The formula behind a strong summary
Recruiters spend a few seconds on the top of your resume. A good summary answers three questions in two to four lines: who you are, what you're good at, and what you've achieved.
[Level + job title] with [experience or degree] in [2–3 keywords]. [One result with a number]. [What you offer or want next].
Tips to make your summary stand out
- Add a number. “Cut report time by 60%” beats “improved efficiency” every time.
- Mirror the job description. Use the exact title and two or three skills from the post you're applying for.
- Skip “I” and buzzwords. No “hardworking, dynamic, passionate” — show it with facts.
- Keep it short. 40–70 words is ideal. Anything longer belongs in your experience section.
Need examples first?
See 100 real-world examples in our resume summary examples by role — for freshers, data analysts, software engineers and 17 more roles. When your summary is ready, check your full resume's ATS score.