CV Summary Examples & How to Write a Profile Summary
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You have to start your CV with a hook to draw the reader in. You need an introduction that’ll make the hiring manager sit up straight in their chair and think, “I want more”! That introduction is known as a CV summary, and you’re about to learn how to write one that’s professional and compelling.
In this guide we’ll show you:
- How to master the art of writing a good CV summary.
- A simple formula that tells you exactly what to put in a CV summary.
- Professional CV summary examples that you can adapt and make your own.
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What is a CV summary?
A CV summary is a statement placed at the top of your CV to showcase your professional experience, skills, and achievements. It’s a brief introduction, usually 3–5 sentences long, that tells the hiring managers who you are and convinces them to read your CV more thoroughly.
The best place for a CV summary is right under the CV header featuring your contact information. There are some synonyms you might come across when talking about a CV summary in the UK, such as:
- CV personal statement
- CV personal profile
- CV personal summary
- CV professional summary
- CV summary statement
- CV introduction
That’s the simplest definition. But… If all the information from the CV summary can be found in your CV, why even bother writing it? Continue reading to find out!
Looking for a detailed guide on CV writing? Head here: How to Write a CV Step-by-Step
How can you benefit from using a summary for a CV?
Did you know that every corporate job opening, on average, attracts 250 resumes? Guess how much time a recruiter spends on one CV. Yup, no more than 7 seconds.
So, if you don’t grab their attention from the outset, they’ll just toss it aside and move on to the next. You must come in strong and make the most of that brief window of attentiveness. That’s where a good CV summary can save your job prospects!
Now, let’s take a look at the basics of structuring your CV profile summary.
Your CV needs to look attractive, too. Read more: How to Lay out a Professional CV
How to write a CV summary for your job?
There are some basic rules to follow when writing a CV summary:
1. Read the job offer carefully
That way, you'll be able to tailor your CV better. That's how you show your recruiter that you want to work for this specific company and not just any other company.
2. Mention your current job title and professional experience
Focus only on the very best of your achievements. Think what will be the most impressive for the recruiter and the most relevant for the job you're after.
3. Quantify your achievements
Solid numbers prove you've accomplished something precise, and you are well aware of its impact. Use the Problem-Action-Result formula to highlight your achievements in a CV professional profile.
4. Add relevant keywords to your CV summary
You’ll usually find them in the job description. They define the desired experience, skills, or traits. Hiring managers and ATS software alike will scan your CV for set keywords that match what’s needed for the role. They can include things like the job title, the level of experience required, and the required skills.
5. Use power words and action verbs
That way, you’ll deliver an interesting, non-generic document to your recruiter’s desk.
6. Follow the right formatting
Here are a bunch of rules to follow when writing your CV summary:
- Skip personal pronouns such as “I” and “my”.
- Don’t exceed 3–5 lines of space on your CV.
- Place the CV summary right below the resume header.
And here’s the best bit: there’s also a simple formula you can follow when writing your CV summary. Here’s how it goes:
Adjective + Job Title + Years of Experience + Achievements + Skills + What You Want to Do for the Employer
Seems simple, right?
So that’s the theory, let’s put it all into practice. The best way of learning how to write your CV summary section is to look at some CV summary examples.
Pro Tip: If you don't have professional experience, write a CV objective instead. It's, just like a CV summary, a brief paragraph at the top of your CV. However, contrary to the CV summary, the CV objective focuses more on your goals, ambitions, and skills, and not on your achievements and experience.
When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.
CV summary examples
So now that you know how to create a good CV summary, let’s look at 10 perfect examples. Pay extra attention to how they mention professional titles, highlight experience, use keywords, show impressive achievements, and feature all the parts of the CV summary formula I wrote above.
Estate agent CV summary sample
Target-driven senior sales negotiator with 10 years experience in luxury home sales. Highly competent in sales progression using all avenues of communication to speed sales process. Accurate valuation skills and sales figures that consistently exceed targets by +15%. Aiming to continue delighting clients with high levels of service.
Graduate CV professional summary example
Recent Leicester University graduate with 2:1 honours Media and Communications BA. Have completed summer internships with Associated Press and Dentsu Aegis Network. Highly developed knowledge of academic theory and practical media industry experience. Seeking to launch career in the prestigious environment of The Financial Times.
Read more: Graduate CV Example & Guide
Customer service CV summary example
Highly detail-oriented customer service supervisor with 6+ years experience in high-volume multi-channel support roles. Diligent and composed with a commitment to resolving complaints at FPOC. Completely dedicated to delivering outstanding customer experiences and finding solutions to all problems. Seeking to continue to improve customer outcomes.
Read more: Customer Service CV Example & Guide
Sales assistant CV summary example
Business-focused sales assistant with 4+ years of clothing retail experience. Strong focus on comprehensive product knowledge in order to offer customer-appropriate advice and maximise sales. Consistent record of target-beating sales figures. Seeking a role in the women’s high-street fashion sector to further grow my skills and experience.
Read more: Retail / Sales Assistant CV Example & Writing Guide
Receptionist CV profile summary example
Energetic corporate receptionist with over 3 years of experience in front desk roles. Immaculate personal presentation, highly skilled administrative abilities, and effective communication with diverse clients and visitors. By digitizing and organizing the filling system, reduce document retrieval time by 30%. Seeking a role that will elevate my skills through new challenges and experiences.
Read more: Receptionist CV Example & Writing Guide
Waiter / Waitress CV summary
Accomplished waitress with 4+ years experience in fine dining. Dedicated to delivering unique dining experiences through attentive customer service. Highly developed multi-tasking skills, excellent wine knowledge, and a committed team player. Looking to further improve my skills in the fine dining sector.
Read more: Waiter / Waitress CV Example & Writing Guide
UI developer CV professional summary example
Creative UI developer with 5+ years of experience in front-end web development. Implemented elements that increased conversion rate by 20% and resolved persistent issues reported by Firefox users. Seeking to use my dedication to delivering smooth and commercially focused user experiences to produce winning UI for Aleric Development.
Read more: Skills Based CV Example & Writing Guide
Graphic designer CV summary example
Resourceful and inventive graphic designer with 5+ years’ experience in multimedia design. Passion for innovation combined with a client-driven approach. Accomplished collaborator with the ability to efficiently meld creative vision with practical implementation. Aiming to further my experience in web design in a cutting edge multimedia environment.
Read more: Graphic Designer CV Example & Writing Guide
Teaching assistant CV summary sample
Committed teaching assistant with 5+ years of experience supporting students with SEN. Dedicated to maximising outcomes by recognising the individual strengths of each student. Looking to expand my knowledge of specialist SEN teaching and help Northcote Primary maintain its reputation for excellence through diversity.
Read more: Teaching Assistant CV Example & Writing Guide
Support worker CV profile summary example
Patient and devoted care support worker with 7+ years experience providing care in the community to the aged. Specialist in ensuring clients can remain in their own homes with a focus on assisting with adaptations and medical needs. Seeking to continue empowering independence in clients with warmth and empathy.
Read more: Support Worker CV Example & Writing Guide
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key takeaways
Here’s how to write a CV summary:
- Keep it short and sweet. The right length is around four lines.
- Follow the formula. Explain who you are, what you can offer, and your goals.
- Include keywords and beat the ATS.
- Tailor your CV summary to the job.
Thanks for reading. I’ve covered everything you need to know about writing a professional summary for your CV. What did you think of the formula for creating a CV summary template? If there’s anything at all that you need to know about what to put in a CV summary, then go ahead and ask in the comments section. I’ll be happy to help.
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