How to Write a Professional Summary in Resume

How to Write a Professional Summary in ResumeWriting a professional summary in resume is an important skill to have, and it's equally important that you practice it. Many people are frustrated with the mundane summary writing that is found in resume. There are a lot of professionals who get frustrated by the tedium of the job as they continually read resume after resume of similarly qualified individuals.A true summary is so much more than that. A true summary allows the reader to get a glimpse into your full-time or part-time career, career goals, qualifications, skills, experiences, and future plans. If you want to impress the employer, a professional summary is the most powerful way to do it. Keep reading to find out how you can write a professional summary in resume.First, write down your goals as to what you wish to say in your summary. Write out the purpose of your resume and how you intend to deliver the information in it. Second, put your skills, qualifications, and experienc es side by side with your goals. Third, write your goals at the top and put them in descending order.Finally, put your skills, qualifications, and experiences on the first few lines. In some cases, you may only need to add a sentence or two to complete the summary.In the final paragraph, it's important to convey to the reader the full extent of your experience and what you intend to do in the future, along with your qualifications and skills for the job. Then wrap up your information with a good, conclusion paragraph.As I said, this summary writing process is more effective if you write in a personal style. Try not to forget your strengths and weaknesses, and remember the relevance of the rest of your resume.If you've already received a resume in the mail and you are still wondering how to write a professional summary in resume, I suggest you research the resume writing tips I provided earlier. You'll find them in my free ebook at my website. I hope you'll also please consider givin g a donation to my site to help me continue to offer the information and support I offer.

Is there a Difference Between U.S. and Canadian Resumes (+ Examples)

