn. This can give you a competitive edge during your job search. 

Wharton Online offers certificate programs in subjects such as leadership and management, asset and portfolio management, and digital marketing. All of our courses are conducted 100% online, giving you the flexibility to complete coursework on your own schedule. Explore our online programs today , or reach out to us with any questions. 

For more tips on how to navigate a career change, download our free guide, “ The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings .”

Download our eBook: The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings

Job-hopping is a growing trend among young professionals, and for many good reasons. Download our free eBook, “The Career-Switching Handbook for 30‑Somethings,” for the latest career-switching tips, strategies, and data.

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The Resume Summary for a Career Change 

You’re putting together a resume after a career transition and wondering how you can compete with other candidates who have more relevant experience. It’s a challenge for sure, but one you can overcome. First, what you lack in experience you have in passion, and that will show through in a job interview. To do that, however, your passion has to shine through on your resume.

This article will explain why the resume summary is the most important part of your career change resume and how to write it. We’ll show you how to differentiate yourself from the competition and immediately catch the attention of the reader. With our resume tips, your job search will result in more interviews despite being a newcomer to an industry.

Let’s start from the beginning with the right formatting, and then we’ll show you how to write each section.

Which Resume Format Should You Use?

Without significant work experience, your best asset is your skills. A combination resume format, or a functional resume, works best because it places your skills at the top of the page before your experience focusing the reader’s attention on those skills.

The clean resume template shown here works best because you can also highlight your skills in a list in a separate column. In the body of the resume, just move the experience section down and place the skills section above it.

What Sections Should Be Included in a Functional or Combination Resume?

A career change combination resume should include the following:

• Contact Information

Resume Summary (critical)

• Skills Summary

Additional Skills

• Work Experience

Other Accomplishments

If you come away with nothing more from this article, remember that the resume summary or objective statement is the most important part of your resume if you are entering a new field. Why? Because it can immediately show the reader how passionate you are about your new career, what transferable experience you have, and what accomplishments are proof of your worth.

Your contact information is pretty much standard. Your name, your telephone number, your email address, and your social media contacts, such as LinkedIn and Twitter. There is no need to include your address. If you have credentials, such as MBA or CPA, put the letters after your name. 

Do not use your email from your current job. You don’t want your current employer to catch wind that you are job seeking. Moreover, you don’t want to draw attention to the fact that you are entering a different field.

• The Career Change Resume Objective 

This part of your resume is your headliner. It should have an impact so that the reader is compelled to read the rest of your resume and place you on the shortlist as a result. It is a good idea to leave writing the resume objective until the rest of the resume is complete. That way, you can select the best of your previous experience to include in the summary.

Here’s an example of the wrong way to write a resume objective for someone wanting to become a product manager with little experience. We’ll dissect it and then show the right way to do it.

Passionate product manager with extensive knowledge of lean principles. Looking to enter the IT sector to apply new learning and gain entry-level experience.

This might, at first glance, seem like an ok summary. The individual shows passion, claims to understand their new role, and they are honest about what they are expecting from the job. But there are many things wrong with this summary.

First, the candidate draws attention to their lack of experience in the new industry by saying “Looking to enter the IT sector.” Second, it does not show any evidence of accomplishments. Third, it does not give any indication of the candidate’s value to an employer.

Here’s a better example.

Passionate product manager with proven management skills. Technology skills include Python and C++. Wrote back-end code for five business websites as an independent consultant. Looking for an opportunity to lead a solution development portfolio for an established tech group. 

This summary works because it does not draw attention to any lack of experience. In fact, it accentuates the candidate’s management skills. The technology skills, Python, and C+ were gained in the candidate’s spare time, not in their past job, so this shows a commitment to the tech industry and an IT career. By stating that they have built websites, the candidate shows their worth to an employer. Lastly, the candidate conveys that they are confident and looking for a challenging role.

If the project summary is the most important part of a great resume, the skills summary is the next most important part. Here is where you must be creative and focus on your transferable skills.

Transferable skills are those that can be applied in more than one context. For example, if you were an HR manager and you now want to be a product manager, your experience managing multiple cases shows that you can prioritize time and resources.

Include any skills that you may have acquired through freelance work or voluntary work. Study the job description and include similar wording in your resume so that applicant tracking systems will not disregard your application.

An HR manager applying for a product manager position might use a heading “Prioritizing” or “Business Management.” Underneath would be bullet points that use action words and metrics to support that skill. Here are some examples:

Business Management

Managed a portfolio of up to 20 cases at one time with varying deadlines but with 100% client satisfaction rates.

Analyzed resources and budgets to ensure efficient allocation. Findings resulted in 30% reduction in onboarding costs.

The skills section can emphasize skills acquired outside of employment. Below are examples of bullet points showing IT skills gained through freelancing or during personal time.

Coded a Python-based stock tracking app with interactive, real-time graphs.

Designed a 3D game using Python and MySQL.

Beta-testing

Conducted beta-testing on three Python-based webapps, all of which went to market.

Reduced errors for a SaaS site by 25% through extensive debugging.

Limit your skills to two or three. But align them with the needs of the employer. For any additional skills, list them in a separate column at the side of the resume so that they are clearly visible under the heading “Additional Skills.” These can include both hard skills (technical: Java, C++) and soft skills (leadership, people management, communication skills, problem-solving) as long as they are mentioned on the job description or relevant to the job.

Avoid tired or worn out phrases such as “team player” and “excellent communicator.” These will bore the reader and won’t separate you from the competition.

The work experience section should include only your last two or three positions. If you have relevant experience that dates back longer, add those skills to the skills list. That way, you don’t draw attention to your age if you are switching careers later in life.

Unfortunately, ageism is rife in the recruitment industry. Recruiters want to know what your current skills are, not the extent of your years of experience.

For each job, add the date, the job title, and use bullet points to show your accomplishments. The same rules apply as those for the skills section. Study the job description and show only the accomplishments and professional experience relevant to your target job. Use active words and provide metrics to show the impact of your work.

Here are some examples of bullet points for the work experience section that can apply to most industries and sectors

• Communicated with stakeholders to define business requirements

 • Responding to client needs for new solutions with 100% client satisfaction

 • Enhanced operational performance by 24% by revising procedures and systems

 • Cut costs by 15% using predictive analytics

 • Improved customer experience and satisfaction to boost sales by 25%.

• Education Section

List your degrees in this section. If you are changing careers later in life, don’t add your graduation dates because this will draw attention to your age. 

• The Career Change Cover Letter

Use your cover letter to further cement your suitability for the new job based on your newly acquired relevant skills. Don’t draw attention to your past work experience. Instead, emphasize what you have been doing to learn about your new career recently. This shows passion, commitment, and current industry knowledge. Tailor your resume and cover letter for every job posting.

• Summary Resume Writing Tips

Remember that your resume summary is critical to getting the attention of the hiring manager.

Place your skills at the top of the resume before your work experience.

Include transferable skills, those that you have gained through freelance work or during your free time.

Use keywords that appear in the job description.

Only include your last two or three employers, and omit graduation dates if you are transitioning careers later in life.

Do not include photos or images in your resume. Keep it neat and simple.

Use the cover letter to further cement your suitability for the role based on your newly acquired skills. 

Always have someone proofread your resume for typos.

• Career Change Resume Example 

The resume below is an example for a job seeker transitioning from a sales manager role to a product manager role. Feel free to use it as a template and make it your own!

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Nowadays, the competition in the US job market can be fierce, and this is especially true for those seeking a career change.

The first and foremost element of your job search is your resume, and without a strong one, it is not possible to stand out from the crowd.

But the part where it gets tricky is a resume summary for a career change!

For those looking to transition to a new career field, a well-crafted summary can be particularly powerful, providing a snapshot of your transferable skills and value proposition.

We will discuss the key components of an effective resume summary for a career change and also provide real-world examples of career summaries along with tips for crafting your own. Check out our topical breakdown for the same:

• Key points to keep in mind for writing a resume summary
• Writing a resume summary for a career change
• Dos and don'ts of a resume summary for a career change

How to Write a Career Summary for a Resume?

