resume summary statement writer

A resume summary statement usually comes right after a job seeker’s contact info and before other resume sections such as skills and work experience. It provides employers with a brief overview of a candidate’s career accomplishments and qualifications before they read further. Because of how early it appears on the document, your resume summary statement (or your CV “profile” in the UK) is one of the first places recruiters and employers look. And without the right information, they’ll doubt that you’re qualified and may move to another resume.

So I got in touch with a select group of professional resume writers, coaches and career experts to get their best resume summary examples you can use and adapt to write a resume summary that stands out and gets interviews.

As a former recruiter myself, I’ll also share my best tips to write your resume summary effectively.

Why the Resume/CV Summary is Important

You may have heard that recruiters only spend 8-10 seconds looking at your resume. The truth is: they spend that long deciding whether to read more. They do glance that quickly at first and may move on if your background doesn’t look like a fit. However, if you grab their attention, they’ll read far more. Recruiters aren’t deciding to interview you in 8-10 seconds, but they are ruling people out in 8-10 seconds. And this is why your resume summary is so crucial. It appears high up on your resume (usually right after your header/contact info) and is one of the first sections employers see. So it’s part of what they’ll see in the first 8-10 seconds.

Your resume summary statement is one of your first (and one of very few) chances to get the employer to stop skimming through their pile of resumes and focus on YOU.

Watch: Resume Summary Examples That Get Interviews

10 resume summary examples:.

These career summary examples will help you at any experience level – whether you’re writing a professional summary after a long executive career, or writing your first resume summary without any experience! After you finish this article you’re NEVER going to have to send out a limp, weak resume summary statement again (and you’ll get far more interviews  because of it).

1. Healthcare Sales Executive Resume Summary Example:

Turnaround & Ground Up Leadership – Concept-to-execution strategies for untapped products, markets + solutions that yield 110% revenue growth – Negotiates partnerships with leading distributors + hospitals—Medline to Centara + Novant Health to Mayo Clinic –  Revitalizes underperforming sales organizations via scalable, sustainable infrastructures emulated as best practice –  C-Level networks of clinical + supply chain leadership acquired during tenures with XXX, XXX and XXX

Why this resume summary is good:

This resumes summary example’s strength lies in the detailed, unique information that has been included. By including revenue stats, names of past employers and partners, the reader right away sees that this person will bring to the role a strong networking ability with key players in his industry, and more importantly can build, grow and revitalize a sales organization, market or product.

By:  Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor.

2. 15+ Year Business Owner Resume Summary Statement:

Dynamic and motivated marketing professional with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, designing educational strategies, and coaching individuals to success. Skilled in building cross-functional teams, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, and making critical decisions during challenges. Adaptable and transformational leader with an ability to work independently, creating effective presentations, and developing opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Why this is a good summary section:

This is a resume summary statement that was for  a candidate returning to work after having her own business for 15+ years. Because of this, we needed to emphasize her soft skills and what she can bring to this potential position. In addition, we highlighted the skills she has honed as a business owner so that she can utilize these qualifications as a sales professional, account manager , and someone knowledgeable about nutrition, medicine, and the overall sales process.

By: Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish. MBA, Ph.D., CPRW, and Founder of Feather Communications

3. Human Resources Generalist Resume Summary Example:

Human Resources Generalist with progressive experience managing employee benefits & compliance, employee hiring & onboarding, performance management processes, licensure tracking and HR records. Dependable and organized team player with the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently. Skilled at building relationships with employees across all levels of an organization. Proficient with HRIS, applicant tracking and benefits management.

Why this is a good resume summary:

The applicant highlights their experience across a wide range of HR functions from the very first sentence, and continues this pattern throughout the rest of the summary. They then use easily digestible langue to showcase their hard skills (in the first & fourth sentences) and soft skills (in the second & third sentences). They also integrate a variety of keywords to get past automated job application systems , without sounding spammy or without overdoing it.

By: Kyle Elliott, MPA/CHES,  Career Coach and Consultant

4. Social Media Marketing CV Profile Example (UK):

Social media expert with successes in the creation and management of social media strategies and campaigns for global retail organisations. Extensive experience in the commercial utilisation of multiple social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube; I build successful social strategies that increase brand awareness, promote customer engagement and ultimately drive web traffic and conversions.

Why this summary is good:

This summary is well-written, short, sharp, and gives recruiters a high-level explanation of the candidate’s core offerings in a persuasive and punchy style. A quick scan of this profile tells you the exact type of social media platforms the candidate is an expert in, as well as the campaigns they have experience running and types of organizations they have worked for. Most importantly, the summary is rounded off by showing the results that this person achieves for their employers, such as increased web traffic and conversions.

Editor’s note: This CV profile summary was written for the UK market… this is a great one to use/copy, but make sure you put it through a spell-checker if you’re applying for jobs in the US (utilisation vs. utilization, etc.)

By: Andrew Fennell, Director at StandOut CV , contributor for The Guardian and Business Insider

5. Marketing Manager Professional Summary Example:

Marketing Manager with over eight years of experience. Proven success in running email marketing campaigns and implementing marketing strategies that have pulled in a 20% increase in qualified leads. Proficient in content, social media and inbound marketing strategies. Skilled, creative and innovative.

This resume summary stands out because it gets straight to the point. By immediately introducing the number of years of experience the candidate has, the HR manager doesn’t need to spend time adding up years. The candidate also jumps right into his or her strongest skill, provides a statistic , then gives additional skills.

By: Sarah Landrum, career expert and contributor at Entrepreneur.com and Forbes

6. Warehouse Supervisor Resume Summary Example:

Warehouse Supervisor with Management, Customer Service, & Forklift Experience –  Dependable manager with 15+ years of experience in warehouse management and employee supervision. –  Skilled at managing inventory control, shipping & receiving, customer relations and safety & compliance. –  Certified Power Equipment Trainer, Forklift Operator and Reach Operator skilled at coaching other staff. –  Promoted to positions of increased responsibility given strong people and project management skills.

The applicant was applying for a warehouse supervisor position that required them to have demonstrated management, customer service and forklift experience. As such, the applicant showcased their experience in these areas with a few keywords in the title, followed by additional details in the accompanying bullet points. Their final bullet shows a record of promotions, while reinforcing the applicant’s customer service and project management skills.

7. IT Project Manager Resume Summary Example:

Experienced Project Manager with vast IT experience. Skills include computer networking, analytical thinking and creative problem solving. Able to apply customer service concepts to IT to improve user experience for clients, employees and administration.

Because this candidate is switching career paths, it’s important he or she take skills used for previous positions and apply those skills to the new job listing. This is a great example because the candidate makes it clear that his or her experience is not in the new field, but that they are still able to bring relevant experience to the table. When writing your resume summary, keep these tips in mind: Use writing that is straight to the point, clear and concise, you’ll have a higher chance of getting noticed by the hiring manager.

8. Career-Changer Resume Summary Example:

Earn trust, uncover key business drivers and find common ground as chief negotiator and identifier of revenue opportunities in sales, leadership and account management roles spanning e-Commerce, air travel and high-tech retail. Navigate cultural challenges while jumping time zones, lead international airline crews and manage corporate accounts to deliver an exceptional customer experience. A self-taught techie sought after as a go-to for complex billing systems and SaaS platforms alike—bridging the divide between technology and plain-speak. – Tenacious Quest for Success + Learning . Earned MBA and BS in just 3 years while working full-time – gaining hands-on experience in research- and data-driven product roadmap development, pricing and positioning. – Results-Driven Leadership. Whether leading Baby Boomers, Gen X or Millennials—figures out what makes teams tick, trains and transforms individuals into top-performers. – Challenger of Conventional Wisdom. Always ask the WHY. Improve the user experience through smart, strategic thinking that anticipates outcomes. Present cases that influence, and lead change that drives efficiency and profitability.

This client was eager for a career change and had moved from role to role and industry to industry. After completing her Master’s degree, she was eager to tie her skills together to land a role – which she did – as a Senior Technology Account Strategist for a global travel company. Although a bit longer than a traditional summary, its strength lies in the details. Without ever getting to the experience section, the reader gets a clear idea of the scope of responsibility, and hard and soft skills the candidate brings to the table.

By: Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes  and Forbes contributor.

9. Project Management Executive Professional Summary Example:

15+ years of initiating and delivering sustained results and effective change for Fortune 500 firms across a wide range of industries including enterprise software, digital marketing, advertising technology, e-commerce and government. Major experience lies in strategizing and leading cross-functional teams to bring about fundamental change and improvement in strategy, process, and profitability – both as a leader and expert consultant.

Why this resume summary is good:

“Project Manager” is one of those job titles that’s REALLY broad. You can find project managers earning $50K, and others earning $250K. The client I wrote this for was at the Director level, and had worked for some of the biggest and best tech companies in her city. So this resume profile section shows her level and experience, and the wide array of areas she has responsibility for in her current work. You can borrow or use some of the phrasing here to show that you’ve been responsible for many important areas in your past work.

By: Biron Clark, Founder of  CareerSidekick.com.

10. Startup And Finance Management Consultant Career Summary Example:

Experienced strategist, entrepreneur and startup enthusiast with a passion for building businesses and challenging the status quo. 8+ year track record of defining new business strategies, launching new ventures, and delivering operational impact, both as a co-founder and management consultant. 

Why this resume summary example is good:

This summary was for a highly-talented management consultant looking to break out of finance, and into trendier tech companies like Uber . His track record and educational background were great, so the goal of this summary section was to stand out and show he’s more than just the typical consultant with a finance background. So we emphasized his passion for startups, and his ability to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. That’s something that companies like Uber and other “disruptive” tech companies look for.

14 Resume Summary Examples for Various Industries

Compassionate and effective 5th-grade teacher with experience overseeing the classroom and preparing lessons. Extensive experience encouraging students through positive reinforcement and motivational techniques. Collaborate well with school administration and other members of the teaching team. Ensure all students meet learning requirements, including literacy, social, and arithmetic skills.

2. Teacher’s Assistant

Goal-oriented teacher’s assistant with ten years of experience working with elementary school children. Aid teachers with lesson planning, classroom settings, and group instruction. Model positive behavior and maintain order in the classroom. Willingness to take on additional responsibilities to meet learning objectives.

Tech Industry

3. computer programmer.

Innovative computer programmer with a proven track record of writing high-quality code and supporting team needs with subject matter expertise. Adept in multiple programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and C++. Ability to troubleshoot complex programming issues with inventive solutions. 

4. Cybersecurity Analyst

Dedicated cybersecurity analyst with ten years of experience in online security research, execution, planning, and maintenance. Proven track record of identifying business risks and proactively resolving them. Experience designing and instituting layered network security for large-scale organizations. Train users and other staff members on IT safety procedures and preventive techniques.

Skilled healthcare professional with ten years of experience in patient care, diagnosis, and providing appropriate treatments and medical services. Manage medical staff and resolve complex medical cases with maximum efficiency. Communicate the patient’s condition and treatment plan in easily understood terminology. Remain current with the latest advancements in medicine and research to ensure patients receive proper care.

6. Registered Nurse

Seasoned registered nurse offering comprehensive patient care in emergency room settings. Experience handling diverse patient populations and caring for various conditions. Proven leadership managing nursing teams and other staff. Focus on enhancing patient care and satisfaction through empathetic communication and excellent customer service. 

7. Digital Marketing Manager

Forward-thinking digital marketing manager experienced in all facets of digital marketing, including social media management, PPC advertising, SEO, and email marketing. Proven experience creating comprehensive marketing plans that improve lead prospecting and enhance brand awareness. Up to date with the newest tools available for digital marketing campaigns.

8. Marketing Analyst

Industrious marketing analyst well-versed in analyzing marketing campaign analytics and making recommendations to improve performance. Collaborate with account managers and use KPI metrics to explain the results of marketing initiatives. Meticulous with a strong work ethic and robust communication skills.

Food and Service Industry

Experienced wait staff member capable of managing orders, processing payments, and upselling menu items. Ensure restaurant guests feel welcome with attentive service catered to their needs. Remain current on updates to the menu and assist guests with selecting orders to meet their dietary requirements. Maintain a positive attitude and focus during busy restaurant periods.

10. Hotel Receptionist

Friendly hotel receptionist with extensive experience handling guest check-ins, check-out, and payments. Facilitate a positive guest experience with polished customer service skills and a readiness to address common inquiries and complaints. Collaborate well with other hotel team members, including executive administration and on-site restaurant staff.

Business/Office Jobs

11. financial analyst.

Highly motivated financial analyst with a proven track record of recommending appropriate financial plans based on financial monitoring, data collection, and business strategizing. Experienced in qualitative and quantitative analysis, forecasting, and financial modeling. Excellent communication skills for building and fostering long-term business relationships across the organization.

12. Tax Accountant

Experienced tax accountant with ten years of experience preparing federal and state tax returns for corporations and partnerships. Monitor changes in laws to ensure the organization properly complies with reporting requirements. Assist with tax audits, ensuring the team receives proper supporting evidence for tax positions. Analyze and resolve complex tax issues. Look for available tax savings opportunities for corporations with an aggregate savings of $500K last year. Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.

