A professional summary is the first piece of text on your CV, used to give hiring managers a concise overview of your top skills, experiences and achievements. Keep reading to find out why a professional summary is vital and some tips on how to write one.
Why is a professional summary important?
Employers usually scan CV’s briefly to get a general idea of the candidate, however, a professional summary can be an easy way to condense your CV, grab the readers’ attention and make you stand out among others. Once you get noticed by the employer through your professional summary, they will be more inclined to read the rest of your CV and keep you in the candidate pool. It is usually located at the top of your CV, right below your name and contact information and about 3-5 sentences long, sometimes structured in bullet points.
Tips for writing a professional summary
Show your value as a candidate by using proper planning, and lots of effort and ensure to get feedback on your summary to make it as impactful as possible.
1.Write your professional summary last
The clue is in the name, it should be a summary of your CV, the best parts, to be precise. Writing your professional summary as the last thing you do will also help you to have all your experience and skills fresh in your mind so that you can put together something that is concise and informational, avoiding any unnecessary waffle or buzzwords.
2. Tailor it to specific job descriptions
Always adapt your professional summary to fit in with the job that you are applying for. Use specific keywords and phrases directly from the job description or those that align with what the company is searching for. This will show the employer that you have understood the job description and that your skills align with who they are looking for. It will stand out more to them than a generic summary.
3. Mention your professional title in the first sentence
Describe your professional title along with the number of years of experience you have, perhaps even put it in bold font to make it stand out. For example, ‘A Senior Project Manager with over 11 years of experience.’
4. Quantify your achievements to make an impact
Use numbers and percentages from previous projects to give the employer a better idea of how well you perform and attract their attention. Impressive stats will make you an unmissable candidate.
5. Lastly, summarise what you can offer
As much as it’s important to state what you want in terms of professional development, keep in mind what the employer wants. Make it clear about the great things you can bring to the company using the job description.
As for the rest of your CV, we have published a blog all about the project management CV tips you should know, as well as many others showcasing the best certifications you should have on your CV within sectors such as quantity surveying, and commercial fit-out and project management.
Got your professional summary and CV all up to scratch? We can help you find your next white-collar role. Contact us via email at info@wearepillar.com, schedule a call with us here or view our latest vacancies here.
Bình luận