Start by identifying your key strengths and professional highlights relevant to the new position and include them in the resume summary.

Make proper and optimum use of action verbs and power words , and quantify your accomplishments wherever possible to demonstrate your impact.

Also, tailor your resume summary by including keywords and phrases from the job description. This will show the employer that you have taken the time to understand the position which, in turn, will reflect you as a strong candidate for the job.

Remember, your resume summary should be concise and to the point. Keep it up to 3 to 4 sentences and focus on the most important information that showcases your qualifications for the job.

Also read : What are some good resume summary examples for freshers?

How to Write a Resume Summary when Changing Careers?

Start with this thought! Your resume summary for a career change should not only emphasize relevant skills but should also address the career shift.

We will elaborate upon these keynotes for writing an effective resume summary for a career change:

Importance of Addressing the Career Change

The resume summary is the first section of the document that potential employers will read, making it a prime opportunity to address the career change head-on.

By acknowledging the shift in your career path up front, you can highlight your motivation for the change and showcase your enthusiasm for the new field.

Strategies for Emphasizing Transferable Skills

When writing a resume summary for a career change, it is essential to focus on transferable skills that are relevant to the new position.

Consider highlighting any soft skills that are transferable to the new role, such as leadership or communication abilities.

Also, mention any hard skills or technical knowledge that can be applied in the new field, such as proficiency in data analysis or project management .

Examples of Effective Resume Summaries for Career Change

Here are a few resume summaries for career change examples that you can refer to for writing your own:

Experienced marketing professional seeking to transition into human resources. Highly skilled in project management, communication, and employee relations. Passionate about supporting individuals and teams to achieve their goals.

4+ years customer service representative with a background in hospitality seeking to transition to a career in sales. Demonstrated track record in building strong relationships with customers, identifying their needs, and providing effective solutions. Eager to leverage these skills in a sales environment.

Former teacher seeking to transition into healthcare administration. Proven track record of effective communication, organizational skills, and problem-solving under challenging circumstances. Passionate about improving patient experiences and outcomes.

Also read : How to explain career change during an interview?

Dos and Don'ts of Writing a Resume Summary for Career Change

There are certain Dos and Don'ts that you must comply with while writing a resume summary for a career change.

Here are some tips to help you craft an effective summary, and common mistakes to avoid:

Highlight transferable skills : Emphasize your skills that can be applied to your new career. This can include both soft skills and hard skills.

Mention relevant experience : Highlight any experience that can be transferred over, but first assess if it has enough potential for your new field. For example, if you are switching from marketing to sales, highlight any experience you have with client relations or customer service.

Customize the summary to the job : Tailor your resume summary to the specific job you are applying for. Research the company and the job description to get a sense of what skills and experience they are looking for and mention them if you possess them (if not, upskill-upskill-and-upskill!).

Overemphasize unrelated experience : While it is important to highlight transferable skills, you need to be selective, prompt, and aligning them to your new job should not drain the life out of you. Don’t spend too much time pondering over unrelated experiences.

Generic language : Stay away from generic language that could apply to any job seeker. Use specific keywords and phrases that align with the job you are applying for. It is best to target keywords from your job posting wherever suitable.

Irrelevant personal information : Your resume summary should focus on your professional experience and skills. Avoid including any personal information such as hobbies or interests. They are only acceptable in the case of freshers as they lack professional experience.

By keeping these dos and don'ts in mind, you can craft a strong resume summary that highlights your transferable skills and relevant experience, and increase your chances of landing a job in your new career.

Also read : What is the CV-making process to demonstrate a career change?

What is a resume summary for a career change, and why is it important? A resume summary for a career change is a brief statement highlighting your relevant skills and professional achievements that align with your new job. It is the first thing a hiring manager will read, and it can help you demonstrate your interest in the career shift head-on.

How do I write a resume summary for a career change? Start by identifying the key skills and experience required for the job. Then, highlight your relevant experience and transferable skills that demonstrate your ability to perform well in the new role. Be concise and specific, and do not go beyond 3 to 4 lines.

Can I use the same resume summary for every job I apply for? No, you should customize your resume summary for each job you apply for. Tailor your summary to highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position, and make sure to optimally use keywords and phrases from the job description.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a resume summary for a career change? Don’t use generic statements that don't differentiate you from other candidates, avoid focusing on all of your experience rather than your transferable skills and relevant experiences, and do not use industry-specific jargon that you or the hiring manager may not be familiar with.

Lastly, if you want to optimize your resumes as per the latest practices in 2023, use Hiration's next-gen ChatGPT-powered career platform, which offers a solution to every obstacle faced by job seekers across the US.

Try it out today to enhance your job search and take your career to the next level.

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Resume Summary Tips for Career Changers in 2024

Having a strong resume summary is crucial in today’s job market, especially for career changers. As someone who is transitioning into a new field, your resume needs to convey your unique abilities and experiences in a clear and concise way.

However, crafting a compelling resume summary can be a challenge for many candidates. You need to balance highlighting your transferable skills while also showing why you are the best fit for the specific job you are applying for.

That’s why in this article, we will be discussing important tips and strategies for crafting an effective resume summary as a career changer. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what recruiters and hiring managers look for in a resume summary, as well as how to tailor your experiences and skills to make them stand out in your job search. So, let’s dive in and help you land that dream job!

Understanding Your Target Industry

When it comes to crafting a winning resume summary as a career changer, one important step is to carefully research your chosen industry. Doing so can help you understand what skills and qualifications are most in demand, and how you can tailor your summary to stand out to potential employers.

Researching Your Chosen Industry

To begin your research, start by looking at job postings and industry publications in your field of interest. Pay attention to the specific keywords, phrases, and skills that are frequently mentioned in these materials. It may also be helpful to connect with professionals in the industry through networking events or informational interviews.

Identifying Relevant Skills and Qualifications

With a better understanding of your target industry, you should be able to identify the key skills and qualifications that employers are looking for. This may involve highlighting your transferable skills – those that can be applied across various industries – as well as anything specific to your chosen field.

Some common qualifications may include certification, education, and experience in the field or related fields. However, it’s important to note that different industries may place a different emphasis on these factors, so make sure you understand what is most important to potential employers in your specific field.

Tailoring Your Summary to Industry Keywords

By incorporating the keywords and phrases you’ve identified into your summary, you can make sure that it resonates more strongly with potential employers. This can help your resume stand out from the pile and demonstrate your relevance to the industry.

For example, if you’re interested in moving into the healthcare industry, you might emphasize your experience working with patients, your knowledge of medical terminology, and your familiarity with relevant regulations and compliance issues.

Remember, the goal of your resume summary is to quickly and effectively communicate your relevant skills and experience to potential employers. By understanding your target industry and tailoring your summary accordingly, you can increase your chances of landing a job in your new field.

Identifying Transferable Skills

As a career changer, it’s important to identify and showcase your transferable skills in your resume summary. But first, what exactly are transferable skills?

Transferable skills are talents and abilities that can be used in multiple settings and industries. They are skills that you have acquired in your previous work, education, or volunteer experiences that can be adapted and applied to your new career path.

Here are some examples of transferable skills that you can showcase in your summary depending on the industry you are applying for:

Marketing and Communications

• Strong written and verbal communication
• Social media marketing and management
• Content creation and copywriting
• Market research and analysis
• Brand management
• Project management

Human Resources

• Recruitment and onboarding
• Performance management
• Conflict resolution and mediation
• Training and development
• HR policies and compliance
• HR analytics and reporting

Information Technology

• Software development and programming
• Cybersecurity and data privacy
• Network administration and management
• Project management and agile methodology
• Technical support and troubleshooting
• Curriculum design and development
• Classroom management and instruction
• Assessment and evaluation
• Student-centered learning
• Education technology and software
• Professional development and training

Once you have identified your transferable skills, the next step is to showcase them effectively in your summary. Here are some tips:

• Use active and impactful language when describing your skills
• Be specific and quantify your achievements when possible
• Highlight the skills that are most relevant to your new career path
• Show how your skills can benefit the new company or industry

Remember, your transferable skills may be the key to landing your new job. By highlighting them in your summary, you can show how you are the perfect candidate for the role despite coming from a different career background.