Sales and Customer Service

13. sales representative.

Enthusiastic sales representative with expertise in identifying prospects and converting qualified leads to paying customers. Provide quality customer service and contribute to team sales success. Offer exceptional communication skills and seek to understand client needs before making the appropriate product recommendations. Continually meet and exceed sales goals. Leverage extensive knowledge of available products to provide appropriate client solutions and enhance customer loyalty and retention.

14. Customer Service Associate

Knowledgeable customer service professional with extensive experience in the insurance industry. Known as a team player with a friendly demeanor and proven ability to develop positive rapport with clients. Maintain ongoing customer satisfaction that contributes to overall company success. Highly articulate, with a results-oriented approach that addresses client inquiries and issues while maintaining strong partnerships. Collaborate well with the customer service team while also engaging independent decision-making skills.

Now you have 24 professional resume summary statements and some explanations of why they’re effective. Next, I’ll share tips for how to write your own in case you’re still unsure how to begin based on these examples above.

How to Write a Resume Summary: Steps and Hints

We’ve looked at 10 great resume summary examples above. As you begin writing a resume summary for yourself, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Read the employer’s job description. Your career summary shouldn’t be a long list of everything you’ve done; it should be a refined list of skills and experiences that demonstrate you’re a fit for their job.
• Mention your current job title if relevant. One common way to begin your resume summary is to state your current job title.
• Explain how you can help employers achieve their goals or solve their problems.
• Consider using bold text to emphasize one or two key phrases.
• Include any relevant metrics and data like dollar amounts, years of experience, size of teams led, etc. This helps your resume stand out.
• Focus on making the employer want to read more. The goal of your resume summary isn’t to show everything you can do, but to grab their attention and show enough that they continue reading.

Creating a Customized Resume Summary

While general summaries are appropriate when applying for jobs requiring similar skills and experience, a customized resume summary can enhance your chances of moving on to the next step in the hiring process. 

That’s because most companies use automated tracking systems (ATS) to review submitted resumes for content directly related to the job posting. If you use keywords and natural language phrases in your summary that interlink to the job description, you’ll have a much higher chance of passing the ATS review.

Let’s look at an example of a resume summary that is customized for the specific job description below:

“Highly motivated social media specialist with strong project management skills. Creative marketer skilled in crafting innovative social media campaigns that resonate with a target audience. Regularly develop compelling copy and social media content to enhance lead generation and brand awareness. Detail-oriented with extensive project management skills that ensure proper prioritization of tasks and projects. Work with various social media management and analytics tools to examine results and make adjustments as necessary.”

This summary directly addresses the key points in the job description but rewrites them so the customization is natural and flows well. It’s personalized for the open role and uses similar terms with a few strategically placed keywords, such as “social media content” and “project management.”  

How Long Should a Resume Summary Be?

As you read the resume summaries above, you probably noticed there are some short single-paragraph resume summary examples and much longer career summaries that are two to three paragraphs plus bullet points. So how long should YOUR professional summary be? If you have relevant work experience, keep your summary to one or two paragraphs. The piece you really want the hiring manager to read is your most recent work experience (and you should make sure you tailored that info to fit the job description). The resume summary is just a “bridge” to get the hiring manager into your experience.

If I were writing my own career summary right now, I’d likely use one single paragraph packed with skills, accomplishments, and exactly why I’m ready to step into the job I’ve applied for and be successful!

Even for a manager resume summary, I recommend a very short length. However, if you’re changing careers, or you’re looking for jobs without any work experience , the summary section needs to stand on its own, and should be longer. That’s why some examples above are a bit longer.

Formatting Your Resume/CV Career Summary

You may have noticed a variety of different formats in the career summary examples above. There isn’t one “right” way to format this section on your resume or CV. However, I recommend either using one or two brief paragraphs, or combining a short sentence or paragraph with bullets. Avoid writing three or four long paragraphs with no special formatting like bullet points. That’s simply too much text for your summary section and will cause recruiters and hiring managers to skip over it in some cases.

Should You Include a Resume Objective?

You do not need to include an objective on your resume, and doing so can make your resume appear outdated. Use a resume summary instead of an objective. Follow the resume summary examples above and focus on discussing your skills, qualifications, and achievements, rather than stating your objective. Employers know that your objective is to obtain the position you’ve applied for, and the resume objective has no place on a modern resume/CV in today’s job market.

Examples of Bad Resume Summaries

Now that we’ve seen a few exemplary resume summaries, let’s look at some that you should avoid at all cost.

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors

“Experienced cashier who knows how to run the register cash. Responsible with the money and can talk with the customer. Knows when to stoc up the invenory and checks it all the time. Can count change and run credit card tranactions. Get the customer happy by good service. I am always cheerful and organized.”

Why this resume summary is bad:

If you read the summary carefully, you’ll notice several spelling errors. The words “stock,” “inventory,” and “transactions” are all spelled wrong. Grammatical errors make the summary choppy and difficult to follow (“Get the customer happy by good service”).  A summary like this probably won’t fly with a company looking for a detail-oriented cashier responsible for managing in-person sales.

2. Lacks Relevant Keywords

“Talented worker with experience managing a team of staff. Creative and responsible with knowledge of organizational processes. Can keep up with the busiest of environments. Stays focused when at work, ensuring prompt task completion. Dependable and willing to collaborate with a team to get things done.”  

In this example, the chef doesn’t use keywords relevant to cooking, restaurants, or kitchens. The summary is very generic and can apply to nearly any job. A manager who receives the application isn’t likely to understand what value the candidate can bring to the restaurant.  To fix the summary, the applicant must rewrite it to include relevant keywords and phrases. 

3. No Numbers to Quantify Achievements

“An experienced and hardworking manager ready to align procedures for maximum revenue and profits. Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in higher sales and better customer satisfaction. Collaborate well with sales team members, ensuring they have the resources and knowledge to support customer purchases and inquiries. Develop strong rapport with clients and maintain ongoing relationships.”

This isn’t a terrible summary for a sales manager, but it has room for improvement. For one, the first two sentences essentially duplicate each other, mentioning an aptitude for improving processes with the objective of higher sales. The other issue is a lack of quantifying achievements. 

The applicant mentions they have a proven record of increasing sales, but they could strengthen the summary by quantifying their results. For example, they might say, “Proven track record of streamlining and strengthening processes, resulting in a 25% increase in sales over the past year.” The quantifier provides additional credibility. 

4. Not Targeting the Specific Job

“Looking for work in a role that requires great customer service, project management, and communication skills. Able to collaborate with people from diverse and varying backgrounds. Highly organized and reliable worker with a strong work ethic. Responsible and reliable worker you can count on.”

While the candidate lists various skills they have, including customer service and project management, there’s no indication of prior roles held or what position they’re applying for. The summary could apply to numerous positions in a variety of industries. To improve the resume summary, the applicant must specify the job they’re applying for and indicate their prior experience in a similar role, if they have any.

After You Start Getting Interviews, Make Sure to Take Advantage…

If you follow the advice above, you’ll have a great professional resume summary to make your qualifications stand out to employers. But landing the interview is only half the battle… So make sure you go into every interview ready to convince employers that they should hire you, too! If you write a great resume summary example that gets employers excited to interview you, they’re going to ask you questions like, “tell me about yourself” early in the interview to learn more about your background. So make sure you’re prepared with an answer.

I also recommend you review the top 20 interview questions and answers here.

Your resume caught their interest, so naturally, they’re going to follow up with a variety of questions to learn more about your professional background.

The bottom line is: A strong professional resume summary, followed up by other well-written resume sections will get you the interview, but your interview performance is what determines whether you get the job offer!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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I would recommend to customise the skills section of your resume, and ensure that it matches the job posting. The higher the number of phrases within the resume matching the job requirements the more are the chances that the recruiter will pick you for the job.

I just wanted to say, “thank you!”. This was very helpful. Instead of jumping from one website to the next there’s so much useful, relevant information right here.

Hi, I have been having trouble creating a resume as My old one is so long, I’ve worked for a government agency for the past 14 years and held multiple positions doing many different duties for each and now I have to relocate to another area where they do not have an agency like mine in my new area within a 3 hour drive, how can I squeeze all my experience and duties on one page and where do I even start, I’m so nervous, it’s been so long since I’ve attempted the job hunt. So I’m wondering, I do not want to cut anything out that may hurt my chances and I can’t afford to have my resume rewritten by a professional. Can you guide me as to where you think would be a good place to start, I’ve been staring at this laptop for weeks trying to decide on a resume template, there are so many. I thank you for your time and any input will help.

Hi, I am a new graduate and do not have any experience in my field which is Nursing. I want to apply for the jobs but I have no idea about what to mention in my resume.

Hi, this article should help with the resume summary, at least: https://careersidekick.com/summary-for-resume-no-experience/

Other than that, you need to put your academic experience. And internships/part-time jobs if you’ve had any.

Dear Biron,, Thanks for sharing the 10 examples of professional summaries in your article, and especially the reasons why they were considered to be good. However, as a HR professional, I would most likely skip over most of them and would not read much past the first or second sentence. The summaries were mostly too wordy and boring, and did not demonstrate ‘oomph’ at first cursory reading. Simply indicating certain skills or behaviors does not give an idea of the level of expertise, and could simply be wishful thinking on the part of the resume writer.

Just goes to show that there are many ways to see what makes a good summary.

I am a chemical engineer and project management professional with 15+years experience. My experience is between process engineering and project management . How can I marry the two in my profile summary?

It’s not about showing everything you’ve done. It’s about showing employers evidence you’ll succeed in their job. You can show a bit of both but focus heavily on what’s most relevant for the jobs you’re applying for right now. 80/20.

This was absolutely helpful and amazing! Thank you very much!

Hello, I am an active job seeker. I hold a law degree from a foreign country and currently in college for an associate degree. My question is, how do I blend both my foreign job experience with that of the United States in my resume. Thank you.

I’d put your work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent up top. That’s what I’d recommend for 95% of people actually. Then it doesn’t matter where you held each job.

And then in your Education section, I’d include your foreign degree and the current degree you’re pursuing in the US, too (for the US degree, you can say “in progress” or “graduating May 2019” for example).

I am 40 years old & B.A degree holder I have experience in many fields.I would like to join any one fields

I am a fresh graduate, who has five years teaching experience and some months customer service representative experience. Pls kindly assist me to put the resume summary together

I’m an active duty service member and finding in a little difficult creating a good transitional summary from 20 year profession in tactical communications to a drug and alcohol counselor. Do you have any recommendations how I should approach this? Any assistance would be helpful. Thanks

Great piece

How to write the CAREER ABSTRACT in resume for ware super visor retail business?

Just wanted to say thank you.Your advise and information was clear and easy to understand , sometimes there is nothing pertaining to what im looking fot in particular, buy you have sermed to cover everything I n a short quick easy to understand method.It will help tremendously.

Thanks! Glad to hear it helped :)

Very informational

What if you have work experience, but the job your going for(teachingeducation) has nothing to do with warehouse work? How should I build my resume?

In the summary, describe yourself and then say, “…looking to transition into ___” (the type of work you want to be doing now).

This is a bit like a resume “Objective”. I normally don’t recommend an Objective section (and I recommend a Summary section instead), however the one time an Objective does make sense is when you’re trying to change industries or make a big change in the type of role you have.

So that’s why my advice here might seem like I’m telling you to combine an Objective with your resume Summary.

Then “tailor” your previous work to be as relevant as possible. Even if you worked in a different industry you can still show things like leadership, accountability, progress/improvement, hard work, achieving goals, strong teamwork skills, etc. You can do all of that in your resume bullets and work history.

Don’t u have Resume Summary of legal secretary/legal assistant?

No, sorry about that. There are hundreds of different professions/job titles, and we aren’t able to include an example for every scenario out there. These resume summary examples are designed to give you a general idea of how to write yours.

The summaries listed are excellent example and have helped me develop a stand out summary for a new position.

Hello, I been trying to land the job of my dreams. I need help with my resume if i want the recruiters in airlines to notice me. I’ve applied before but haven’t had complete success to making it to a face-to Face Interview. It is a career change – yet i feel i am a great candidate bc i have had many customer service and I even attended an academy for that specific position. Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong on my resume ?

what if i never had a job experience?

Great question. If you don’t have any work experience, take one of the formats/examples above and put your accomplishments and qualifications from your academic studies.

Your headline could say: “Motivated Bio-Sciences Graduate With Expertise in ____”.

And then you might talk about accomplishments in school, group projects you worked on or led, etc.

Basically, when you have no work experience, your school/studies BECOMES your recent work. You should talk about that like it’s a job, because that’s the experience you do have.

really amazing article and too useful , thanks

Hi Mr. Clark, I have been out of the work force for about 18+years and I have been a small business owner for the same number of years. However, I want to go back to the work force. But my problem is that, I don’t know how to prepare my resume or resume summary statement. I had a degree in Communication,Arts and Sciences and a postgraduate degree in Public Administration. I’m a bit confused as to how to incorporate all these experiences into my resume. Please can you help?