Is there a Difference Between U.S. and Canadian Resumes (+ Examples) Spread the loveMany people are surprised to hear that there are many different types of resume formats. The most popular formats are the chronological, functional and hybrid. Many countries use a CV instead of a resume. The two documents are very similar but there are quite a few differences. You can check out our post here on the differences between a resume and CV, but today were talking about resumes.Are Canadian Resumes Different from Those Used in the US?The answer isno.Canadians do not use a CV.There is no difference between how a U.S. or Canadian resume is formatted. They both use the traditional resume format. Many Americans think that Canadians use a CV like most other countries, but thats not the case. You can use the same resume whether youre applying for jobs in Canada or the US.Here is an example of a traditional resume format which is suitable for both the US and Canada.3 Tips to Keep in Mind When Formatting Your Resume1. The professional summaryAll resumes should inclu de a summary. The summary should be a “hook” that captures the recruiter’s attention and gives a reason to read the rest of the resume. To do that, you should write a resume summary that contains between four and six lines of text that highlight key points that will invite further reading.Here is an example of a well written summary:Dynamic and results-driven professional with an accomplished track record of deploying marketing and sales initiatives that consistently achieve client satisfaction, preserve brand integrity, translate product vision, and connect with diverse audiences. Collaborative and energetic leader who infuses modern tools (CRM, SEO, Google AdWords, SalesForce) and emerging technologies into compelling sales and advertising plans that exceed performance goals in high-volume, rapidly-evolving environments. Talented communicator focused on building sustainable relationships with clients, partner networks, and industry influencers. Positive attitude, intuitive b usiness acumen, and analytical mindset used to identify profitable opportunities, define change, and devise unique competitive advantages. Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.Like the rest of the resume, the summary should be optimized with keywords, tailored to the job youre applying to, and reflect your career goals.2. KeywordsMost companies today automatically scan your resume with an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) and you need to ensure your resume is optimized for these scans.Including keywords throughout your resume is the best way to do that. Look at the job description to see what skills the position requires and include them in a core competencies section.  Example:Keyword optimizing your resume is crucial for getting past these ATS systems.ATS Resume Test  You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume Review3. AchievementsOne of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is focusing on duties rather than achievements. T here are an average of  250 applicants for a corporate opening in the U.S. You need to stand out from the competition and the best way to do that is by focusing on achievements. Show the hiring manager how you went above and beyond what was expected.Example of a good achievement-focused bullet point:Recruited to construct a new sales program from the ground up that immediately met first-quarter goals and surpassed targets 4-13% in succeeding quarters.SummaryThe format of a resume is the same for the US and Canada, because the hiring process is essentially the same. Other parts of the world usually require a CV which is somewhat different from a resume.Use clear sections like a professional summary, experience, and education. Optimize each section with keywords from the job post so you pass an ATS scan. Focus on your accheivements.For more resume and career advice, head over to Quora.Best of luck with your job search! Is there a Difference Between U.S. and Canadian Resumes (+ Examples) Spread the loveMany people are surprised to hear that there are many different types of resume formats. The most popular formats are the chronological, functional and hybrid. Many countries use a CV instead of a resume. The two documents are very similar but there are quite a few differences. You can check out our post here on the differences between a resume and CV, but today were talking about resumes.Are Canadian Resumes Different from Those Used in the US?The answer isno.Canadians do not use a CV.There is no difference between how a U.S. or Canadian resume is formatted. They both use the traditional resume format. Many Americans think that Canadians use a CV like most other countries, but thats not the case. You can use the same resume whether youre applying for jobs in Canada or the US.Here is an example of a traditional resume format which is suitable for both the US and Canada.3 Tips to Keep in Mind When Formatting Your Resume1. The professional summaryAll resumes should inclu de a summary. The summary should be a “hook” that captures the recruiter’s attention and gives a reason to read the rest of the resume. To do that, you should write a resume summary that contains between four and six lines of text that highlight key points that will invite further reading.Here is an example of a well written summary:Dynamic and results-driven professional with an accomplished track record of deploying marketing and sales initiatives that consistently achieve client satisfaction, preserve brand integrity, translate product vision, and connect with diverse audiences. Collaborative and energetic leader who infuses modern tools (CRM, SEO, Google AdWords, SalesForce) and emerging technologies into compelling sales and advertising plans that exceed performance goals in high-volume, rapidly-evolving environments. Talented communicator focused on building sustainable relationships with clients, partner networks, and industry influencers. Positive attitude, intuitive b usiness acumen, and analytical mindset used to identify profitable opportunities, define change, and devise unique competitive advantages. Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.Like the rest of the resume, the summary should be optimized with keywords, tailored to the job youre applying to, and reflect your career goals.2. KeywordsMost companies today automatically scan your resume with an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) and you need to ensure your resume is optimized for these scans.Including keywords throughout your resume is the best way to do that. Look at the job description to see what skills the position requires and include them in a core competencies section.  Example:Keyword optimizing your resume is crucial for getting past these ATS systems.ATS Resume Test  You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume Review3. AchievementsOne of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is focusing on duties rather than achievements. T here are an average of  250 applicants for a corporate opening in the U.S. You need to stand out from the competition and the best way to do that is by focusing on achievements. Show the hiring manager how you went above and beyond what was expected.Example of a good achievement-focused bullet point:Recruited to construct a new sales program from the ground up that immediately met first-quarter goals and surpassed targets 4-13% in succeeding quarters.SummaryThe format of a resume is the same for the US and Canada, because the hiring process is essentially the same. Other parts of the world usually require a CV which is somewhat different from a resume.Use clear sections like a professional summary, experience, and education. Optimize each section with keywords from the job post so you pass an ATS scan. Focus on your accheivements.For more resume and career advice, head over to Quora.Best of luck with your job search! Is there a Difference Between U.S. and Canadian Resumes (+ Examples) Spread the loveMany people are surprised to hear that there are many different types of resume formats. The most popular formats are the chronological, functional and hybrid. Many countries use a CV instead of a resume. The two documents are very similar but there are quite a few differences. You can check out our post here on the differences between a resume and CV, but today were talking about resumes.Are Canadian Resumes Different from Those Used in the US?The answer isno.Canadians do not use a CV.There is no difference between how a U.S. or Canadian resume is formatted. They both use the traditional resume format. Many Americans think that Canadians use a CV like most other countries, but thats not the case. You can use the same resume whether youre applying for jobs in Canada or the US.Here is an example of a traditional resume format which is suitable for both the US and Canada.3 Tips to Keep in Mind When Formatting Your Resume1. The professional summaryAll resumes should inclu de a summary. The summary should be a “hook” that captures the recruiter’s attention and gives a reason to read the rest of the resume. To do that, you should write a resume summary that contains between four and six lines of text that highlight key points that will invite further reading.Here is an example of a well written summary:Dynamic and results-driven professional with an accomplished track record of deploying marketing and sales initiatives that consistently achieve client satisfaction, preserve brand integrity, translate product vision, and connect with diverse audiences. Collaborative and energetic leader who infuses modern tools (CRM, SEO, Google AdWords, SalesForce) and emerging technologies into compelling sales and advertising plans that exceed performance goals in high-volume, rapidly-evolving environments. Talented communicator focused on building sustainable relationships with clients, partner networks, and industry influencers. Positive attitude, intuitive b usiness acumen, and analytical mindset used to identify profitable opportunities, define change, and devise unique competitive advantages. Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.Like the rest of the resume, the summary should be optimized with keywords, tailored to the job youre applying to, and reflect your career goals.2. KeywordsMost companies today automatically scan your resume with an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) and you need to ensure your resume is optimized for these scans.Including keywords throughout your resume is the best way to do that. Look at the job description to see what skills the position requires and include them in a core competencies section.  Example:Keyword optimizing your resume is crucial for getting past these ATS systems.ATS Resume Test  You can see how your resume performs in an actual ATS scan with our Free Resume Review:Free Resume Review3. AchievementsOne of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is focusing on duties rather than achievements. T here are an average of  250 applicants for a corporate opening in the U.S. You need to stand out from the competition and the best way to do that is by focusing on achievements. Show the hiring manager how you went above and beyond what was expected.Example of a good achievement-focused bullet point:Recruited to construct a new sales program from the ground up that immediately met first-quarter goals and surpassed targets 4-13% in succeeding quarters.SummaryThe format of a resume is the same for the US and Canada, because the hiring process is essentially the same. Other parts of the world usually require a CV which is somewhat different from a resume.Use clear sections like a professional summary, experience, and education. Optimize each section with keywords from the job post so you pass an ATS scan. Focus on your accheivements.For more resume and career advice, head over to Quora.Best of luck with your job search!