Identifying and showcasing transferable skills in your summary is an important step for any career changer. With these tips, you can effectively communicate your skills and experiences to potential employers and increase your chances of success in your new career path.

Highlighting Relevant Experience

As a career changer, it’s essential to highlight relevant work experience that demonstrates your skill set and ability to adapt to a new industry. Here are some tips on how to effectively highlight your experience in your resume summary:

Translating Previous Work Experience to New Industry

Don’t assume that your previous work experience has no relevance to your new industry. Take the time to identify skills and experiences that can be transferred, even if they seem unrelated at first glance. For example, if you’re transitioning from a marketing role to a project management position, your experience working on campaigns and social media strategies can be translated into project management skills such as budgeting and time management.

Identifying Experiences that Align with New Industry

Research the industry and tailor your resume summary to highlight experiences that demonstrate your familiarity with the new industry. Use industry-specific keywords and phrases to make your resume stand out to hiring managers. For example, if you’re transitioning from a finance role to a healthcare position, highlight experiences related to budgeting and analysis that align with healthcare finance.

Demonstrating How Past Experience Can Add Value to New Role

Finally, it’s essential to show how your past experience can add value to your new role. Use your resume summary to highlight key accomplishments and successes in your previous roles that demonstrate your ability to bring value to the table. For example, if you’re transitioning from a sales role to a customer service position, highlight your ability to build relationships with clients and provide excellent customer experiences.

By translating previous work experience, identifying relevant experiences in the new industry, and demonstrating how past experiences can add value, you can effectively highlight your relevant experience to potential employers.

Showcasing Your Passion for the New Industry

One important aspect of a resume summary for career changers is displaying enthusiasm for the new industry. Hiring managers want to see that you are motivated and excited about the field you are applying for. This can help set you apart from other candidates who may not have the same level of passion or interest.

There are several ways to showcase your enthusiasm and motivation in your resume summary. Here are a few tips:

Importance of displaying enthusiasm

When you display enthusiasm for the new industry you want to enter, you communicate to the hiring manager that you are serious about making a change and are eager to learn about this new field. This demonstrates that you are not just looking for any job, but are truly invested in a new career path. Hiring managers want to know that you are committed and show a genuine interest in their company and industry.

Ways to showcase interest and motivation

There are multiple ways to showcase your interest and motivation. One way is to highlight any relevant experience you have in the industry. This can show hiring managers that you have already been working towards your goals, and are knowledgeable about the field.

If you don’t have direct experience in the industry, consider writing about your transferable skills. Your experiences from past work, volunteer, or educational experiences can be highlighted and applied to the new industry you are exploring. This demonstrates that you are adaptable and capable of learning new skills.

Another way to show motivation is to research the company and industry before writing your resume summary. This can help you tailor your summary to match the company’s values and goals. You can also provide specific examples of how your skills and interests align with the company’s mission statement.

Highlighting relevant education, courses, and certifications

Education, courses, and certifications relevant to the new industry can also demonstrate your commitment to the new field. Highlighting these achievements can set you apart from other applicants and give you a competitive edge.

It’s important to make sure that the education, courses, or certifications you highlight are relevant to the position you are applying for. This shows that you are committed to learning and developing skills that are directly applicable to the job.

Showcasing your passion for the new industry is essential to creating a successful resume summary. Demonstrating your enthusiasm, interest, and motivation can set you apart from other candidates and help you stand out to hiring managers.

Using Metrics and Achievements

As you begin your career transition, it’s important to not only highlight your skills and experience, but also quantify your achievements. Numbers and metrics can provide concrete evidence of your past success and future potential.

The Importance of Quantifying Achievements

Quantifying achievements helps to add weight to your qualifications and demonstrate your value as a potential employee. Rather than simply listing duties and responsibilities, you can highlight specific accomplishments and how they contributed to the success of your previous roles. This can include anything from exceeding sales goals to improving efficiency in company processes.

By quantifying achievements, you give hiring managers a clear picture of what you are capable of achieving and how you can add value to their company. It also helps you stand out from other candidates who may not have provided concrete examples of their accomplishments.

Identifying Metrics that Matter in Your New Industry

As you transition into a new industry, it’s important to research and identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that matter in your new field. This will help you to better understand what your new employer is looking for and tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and experiences.

For example, if you’re transitioning from a marketing role in the tech industry to a digital marketing role in the healthcare industry, you may need to shift your focus from metrics like click-through rates and social media engagement to metrics like patient acquisition and lead conversion.

Showcasing Past Achievements to Demonstrate Future Potential

When showcasing past achievements, it’s important to focus on those that are most relevant to your new role and industry. This will demonstrate your ability to transfer your skills and experience to your new field.

Your achievements should also demonstrate your potential for future success. Rather than simply listing accomplishments, explain how they have prepared you for your new role and how you plan to build upon them.

For example, if you’re transitioning from a project management role in the construction industry to a project management role in the software industry, you could highlight how your experience in managing complex projects and collaborating with diverse stakeholders has prepared you for managing software development projects.

Using metrics and achievements can be a powerful tool for career changers. By quantifying your achievements, identifying relevant metrics and showcasing your past successes, you can demonstrate your potential for success in your new industry.

Structuring Your Summary

Crafting an effective resume summary is crucial when you’re changing industries or transitioning to a new career. To make sure it hits the mark, it’s important to structure it properly, follow length and format guidelines, and avoid common pitfalls.

Length and Format Guidelines for Resume Summaries

Your resume summary is your chance to make a strong first impression, so it’s important to use the right format and keep it short and sweet. Generally, a summary should be three to five sentences long, and it should be formatted in paragraph form, starting with a strong opening statement and incorporating key qualifications, experience, and skills.

To make it stand out, you can also include bullet points that highlight relevant achievements or qualifications. Just be sure to keep formatting consistent, and use a professional font and layout.

Tips for Creating a Unique but Concise Summary

While it’s important to keep your summary concise, it’s also essential to make sure it stands out from other applicants’ resumes. To achieve this, focus on your unique selling points and what sets you apart from other candidates.

One way to do this is to highlight your specific achievements and experiences that demonstrate your skills and expertise. You can also include unique insights or industry-specific knowledge that sets you apart.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

When crafting your summary, there are some mistakes that you should avoid. For example, don’t simply restate your work experience or skills–this doesn’t provide any new information to potential employers.

You should also avoid using generic language or buzzwords that don’t add value or are overused. Instead, focus on using specific examples and relevant skills that match the job description.

By following these guidelines and tips, you can craft an effective resume summary that highlights your unique qualifications and interests, and helps you land your dream job.

Making a Strong First Impression

In today’s competitive job market, it’s more important than ever to make a strong first impression with potential employers. One of the most critical ways to do this is through your resume’s opening statement. Whether it’s a resume summary or objective, your opening statement sets the tone for the rest of your resume and can influence an employer’s decision to continue reading.

Crafting a powerful opening statement requires careful consideration and planning. Your goal is to catch the reader’s attention, clearly and quickly communicate your value proposition, and entice them to keep reading. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by crafting an attention-grabbing headline.

Your headline should be concise, compelling, and specific. It should clearly communicate the job you’re seeking and highlight your most relevant and impressive qualifications. For example, instead of a generic headline like “Experienced Sales Professional,” try something like “Award-Winning Sales Manager with 10 Years of Experience Driving 25% Revenue Growth.”

But a powerful headline alone isn’t enough. Your opening statement should continue to build on the momentum by diving deeper into your unique value proposition. Take the opportunity to highlight your most impressive accomplishments, core competencies, and unique selling points. For example:

• “Accomplished marketing executive with a track record of launching successful campaigns that generated $10M+ in revenue.”
• “Skilled project manager with a demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver complex projects on time and under budget.”
• “Highly creative graphic designer with a passion for delivering visually stunning designs that drive engagement and sales.”