Hi Dorothy, I can recommend a professional resume writer if you want. But they’re typically not cheap, so it’s something you’d have to be willing to invest in. If not, there’s a lot of free info online about how to “tailor” your resume for specific jobs. I can’t help one-on-one unfortunately, but I’d recommend thinking about which type of jobs you want, and think of what experience you have that is most relevant. that’s what to put on your resume. Your resume isn’t only about you, it’s about them – what do they want/need? (if you want to get a ton of interviews, that’s how to do it :) ).

Can I have a professional resume writer?

I use a similar format when writing my opening statement for my coverletter. How do you recommend differentiating the two? Or is it ok to use largely the same language?

I think it’s okay to use something similar. I might be more brief in the cover letter… it needs to be about them just as much as it’s about you. Whereas the resume is all about you, at least in the summary section. (The later sections should still be tailored to THEIR needs..)

Struggling to write a Summary Statement for a Secretary/Administrative Assistant position. I have 15 years government experience but have been away from the government since 9/1993 and have spent 15 years as a Substitute Teacher after taking off for 10 years to raise my children.

Hiya! I am a mother of three attempting to return to the workforce. I have been a stay at mom for about 13 years, so I have a (large) gap in my employment history; which doesn’t look great. I have a college education and have obtained a few certifications whilst not employed, plus many volunteer hours. I know that I should probably use a functional resume format. Would love some advice on what I should include in my summary statement.

Hi Juniper,

I rarely like functional resumes, but it might be worth trying. I’d “split-test” it (a marketing term). Create two resume styles, send out 50% one way, 50% the other way, and track results for a week.

I’d treat the resume summary statement just like any other resume. Highlight your skills and past wins/accomplishments.

how do i explain long term gaps in employment? leave them out?

Hi Paulette,

Don’t mention them on a resume summary. But do mention the gaps on a cover letter or lower down on the resume. Here’s an article on how to explain gaps in employment:

https://careersidekick.com/explaining-gaps-in-employment/

I am student in civil engineering field. Have 1.5 yrs of work ex. How should i structure my resume. Thanks.

Hello My name is Shataka and I’m a current job seeker trying to land my dream job as a Counselor. I have Master degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. My experience lies in many different fields. I’m currently a Substance Abuse Counselor, with a teaching background and over 5 years of social service experience. I guess my question is how would I sum up all my experience to help me find a job as a Counselor.

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77+ Resume Summary Examples [& How-to Guide for 2024]

Most companies get hundreds or even thousands of applications monthly.

Hiring managers don’t have the time to read each resume in detail, so they usually end up scanning it for five to six seconds.

So, unless your resume manages to grab the hiring manager’s attention in those few seconds, they’ll just toss your application aside and move on to the next one.

That’s why, you want to make sure that the hiring manager can instantly tell that you’re the right candidate for the job before they even read your resume in depth. 

This is where writing an attention-grabbing resume summary comes in!

In this guide, we’re going to cover: 

• What Is a Resume Summary?
• Tips for Writing an Effective Resume Summary 
• 77+ Convincing Resume Summary Examples

Let’s dive in.

This guide is part of our larger resume series. If you want to start from the basics, take a look at our comprehensive guide on how to make a resume .

What Is a Resume Summary? 

A resume summary is a section that summarizes your resume’s contents. It’s placed in your resume’s header, close to your 

contact information , and it’s the first thing hiring managers see when they look at your resume.

When done right, your resume summary serves as a snapshot of your entire career. It shows that you’re a qualified candidate in less than five seconds, and it gets the hiring manager interested in reading the rest of your resume.

So, what makes a resume summary effective?

A good resume summary is two to four sentences long and includes:

• Your years of experience and job title
• Some of your biggest achievements to date
• A couple of your most essential skills that are relevant for the role

Let’s look at an example:

• Detail-oriented Technical Writer with 7+ years of experience in writing end-user documentation, specializing in user help guides. Excellent writing, analytical thinking, research, and time management skills. Rewrote over 80% of user help guides for 30+ products at Company X, resulting in a 42% decrease in product-related customer support calls.

New to resume-making? Give our resume summary video a watch before diving into the article!

When Should You Use a Resume Summary?

Hiring managers skim through resumes before deciding to read them, so candidates who grab their attention from the start stand a better chance of grabbing their attention. This is why you should always include a brief paragraph in your resume header that summarizes your strengths as a candidate.

Depending on your experience level, you can choose between a resume summary or a resume objective .

Resume objectives focus on professional goals, skills, and motivation for applying for the job, so they’re perfect for students, recent graduates , and other entry-level workers.

A resume summary, on the other hand, is perfect for seasoned professionals, as it focuses more on your past work experience and how it relates to the job you’re applying for. So, if you already have some work experience, we recommend sticking to a resume summary.

If you’re embarking on a career change , on the other hand, you can choose between a resume summary or a resume objective, depending on how your previous skills and work experience relate to the job.

When you’re making your resume, write your resume summary last. Creating a resume summary is much easier once you’ve already finished up your work experience section! 

5 General Resume Summary Examples

There are different aspects of your professional background that you can focus on when writing your resume summary.

Let’s look at some examples and what they do right:

• A hard-working bartender with over five years of experience providing professional service at various bars across Brooklyn. I have received the Hospitality Skill Certification for Bartenders and I know how to make over 200 alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Seeking the Head Bartender position at Bar X, where my skills and beverage knowledge can be leveraged to offer customers the highest quality of service.

Above all, this resume summary shows how experienced the candidate is. Their main selling point is their vast bartending knowledge, followed by an impressive bartending qualification and customer service skills .

• Communicative financial analyst, specializing in informative and persuasive financial presentations, cost accounting, and team management. Master’s Degree in Finance and two related certifications from the Corporate Finance Institute. Extensive experience with a variety of software programs, including SQL, Equitrak, and Lawson.

What sticks out the most in this resume summary is the candidate’s educational background and certifications. It matches the field they’re applying for, and their knowledge also extends to the most important professional software.

• Human Resources Manager with 7+ years of experience seeks to improve overall efficiency at XYZ Office. Career highlights include handling all employee relations in a 75-employee finance firm, reducing recruitment lead time by 35%, and increasing employee retention by 17%.

In addition to the candidate’s long professional experience, the most impressive part of this resume summary is their achievements . The candidate also made sure to quantify their professional accomplishments, which gives you credibility and shows you know what you're talking about.

• Detail-oriented receptionist with 4+ years of experience in customer service. Efficient in performing the administrative and front-desk tasks of large-scale offices. Fluent in Norwegian, English, Spanish, and Swedish. Proficient in MS Office Suite and ZenDesk.

This resume summary shows off the candidate’s key skills, including language proficiency , extensive customer service experience, and computer skills .

• Hard-working and passionate Secondary Social Studies teacher with 10+ years of experience in creating positive environments in which teenagers can learn and grow. Incorporates interdisciplinary knowledge into the classroom to engage students of all learning orientations. 

This candidate mentions they have more than a decade of work experience , but the main takeaway is what they can do on the job. The hiring manager who reads this resume summary can immediately see what this applicant can bring to the team.

How to Write a Resume Summary

Now, let’s get down to business – how can you write a resume summary that’s guaranteed to catch the hiring manager’s attention?

Let’s start with the basics. Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Experience. If you have a lot of relevant professional experience, you should summarize it. This may include your job titles and years of experience in the field. (e.g., “Facebook marketer with 5+ years of experience..." )
• Skills. Mention your areas of expertise, specializations, certifications , and/or skills. (e.g., “Experienced in managing Facebook ad accounts and SEO copywriting..." )
• Achievements. Add one or two impressive achievements to show what you can do. (e.g., “Managed over $100,000 in marketing budget over several accounts and reduced annual company costs by 16%.” )

The next step is to take your resume summary from good to great by following these expert tips:

#1. Tailor Your Resume Summary

You could be an excellent candidate with tons of work experience, but if your resume summary isn’t tailored to the job ad, the hiring manager probably won’t be impressed.

If the hiring manager doesn’t see your value in the first seven seconds of reading your resume , you probably won’t get them to give it a second glance.

This is where tailoring your resume summary comes in. Just reference the job description to make sure your work experience, skills, and achievements all match what the employer is looking for in a candidate.

Let’s go over it in detail.

Imagine you’re applying for this specific job:

The ad tells you exactly what the company is looking for in a candidate.

So here’s what a resume summary tailored to this ad might look like:

• Professional marketer manager with 5+ years of experience in digital marketing. Social media marketing experience, including Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn advertising. Experience in managing an account with a monthly budget of $30,000. B.A. in marketing management. Fluent in German. 

By carefully tailoring your resume summary to the ad and mentioning what the company is looking for, the hiring manager will be hooked! They’ll immediately think, “This is the right person for the job!” and read the rest of your resume in detail.

Tailoring your resume summary to the job description can also help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems that companies use to filter through resumes. This is software that scans applications and disqualifies candidates who don’t mention specific skills or add enough keywords from the job description throughout their resume, so the more you tailor your resume to the job, the better your chances!

#2. Quantify Your Achievements

Your resume summary is supposed to be brief, which means you’re not supposed to list all your achievements. So, make sure to mention the ones that are most relevant and impactful for the role you’re applying for to pique the hiring manager’s attention.

The best way to back up your accomplishments is by providing concrete data.

Quantifiable achievements are instantly more credible and more likely to leave a good impression than vague statements. 

Let’s compare:

• Helped customers sign up on our platform.
• Onboarded 100+ customers to our SaaS platform with a retention rate of over 75%.

See the difference? In fact, the first example sounds more like a responsibility than an achievement.

Here’s what this applicant's entire resume summary would look like:

• Customer service representative with 5+ years of experience in telephone customer service, tech support, and customer care. Familiar with Intercom, Drift, and several other customer service software solutions. Handled up to 100 calls daily with a retention rate of over 75%. 

In some fields, there aren’t many achievements that you can mention. For example, saying that you served 50 people a day isn’t an achievement if you're a server. Don’t fret! In such cases, it’s OK to stick with your key responsibilities simply.

#3. Use Power Words and Action Verbs

Saying you’re a “team player” who was “responsible for” this or “managed” that is boring.

To stand out from every other applicant using the same words, you need to use the right action verbs and power words .

These words can make your skills and achievements pop, and the hiring manager will appreciate that you’re going the extra mile to describe your experience.

Let’s compare how the same sentence with and without power words plays out:

• Spearheaded Company X’s content marketing operations.
• Responsible for content marketing at Company X.

While both of these sentences say the same thing, the first one makes you seem more competent and implies initiative and leadership skills. The second just comes off as passive.

To drive the point home, here’s what a resume summary looks like packed with action words:

#4. Follow Our Formula

When you get down to writing your resume summary, you might still not be sure where to start or what to add.

Don’t worry!

We have a tried and tested formula that you can follow to write the perfect resume summary.

77+ Convincing Resume Summary Examples (For Different Fields)

Need inspiration to write your resume summary? No sweat!

We’ve curated a list of 77+ resume summary examples for different professions to help inspire you.

Sales and Customer Service Resume Summary Examples

#1. sales associate resume summary.

“Enthusiastic and knowledgeable sales associate specialized in upselling furniture and dealing with customer objections. Proven 2-year track record of success at Company X, having exceeded department KPIs by 40-50% for 6 months in a row.”

Read the full sales associate resume example here.

#2. Account Manager Resume Summary

“Client-oriented account manager with a successful track record in the oil industry. Managed accounts worth over $500K while working with clients such as BP and Lukoil.”

#3. Software Support Specialist Resume Summary

“Software support specialist with 5+ years of experience in providing support and assistance to clients, managing user accounts, and recruiting and hiring new IT support interns. Built customer relationships and trust with 20+ B2B clients. Skilled at simplifying complex problems, making it easy for non-technical specialists to solve IT issues.”

#4. Customer Service Representative Resume Summary

“Dedicated and trustworthy customer service specialist with four years of experience in online software troubleshooting, tech support, and customer care. Experienced in using Intercom and Drift. Received an average 87% customer satisfaction rating to date, 15% higher than the company average.”

Read the full customer service resume example here.

#5. Cashier Resume Summary

“Reliable and detail-oriented cashier. Skilled at mathematics, thinking on my feet, and solving any potential customer issues that arise without help from management. Experience in training and onboarding 3+ new cashiers at Company X.”

Read the full cashier resume example here.

#6. Retail Manager Resume Summary

“Retail Manager with 5 years of experience managing mid-sized retail stores. Increased store revenue by 15% through effective team management and customer engagement strategies. Proficient in inventory control, merchandising, and staff training. Looking to leverage retail management expertise in a larger, high-volume store setting.”

Read the full retail manager resume example here.

#7. Barista Resume Summary

“Passionate Barista with 2 years of experience in specialty coffee shops. Known for crafting signature beverages and maintaining high standards of customer service. Consistently received positive feedback for friendly demeanor and quick, accurate order fulfillment.”

Read the full barista resume example here.

#8. Server Resume Summary

"Dedicated Server with 3 years of experience in fast-paced dining environments. Skilled in order accuracy, multitasking, and providing exceptional customer service. Recognized for ability to maintain composure and efficiency during peak hours."

Read the full server resume example here.

