How To Write a Summary of Qualifications on Resume With Examples

Making a strong first impression with your resume is important. Capture the recruiter’s attention quickly and show you’re a top candidate. One way to help your resume stand out is to include a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) summary of qualifications. This guide explains how this section works and provides a summary of qualifications examples.

What Is a Summary of Qualifications on a Resume?

A summary of qualifications is a concise, high-impact section at the top of your resume with bullet points summarizing your skills, accomplishments, and experience. Think of it like a highlight reel for your professional experience. The summary of qualifications is similar to the profile summary section. Instead of a few sentences that cover your years of experience and general background, it’s a short bullet list that focuses on achievements.

Why include a summary of qualifications on your resume?

Adding a summary of qualifications section to your resume can help you highlight critical skills and achievements upfront. It also saves recruiters time and effort by summarizing the value you would bring to the role. It’s ideal for most candidates, whether they have extensive industry experience or are making a career change.

How To Write a Summary of Qualifications for a Resume

1. Tailor it to the job description

Use relevant keywords from the job posting and industry terms to catch the hiring manager’s attention. This can also help your resume pass any applicant tracking system (ATS) they may be using.

2. Focus on measurable achievements

Include quantifiable results in your bullet points, such as “increased sales by 25% in six months.” This shows how your qualifications can benefit the company.

3. Highlight soft and technical skills

The summary of qualifications should present you as a well-rounded candidate with job-specific competencies and interpersonal skills. There are summary of qualification templates that can help with structuring this section.

4. Keep it concise

Limited this section to just three to five high-impact bullet points. If you’re not sure what to include or what formatting to use, look at examples of summaries of qualifications on a resume for ideas.

Tips for Structuring a Resume or CV Summary of Qualifications

• Use bullet points for readability. Breaking up blocks of text with bullet points makes this section easier to skim.
• Start each point with a strong action verb. This keeps the reader engaged and ensures your language is as specific as possible.
• Prioritize the most relevant qualifications. Limit this section to your top accomplishments. It should draw the reader in and impress them enough to want to read more.
• Look at summary of qualifications examples. Using summary of qualifications templates and examples provides a clear framework for formatting and can help you focus on what’s most relevant to your industry.

Examples of a Summary of Qualifications on a Resume

Review these examples of summary of qualifications on a resume by career level to see how this section can level up your resume.

Best Practices for Writing a Resume or CV Summary of Qualifications

• Tailor it for every job application. It can be tempting to save time using the same summary of qualifications template for each job, but this can lead to vague or irrelevant information. Spend a couple of minutes customizing this section for each role.
• Use industry-specific terminology. Using relevant keywords can help with ATS optimization. Look at examples of summaries of qualifications for a resume for your specific industry to get ideas.
• Avoid clichés like “team player” or “hard-working.” These are overused terms and are something the hiring manager already expects from a candidate. Use the space to show how you’re uniquely qualified or what you can bring to the position that others can’t.

Common mistakes to avoid on a resume or CV summary of qualifications

• Being too vague or generic. If the hiring manager reads this first section and nothing stands out, they’re likely to put your resume in the pass pile. While using a summary of qualifications template as a guide is okay, customize it to your qualifications and the role.
• Overloading with unnecessary details. Keep the bullet points concise and only include what’s relevant. You don’t need full sentences or lots of description.
• Focusing on duties instead of achievements. A hiring manager is likely to be already familiar with your role. Good examples of summaries of qualifications for a resume pair responsibilities with results to show what you accomplished.

FAQs About a Resume or CV Summary of Qualifications

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.