In each of these examples, the opening statement grabs the reader’s attention with a specific headline and then builds on that momentum by diving deeper into the candidate’s unique value proposition. By doing so, the candidate has already made a strong first impression and set themselves apart from the competition.

Crafting a powerful opening statement is critical for making a strong first impression with potential employers. By investing time and effort into your headline and opening statement, you can catch the reader’s attention and communicate your unique value proposition in a way that entices them to keep reading.

Refining Your Summary

As a career changer, your resume summary is your chance to make a strong first impression on potential employers. To ensure that your summary stands out, it is important to review and edit it carefully. Here are some tips for refining your resume summary.

Importance of reviewing and editing

Reviewing and editing your resume summary is crucial because it can make or break your chances of getting hired. Employers usually spend only a few seconds scanning a resume, so your summary needs to be concise, compelling and relevant to the job. By reviewing and editing your summary, you can ensure that it meets these criteria.

Tips for cutting unnecessary details

When refining your summary, one of the most important things to do is to cut unnecessary details. This includes irrelevant experience or academic accomplishments that do not relate to the job you are applying for. To do this, consider the following:

• Aim to keep your summary to 3-4 sentences, focusing on your most relevant skills and experience.
• Avoid buzzwords or jargon that might confuse the reader.
• Prioritize your most recent work experience and accomplishments.

By cutting unnecessary details and focusing on your most relevant experience and skills, you can create a resume summary that makes a strong case for why you are the best candidate for the job.

How to communicate your summary to others for feedback

Once you have refined your summary, it can be helpful to get feedback from others. This can help you identify any areas that need improvement and ensure that your summary is clear and concise. To get feedback, you can:

• Share your summary with a trusted friend or colleague and ask for their feedback.
• Use an online tool, such as Grammarly or ProWritingAid, to check for errors and improve readability.
• Re-read your summary out loud to yourself to ensure it flows smoothly and sounds natural.

By communicating your summary to others for feedback, you can refine it even further and increase your chances of capturing the attention of potential employers.

Refining your summary is an important step in the job search process for career changers. By following these tips, you can create a summary that showcases your most relevant skills and experience, while ensuring that it is clear, concise and compelling.

Customizing for Each Application

As a career changer, one of the most important tips to keep in mind when crafting your resume summary is customization for each and every position you apply for. In order to make a strong first impression on potential employers, it’s crucial to showcase your skills and experience in a way that aligns specifically with the job at hand. Here’s why:

Reasons to Customize Your Resume Summary for Each Position

• Increased relevance:  Customizing your summary ensures that the most relevant parts of your work history are highlighted for the position you’re applying for. This helps the recruiter or hiring manager to quickly see how your skills and experience align with the role they need to fill.
• Showing interest in the position:  Tailoring your summary shows that you’re genuinely interested in the position and have done your homework on the company and the role you’re applying for.
• Standing out from the crowd:  When you customize your resume summary, you’re setting yourself apart from other applicants who may have submitted a generic resume without any customization for the specific job.

How to Tailor Your Summary to Specific Job Descriptions

Customizing your resume summary doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are some tips to help you tailor your summary:

• Read the job description carefully:  Highlight the qualifications, skills, and experience that the employer is looking for in the job description.
• Match your experience to the job:  Identify the parts of your work history that align with the job requirements and emphasize them in your summary.
• Use relevant keywords:  Incorporate relevant keywords that the employer used in the job description to showcase your fit for the position.
• Highlight relevant achievements:  Include any achievements or accolades that are specifically relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Importance of Flexibility and Adaptability in Career Change

Customizing your resume summary is just one way that career changers can demonstrate their flexibility and adaptability. When you’re changing careers, it’s important to be able to show that you’re willing to learn new skills and take on new challenges. Here’s why:

• Relevance:  As a career changer, you may not have direct experience in the field you’re trying to break into. By customizing your resume summary and highlighting the transferable skills you do have, you’re showing that you’re relevant to the position.
• Willingness to learn:  Emphasizing your willingness to learn new skills and take on new challenges demonstrates your adaptability and flexibility, key qualities that employers look for in candidates.
• Open-mindedness:  Customizing your resume summary for each position shows that you’re open to different opportunities and that you understand the importance of adapting your approach to suit the needs of each potential employer.

Customizing your resume summary for each application is an essential step for career changers looking to make a strong impression on potential employers.

Incorporating Keywords for Applicant Tracking Systems

As a career changer, your goal is to showcase how your skills and experience from your previous careers can be applied to your new field. However, simply including this information in your resume may not be enough if you are not optimizing it for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

What are Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

ATS is a software system utilized by employers to streamline the resume screening process. These automated systems scan resumes for specific keywords and phrases that are associated with requisite skills and qualifications for a particular job posting.

Importance of optimizing for ATS

Optimizing your resume for ATS ensures that your resume passes through the screening process and reaches the hands of human recruiters. No matter how impressive your resume is, it will not be considered by the employer if it is rejected by ATS.

Ways to incorporate relevant keywords without sacrificing clarity

To optimize your resume for ATS, you need to incorporate relevant keywords throughout your resume. However, you must do this without sacrificing the clarity and quality of the content.

Firstly, ensure that keywords are relevant to the job you are applying for. Research the job posting and identify the critical skills and requirements mentioned in the job description. Use these keywords to tailor your resume and make it more specific to the job opening.

Secondly, use variations of keywords to maximize your chances of being shortlisted by ATS. For example, if the job requires experience in data analysis, your keywords might include “data analysis,” “data analytics,” “data mining,” and so on.

Thirdly, use natural language and avoid keyword stuffing. Don’t try to cram as many keywords as possible in your resume. Instead, use them strategically to portray your skills and expertise. Use relevant keywords in your resume summary, work experience, and accomplishment sections.

Finally, enlist the help of a professional resume writer or editor who has expertise in optimizing resumes for ATS. They can help you strike the right balance between incorporating keywords and maintaining clarity and quality in your resume.

Optimizing your resume for ATS is crucial in ensuring that your resume passes through the screening process and reaches the hands of human recruiters. By incorporating relevant keywords strategically and without sacrificing clarity, you can increase your chances of being shortlisted for the job.

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• The Ultimate Guide to a Career Change Resume (with examples)

People tend to constantly develop themselves, looking for better opportunities in personal and social life. That is why it’s not surprising when they suddenly find out they are doing the things that don’t bring them the satisfaction or money they expected and decide to start something new. There may be thousands of different reasons why people decide to change their career, however, it’s never that easy. When you decide to change the profession, you have to compete with other candidates, most of which have necessary skills proved by real experience. Thus you will have to prove that you will be the better fit, despite you have not previously worked on the similar position. Preparing good application package, and writing a great resume can be of a great help to win the interview. Professional resume writing service can prepare a strong resume for you. 

Let’s look at the main principles of a successful resume for you can evaluate its quality and use these tips if you decide to make a resume by yourself.

Career change resume format

There are different resume types exist. You decide, which to use, based on your unique situation. The most popular and effective resume type of a resume for career change is a combination resume format , a mixed type of experience-based (chronological) and skill-based (functional) resume.

If you ever had any work experience, you might develop the skills that would be useful in your future position, even if you make a career change. You can transfer your precious experience from one career to another, states Forbes . So you should focus on your skill set and achievements proving them by your previous work experience and additional activities. You should also include your education (training, courses or certificates) that are closely connected to the field you want to work at. Make sure you use the best resume fonts and professional layouts.

Resume summary

Obviously, it is one of the most important parts of career change resume. Resume summary for career change is 5-10 lines you use to identify yourself as a professional, state your career objectives and express your interest in the job opening. When switching careers, it would be rather useful to use a resume objective instead of a simple resume summary. They may look similar, however, there’s a slight difference in the focus of those several lines. Let’s look at these career change resume objective statement examples. First is resume summary used for an experienced worker. Another one is career change resume objective.