#9. Waiter Resume Summary

“Positive and friendly waiter with 3 years of experience working at a fast-paced Italian restaurant. People skills with a proven ability to upsell alcohol, desserts, and appetizers to customers. Memorized restaurant’s wine stock and accompanying meals to the T.”

Read the full waiter resume example here.

#10. Front Desk Agent Resume Summary

“Front Desk Agent with 4 years of experience in the hospitality industry, excelling in customer service at busy city-center hotels. Skilled in handling reservations, guest inquiries, and providing travel recommendations. Committed to enhancing guest experiences and maintaining a high standard of service.”

#11. Housekeeper Resume Summary

“Hard-working house-keeper with 5+ years of experience. Past experiences include working as a housekeeper in hotels as well as private residences. Proven time-management skills and deep familiarity with all cleaning materials and tools.”

#12. Line Cook Resume Summary

“Line Cook with 3 years of experience in high-volume kitchens. Efficient in meal preparation and plating, with a focus on maintaining quality and speed. Trained in various cuisines and knowledgeable about food safety standards.”

#13. Restaurant Manager Resume Summary

“Professional restaurant manager with a strong interest in providing the highest standards of customer service and ensuring customer satisfaction. Skilled at reducing staff turnover, conflict resolution, marketing, and upselling techniques. Increased restaurant revenue by 20% through advertising lunch menu and word-of-mouth strategies.”

#14. Bar Manager Resume Summary

“Experienced Bar Manager with 7 years overseeing busy urban bars. Successfully increased annual sales by 20% through innovative marketing and menu redesign. Expert in inventory management, staff training, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for patrons. Seeking to bring leadership and efficient operational skills to a high-end establishment.”

Read the full bar manager resume example here.

Administrative and HR Resume Summary Examples

#15. receptionist resume summary.

"Organized Receptionist with 3 years of experience in corporate and medical office settings. Efficient in managing multiple phone lines, scheduling appointments, and providing administrative support. Known for a welcoming demeanor and effectively handling client inquiries."

Read the full receptionist resume example here.

#16. Recruiter Resume Summary

"Communicative professional with 5+ years of experience in recruitment. Worked with every part of the recruitment process, including sourcing, vetting, and onboarding of candidates. Passionate about IT recruitment, having worked as a tech recruiter at Company X. MBA from University X."

Read the full recruiter resume example here.

#17. Human Resources Specialist Resume Summary

“Human Resources Specialist with 6 years of experience focusing on employee retention and satisfaction. Implemented employee engagement programs that increased retention rates by 25%. Skilled in conflict resolution, performance management, and creating positive work environments. Dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and employee development.”

Read the full human resources resume example here.

#18. Office Manager Resume Summary

“Office manager with 5+ years of experience in controlling inventory, ordering and tracking new supplies, developing procedures and training material for staff. Strong communication skills, organized, with a track record of success.”

Read the full office manager resume example here.

#19. Secretary Resume Summary

“Professional Secretary with 4 years of experience in fast-paced legal and corporate environments. Proficient in document preparation, managing executive schedules, and coordinating meetings. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, ensuring efficient office operations.”

#20. Executive Assistant Resume Summary

“Accomplished executive assistant with experience in providing support to a high-level CEO and other executives for 4 years. Helped with everything from customer support to data entry and preparing well-researched documents. Skilled at time management, proficient in MS Office and Adobe Photoshop.”

Read the full executive assistant resume example here.

#21. Administrative Assistant Resume Summary

“Experienced administrative assistant seeking to leverage advanced administrative skills for improved efficiency at Media XYZ. 5+ years of industry experience includes decreasing data entry mistakes by 23%, decreasing negative feedback by 11%, and giving insights into creating paperless office environments.”

Read the full administrative assistant resume example here.

#22. Data Entry Resume Summary

“Data entry clerk with 3+ years of experience in verifying complex data, maintaining databases, and producing monthly reports using advanced Excel functions. Known for quick typing skills, eye for detail, and the ability to keep clients and employers happy.”

Read the full data entry resume example here.

Finance Resume Summary Examples

#23. accountant resume summary.

“Licensed Certified Public Accountant with 10+ years of experience in budget analysis, financial audits, and forensic accounting. Created financial reports within a five-person finance team and managed a $500,000 budget. Over the two years working there, helped cut annual company expenses by 15%.”

Read the full accountant resume example here.

#24. Financial Analyst Resume Summary

“Dedicated financial analyst with a track record of successful investments. 5+ years of experience in investment banking, with a focus on the oil industry. Responsible for analyzing potential investments, as well as conducting industry, market, and company-specific research. MBA in Finance.”

Read the full financial analyst resume example here.

#25. Bank Teller Resume Summary

“Bank teller with 2+ years of experience in client-facing roles at Bank X, where I handled customer transactions, cross-selling bank products, and keeping customers happy by providing a professional and efficient service. Followed strict and safe deposit box operations guidelines and processed 100+ customer transactions daily.”

Read the full bank teller resume example here.

#26. Banker Resume Summary

"Experienced Banker with 5 years of expertise in personal and small business banking. Managed a portfolio of high-value accounts, increasing client satisfaction and financial performance. Skilled in financial advising, loan processing, and risk management. Committed to helping clients achieve their financial goals with tailored solutions."

Read the full banker resume example here.

Business Resume Summary Examples

#27. business analyst resume summary.

“Solutions-driven business analyst with over 5 years of experience in consulting businesses and analyzing their operations. Previous experience in working with Consulting Company X and Consulting Company Y. Strong understanding of digital transformation. Improved a client company’s processes by taking them online, which improved manufacturing output by 3%.”

Read the full business analyst resume example here.

#28. Business Development Manager Resume Summary

"Dynamic Business Development Manager with 7 years of experience in identifying and pursuing new market opportunities. Led initiatives that resulted in a 30% increase in annual revenue. Strong background in strategic planning, client relations, and market analysis. Proven ability to drive business growth and forge strong partnerships.”

Read the full business development manager resume example here.

#29. Project Manager Resume Summary

“Project manager with a proven track record of working with agile and waterfall project management methodologies. Managed 5+ teams of software projects over the past 3 years. Basic understanding of several programming languages, including Java, React, and NodeJS.”

Read the full project manager resume example here.

Marketing and Advertising Resume Summary Examples

#30. marketing executive resume summary.

"Accomplished Marketing Executive with 10 years of experience in developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies in the technology sector. Led campaigns that increased brand awareness by 40% and consistently exceeded sales targets by 15-20%. Expertise in digital marketing, market research, and team leadership. Committed to driving market growth and enhancing brand positioning for leading tech companies."

Read the full marketing executive resume example here.

#31. Marketing Manager Resume Summary

“Marketing manager with 4+ years of experience in a corporate environment. Good eye for design, with experience in creating marketing materials with Canva. Intermediate copywriting skills, having worked on the company website, flyers, and several other content pieces.”

Read the full marketing manager resume example here.

#32. Social Media Marketing Manager Resume Summary

“Creative social media manager with 2+ years of experience and a passion for boosting brand awareness and customer engagement. Skilled in copywriting and basic graphic design tools. Personally started and grew a Facebook page for my consultancy brand from 0-1,000+ in just a month. Looking to help Company X establish an online presence and increase their social presence.”

#33. Content Marketer Resume Summary

“Accomplished professional with 3+ years of experience in marketing, content writing, and outreach. Experience in writing for high-authority publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and more. Looking to help Company X increase their online presence and generate more leads through content.”

#34. SEO Specialist Resume Summary

“Results and data-driven SEO specialist with experience in keyword research, developing and marketing evergreen content, and increasing overall website rankings. Freelancing for over 2 years. Grew Company X from 50,000 daily visits to 100,000 within a year by creating long-form content and conducting backlink outreach.”

Read the full digital marketing resume here.

#35. PPC Specialist Resume Summary

“Data-driven SEM professional with 5+ years of experience with Google Analytics, AdWords, Google Display Ads, and Facebook/LinkedIn Ads. Managed a monthly advertising budget of $50,000 over 4 clients.”

IT and Software Development Resume Summary Examples

#36. it specialist resume summary.

“Competent IT specialist with 5+ years of experience working with Windows Server 2016. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert. Advanced knowledge in SQL, C++, Bash, and Linux.”

Read the full IT resume example here.

#37. Software Engineer Resume Summary

“Results-oriented software engineer with a focus on the design and implementation of relational database systems. 8+ years of experience in developing cutting-edge engineering solutions with a wide range of eCommerce and technology features. Skilled in agile processes, backend and frontend development, and creating eCommerce websites that integrate with Paypal, Stripe, and other payment APIs.”

Read the full software engineer resume example here.

#38. Cyber Security Resume Summary

"Cyber Security Specialist with 6 years of experience in threat analysis and network defense. Implemented security protocols reducing data breaches by 40% at TechSecure Inc. Certified in CISSP and experienced in cybersecurity technologies including firewalls and endpoint security. Eager to bring advanced threat detection and mitigation strategies to XYZ Cyber Solutions."

#39. Web Developer Resume Summary

"Dynamic Web Developer with 3 years of experience in designing and developing user-friendly websites. Proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React. Developed an e-commerce site that increased client sales by 30%. Looking to contribute innovative and efficient web solutions at CreativeWeb Studios."

Read the full web developer resume example here.

#40. Computer Scientist Resume Summary

“Creative and people-oriented computer scientist with up to 2 years of working with tech startups. Advanced knowledge of software design principles and agile development principles. Led and managed a team of five in developing new software from concept to delivery.”

Read the full computer scientist resume example here.

#41. Data Scientist Resume Summary

“Business-minded data scientist with a demonstrated ability to deliver valuable insights via data analytics. 10+ years of professional experience in working with CEOs and VPs of Fortune 500 companies. Deep understanding of statistical models, algorithms, and multivariate analysis.”

Read the full data scientist resume example here.

#42. Data Analyst Resume Summary

“Detail-oriented data analyst passionate about helping businesses grow. Former small business owner. Conducted research using three different focus groups and increased sales by 10% over 4 months. MBA recipient with strong technical skills in data mining and data, survey creation, and quantitative methods.”

Read the full data analyst resume example here.

#43. DevOps Engineer Resume Summary

"DevOps Engineer with 8 years of experience in automating and optimizing mission-critical deployments. Led a team that reduced deployment times by 50% through CI/CD pipeline enhancements. Skilled in cloud technologies and infrastructure as code with certifications in AWS and Terraform. Committed to improving operational efficiency at XYZ Tech."

Read the full DevOps engineer resume example here.

#44. AI Engineer Resume Summary

"AI Engineer with 4 years of experience specializing in machine learning and natural language processing. Developed AI models that improved customer interaction accuracy by 35% for a leading tech firm. M.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence. Passionate about deploying cutting-edge AI solutions at AI Innovators Inc."

Read the full AI engineer resume example here.

#45. Java Developer Resume Summary

"Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions."

Read the full Java developer resume example here.

Health and Medicine Resume Summary Examples

#46. nurse resume summary.

“Registered nurse specialized in psychiatric nursing. Developed strong psychiatric evaluation and treatment planning skills after 5 years of working at Hospital X. Experienced in administrative work, management, and training new employees.”

Read the full nurse resume example here.

#47. Medical Assistant Resume Summary

“Certified Medical Assistant with 10 years of experience in working in a fast-paced environment, handling confidential paperwork, administering medication, and providing quality patient care. Proven ability to create positive rapport with patients, family, and staff. Completed and submitted clinical documentation following hospital regulations and experience in supporting diagnostic and technical treatment procedures.”

Read the full medical assistant resume example here.

#48. Dental Assistant Resume Summary

“Licensed dental practitioner with 4+ years in helping dentists prepare, perform, and document procedures. Strong hand-eye coordination, with skills in 4-handed dentistry and working with patients.”

#49. Dentist Resume Summary

"Experienced Dentist with 10 years of practice in general and cosmetic dentistry. Committed to providing exceptional patient care, demonstrated through a consistent record of patient satisfaction and successful dental procedures. Proficient in the latest dental technologies and techniques, including digital radiography and CAD/CAM dentistry, with a strong focus on preventive care and oral health education."

Read the full dentist resume example here.

#50. Pharmacist Resume Summary

"Detail-oriented Pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in retail and hospital settings. Proven ability in medication therapy management and pharmaceutical care, with a track record of efficiently managing prescription processing and patient counseling. Skilled in utilizing digital prescription systems and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of drug interactions and healthcare regulations."

Read the full pharmacist resume example here.

Creative Resume Summary Examples

#51. graphic designer resume summary.

"Senior graphic designer with 6+ years of experience in website design and branding, across a wide range of industries. Extensive experience in multimedia, marketing, and print design. Highly skilled in communications, digital storytelling, and Adobe Creative Suite."

Read the full graphic designer resume example here.

#52. UI/UX Designer Resume Summary

“Proactive UX designer with 5 years of experience in delivering enjoyable web and mobile products for the FinTech industry. Designed UI, UX, and marketing materials for 6 apps and 3 games at Company X, 2 of which were featured in Apple’s App Store. Skilled with Sketch, and Adobe Creative Suite.”

