Your resume summary is what a recruiter may look at to decide if they are going to continue learning more about you. It’s the trailer before they get to your cover letter or the meat of your resume, so you wanna make it so good that they want to keep reading.
Don’t waste your first impression.
If you have that you are an energetic, problem-solving, organized, team-playing, communicative, collaborative, driven, passionate, innovator who excels in fast-paced cross-functional environments like everyone else, then you can do better to stand out on paper to get the interview.
Let’s look at some of the most common resume summary clichés and how to fix them.
1. So, you’re a team player?
Whenever you’re tempted to use a generalization or cliché in your resume summary, ask yourself why you think that word applies to you. For example, your resume summary should highlight your experience with collaborating if that is relevant to your application. Don’t just call yourself a team player.
If you were asked what makes you a team player in an interview, what would you say? You want to make sure you have something to say beyond that you show up to work on time and don’t have conflicts. That is expected of everyone in every workplace.
Were you recognized for collaborating in some way? Did you take on additional responsibilities beyond your job requirements in a way that benefited the team or the organization?
When organizations list “team player” in the job description, they are communicating that they want someone in the role who will make the job of the team easier, faster, streamlined, less stressed, etc.
Instead of calling yourself a team player, give tangible examples as to why. Show, don’t tell.
2. Do you have exceptional communication skills?
Resume summaries are so short that you want to make sure that every sentence adds value and helps you tell the story of why you’re the best person for the position. Don’t just say that you have strong communication skills. What do you mean by that, exactly?
If you’re a graphic designer or have the ability to translate complex ideas through the use of icons or visuals, explain that. If you’re a strong listener and are skilled at observing and adapting to nonverbal cues, describe this skill if it’s relevant to the position you’re applying for. Provide examples of how your communication skills are helpful, particularly if you are able to quantify it somehow.
If you are applying for a job with a talent management program, do you have metrics to establish how you were able to meet, or better yet, exceed expectations?
Now you’re describing how you can solve a specific problem for the company with your skills. This is much more effective than just telling an employer that you’re skilled in critical thinking, emotional intelligence, or program management.
You are showing how you can help the organization, not just saying, “Take my word for it! I’m great.” Show, don’t tell.
3. Your resume should solve a problem.
Most positions exist to solve a very specific problem or deliver very specific results. That’s why the organization is spending time and money on this position and this role.
If you’re going to describe yourself as a problem solver, chances are you can be way more specific. You can do that by answering these four questions:
- What problem did I solve?
- How did I solve that problem?
- What tools or skills did I use to solve that problem?
- What were the results of my solving that problem?
Essentially, how did you deliver results and make your last workplace better?
Show your next employer that you can do the same for them.
If what you share isn’t unique to you or doesn’t add value, then don’t mention it in the little space you have to catch the reader’s attention. Instead of adding general adjectives, tell a story to show what you bring to the table.
Remember, show, don’t tell.
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