Resume summary sample

Accomplished and result-oriented professional with 5+ years of experience managing network protocols, server maintenance and designing network configuration. As a leading network engineer demonstrated significant results in troubleshooting & preventing network faults, extreme server loads and data leak. Looking forward to tailor new network design solutions and take system reliability and data network services maintenance to the next level.      

Resume objective sample 

Highly motivated and result-oriented military trained leader with 30+ years of experience in military and state organizations is willing to discuss a challenging position in executive-level government where there’s a scope to achieve optimal levels of professional and personal performance by utilizing knowledge while enhancing skills as a valuable member of a team. Therefore, would like to express special interest in [Job Title] position. Despite vast experience in contracting, acquisition and purchase, willing to obtain new knowledge and keep in touch with the latest industry changes. Able to communicate well with all levels of management and accept and learn from criticism. Driven by new challenges and desire to excel in all endeavors. This knowledge and experience will make me an asset to your organization and will allow to function effectively as a [Job title].

As you may see from the second example, it’s quite obvious that despite the midlife career change, the candidate has the necessary skills and expertise, enthusiasm and his reasons and motives are clear.

Skills and experience

First of all, you should thoroughly read the description of the position you’re applying to and highlight the main requirements from it. Make sure, you fulfill them and have obtained the necessary skills. Go through your work experience and pick up the achievements that demonstrate you correspond to the desired position. If you feel that you don’t have necessary competencies, there’re a few ways to obtain them via a short time period:

• Paid and unpaid internships
• Volunteer work
• Freelance projects
• Online and offline courses

All of the above would be a precious complement to your resume with no experience and would prove your reliability and serious attitude to the recruiter.

Career change resume sample

How to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field

A cover letter is an important document to support your resume. It is vital to include a cover letter for career change to the application package in the case of a career switch. When writing a cover letter or even using cover letter generator , be creative and honest to express your passion and enthusiasm for the chosen profession, explain your reasons of finding a new career and demonstrate your hard work to gain the relevant experience.

Career change cover letter sample

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my interest in the Policeman position, and I hope to be considered for an interview. Currently, I am looking for a challenging job and I find this opening very desirable. I am looking forward to get a deep insight into the industry because it will expand my professional opportunities and grow my career to the next level. 

Although I have obtained BS in Physical Education and Sports Science at University of Lincoln in 2014 and I have been working primarily as a P. E. Teacher, I now have strong desire to expand my career opportunities and become a highly professional Policeman because I realize the importance of this demanding profession. 

I am a young, motivated, energetic, enthusiastic and resourceful person who strives to provide the best service possible and to help other people uncover the truth. I believe the key skills that I possess to succeed in this position include my physical strength developed for many years of sports training, attention to details and good problem-solving, which are necessary for educating children, along with analytical skills, ability to make a quick decision based on information given. All these skills will help me grow as a professional. There are some core competencies acquired during the course of my career such as great communication and strong interpersonal skills that will enable me to interact effectively with people. In addition, I have an outstanding computer, Internet and photography proficiency needed to perform effectively my duties. I can bring all these important job skills to your service if hired. But most importantly, I am willing to learn new things and get additional knowledge in order to grow as a professional in this field.

I believe that with my dedication and hard work I can achieve outstanding results on this position and my excellent problem-solving, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills will help me function effectively as a Policeman and make a positive contribution to our society. 

Please see the accompanying resume for details of my previous experience and education. I am available for an interview at a mutually convenient time. Please fill free to contact me via phone: 000-000-0000. Thank you for your time and consideration — I look forward to learning more about this job offer!

Name Surname

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24 Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

A resume summary statement usually comes right after a job seeker’s contact info and before other resume sections such as skills and work experience. It provides employers with a brief overview of a candidate’s career accomplishments and qualifications before they read further. Because of how early it appears on the document, your resume summary statement (or your CV “profile” in the UK) is one of the first places recruiters and employers look. And without the right information, they’ll doubt that you’re qualified and may move to another resume.

So I got in touch with a select group of professional resume writers, coaches and career experts to get their best resume summary examples you can use and adapt to write a resume summary that stands out and gets interviews.

As a former recruiter myself, I’ll also share my best tips to write your resume summary effectively.

Why the Resume/CV Summary is Important

You may have heard that recruiters only spend 8-10 seconds looking at your resume. The truth is: they spend that long deciding whether to read more. They do glance that quickly at first and may move on if your background doesn’t look like a fit. However, if you grab their attention, they’ll read far more. Recruiters aren’t deciding to interview you in 8-10 seconds, but they are ruling people out in 8-10 seconds. And this is why your resume summary is so crucial. It appears high up on your resume (usually right after your header/contact info) and is one of the first sections employers see. So it’s part of what they’ll see in the first 8-10 seconds.

Your resume summary statement is one of your first (and one of very few) chances to get the employer to stop skimming through their pile of resumes and focus on YOU.

Watch: Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

10 resume summary examples:.

These career summary examples will help you at any experience level – whether you’re writing a professional summary after a long executive career, or writing your first resume summary without any experience! After you finish this article you’re NEVER going to have to send out a limp, weak resume summary statement again (and you’ll get far more interviews  because of it).

1. Healthcare Sales Executive Resume Summary Example:

Turnaround & Ground Up Leadership – Concept-to-execution strategies for untapped products, markets + solutions that yield 110% revenue growth – Negotiates partnerships with leading distributors + hospitals—Medline to Centara + Novant Health to Mayo Clinic –  Revitalizes underperforming sales organizations via scalable, sustainable infrastructures emulated as best practice –  C-Level networks of clinical + supply chain leadership acquired during tenures with XXX, XXX and XXX

Why this resume summary is good:

This resumes summary example’s strength lies in the detailed, unique information that has been included. By including revenue stats, names of past employers and partners, the reader right away sees that this person will bring to the role a strong networking ability with key players in his industry, and more importantly can build, grow and revitalize a sales organization, market or product.

By:  Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor.

2. 15+ Year Business Owner Resume Summary Statement:

Dynamic and motivated marketing professional with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, designing educational strategies, and coaching individuals to success. Skilled in building cross-functional teams, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, and making critical decisions during challenges. Adaptable and transformational leader with an ability to work independently, creating effective presentations, and developing opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Why this is a good summary section:

This is a resume summary statement that was for  a candidate returning to work after having her own business for 15+ years. Because of this, we needed to emphasize her soft skills and what she can bring to this potential position. In addition, we highlighted the skills she has honed as a business owner so that she can utilize these qualifications as a sales professional, account manager , and someone knowledgeable about nutrition, medicine, and the overall sales process.

By: Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish. MBA, Ph.D., CPRW, and Founder of Feather Communications

3. Human Resources Generalist Resume Summary Example:

Human Resources Generalist with progressive experience managing employee benefits & compliance, employee hiring & onboarding, performance management processes, licensure tracking and HR records. Dependable and organized team player with the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently. Skilled at building relationships with employees across all levels of an organization. Proficient with HRIS, applicant tracking and benefits management.

Why this is a good resume summary:

The applicant highlights their experience across a wide range of HR functions from the very first sentence, and continues this pattern throughout the rest of the summary. They then use easily digestible langue to showcase their hard skills (in the first & fourth sentences) and soft skills (in the second & third sentences). They also integrate a variety of keywords to get past automated job application systems , without sounding spammy or without overdoing it.

By: Kyle Elliott, MPA/CHES,  Career Coach and Consultant

4. Social Media Marketing CV Profile Example (UK):

Social media expert with successes in the creation and management of social media strategies and campaigns for global retail organisations. Extensive experience in the commercial utilisation of multiple social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube; I build successful social strategies that increase brand awareness, promote customer engagement and ultimately drive web traffic and conversions.

Why this summary is good:

This summary is well-written, short, sharp, and gives recruiters a high-level explanation of the candidate’s core offerings in a persuasive and punchy style. A quick scan of this profile tells you the exact type of social media platforms the candidate is an expert in, as well as the campaigns they have experience running and types of organizations they have worked for. Most importantly, the summary is rounded off by showing the results that this person achieves for their employers, such as increased web traffic and conversions.