#53. Product Designer Resume Summary

“Creative designer with 7 years experience in product design, packaging, and graphic design. Expertise in new product design, brand identity, and market research. Created and launched a new line of award-winning tableware that generated over $1 million in sales the first year.”

#54. Creative Director Resume Summary

“Experienced creative director, with 10+ years of experience in the advertising industry. Over the past 3 years, managed 2 separate creative teams, creating video ads for company clients. Worked with some high-profile clients, including IBM and Phillips.”

#55. Game Designer Resume Summary

"Innovative Game Designer with 5 years of experience in creating engaging and immersive gaming experiences. Led a team that developed 'AdventureQuest,' a game that won 'Best Mobile Game' at the Indie Game Awards and achieved over 500,000 downloads within the first year. Skilled in gameplay mechanics and story development, with proficiency in Unity and Unreal Engine. Dedicated to crafting games that resonate with players, combining artistic vision with user-friendly design."

Read the full game designer resume example here.

#56. Animator Resume Summary

"Creative Animator with over 8 years of experience in 2D and 3D animation, specializing in character and environmental animation. Proficient in using Maya, Adobe After Effects, and Blender, with a strong background in motion graphics and visual effects. Known for delivering high-quality animations under tight deadlines, contributing to successful animated features and advertising campaigns."

Read the full animator resume example here.

#57. Illustrator Resume Summary

"Award-winning Illustrator with a decade of professional experience, recognized for innovative and impactful visual storytelling. Recipient of the 'Illustrator of the Year' award at the Global Art Forum, with a portfolio that includes book illustrations, advertising campaigns, and digital content."

Read the full illustrator resume example here.

#58. Photographer Resume Summary

"Professional Photographer with a Master's in Fine Arts and 6 years of experience in commercial and portrait photography. Known for a unique aesthetic that combines technical skill with artistic creativity, resulting in visually stunning compositions. Holds a certification in digital photography from the Professional Photographers of America, with a portfolio that has been featured in several national photography exhibitions."

Read the full photographer resume example here.

#59. Actor Resume Summary

"Versatile Actor with 3 years of experience in commercials and television, known for a dynamic range that adapts seamlessly to varied roles. Strong background in stage combat and period drama. Proficient in multiple dialects and expressive character portrayal, enhancing authenticity in every performance."

Read the full actor resume example here.

#60. Writer Resume Summary

"Professional Writer and Blogger with 2 years of experience, specializing in lifestyle and travel content. Successfully increased blog readership by 40% over two years and contributed featured articles in 'Traveler's Digest' and 'Modern Living' magazines."

Read the full writer resume here.

#61. Editor Resume Summary

"Dedicated Editor with 10 years of experience in translated literature, focusing on Mandarin and Cantonese works. Expertise in preserving the original tone and cultural nuances, ensuring translations resonate with English-speaking audiences. Collaborated with acclaimed authors from China and Hong Kong, contributing to over 30 translated novels. Committed to bridging the gap between Eastern and Western literary worlds through meticulous and sensitive editing."

Read the full editor resume example here.

Education Resume Summary Examples

#62. professor resume summary.

"Distinguished Professor with 15 years of experience in higher education, specializing in Modern Literature. Published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and 3 books, receiving the Excellence in Research Award twice. Secured $500,000 in research grants and led multiple international academic collaborations. Committed to fostering critical thinking and research skills in students, enhancing the academic prestige of the department."

Read the full academic CV example here.

#63. Teacher Resume Summary

“Dedicated Teacher with 4 years of experience in elementary education, specializing in innovative teaching strategies. Implemented a project-based learning approach that increased student engagement by 30%. Eager to bring creative teaching methodologies and a passion for educational excellence to School ABC, contributing to student development and academic success.” 

Read the full teacher resume example here.

#64. Tutor Resume Summary

“Experienced Tutor with 2 years of expertise in mathematics and science, adept at simplifying complex concepts. Consistently helped students improve their grades by an average of one full letter grade.”

#65. College Student Resume Summary

"Proactive College Student majoring in Business Administration with strong leadership skills, demonstrated through roles in student government and the debate team. Organized multiple campus events, enhancing student engagement and participation. Seeking to apply organizational and communication skills in a professional internship, contributing to company projects while gaining hands-on experience."

Read the full college freshman resume example here.

#66. High School Student Resume Summary

"High School Student with 3+ months of experience as a cashier. Excellent time-management and communication skills. Actively involved in extracurricular activities, demonstrating strong teamwork and responsibility. Looking to join Retail Store X as a part-time sales representative."

Read the full high school resume example here.

Other Resume Summary Examples

#67. architect resume summary.

"Professional and creative architect with 10 years experience in developing construction drawings, 3D models, and doing design rendering. Served as a project architect at company X and won an honorable mention as a staff architect at XYZ Construction Awards 2023."

Read the full architect resume example here.

#68. Electrical Engineer Resume Resume Summary

"Electrical Engineer with 4 years of experience in power systems and automation. Holds a Master's in Electrical Engineering and a certification in PLC programming. Proven expertise in designing and implementing efficient electrical solutions for industrial applications."

Read the full electrical engineer resume example here.

#69. Interior Designer Resume Summary

"Creative Interior Designer with 3 years of experience, recognized for increasing client satisfaction by 30% through innovative design solutions. Portfolio includes residential and commercial projects, with a focus on modern and sustainable designs. Skilled in AutoCAD and 3D visualization, transforming client visions into reality."

Read the full interior designer resume example here.

#70. Construction Project Manager Resume Summary

"Construction Project Manager with a decade of experience in overseeing large-scale commercial and residential projects. Proven track record of completing projects on time and within budget, reducing costs by 20% on average. Skilled in team leadership and effective communication. Committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality."

Read the full construction project manager resume example here.

#71. Operations Manager Resume Summary

"Dynamic Operations Manager with 2 years of experience in streamlining processes for increased efficiency. Expertise in supply chain management and cost reduction strategies."

Read the full operations manager resume example here.

#72. Event Planner Resume Summary

"Seasoned Event Planner with 5 years of experience, successfully organized over 100 corporate and private events. Increased event attendance by 40% through innovative marketing strategies. Excited to bring expertise in event coordination and vendor relations to XYZ Celebrations."

Read the full event planner resume example here.

#73. Warehouse Worker Resume Summary

“Seasonal warehouse worker with experience working for Supermarket X and Supermarket Y. Diligent, organized, and very hard-working. Previous experience working in the service industry for 2+ years.”

Read the full warehouse worker resume example here.

#74. Welder Resume Summary

"Skilled Welder with 7 years of experience in MIG, TIG, and arc welding. Proficient in reading blueprints and maintaining high standards of safety and quality."

Read the full welder resume example here.

#75. Real Estate Agent Resume Summary

"Experienced Real Estate Agent with 6 years in residential and commercial property sales. Achieved a 25% year-on-year increase in sales volume. Known for excellent negotiation skills and a deep understanding of market trends."

Read the full real estate agent resume example here.

#76. Flight Attendant Resume Summary

"Dedicated Flight Attendant with 1 year of experience, fluent in Spanish and French. Excelled in providing top-notch customer service, contributing to a 15% increase in passenger satisfaction. Fluent in English, French, German, and Arabic. Eager to bring customer care expertise to Airline XYZ."

Read the full flight attendant resume example here.

#77. Paralegal Resume Summary

"Paralegal with 3 years of experience in corporate law, proficient in legal research and document drafting. Certified in legal software applications, enhancing case management efficiency."

Read the full paralegal resume example here.

#78. Social Worker Resume Summary

"Compassionate Social Worker with 6 years of experience in child and family services. Successfully managed caseloads of up to 50 people, improving service delivery by 20%. Skilled in crisis intervention and developing tailored support plans for diverse case needs."

Read the full social worker resume example here.

Resume Summary FAQs

Do you still have some questions about resume summaries? Check the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

#1. How Do You Write a Resume Summary with No Experience?

If you have no work experience whatsoever, you should write a resume objective instead of a resume summary.

A resume objective is also a brief paragraph that goes at the top of your resume. However, instead of focusing on your professional experience and accomplishments, it highlights your career goals, aspirations, skills, and academic achievements.

If you have any informal experience that’s relevant to the job, such as volunteer work or relevant coursework , you can still write a resume summary to highlight why you’re a great candidate.

#2. How Do I Start My Resume Summary?

The best way to start your resume summary is by writing down your job title and exact years of experience. You can also add an adjective that describes your strongest character traits or work ethic.

To make this easy, try this formula:

[Adjective/character trait] [job title] [your experience]. Looking to help/support/apply/assist/etc [employer’s name] [describe how you can be of help to the company]. [Your top achievements/qualifications]. 

#3. How Long Should My Resume Summary Be?

The resume summary should be brief and attention-grabbing. Ideally, it should be between two and four sentences long.

Its goal is to provide a snapshot of your career that can captivate the hiring manager into reading more.

If you want to give the employer more details and elaborate on why you’re the best candidate for the job in your own words, you can also write a cover letter to complement your resume.

#4. Should a Resume Summary Be Written in the First or Third Person?

As a general rule, your resume should avoid using first-person pronouns . This includes your resume summary.

That said, the third person sounds too impersonal – as if somebody else wrote the resume summary instead of you. Luckily, there’s a neat trick you can use to make your text flow better—just get rid of the pronouns altogether.

This way, instead of writing, “She is a marketer with 5+ years of experience in XYZ,” you can write, “Marketer with 5+ years of experience in XYZ,” and get your point across just as effectively.

#5. Should You Always Use the Same Resume Summary?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t use the same resume summary when applying to different jobs.

Your resume summary should be tailored to the specific job ads and reflect how you can meet the company’s unique needs. If your current resume summary can be applied to different job applications, it isn’t as effective and tailored as it should be.

When writing your resume, go through the job ad for the specific position and try to include the skills or qualifications the employer is looking for. Make sure to also mention any relevant experience and your top achievements, and you’ll have the perfect resume summary.

#6. What Are Other Names for a Resume Summary?

Across the internet, you might find different names for what we’re calling a resume summary in our article. Some of these names include:

• Resume profile
• Career summary
• Personal statement
• Qualifications summary
• Summary of experiences
• Summary of qualification

If you’re heading for a career in academia, a “personal statement” means something different. Check out our detailed guide to writing an academic personal statement to learn more!

Key Takeaways

And that’s our full guide to writing a resume summary!

Hopefully, now you feel more confident about adding this finishing touch to your resume.

Before we go, let’s recap everything we covered about writing resume summaries:

• A resume summary is a two to four-sentence long paragraph that tells the hiring manager your key selling points. These can include your years of experience, exact job title, relevant skills, qualifications, and impressive achievements.
• If you don’t have any work experience, you can opt for a resume objective instead. This way, you can focus more on your professional goals and motivation for applying.
• The goal of a resume summary is to catch the hiring manager’s attention. Do this by tailoring your resume summary to the job ad and addressing what the company needs in a candidate.
• Back up your achievements with data whenever possible. Mentioning the exact numbers, dates, and results makes you seem more credible.
• Use power words and action verbs instead of generic descriptions to make your resume summary pop.

Need more career advice? Check out our career blog for more useful articles!

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Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

Resume Summary Statements

What are they and how to write them?

To  write a winning resume for your perfect job , you need to master the skill of writing an unforgettable  resume summary statement  that promotes your candidacy.

As another  optional introduction to a resume , the  summary statement , fairly similar to a  qualifications summary , is a short paragraph made up of 3-4 sentences that helps candidates  grab the attention of a hiring manager by highlighting their most relevant professional qualities  including qualifications and experience.

Other names given to the summary statement are  resume profile, professional profile or career summary . Whatever you choose to call it, this  brief but concise introduction  is an excellent opening to a professional job application, and knowing  how to write an effective summary statement for a resume  could be just the trick to earn you the interview you’ve been waiting for.

The following guide will give you the  tips you need to write an outstanding resume summary statement.  It will help to understand what to include, what to avoid and  how to market your resume  from the very beginning of your search for your ideal job.

How to write a resume summary statement

Just below the contact information on a resume, all aspiring candidates should start by  including a short but detailed introduction which is tailored to fit the position  offered and emphasizes the applicant’s unique core competencies.

One way to ensure that you  customize the resume summary statement for your specific vacancy  is by researching not only the company but also the competition and their  job advertisements to find suitable keywords and qualifications  that the position requires or would be desirable. Mentioning your experience with these aspects will demonstrate your preparedness for the role.

When learning  how to write a summary statement for your resume , remember that you must keep the text focused by asking yourself the question, “ why am I the right candidate for this role?”  in just a few short sentences, you must answer this question by producing your best career achievements and stressing your extensive experience and knowledge.

Tips for writing a summary statement

Need a little  help writing a summary statement for a resume ? Don’t fret, we have just what you need with these expert tips on creating a winning resume summary statement.