5 Things College Students Must Do To Stay Ahead of the Competition - Work It Daily

5 Things College Students Must Do To Stay Ahead of the Competition - Work It Daily College students face a number of challenges as they near graduation. Exams, relationships, and debt may at times seem overwhelming. Then there’s the uncertainty of career for many. And, although the following tips are going to be framed primarily for individuals facing uncertain futures, they are solid tips to enhance your career success if you’re locked into a position after graduation. Related: 6 Strategies To Kickstart Your Career As A College Sophomore 1. Career Success Is A Skill For many the career management part of college is viewed as a task. It becomes time to sign up for interviews, prepare a resume and a LinkedIn profile, and continue (or start) actively networking. But just like you’ve learned in many classes, there are career success “skills.” If your school offers classes on creating your resume and interviewing preparation, take them. Do not assume you know how to do these things well. If you take a class for resume preparation, you’ll leap ahead of a large number of your colleagues who don’t think learning how matters. 2. Awareness Of Trends According to leading futurists, the pace of change is accelerating. This may be hard to believe for some, but in many areas, technology is the obvious one, rate of change is no longer a simple growth pattern. Technological growth is happening at an exponential rate in every part of our world, from energy to medicine, from healthcare to transportation. One clear example: seven years ago an electric car could travel less than 50 miles before needing a charge; now it’s possible to go 300 miles. I’ve written about the importance of monitoring career trends. But here that advice extends to the specific of your major or the industry you want to work in. If you’re a human resource major, are you monitoring the rapidly changing legislative and regulatory environment that impacts every aspect of your potential job? If you’re in medicine, are watching for emerging trends in critical areas like cancer and Alzheimer’s â€" where new treatments are appearing regularly? If you want to stay ahead of your competition, stay ahead of the trends. 3. Face Realities There’s a very old paradigm that still survives in the minds of many job seekers â€" and college students are not immune. You apply for a position, online or by sending in a resume, and you check every day for that welcoming response. You wonder why there’s no response, maybe nothing more than an automated acknowledge. There are lots of “reality checks” that you should pay attention to. But here’s a really big one: According to one of the latest and largest studies, 13 million people applied for 112,000 job postings â€" so 112,000 people were hired. Over 85% of those hired came from direct recruiting by the company or referrals. That leaves only 15% of the individuals hired coming from direct applications by job seekers. If you want a heads up on your competition, understand this and make building and working a network your top priority. And remember, LinkedIn is a very valuable tool for networking! 4. Evaluate Choices As humans, we make hundreds of small decisions every day. Many of them are based on habit â€" it’s easy to choose our favorite drink at a restaurant or bar. And we also make many other decisions based on emotions â€" what we feel like having, what we like, and so on. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a person at a restaurant taking notes on nutrition facts, price, and yes, personal favorites, in choosing a meal. I’ve worked with 1000’s of college students from freshmen through graduate students. One of the things I’ve introduced them to is a simple process for thinking about options. I often focus on evaluating options based on two things. To what extent does this option (a career choice, changing majors, or…) make it easier or harder to accomplish your personal career objectives? To what extent does that option make it easier or harder to maintain a characteristic about yourself that really matters, perhaps your concern about the environment or even your love of a fitness practice like running? Raising the objective evaluation of your decision-making can make a huge difference. Don’t ignore the intuitive “gut feelings” part of the decision but don’t let that me the only factor. 5. Think Beyond What’s Next Again there is a very human tendency, that if you learn to think differently, will catapult you into greater success than much of your competition. As humans, we tend to be very good at thinking about “what’s next?” But we’re not as good at thinking about “what’s next after that?” and again “What’s next after that?” It’s considered by many high-level thinkers as the most serious problem of this second decade of the 21st Century â€" short-termism. There are exceptions. Chess players are very good at “down board” thinking. Network administrators demonstrate an awareness of how one connection affects not just the one they’re currently making, but the next one, and the next one, and so on. Individuals trained in techniques for total quality learned how to think about that “what’s next?” question with techniques like the “5 Why’s.” I’ve personally worked with students coming from these experiences, and they’ve shown the ability to think about p ossible consequences beyond just “what’s next?” in a variety of situations. With practice, it’s a skill easy to develop. This skill can be a critical difference maker for college students, one where a survey of students who practiced it reported over 95% satisfaction with learning a new way of thinking. In today’s world, it can be the frontline competitive advantage of minimizing those “unintended consequences.” If you can spot potential consequences, both good and bad, ahead of time, you have the competitive advantage of being able to prevent or minimize the damage from the bad. But more importantly, you have the chance to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the good. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a Work It Daily-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Bigstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!