Editor’s note: This CV profile summary was written for the UK market… this is a great one to use/copy, but make sure you put it through a spell-checker if you’re applying for jobs in the US (utilisation vs. utilization, etc.)

By: Andrew Fennell, Director at StandOut CV , contributor for The Guardian and Business Insider

5. Marketing Manager Professional Summary Example:

Marketing Manager with over eight years of experience. Proven success in running email marketing campaigns and implementing marketing strategies that have pulled in a 20% increase in qualified leads. Proficient in content, social media and inbound marketing strategies. Skilled, creative and innovative.

This resume summary stands out because it gets straight to the point. By immediately introducing the number of years of experience the candidate has, the HR manager doesn’t need to spend time adding up years. The candidate also jumps right into his or her strongest skill, provides a statistic , then gives additional skills.

By: Sarah Landrum, career expert and contributor at Entrepreneur.com and Forbes

6. Warehouse Supervisor Resume Summary Example:

Warehouse Supervisor with Management, Customer Service, & Forklift Experience –  Dependable manager with 15+ years of experience in warehouse management and employee supervision. –  Skilled at managing inventory control, shipping & receiving, customer relations and safety & compliance. –  Certified Power Equipment Trainer, Forklift Operator and Reach Operator skilled at coaching other staff. –  Promoted to positions of increased responsibility given strong people and project management skills.

The applicant was applying for a warehouse supervisor position that required them to have demonstrated management, customer service and forklift experience. As such, the applicant showcased their experience in these areas with a few keywords in the title, followed by additional details in the accompanying bullet points. Their final bullet shows a record of promotions, while reinforcing the applicant’s customer service and project management skills.

7. IT Project Manager Resume Summary Example:

Experienced Project Manager with vast IT experience. Skills include computer networking, analytical thinking and creative problem solving. Able to apply customer service concepts to IT to improve user experience for clients, employees and administration.

Because this candidate is switching career paths, it’s important he or she take skills used for previous positions and apply those skills to the new job listing. This is a great example because the candidate makes it clear that his or her experience is not in the new field, but that they are still able to bring relevant experience to the table. When writing your resume summary, keep these tips in mind: Use writing that is straight to the point, clear and concise, you’ll have a higher chance of getting noticed by the hiring manager.

8. Career-Changer Resume Summary Example:

Earn trust, uncover key business drivers and find common ground as chief negotiator and identifier of revenue opportunities in sales, leadership and account management roles spanning e-Commerce, air travel and high-tech retail. Navigate cultural challenges while jumping time zones, lead international airline crews and manage corporate accounts to deliver an exceptional customer experience. A self-taught techie sought after as a go-to for complex billing systems and SaaS platforms alike—bridging the divide between technology and plain-speak. – Tenacious Quest for Success + Learning . Earned MBA and BS in just 3 years while working full-time – gaining hands-on experience in research- and data-driven product roadmap development, pricing and positioning. – Results-Driven Leadership. Whether leading Baby Boomers, Gen X or Millennials—figures out what makes teams tick, trains and transforms individuals into top-performers. – Challenger of Conventional Wisdom. Always ask the WHY. Improve the user experience through smart, strategic thinking that anticipates outcomes. Present cases that influence, and lead change that drives efficiency and profitability.

This client was eager for a career change and had moved from role to role and industry to industry. After completing her Master’s degree, she was eager to tie her skills together to land a role – which she did – as a Senior Technology Account Strategist for a global travel company. Although a bit longer than a traditional summary, its strength lies in the details. Without ever getting to the experience section, the reader gets a clear idea of the scope of responsibility, and hard and soft skills the candidate brings to the table.

By: Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor.

9. Project Management Executive Professional Summary Example:

15+ years of initiating and delivering sustained results and effective change for Fortune 500 firms across a wide range of industries including enterprise software, digital marketing, advertising technology, e-commerce and government. Major experience lies in strategizing and leading cross-functional teams to bring about fundamental change and improvement in strategy, process, and profitability – both as a leader and expert consultant.

Why this resume summary is good:

“Project Manager” is one of those job titles that’s REALLY broad. You can find project managers earning $50K, and others earning $250K. The client I wrote this for was at the Director level, and had worked for some of the biggest and best tech companies in her city. So this resume profile section shows her level and experience, and the wide array of areas she has responsibility for in her current work. You can borrow or use some of the phrasing here to show that you’ve been responsible for many important areas in your past work.

By: Biron Clark, Founder of  CareerSidekick.com.

10. Startup And Finance Management Consultant Career Summary Example:

Experienced strategist, entrepreneur and startup enthusiast with a passion for building businesses and challenging the status quo. 8+ year track record of defining new business strategies, launching new ventures, and delivering operational impact, both as a co-founder and management consultant. 

Why this resume summary example is good:

This summary was for a highly-talented management consultant looking to break out of finance, and into trendier tech companies like Uber . His track record and educational background were great, so the goal of this summary section was to stand out and show he’s more than just the typical consultant with a finance background. So we emphasized his passion for startups, and his ability to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. That’s something that companies like Uber and other “disruptive” tech companies look for.

14 Resume Summary Examples for Various Industries

Compassionate and effective 5th-grade teacher with experience overseeing the classroom and preparing lessons. Extensive experience encouraging students through positive reinforcement and motivational techniques. Collaborate well with school administration and other members of the teaching team. Ensure all students meet learning requirements, including literacy, social, and arithmetic skills.

2. Teacher’s Assistant

Goal-oriented teacher’s assistant with ten years of experience working with elementary school children. Aid teachers with lesson planning, classroom settings, and group instruction. Model positive behavior and maintain order in the classroom. Willingness to take on additional responsibilities to meet learning objectives.

Tech Industry

3. computer programmer.

Innovative computer programmer with a proven track record of writing high-quality code and supporting team needs with subject matter expertise. Adept in multiple programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and C++. Ability to troubleshoot complex programming issues with inventive solutions. 

4. Cybersecurity Analyst

Dedicated cybersecurity analyst with ten years of experience in online security research, execution, planning, and maintenance. Proven track record of identifying business risks and proactively resolving them. Experience designing and instituting layered network security for large-scale organizations. Train users and other staff members on IT safety procedures and preventive techniques.

Skilled healthcare professional with ten years of experience in patient care, diagnosis, and providing appropriate treatments and medical services. Manage medical staff and resolve complex medical cases with maximum efficiency. Communicate the patient’s condition and treatment plan in easily understood terminology. Remain current with the latest advancements in medicine and research to ensure patients receive proper care.

6. Registered Nurse

Seasoned registered nurse offering comprehensive patient care in emergency room settings. Experience handling diverse patient populations and caring for various conditions. Proven leadership managing nursing teams and other staff. Focus on enhancing patient care and satisfaction through empathetic communication and excellent customer service. 

7. Digital Marketing Manager

Forward-thinking digital marketing manager experienced in all facets of digital marketing, including social media management, PPC advertising, SEO, and email marketing. Proven experience creating comprehensive marketing plans that improve lead prospecting and enhance brand awareness. Up to date with the newest tools available for digital marketing campaigns.

8. Marketing Analyst

Industrious marketing analyst well-versed in analyzing marketing campaign analytics and making recommendations to improve performance. Collaborate with account managers and use KPI metrics to explain the results of marketing initiatives. Meticulous with a strong work ethic and robust communication skills.

Food and Service Industry

Experienced wait staff member capable of managing orders, processing payments, and upselling menu items. Ensure restaurant guests feel welcome with attentive service catered to their needs. Remain current on updates to the menu and assist guests with selecting orders to meet their dietary requirements. Maintain a positive attitude and focus during busy restaurant periods.

10. Hotel Receptionist

Friendly hotel receptionist with extensive experience handling guest check-ins, check-out, and payments. Facilitate a positive guest experience with polished customer service skills and a readiness to address common inquiries and complaints. Collaborate well with other hotel team members, including executive administration and on-site restaurant staff.

Business/Office Jobs

11. financial analyst.