• Your  resume summary statement  will be null and void if you do not take advantage of the opportunity to  include keywords taken from the job description  to pass any ATS tests and correctly tailor your resume to the job on offer.
• Give yourself a title  such as  ‘Graphic Designer’  or  ‘Purchase Manager’  to begin your summary statement.
• Write the resume summary using impersonal phrases avoiding the use of personal pronouns  such as ‘ I ’ or ‘ me ’ and write in the present tense, unless using specific examples: This will encourage the reader to envision you as part of their team.
• Remember to  focus your summary statement on the company  in question and emphasize the aspects of your professional profile that they require and characteristics that will be profitable to the business.
• If you can  add a quantifiable aspect to your summary statement , you will increase your memorability factor with the reader; Try including your years of experience or a percentage increase that you have influenced.
• If you’re struggling for skills or qualifications to focus on, or examples of accomplishments,  take a look at professional profiles of people in your field  to get inspired.
• Careful with name dropping , it is essentially a  useful marketing tool  that attests to authority but needs to be used correctly and  never abused by mentioning confidential clients .

Do  not list responsibilities or tasks in your summary statement  that you have done in previous positions if you do not want to do them again or did not like them!

This will only convince recruiters that these duties are part of your specialized area and you promote yourself as being passionate about them.

With these tips and an  online resume builder , you’ll have  all you need to create a winning resume with a captivating summary statement  to help you land the perfect job for your profile.

Difference between a Resume Objective and a Summary Statement

Jobseekers often  confuse resume summary statements with resume objectives , so we wrote a guide to tell the difference between the two possible introductions.

There are  two key differences between a resume objective and a summary statement  which are vital to consider if you’re debating which introduction to give your resume:

• Although both possible resume introductions are short paragraphs of 3-4 lines describing aspects of the candidate, you will find that the focus of these sentences is not the same. That is to say, the  content of a resume objective emphasizes the interests and aims of a jobseeker , indicating the skills and goals that define that particular candidate.
• Whereas, a  summary statement highlights an applicant’s experience, qualifications and demonstrates to prospective employers what he or she can bring to the role .

The  resume objective  is no longer preferred by resume experts and generally candidates are advised to use one of the other possible resume  introductions to best showcase their professional profile  and attract the attention of hiring managers.

A  good summary statement can make a big difference  to the reader and done right can help you stand out in the application process.

However if you feel it would be more suitable for your application, do not hesitate to check out our guide to  how to write a resume  objective for tips and professional advice.

Neither the summary statement nor the resume objective is the appropriate place to mention any career gaps  whether due to unemployment or personal circumstances. These situations can be explained later either in a  professional cover letter  or during a job interview.

When should you use a Resume Summary Statement?

Who should use a summary statement on a resume?  Where should a summary statement be on a resume? Find the answer to these questions to create a winning resume.

A  summary statement on a resume  is one of the best ways to demonstrate to a potential employer that you are the perfect candidate for the position and the company you’re applying to, by  including specific examples of your contributions  and how you have helped develop or transform businesses in previous jobs.

This eye-catching statement should therefore be placed at the  top of a resume  in the so-called  ‘prime real estate’  area just after the contact information.

A  resume summary statement  is the best choice for  professional jobseekers  who have  some or extensive experience in their industry .

On the other hand, a  resume objective  tends to be more beneficial to  first-job applicants ,  students  or candidates who are just leaving school,  graduates  and for entry-level positions.

The type of jobseeker who is expected to  write an effective summary statement  to entice the hiring manager is an  executive-level or upper level employee  such as managers, senior positions, directors and candidates who demonstrate a  steady career progression  in one field or area of expertise.

If you have any specific  achievement which you think should be mentioned on your job application , you should  include it in your resume under the summary statement  heading as a point of interest as part of your unique professional profile.

• Have you managed famous client accounts or landed an exceptional number of new customers?
• Did you implement any new programs or renovate working practices?
• Have your ideas or activities saved the company money or improved profits?

Finally, when  writing a summary statement for your resume , it is essential to  customize it every time you send a new job application . This means researching each company and position well and including the achievements, experience and qualifications which are relevant to each one.

If you do not know  how to start your resume summary statement  you can choose a  resume template  or work from an  online resume creator  to find examples and suggestions to  write an effective resume introduction .

Resume Summary Statement Examples

Here you’ll see a few  examples of summary statements for different professional profiles  which demonstrate how you should go about writing your resume summary statement to  impress a potential employer  and convince them to call you in for an interview.

The aim is to  get to the point as clearly and professionally as possible,  using brief sentences detailing the main reasons you would be the perfect fit for the vacancy, thus demonstrating  why the company should hire you .

Human Resource Manager Summary Statement Example

Enthusiastic human resource manager with 8 years experience using HR metrics, organization charts and coordinating recruitment, employee relations and various company events. Strong organizational and strategic planning skills with a confidential profile who uses initiative to resolve employee issues and creates an agreeable working environment. Managed team of 10 HR assistants in large multinational.

Customer Service Representative Summary Statement Example

Motivated bilingual customer service representative with 15+ years of experience and exceptional client relations, interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral in Spanish and English. Efficient team player dedicated to problem solving and specializing in offering services and products, addressing consumer needs. Proficient with CRM systems and highly organized to ensure constant accurate record keeping. Expert in client retention and growth having increased customer accounts by 40% in a year.

Accountant Summary Statement Example

Accurate and versatile accountant with 10 years experience and MBA in Accounting & Finance with expertise in payroll, financial analysis, budgeting, taxation and auditing legislation with Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification. Excellent attention to detail and organization skills to ensure error-free, well-documented records, ledgers and forecasts. Employs most up-to-date software and technology to control and analyze accounts and expenses.

Another surefire way to  build a winning resume is to use an online resume maker  which will give you professional resume advice for each step.  Improve your chances of landing a job interview  by reading more on  ResumeCoach  about how to write each resume section.

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30 Resume Summary Examples + How to Write One in 2024

• Understand the Resume Summary
• When to Use a Resume Summary
• How to Write a Summary
• 30 Resume Summaries
• Resume Summary Recap

It’s the backbone of your job hunt, but it can be frustrating to figure out what goes into a good resume .

And one of the murky areas that hopeful applicants wrestle with is whether to include a summary or objective statement in their resume. When every bit of space on your resume is invaluable, how do you know when a summary or objective is essential?

If you’re already a pro, head to our  easy-to-edit resume tool  to build your resume before moving on to making a cover letter , or you can customize the resume below. Otherwise, join us, and we’ll clear away the confusion and give you 30 summary statement examples you can make your own.

Real Estate Agent Resume

What is a Summary on a Resume?

The summary of your resume should give a quick “snapshot” of your best qualifications, which you’ll later emphasize and quantify with your skills and experience. Your summary offers an overview of which qualifications make you the perfect fit for the job:  So, focus on the highlights of your career.

You want your summary to emphasize your  history of accomplishments and excellence , leveraging that information to demonstrate how you’ll benefit the company and enhance the position for which you’re applying. Your summary should be attention-grabbing and immediately show why you’re the ideal hire!

Is a resume summary the same as a career objective?

You may wonder whether a resume summary and a  career objective  serve the same purpose—and whether they’re interchangeable. There’s plenty of overlap between resume objectives and summaries, thus muddling the waters. 

These key differences will help you simplify and clarify a confusing topic:

Summaries are great if:

• You have extensive, quality experience
• You’re staying within your field or branching out to something similar
• You have some impressive metrics to share

Objectives are better if:

• You’re a new graduate
• You’re changing careers or breaking into the field

Wait! Is the summary the same as a summary of qualifications?

The lesser-known summary of qualifications is not quite the same as a resume summary! While your summary should describe your qualifications and relevant history in a couple of concise sentences, a summary of qualifications is more technical and usually presented in a bulleted list. The summary of qualifications lets you work in some ATS-friendly keywords and then dazzle a recruiter with metrics, accomplishments, and skills.

It’s usually recommended to keep your list of qualifications to three to six bullet points, limiting each to one or two lines. But this format eats up space on your resume quickly! So, it’s best to replace your resume’s summary or objective with a summary of qualifications if you have a long, complicated history of experience in your field and need to emphasize the highlights of your background at a glance.

Know When to Use a Resume Summary

A resume summary is  often best suited to applicants with 10+ years of experience, although standalone accomplishments  can  be equally powerful . 

If you’ve achieved an unusual level of expertise or racked up an impressive list of accomplishments during a shorter time, consider including a summary!

Our simple  free resume templates  make it easy for you to add or remove information and manipulate sections for personalization without affecting the overall layout of your resume. If you work with a resume template through a word-processing program, like the creative  Google Docs resume templates  we designed, making edits can throw everything off kilter, often causing you to start from scratch to correct the problem.

Indicators that a summary would fit nicely on your resume:

• You’ve worked long enough (10+ years) that you should condense the highlights of your career
• You have an eye-catching list of accomplishments and quantifiable achievements
• You’ve worked with big-name companies or prestigious projects
• You’ve advanced quickly within your field during an unusually short time

If the list above feels intimidating, circle back to the original question of whether a summary enhances your resume.

Indicators to exclude the summary & let your skills & experience speak for themselves:

• You’re a new graduate who hasn’t had time to build much experience 
• Your previous work experience has been somewhat run-of-the-mill
• Your background and qualifications look somewhat generic or bland once written 
• You haven’t had many opportunities that resulted in quantifiable achievements

If you can relate, your resume will be strongest if you drop the summary entirely. Instead, lead with your skills and emphasize dependability, ambition, and potential in your experience section.

How to Write a Resume Summary

If you’re bracing yourself for the process of honing your summary, don’t worry! It’ll be a breeze if you follow our tried-and-true formula and keep our handy tips in mind as you write.

Follow our resume summary formula

The process is as easy as: X + Y + Z = Attention-snagging summary!

X = Your characteristics and personality traits Y = Years of experience and quantified success/results Z = How these results apply to the specific job role

Consider this resume summary for a programmer:

You can pinpoint each element when you break this summary down:

X = Inquisitive, driven, and eager Y = 8+ years of experience, a client base of 100+ people, and a savings of 725+ manual hours Z = Specific programming skills like Python and jQuery that will enhance performance within the position

Our best resume summary tips

Now, we’ll unpack some tips to help you nail down the perfect summary to jumpstart your resume:

• Summary length:  Limit your summary to two or three sentences.
• Keywords:  Consider job-specific keywords that the ATS scans for as well as keywords that will hook recruiters.
• Quantify your claims:  When you list accomplishments and achievements, back them up with hard facts! Data like improvement percentages, customer satisfaction metrics, and client base numbers will boost your credibility.
• Tailor summaries to specific positions:  You never want your summary to feel generic, so look for specific requirements in the job description that you can respond to with relevant details from your own experience.
• Grammar and mechanics:  Proofread carefully for spelling and punctuation errors, and keep a close eye on grammar. It’s also ideal to avoid informal contractions and opening sentences with “I.” Your summary should immediately spotlight your professional value—so keep sentence structure concise and use “my” when presenting your skills.

Don’t worry if this is a little overwhelming at first glance!  Save your summary for last,  even though it appears first. Once your other sections are fine-tuned, it’ll be easier to pinpoint choice details to fill in the formula and complete your perfect summary. (And who says you have to nail your summary the first time you write it?! Go through as many iterations as you need when you  outline your resume .)

The good, the bad, and the ugly resume summary

So, what do these concepts look like in action? Take a look at this example of an excerpt from a digital marketing manager’s job description:

As a digital marketing marketer, you will plan, oversee, manage, and implement our brand’s digital marketing campaigns. You will:

• Plan each digital marketing campaign and delegate tasks in a team setting
• Oversee and evaluate the quality of digital marketing materials
• Analyze campaigns and identify how to improve performance

What kind of summary works for this job description? We’ll take it from bad to best.

I graduated with a marketing degree last year and did lots of group projects. I know how to structure a market campaign and read analytics.

Why it’s ugly:  There’s zero personality here. The claims are not only weak and vague, but there’s nothing quantifiable to back them—let alone any indication of managerial skills. Even though the summary addresses some details from the job description, they’re too generic. 

My degree in marketing makes me a great fit for this position. I can use my communication and analytical skills to help your team create great ad campaigns. I’m also familiar with Google Analytics and LinkedIn and have worked with several teams.

Why it’s bad:  While this summary addresses skills and teamwork experience more effectively, the tone still lacks the gusto that most managerial roles require. The first sentence takes up space while offering too little information, and the second two are redundant and unenthusiastic.

Ambition, creativity, and a BA in marketing empowered me to gain 6+ years of experience with a digital marketing team and boost website traffic by 67%. My proficiency in Microsoft Excel, SEO, and KPI tracking enable me to plan, create, and analyze advertising campaigns. My well-honed strategies and communication skills will elevate Nestlé USA’s marketing team to new heights.

Why it’s best:  This summary completes the formula! You can see personality, experience, and quantifiable claims coupled with the applicant’s skills that fit the exact job description. Dynamic, powerful verbs such as “boost,” “create,” and “empowered” also suggest this applicant is qualified for an advanced role.

30 Resume Summary Examples to Inspire You + Why They Work

You’ve got the basics down; now you’re ready to take inspiration from these 30 professional resume summary examples across different professions. As you check them out, keep our key formula in mind. Before you know it, you’ll have a starting point for your own incredible summary.

We begin many of these with a quick list of key points in the job description, so you can see how each summary is carefully customized to the role.

