Three Tips to Write a Memorable Resume Introduction

Write a Resume Introduction That Stands Out

A resume introduction is important for catching a busy hiring manager’s attention during your job search. A well-written resume introduction can hook a hiring manager and make them curious about what is on the rest of your resume. Your introduction should feature your best skills, qualities, and achievements. Writing an introduction shows extra effort and communication skills, making it more likely that you will get the job.

Creating Your Resume Introduction

A resume introduction goes at the top of your resume underneath your contact information. It should contain highlights of your career, skills, or qualities that make you stand out as an applicant. You can use a resume builder or look at a sample resume or resume template for your job title to get an idea of what your introduction should look like. A good resume introduction shouldn’t be too long or take up too much space. Some resume introductions consist of a few sentences, while others use bullet points to note key achievements or relevant skills and competencies.

Types of Resume Introductions You Can Use

There are three types of resume introductions you can use: the resume summary, resume objective, and the summary of qualifications.

1. Resume summary

   A summary statement is the most popular introduction among job seekers. A summary focuses on your work history and relevant experience. It includes your related qualifications, qualities, and experiences. A typical resume summary will mention past achievements or state how you contributed to your previous job. This type of introduction is best for applicants who have some professional experience in their career already.

2. Resume objective

   While the resume summary focuses on the experiences you’ve already attained, a resume objective discusses your goals and the desired future outcome of your career. You can relate your career objective to your skills, capabilities, and special qualities instead of your past job experiences. This type of introduction is great for applicants who haven’t had many years of experience in their field. It is often used by recent graduates or students who are applying for entry-level jobs.

3. Summary of qualifications

   A summary of qualifications will display your skills and certifications. This style of introduction most often makes use of 3-5 bullet points rather than the paragraph that you might be used to seeing in an objective statement or resume summary. A summary of qualifications is good for applicants who are pursuing a career change. These applicants don’t have many years of experience in a particular industry but may have many relevant qualifications or skills.