Highly motivated financial analyst with a proven track record of recommending appropriate financial plans based on financial monitoring, data collection, and business strategizing. Experienced in qualitative and quantitative analysis, forecasting, and financial modeling. Excellent communication skills for building and fostering long-term business relationships across the organization.

12. Tax Accountant

Experienced tax accountant with ten years of experience preparing federal and state tax returns for corporations and partnerships. Monitor changes in laws to ensure the organization properly complies with reporting requirements. Assist with tax audits, ensuring the team receives proper supporting evidence for tax positions. Analyze and resolve complex tax issues. Look for available tax savings opportunities for corporations with an aggregate savings of $500K last year. Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.

Sales and Customer Service

13. sales representative.

Enthusiastic sales representative with expertise in identifying prospects and converting qualified leads to paying customers. Provide quality customer service and contribute to team sales success. Offer exceptional communication skills and seek to understand client needs before making the appropriate product recommendations. Continually meet and exceed sales goals. Leverage extensive knowledge of available products to provide appropriate client solutions and enhance customer loyalty and retention.

14. Customer Service Associate

Knowledgeable customer service professional with extensive experience in the insurance industry. Known as a team player with a friendly demeanor and proven ability to develop positive rapport with clients. Maintain ongoing customer satisfaction that contributes to overall company success. Highly articulate, with a results-oriented approach that addresses client inquiries and issues while maintaining strong partnerships. Collaborate well with the customer service team while also engaging independent decision-making skills.

Now you have 24 professional resume summary statements and some explanations of why they’re effective. Next, I’ll share tips for how to write your own in case you’re still unsure how to begin based on these examples above.

How to Write a Resume Summary: Steps and Hints

We’ve looked at 10 great resume summary examples above. As you begin writing a resume summary for yourself, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Read the employer’s job description. Your career summary shouldn’t be a long list of everything you’ve done; it should be a refined list of skills and experiences that demonstrate you’re a fit for their job.
• Mention your current job title if relevant. One common way to begin your resume summary is to state your current job title.
• Explain how you can help employers achieve their goals or solve their problems.
• Consider using bold text to emphasize one or two key phrases.
• Include any relevant metrics and data like dollar amounts, years of experience, size of teams led, etc. This helps your resume stand out.
• Focus on making the employer want to read more. The goal of your resume summary isn’t to show everything you can do, but to grab their attention and show enough that they continue reading.

Creating a Customized Resume Summary

While general summaries are appropriate when applying for jobs requiring similar skills and experience, a customized resume summary can enhance your chances of moving on to the next step in the hiring process. 

That’s because most companies use automated tracking systems (ATS) to review submitted resumes for content directly related to the job posting. If you use keywords and natural language phrases in your summary that interlink to the job description, you’ll have a much higher chance of passing the ATS review.

Let’s look at an example of a resume summary that is customized for the specific job description below:

“Highly motivated social media specialist with strong project management skills. Creative marketer skilled in crafting innovative social media campaigns that resonate with a target audience. Regularly develop compelling copy and social media content to enhance lead generation and brand awareness. Detail-oriented with extensive project management skills that ensure proper prioritization of tasks and projects. Work with various social media management and analytics tools to examine results and make adjustments as necessary.”

This summary directly addresses the key points in the job description but rewrites them so the customization is natural and flows well. It’s personalized for the open role and uses similar terms with a few strategically placed keywords, such as “social media content” and “project management.”  

How Long Should a Resume Summary Be?

As you read the resume summaries above, you probably noticed there are some short single-paragraph resume summary examples and much longer career summaries that are two to three paragraphs plus bullet points. So how long should YOUR professional summary be? If you have relevant work experience, keep your summary to one or two paragraphs. The piece you really want the hiring manager to read is your most recent work experience (and you should make sure you tailored that info to fit the job description). The resume summary is just a “bridge” to get the hiring manager into your experience.

If I were writing my own career summary right now, I’d likely use one single paragraph packed with skills, accomplishments, and exactly why I’m ready to step into the job I’ve applied for and be successful!

Even for a manager resume summary, I recommend a very short length. However, if you’re changing careers, or you’re looking for jobs without any work experience , the summary section needs to stand on its own, and should be longer. That’s why some examples above are a bit longer.

Formatting Your Resume/CV Career Summary

You may have noticed a variety of different formats in the career summary examples above. There isn’t one “right” way to format this section on your resume or CV. However, I recommend either using one or two brief paragraphs, or combining a short sentence or paragraph with bullets. Avoid writing three or four long paragraphs with no special formatting like bullet points. That’s simply too much text for your summary section and will cause recruiters and hiring managers to skip over it in some cases.

Should You Include a Resume Objective?

You do not need to include an objective on your resume, and doing so can make your resume appear outdated. Use a resume summary instead of an objective. Follow the resume summary examples above and focus on discussing your skills, qualifications, and achievements, rather than stating your objective. Employers know that your objective is to obtain the position you’ve applied for, and the resume objective has no place on a modern resume/CV in today’s job market.

Examples of Bad Resume Summaries

Now that we’ve seen a few exemplary resume summaries, let’s look at some that you should avoid at all cost.

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors

“Experienced cashier who knows how to run the register cash. Responsible with the money and can talk with the customer. Knows when to stoc up the invenory and checks it all the time. Can count change and run credit card tranactions. Get the customer happy by good service. I am always cheerful and organized.”

Why this resume summary is bad:

If you read the summary carefully, you’ll notice several spelling errors. The words “stock,” “inventory,” and “transactions” are all spelled wrong. Grammatical errors make the summary choppy and difficult to follow (“Get the customer happy by good service”).  A summary like this probably won’t fly with a company looking for a detail-oriented cashier responsible for managing in-person sales.

2. Lacks Relevant Keywords

“Talented worker with experience managing a team of staff. Creative and responsible with knowledge of organizational processes. Can keep up with the busiest of environments. Stays focused when at work, ensuring prompt task completion. Dependable and willing to collaborate with a team to get things done.”  

In this example, the chef doesn’t use keywords relevant to cooking, restaurants, or kitchens. The summary is very generic and can apply to nearly any job. A manager who receives the application isn’t likely to understand what value the candidate can bring to the restaurant.  To fix the summary, the applicant must rewrite it to include relevant keywords and phrases. 

3. No Numbers to Quantify Achievements

“An experienced and hardworking manager ready to align procedures for maximum revenue and profits. Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in higher sales and better customer satisfaction. Collaborate well with sales team members, ensuring they have the resources and knowledge to support customer purchases and inquiries. Develop strong rapport with clients and maintain ongoing relationships.”

This isn’t a terrible summary for a sales manager, but it has room for improvement. For one, the first two sentences essentially duplicate each other, mentioning an aptitude for improving processes with the objective of higher sales. The other issue is a lack of quantifying achievements. 

The applicant mentions they have a proven record of increasing sales, but they could strengthen the summary by quantifying their results. For example, they might say, “Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in a 25% increase in sales over the past year.” The quantifier provides additional credibility. 

4. Not Targeting the Specific Job

“Looking for work in a role that requires great customer service, project management, and communication skills. Able to collaborate with people from diverse and varying backgrounds. Highly organized and reliable worker with a strong work ethic. Responsible and reliable worker you can count on.”

While the candidate lists various skills they have, including customer service and project management, there’s no indication of prior roles held or what position they’re applying for. The summary could apply to numerous positions in a variety of industries. To improve the resume summary, the applicant must specify the job they’re applying for and indicate their prior experience in a similar role, if they have any.

After You Start Getting Interviews, Make Sure to Take Advantage…

If you follow the advice above, you’ll have a great professional resume summary to make your qualifications stand out to employers. But landing the interview is only half the battle… So make sure you go into every interview ready to convince employers that they should hire you, too! If you write a great resume summary example that gets employers excited to interview you, they’re going to ask you questions like, “tell me about yourself” early in the interview to learn more about your background. So make sure you’re prepared with an answer.

I also recommend you review the top 20 interview questions and answers here.

Your resume caught their interest, so naturally, they’re going to follow up with a variety of questions to learn more about your professional background.