1. Accountant resume summary

Accountant job description  key points :

• Adept at creating and managing financial documents
• Maintaining ledger entries and monthly budgets
• Detailed error checking and problem-solving
• Auditing and document collection
• Mentorship and training skills

Accountant resume summary :

Why this resume works

• The applicant’s ambitious yet matter-of-fact personality is evident in a way that reinforces their desire to take an active leadership role in the accounting field.
• The solid metrics of a CPA certification and an improvement percentage also quantify the applicant’s selling points.
• And lastly, the focus is on more advanced skills instead of entry-level basics. 

Need more help? Our  accountant resume guide  and  accountant cover letter examples  have you covered from top to bottom.

2. Attorney resume summary

Attorney job description  key points :

• Adept with communication and navigating client consultations
• Familiarity with litigation and a strong ability to adapt to changing legislation
• Strategic, analytical thinking, and strong ethical problem-solving skills
• Preparing, customizing, and checking legal documents
• Forewarning clients of potential obstacles and helping them understand their options

Attorney resume summary :

• The candidate immediately demonstrates an ambitious personality alongside a quantifiable accomplishment.
• Next, the more in-depth set of abilities highlights a well-rounded approach to legal success—ending on a strong note with specific examples of how they’ll benefit the law firm.

If you need more guidance on your  attorney resume  or  attorney cover letter , we can show you the way regardless of your experience level.

3. Business analyst resume summary

Business analyst job description  key points :

• Analytical and quick, adaptive thinking patterns
• Basic IT abilities in Microsoft Excel, SQL, Google Sheets, and Agile Development
• Superior communication and interpersonal/soft skills
• Meticulous attention to detail with an ability to deliver precise reports/data and advice

Business analyst resume summary :

• The formula is all here—personality with a spotlight on skills that apply directly to the job position—and the applicant dives right into measurable achievements.
• While technical skills are touched upon, broader qualifications and personal traits that mesh with the company take the spotlight.

Take your career documents to the next level with comprehensive guidance on your  business analyst resume  and  business analyst cover letter .

4. Customer service resume summary

Customer service job description  key points :

• Impeccable communication, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills
• Flexibility, adaptability, and reliability
• Task organization and prioritization
• Personable and an affinity for welcoming customers/patrons
• Basic technical/computer skills while monitoring metrics and applying them to better meet company goals

Customer service resume summary :

• This summary would be ideal for a candidate looking to progress to a more managerial customer service role since it offers quantifiable results alongside a strong demonstration of a go-getter personality.
• The applicant also included their experience alongside relevant skills, finally tying everything in with the specific company’s goals.

If you’re  building your resume  for the first time, glancing through our  customer service resume  guide will steer you in the right direction before you transition to your  customer service cover letter .

5. Data analyst resume summary

Data analyst job description  key points :

• Analytical and strategizing skills
• Strong ability to identify trends and problems quickly
• Organization, planning, and communication
• Collaborative and team-based abilities
• Technical database management and basic understanding of key languages like Python and Oracle

Data analyst resume summary :

• A data analyst’s job is highly technical, so it’s ideal to dive right into metrics and list several hard skills in your summary.
• While you can still find personality traits and evidence of soft skills in a team setting, this summary is more focused on measurable, results-driven improvements that the applicant can provide.

You’re in good hands (this is not a plug for Allstate, by the way) with our  data analyst resume  guide if you need some solid examples. Chances are you’ll need a  data analyst cover letter  to go with your resume; we’ve got that handled, too.

6. Data engineer resume summary

Data engineer job description  key points :

• Technical skills like database and development programming languages
• Strong ability to develop, optimize, and maintain database software
• Attention to detail, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Advanced understanding of data pipelines and infrastructures
• Adaptive ability to support stakeholders and executive teams’ data infrastructure needs

Data engineer resume summary :

• As a data engineer, this applicant emphasizes leadership qualities, showing a desire for advancement with metrics to corroborate previous accomplishments.
• You can also see technical skills presented strategically to demonstrate the applicant’s skills in light of the job description.

Start your  data engineer resume  with the right  resume template  that speaks to you and your dream role. Besides a resume summary, know what else requires good writing? Yeah, your  data engineer cover letter .

7. Data scientist resume summary

Data scientist job description  key points:

• Second-nature understanding of the Scientific Method and algorithms
• Advanced ability to organize unstructured data and information
• Clear communication alongside translating large volumes of data into easily-comprehensible business insights
• Improve data quality and streamline/implement pricing models
• Integrate stakeholder input and collaborate on constant, adaptable business model improvements

Data scientist resume summary :

• This applicant demonstrates a driven personality with a highly analytical mindset and scientific background.
• You also get a realistic idea of how they’ll use their skills to produce quantifiable results—and benefit the company.

Looking for more resources? We can help you with the entirety of your  data scientist resume  and help you understand the nuances of writing a  data scientist cover letter .

8. Graphic designer resume summary

Graphic designer job description  key points :

• Attention to detail and a solid understanding of design theory for both print and digital applications (colors, typography, shapes, composition, etc.)
• Technical expertise with digital illustration/editing programs
• Understanding of marketing strategy, advertising techniques, and social media
• Excellent communication with clients and team members

Graphic designer resume summary :

• The candidate’s bright personality shines here, quite impactful for a creative field when backed by quantifiable examples of success.
• Teamwork abilities and experience with digital marketing also take center stage, demonstrating a balance between creativity and organized planning. 

Choose a  well-designed resume template  for your  graphic designer resume , and find a matching template to boost your confidence when it comes to your  graphic designer cover letter , too.

9. Human resources (HR) resume summary

Human resources (HR) job description  key points :

• A knack for facilitating communication between peers and departments
• Ability to update company policies, benefits, employee records, and payroll
• Proactivity when it comes to helping employees understand company policies
• Performance reviews, conflict resolution, de-escalation, and corrective action
• Assist with managing meetings and fostering employee communication and trust

Human resources (HR) resume summary :

• Soft skills are important in HR, especially when addressing sensitive topics, so this applicant’s focus on the personal side of company policies is wise.
• Even so, they still supply a strong metric for previous success and specify how their traits would fit the job position.

Don’t miss our complete  HR cover letter guide , and we share what works and what doesn’t on the rest of your  human resources (HR) resume .

10. Nursing resume summary

Nursing job description  key points :

• Fast, effective communication and task implementation
• Collect patient data such as medical history, current conditions/medications, and updates
• Critical thinking and decision-making abilities regarding when to treat patients vs. when to consult doctors/supervisors for guidance
• Organizational skills and ability to interpret patients’ information, adhere to treatment plans, adjust treatment plans as needed, and administer medications
• Tactfully and kindly discuss care options with patients and families

Nursing resume summary :

• This candidate’s caring, clear-headed personality shines, and they provide an empirical metric for their experience.
• Additionally, you can easily find specific examples of crucial skills that will help them perform efficiently in any fast-paced nursing position.

The roles are endless when it comes to the medical field, so make sure you’re on the right track with your  nursing resume  as well as when it comes to  writing your nurse cover letter .

11. Operations manager resume summary

Operations manager job description  key points :

• Excellent leadership and administrative capabilities
• Analytical thinking and organizational skills
• Ability to manage communication and efficiency among departments
• Adept at hiring, training, and optimizing schedules for employees
• Oversee/analyze production methods, performance, quality assurance, and related data, relying on Salesforce and Tableau

Operations manager resume summary :

• The applicant’s focused and driven personality is evident in the way they immediately showcase their lengthy experience and various aspects of their managerial prowess!
• You also see a success metric right away alongside technical skills aligned with the job description.

Your  operations manager resume  is sure to shine when you consider our  top resume tips ; then, you’ll be primed to write your  operations manager cover letter .

12. Product manager resume summary

Product manager job description  key points :

• Strong ability to analyze product quality from manufacturing to end-of-life
• Firm understanding of company goals and the ability to align products with those goals
• Superior communication and collaboration among cross-functional teams
• Skillfully interpreting data from Google Analytics and various other sources, leveraging it for improved production/distribution strategies
• Ability to analyze KPIs and identify areas for improvement

Product manager resume summary :

• As with any management-focused job description, the emphasis on strategizing and collaborative analysis here are ideal—and the technical skills balance out the interpersonal abilities well.
• The quantifiable improvement in feedback also strengthens this summary! 

Our  product manager resume  guide will ensure your resume is in tip-top shape from resume summary to  resume format . If you’re resume’s already a success, don’t forget about your  product manager cover letter .

13. Program manager resume summary

Program manager job description  key points :

• Planning, initiating, and implementing plans to achieve company goals and complete project portfolios
• Excellent management, leadership, and communication 
• Proactively motivate a team to carry out program activities
• Budgeting, organizational, and strategy-building skills
• Ability to analyze metrics of program success, such as KPIs and satisfaction rates, to identify areas for improvement

Program manager resume summary :

• Talk about detail! We can see several metrics here coupled with an energetic and goal-oriented personality.
• Additionally, these metrics and traits skillfully imply the exact set of abilities this job position requests.

Sail through the rest of your  program manager resume , and don’t forget to check it against our  AI-powered resume tool  before you draft the perfect  program manager cover letter .

14. Project manager resume summary

Project manager job description  key points :

• Excellent team management skills and a strong ability to facilitate collaboration and team cohesion
• Creativity and adaptability in project planning, budgeting, and implementation
• Ability to bridge the gap between project teams and company executives or clients to provide updates and results
• Organization, time management, and attention to codes and policy compliance
• Skillful preparation and management of briefing materials, progress tracking, and reports/reviews that can be leveraged for future improvements

Project manager resume summary :

• This job role is all about results, so leading with personality traits and metrics that support the candidate’s ability to yield these results is ideal.
• Accentuating what the applicant can offer this particular company is also a great move!

PMs, we see you! Peruse our  project manager resume examples  for support and inspiration, and sail through your  project manager cover letter , too.

15. Recruiter resume summary

Recruiter job description  key points:

• Excellent soft skills, including strategic communication. Ability to foster positive relationships with both applicants and staffing agents while managing client and candidate expectations
• Ability to gather information and quickly assess candidates
• Efficiency under pressure when working with high-priority or time-sensitive hires
• Strong ability to gauge talent/potential during interviews
• Develop/update job descriptions, requirements, proposed pay, and benefit plans

Recruiter resume summary :

• This summary concisely highlights the blend of personality traits and interpersonal skills that this applicant offers.
• The candidate still supplies a quantifiable example of their success and relevance, too.

You know all about the job hunt, but we get that you need help with your  recruiter resume , too. When it comes to  writing a resume  or your  recruiter cover letter , we’ll share all we know.

16. Sales resume summary

Sales job description  key points :

• Effective communication, persuasion, negotiation, and people-reading skills
• Ability to answer/field questions or find information quickly
• Time management and organization skills
• Preparing sales contracts, reports, and presentations
• Following up to ensure customer satisfaction, obtain payments, or promote new plans, services, or products
• Understanding and furthering company programs and specific sales objectives

Sales resume summary :

• You can witness plenty of beneficial personality traits here!
• Plus, the candidate’s experience is evident in the skills they highlight—and they specifically speak to the value they’ll offer the company.

Sell your career documents and snag your dream role with our resources for your  sales resume  and  sales cover letter .

17. Scrum master resume summary 

Scrum Master job description  key points :

• Excellent ability to lead, communicate, and collaborate with a team to meet goals while maintaining Scrum values
• Thorough understanding of Agile frameworks and ability to coach teammates in Agile
• Adaptability in fixing errors and problem-solving with strong recovery skills to keep the focus on sprint goals
• Use metrics and stakeholder/team feedback to ensure optimal product quality
• Organization, coordination, and task prioritization

Scrum Master resume summary :

• We clearly see experience, educational, and technical qualifications here.
• Personality shines through while demonstrating a clear understanding of the job role and, of course, everything ties in with the target company at the end.

Scrum Masters, we know you appreciate a logical and organized approach, so start by exploring our  resume examples  and diving into what works on the  best Scrum Master resumes . We can also teach you how to tackle your  Scrum Master cover letter  with ease.

18. Social media manager resume summary

Social media job description  key points :

• Familiarity with social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and the ability to maintain responsiveness on all channels
• Quick adaptability to changing social media/market trends and current events
• Adept at monitoring KPIs, SEO performance, and other metrics and assessing the effectiveness and potential improvements
• Ability to collaboratively plan and implement campaigns by creating, posting, and managing original content with the use of Hootsuite

Social media manager resume summary :

• It’s all there—experience, an ambitious, confident personality, credibility-boosting metrics, and highly relevant skills.
• The applicant also provides compelling insight regarding their approach to the company’s success.

As a social media guru, you have an eye for details, which is why you’ll appreciate our free and  creative Word resume templates  as you finish building your  social media manager resume  and writing your  social media manager cover letter .

19. Software engineer resume summary

Software engineer job description  key points :

• Engineering-focused educational background in math or computer science
• Technical experience with tools like C++, Java, Unix, database and cloud storage, etc.
• Strong ability to navigate, explain, and lead the entire software development lifecycle
• Solid understanding of the best software engineering practices with a focus on scalability, quick problem-solving, and information management
• Application infrastructure and design skills that mesh well with speed/optimization

Software engineer resume summary :

• There’s tons of personality here along with strong metrics that demonstrate the applicant’s skills.
• And while there’s a clear mention of technical skills, the strategic thinking of an engineer takes the spotlight, showcasing the ability to expertly handle advanced roles.

