How do you describe years of work history in three to four sentences in your resume and LinkedIn profile? It is a daunting task that many professionals dread — with good reason. It is a challenge to summarize who you are as a business professional. It is even more daunting when you factor in that the best summaries are written with a specific job in mind so that it is relevant to a future hiring manager. The good news is that there are strategies you can use to simplify the process and increase the effectiveness of your summary. Here are some tips to help.
[See: 8 Ways Millennials Can Build Leadership Skills.]
Ask at least three managers and co-workers what they think is the top way you make an impact at work. This is the best place to start because most of us do not have a clear sense of how others view us. An additional benefit is that this strategy helps with writer’s block. It also aids the modest employee who struggles with talking about his best traits (or is too hard on himself to recognize his value). It also benefits newer-to-career professionals who may not have a developed understanding of how to assess their value at work. A younger employee may think she is best known for being the smartest in the room, but her team and manager may appreciate her willingness to research and suggest innovative ideas that break with convention.
It is also important to ask at least three people. One viewpoint is great — but it may be isolated or limited. Your summary will be viewed by many people when you are job seeking, so having a well-rounded perspective is more likely to best represent you and perform better with a larger audience.
Ask a few of your long-term friends and family members what they think are your best traits or what you are known for. These could be things like you are the glue that holds people together. Or, you could be the calm in a storm, or the voice of reason. These observations are likely to show soft skills that have been developed over time and are likely to come most naturally to you. Again, the answers may surprise you — but be open to the observations and think about how they apply in a work setting. In other words, how does your ability to be “the calm in a storm” add value to a future employer? How have you used that strength professionally to accomplish more, exceed standards, create a motivating environment, et cetera?
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
Your third step is to find at least three job descriptions of roles in which you are both qualified and interested. Note commonalities among the positions — what traits, skills, experience or accomplishments are requested? This is called “target role deconstruction.” You are analyzing the requested components and descriptions to determine what in your background is relevant and desired. Make a list of requirements in priority order and highlight the top three to four.
Now, compare your list of what is requested to what has been said about you. Use your judgment to decide what truly reflects your impact and value and is also in demand for your future target role. The best summaries marry what the market demands with what you uniquely do best. If you excel in something that is not in demand, that experience or qualification should not take up space in your summary.
Required technical skills versus bigger picture impact. It is also helpful to distinguish between more sophisticated skills that make an impact versus technical requirements. For example, an accountant job description may require a CPA, knowledge of Excel, analytical ability, superior communication skills, detail orientation and industry knowledge in the tech sector. The technical requirements (the CPA certification and Excel knowledge) are likely to be seen in your title, education or a list of skills. There is no need to use up lines in your summary to restate these things — unless you have none of the other requirements. Instead, illustrate your superior communication skills and detail orientation by providing the specifics, such as you frequently compiled reports and presented detailed recommendations to senior executives and earned the highest marks in your performance review. These accomplishments are both unique to you and in demand. Great summary statements show strengths and often can be validated, as in a performance review. This level of detail and evidence is superior to simply writing that you are “Analytical and detail-oriented with superior communication skills.”
[See: Famous CEOs and Executives Share Their Best Career Advice.]
A final note about the voice of a summary: It is not written in first person in a resume. Resumes are considered formal documents and should not use I, me, my. Instead, your summary is written as if someone was introducing you before a speech — without ever saying your name. For example, “Marketing executive known for innovative and effective digital strategies poised to grow a startup team.” Be sure to keep it in the same verb tense and watch for overused buzzwords that may minimize its value. Keep it to three to four sentences, as anything longer waters down its impact and may cause it to not be read at all.
Summary writing is a challenge. After all, how can a few sentences truly do justice to years of work experience? Keep in mind that the purpose of a summary is to truthfully entice a reader to stop to look at your resume in more depth. It is an attention management tool. Unique, relevant, concise and easy to understand summaries are the most effective introductions into a resume.
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The Best Strategies for Writing an Effective Resume Summary originally appeared on usnews.com