The bottom line is: A strong professional resume summary, followed up by other well-written resume sections will get you the interview, but your interview performance is what determines whether you get the job offer!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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I would recommend to customise the skills section of your resume, and ensure that it matches the job posting. The higher the number of phrases within the resume matching the job requirements the more are the chances that the recruiter will pick you for the job.

I just wanted to say, “thank you!”. This was very helpful. Instead of jumping from one website to the next there’s so much useful, relevant information right here.

Hi, I have been having trouble creating a resume as My old one is so long, I’ve worked for a government agency for the past 14 years and held multiple positions doing many different duties for each and now I have to relocate to another area where they do not have an agency like mine in my new area within a 3 hour drive, how can I squeeze all my experience and duties on one page and where do I even start, I’m so nervous, it’s been so long since I’ve attempted the job hunt. So I’m wondering, I do not want to cut anything out that may hurt my chances and I can’t afford to have my resume rewritten by a professional. Can you guide me as to where you think would be a good place to start, I’ve been staring at this laptop for weeks trying to decide on a resume template, there are so many. I thank you for your time and any input will help.

Hi, I am a new graduate and do not have any experience in my field which is Nursing. I want to apply for the jobs but I have no idea about what to mention in my resume.

Hi, this article should help with the resume summary, at least: https://careersidekick.com/summary-for-resume-no-experience/

Other than that, you need to put your academic experience. And internships/part-time jobs if you’ve had any.

Dear Biron,, Thanks for sharing the 10 examples of professional summaries in your article, and especially the reasons why they were considered to be good. However, as a HR professional, I would most likely skip over most of them and would not read much past the first or second sentence. The summaries were mostly too wordy and boring, and did not demonstrate ‘oomph’ at first cursory reading. Simply indicating certain skills or behaviors does not give an idea of the level of expertise, and could simply be wishful thinking on the part of the resume writer.

Just goes to show that there are many ways to see what makes a good summary.

I am a chemical engineer and project management professional with 15+years experience. My experience is between process engineering and project management . How can I marry the two in my profile summary?

It’s not about showing everything you’ve done. It’s about showing employers evidence you’ll succeed in their job. You can show a bit of both but focus heavily on what’s most relevant for the jobs you’re applying for right now. 80/20.

This was absolutely helpful and amazing! Thank you very much!

Hello, I am an active job seeker. I hold a law degree from a foreign country and currently in college for an associate degree. My question is, how do I blend both my foreign job experience with that of the United States in my resume. Thank you.

I’d put your work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent up top. That’s what I’d recommend for 95% of people actually. Then it doesn’t matter where you held each job.

And then in your Education section, I’d include your foreign degree and the current degree you’re pursuing in the US, too (for the US degree, you can say “in progress” or “graduating May 2019” for example).

I am 40 years old & B.A degree holder I have experience in many fields.I would like to join any one fields

I am a fresh graduate, who has five years teaching experience and some months customer service representative experience. Pls kindly assist me to put the resume summary together

I’m an active duty service member and finding in a little difficult creating a good transitional summary from 20 year profession in tactical communications to a drug and alcohol counselor. Do you have any recommendations how I should approach this? Any assistance would be helpful. Thanks

Great piece

How to write the CAREER ABSTRACT in resume for ware super visor retail business?

Just wanted to say thank you.Your advise and information was clear and easy to understand , sometimes there is nothing pertaining to what im looking fot in particular, buy you have sermed to cover everything I n a short quick easy to understand method.It will help tremendously.

Thanks! Glad to hear it helped :)

Very informational

What if you have work experience, but the job your going for(teachingeducation) has nothing to do with warehouse work? How should I build my resume?

In the summary, describe yourself and then say, “…looking to transition into ___” (the type of work you want to be doing now).

This is a bit like a resume “Objective”. I normally don’t recommend an Objective section (and I recommend a Summary section instead), however the one time an Objective does make sense is when you’re trying to change industries or make a big change in the type of role you have.

So that’s why my advice here might seem like I’m telling you to combine an Objective with your resume Summary.

Then “tailor” your previous work to be as relevant as possible. Even if you worked in a different industry you can still show things like leadership, accountability, progress/improvement, hard work, achieving goals, strong teamwork skills, etc. You can do all of that in your resume bullets and work history.

Don’t u have Resume Summary of legal secretary/legal assistant?

No, sorry about that. There are hundreds of different professions/job titles, and we aren’t able to include an example for every scenario out there. These resume summary examples are designed to give you a general idea of how to write yours.

The summaries listed are excellent example and have helped me develop a stand out summary for a new position.

Hello, I been trying to land the job of my dreams. I need help with my resume if i want the recruiters in airlines to notice me. I’ve applied before but haven’t had complete success to making it to a face-to Face Interview. It is a career change – yet i feel i am a great candidate bc i have had many customer service and I even attended an academy for that specific position. Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong on my resume ?

what if i never had a job experience?

Great question. If you don’t have any work experience, take one of the formats/examples above and put your accomplishments and qualifications from your academic studies.

Your headline could say: “Motivated Bio-Sciences Graduate With Expertise in ____”.

And then you might talk about accomplishments in school, group projects you worked on or led, etc.

Basically, when you have no work experience, your school/studies BECOMES your recent work. You should talk about that like it’s a job, because that’s the experience you do have.

really amazing article and too useful , thanks

Hi Mr. Clark, I have been out of the work force for about 18+years and I have been a small business owner for the same number of years. However, I want to go back to the work force. But my problem is that, I don’t know how to prepare my resume or resume summary statement. I had a degree in Communication,Arts and Sciences and a postgraduate degree in Public Administration. I’m a bit confused as to how to incorporate all these experiences into my resume. Please can you help?

Hi Dorothy, I can recommend a professional resume writer if you want. But they’re typically not cheap, so it’s something you’d have to be willing to invest in. If not, there’s a lot of free info online about how to “tailor” your resume for specific jobs. I can’t help one-on-one unfortunately, but I’d recommend thinking about which type of jobs you want, and think of what experience you have that is most relevant. that’s what to put on your resume. Your resume isn’t only about you, it’s about them – what do they want/need? (if you want to get a ton of interviews, that’s how to do it :) ).

Can I have a professional resume writer?

I use a similar format when writing my opening statement for my coverletter. How do you recommend differentiating the two? Or is it ok to use largely the same language?

I think it’s okay to use something similar. I might be more brief in the cover letter… it needs to be about them just as much as it’s about you. Whereas the resume is all about you, at least in the summary section. (The later sections should still be tailored to THEIR needs..)

Struggling to write a Summary Statement for a Secretary/Administrative Assistant position. I have 15 years government experience but have been away from the government since 9/1993 and have spent 15 years as a Substitute Teacher after taking off for 10 years to raise my children.

Hiya! I am a mother of three attempting to return to the workforce. I have been a stay at mom for about 13 years, so I have a (large) gap in my employment history; which doesn’t look great. I have a college education and have obtained a few certifications whilst not employed, plus many volunteer hours. I know that I should probably use a functional resume format. Would love some advice on what I should include in my summary statement.

Hi Juniper,

I rarely like functional resumes, but it might be worth trying. I’d “split-test” it (a marketing term). Create two resume styles, send out 50% one way, 50% the other way, and track results for a week.

I’d treat the resume summary statement just like any other resume. Highlight your skills and past wins/accomplishments.

how do i explain long term gaps in employment? leave them out?

Hi Paulette,

Don’t mention them on a resume summary. But do mention the gaps on a cover letter or lower down on the resume. Here’s an article on how to explain gaps in employment:

https://careersidekick.com/explaining-gaps-in-employment/

I am student in civil engineering field. Have 1.5 yrs of work ex. How should i structure my resume. Thanks.

Hello My name is Shataka and I’m a current job seeker trying to land my dream job as a Counselor. I have Master degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. My experience lies in many different fields. I’m currently a Substance Abuse Counselor, with a teaching background and over 5 years of social service experience. I guess my question is how would I sum up all my experience to help me find a job as a Counselor.

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