If your  software engineer resume  needs a facelift, consider one of our  free resume templates . Remember that your  software engineer cover letter  can make a great first impression.

20. Teacher resume summary

Teacher job description  key points :

• Supervisory and communication skills with the ability to process student feedback and customize lesson plans
• Ability to maintain leadership of the room and engage students with lessons 
• Planning and preparing lessons, assignments, and educational materials
• Updating grades frequently, providing thoughtful feedback, and modifying work for struggling students
• Provide insight, advice, and encouragement regarding students’ future career paths

Teacher resume summary :

• The conversational yet professional tone is ideal for a teacher delineating a diverse and adaptable skillset and backing it up with a quantifiable metric.
• The applicant’s best traits practically demonstrate themselves!

Along with your  teacher resume , your  teacher cover letter  should also be top of mind.

21. Server resume summary

22. Nanny resume summary

23. Data Entry resume summary

24. Marketing resume summary

25. Teacher Assistant resume summary

26. Caregiver resume summary

27. Social Worker resume summary

28. Dental Assistant resume summary

29. Front-End Developer resume summary

30. Web Developer resume summary

Resume Summary Recap & Your Next Steps

You’ve made it to the end, but don’t feel too overwhelmed or get lost in the weeds while striving to pinpoint the best parts of your experience and skillset to include in your summary! Return as often as you need to the summary examples above, and don’t hesitate to draw inspiration from our  resume examples . 

When you start writing your summary, keep our formula in mind:

X + Y + Z = Success!

X = Your characteristics/personality Y = Experience and quantified success/results Z = How your accomplishments apply to the specific role

Carefully read every job description while you search, and tailor your resume summary to each listing. The extra effort and finishing touches will show!

Remember it’s easiest to write your summary once you’ve drafted the rest of your resume , so you can get crackin’ in our  resume builder  for an interactive, intuitive solution. And if you like the resume below, you can start customizing it right away. So, here’s to your success. We’re cheering you on! 

When crafting your document, be sure to include specific information from the job ad but only if you actually have that experience. Because the ATS will automatically search for appropriate keywords and phrases, you can readily find what employers are searching for in other resumes and the ad for the job you’re applying for. Also, look at other ads for similar positions to find industry-specific keyword information to include.

Senior Financial Analyst Resume

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How To Write A Resume Summary Statement (With Examples)

• How To Write A Resume
• Resume Skills Section
• Resume Objective Section
• Career Objective Section
• Resume Reference Section
• Resume Summary Section
• Resume Summary Example
• Resume Interests Section
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• How To List Publications On Resume
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• Study Abroad On Resume

A resume summary is a few sentences that explain who you are as a professional and why you’re the perfect fit for the position you’re applying to. It’s like having a hook on your resume to get the employer to keep reading. Resume summaries are also a summary of your career so that your employer has a snapshot of your experience.

If you’re considering adding a resume summary to your resume, want to rework a summary that you have, or want to change your objective statement into a summary, then you’ve come to the right place. Below there will be resume summary tips and tricks as well as several examples.

Key Takeaways

Tailor your resume summary statement to each position you apply for.

Your resume summary statement should focus on who you are as a professional — don’t try to fit in your entire resume.

Keep your resume summary statement to two to four lines long.

A resume summary statement is not the same thing as an objective statement.

What is a resume summary statement?

The benefits of a resume summary statement, how to write a resume summary statement, resume summary statement examples, the five w’s of a resume summary statement, resume summary statement vs. resume objective, final thoughts, resume summary statement faq, ask the experts.

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A resume summary, sometimes called a professional summary or summary statement, is a brief overview of your experience and skills at the top of your resume. It’s often written in the form of 2 to 4 sentences, but it can be bullet points.

Resume summaries are a way to give the employer a basic overview of your career and skills before they read the rest of your resume. That’s why it’s important to customize this section as much as possible for each job you apply to as a way to showcase how well you fit the position.

A resume summary statement can have several benefits, including making your resume stand out, capturing keywords, and putting key skills at the top. It may feel odd to include a pitch at the beginning of your resume, but remember that recruiters may read hundreds of resumes, which means that giving them the info upfront can help catch their attention.

Having a resume summary statement can help you by:

Making your resume stand out. Remember that recruiters spend their day reading resumes. A resume summary by itself may not be that remarkable, but a well-written and relevant one will show the recruiter that you paid attention and customized your application.

Using keywords. This is particularly important if the hiring company uses an ATS. Altering the summary at the beginning is a lot easier than altering your resume altogether, and it puts the keywords at the top.

Highlight key skills at the top. If there are certain skills that you want to draw the hiring manager ’s attention to, then putting them at the top in the resume summary is a way to do that. It showcases that you have relevant skills and experience right away, making you a more attractive candidate.

When writing a resume summary, you’re going to want to decide on a career title for yourself, research the company you’re applying to, and keep it brief. It’s important to remember that you’re selling yourself to the company you apply to, so your resume summary should make it clear why they should select you.

Follow our five-step method for how to write a resume summary statement:

Decide upon a title. This is the headline that sums you up. It’s pretty much the only part of your summary that is just about you. You should begin with a title that explains your professional identity, such as:

Marketing Writer

Sales Professional

Software Designer

Capitalize each word. It’s a bonus if your title genuinely matches the position. Be precise and be honest – if you just graduated with a degree in business, you’re not a business analyst yet.

Research the company and the position. It should go without saying, but you need to know as much about this position as possible.

Read the job posting again. What words do they use to describe the company, the position, and the right applicant? Try to include any prominent keywords and qualities.

Look at the company’s website. Match any characteristics that repeat across their pages. If you found the job posted on a third-party site, is the job listing any different in their careers section?

Peruse other companies’ listings for similar positions. Similar traits should be desirable in similar positions. Don’t be shy about borrowing some of the terms and phrasing in other want ads.

Keep the summary brief. The average hiring manager will spend a matter of seconds glancing at a resume before they decide how to act. You want to make sure that it’s not a large block of text they’ll be tempted to skip over for an easier-to-digest snippet. Your resume summary should be:

Four to six bullet points

Two to four sentences

Show how you’d be an asset. The job market is a seller ’s market these days, so you need to make a quick, convincing case for why they should choose you.

Do not turn it into an objective statement by ending with something like “I hope to secure a ______ position with your company”.

List certifications, skills, and experience you can bring. Do your best to highlight ones that are relevant to the position. Not all of them need to be, though, so long as they showcase other valuable skills, such as diligence, attention to detail, or communication.

Mention relevant duties. There’s not a lot of space in the summary, so you want to make sure that what you put in it catches the recruiter’s eye. Mention duties that you were assigned that you’ll be doing in the new job – especially if it was something you excelled at.

Reference the rest of your resume. Try to list skills and traits that have supporting evidence in the rest of your resume. Look over what duties you performed at your previous jobs, as well as what commendations you received, and reference those in your summary.

Don’t steal your job descriptions’ thunder or be redundant, but think about anything you may have left over that didn’t make its way into the rest of your resume.

Have you streamlined a process and saved money? How much?

Do you have any achievements of note that you intend to repeat in this new position? Which?

Did you take any projects from inception to fruition? Did they add any value?

Some things to avoid. With a section this short, what you don’t put in it is almost more important than what you do. Here are some things to make sure you don’t put in your resume summary statement.

Lies or exaggerations . It can be tempting to inflate your qualifications, especially if you haven’t been getting any responses to your applications. But the consequences of this are greater than the gain, so be sure to avoid it.

Summarizing your whole resume. Despite the fact that it’s called a resume summary, it’s really a summary of you, not your resume. Don’t try to stuff everything in your resume into it – that’s what the resume itself is for. Just highlight your best and most relevant skills and qualifications.

Buzzwords. While including buzzwords in your resume itself isn’t inherently bad, getting too buzzwordy or using hackneyed terms in your summary is unlikely to catch the reader ’s attention, so they just take up space.

Things you hate doing. You may be very skilled at tasks that you really dislike. If that’s the case, don’t put them in your summary. While you want to highlight your qualifications, you also don’t want to set yourself up to be assigned to do something that you despise.

Marketing Writer Example

A creative and experienced writer combines a background in technical writing and journalism with expertise in medical writing to deliver quality, customized content in diverse content media – public relations , content marketing, web content, and software manuals. Reliably meets deadlines and thrives in an agile, quick turnaround environment while providing sales support and client-oriented projects.

Administrative Office Coordinator Example

Adaptable, reliable, and expedient with more than three years of experience supporting managers and leadership in fast-paced workplaces. Versatile skills include human resources , recruiting, customer relations, project management, and administrative support . Expertise in managing online communications platforms and multiple phone lines.

Mergers and Acquisitions Executive Example

A tested leader of international holding companies offers 10 years of expertise in developing proven growth strategies, mentoring both individual representative and team leaders in product benefits and client service techniques. Also known for creating engaging marketing campaigns that capture markets in a variety of verticals. Effectively improves profits and losses reports through innovative Mamp;A operations.

Recent College Graduate Example

Dedicated Statistics major with proven mathematical and actuarial abilities. Graduated with a 4.0 GPA and award for Exceptional Research Project. Diligent Junior Actuary for XYZ Consultancy – increased efficiency of risk reports by 9% in first three months.

Sales Representative Example

Driven sales manager with over 6 years of experience driving profitability through team leadership, strategic growth, and process improvement. Increased customer satisfaction team-wide by an average of 4% annually while increasing sales by 22%.

Project Manager Example

Project manager with 10+ years of experience managing software projects, coordinating teams of 100+ subcontractors, and allocating and analyzing budgets. Managed a project budget of $20M while reducing costs by an average of 13% year-over-year.

Business Analyst Example

Highly-trained business analyst with more than 4 years of experience in business management, computer services, and order processing. Monitored accuracy of business process ordering, increasing efficiency by 12% from implementation to execution.

Customer Service Position Example

Customer service professional with a commitment to customer satisfaction while upholding corporate goals and branding.

Teacher Example

Spirited elementary school teacher with over ten years of childcare, tutoring, and teaching experience. Organized new curriculum and standardized test preparation, increasing reading scores by 8% in one year.

Retail Manager Example

Energetic retail associate with 6+ years of experience driving customer traffic and engagement through product knowledge and a friendly demeanor. Efficient in training customer service teams to provide the best experience for shoppers and staff.

College Student – English Example

English Literature student with leadership and academic training at the University of Rhode Island. Expertise in social media platforms and Microsoft Office. Proven experience in research projects, time management, and organizational skills with a background in office administration. Able to provide employers with administrative support and professional communication skills.

College Student – Biology Example

Biology major with demonstrated skills in research activities and clinical experiments. Blends academic training with lab management experience from Boston College. Incorporates administrative experience in an office setting to provide employers with proven scheduling, communications, and organizational expertise.

You might be wondering about the who, what, when, where, and why of a resume summary statement. Resume summary statements can add additional polish to your resume, but you need to make sure you understand the resume summary’s purpose and how to write a good one.

What is a resume summary statement? A resume statement summary is more or less just a few well-worded, targeted sentences that sum up your skills and experiences. Think of it as a shortened cover letter or a written elevator pitch .

Where does a resume summary statement go? At the top of your resume, just under your contact information. The purpose is to quickly grab the hiring manager’s notice as soon as they begin reading.

Why do I need a resume summary statement? To make sure the reader gets the gist of who you are as soon as possible. Imagine you’re a hiring manager skimming dozens of resumes – kind of like a jobseeker skimming dozens of resume templates.

Some employers run resumes through screening software , so this is an opportunity to stick some keywords in that don’t mesh with your job description bullet points.

Who needs a resume summary statement? A well-written resume statement can be to everyone’s benefit, so having one is generally recommended. However, there are certain instances where they’re more useful than others. Such as:

If you’ve got a lot of experience in your field, it summarizes your achievements .

If you’re making a change in industries, it ties together your experiences.

If you’re just starting out, it explains how your academic experience is relevant .

When don’t I need a resume summary statement? Resume statement summaries aren’t technically required, so it isn’t as though you can’t get away without one. If you’re struggling to craft an engaging and relevant summary statement, then it may be better to omit it altogether and make use of the space in some other way.

Some people may benefit from a resume objective statement instead. If you don’t have much experience to offer, for instance, you may be better off talking about what you’re looking for rather than what you’ve done.

While there are a lot of similarities between resume summary statements and resume objectives, they aren’t the same. The way that they’re written and the purpose of them differ. Resume summary statements summarize your career and achievements in a few sentences, while an objectives statement talks about what you want to achieve.

So, you may be wondering: Is a resume summary statement or a resume objective statement better? The answer: it depends. Resume objective statements are considered old-fashioned by some nowadays, so it’s likely better to go with a resume summary statement. But that all depends on if you can write a good one.

Here’s an example resume objective

Copywriter seeking an opportunity to draw upon my skills in editing, graphic design, and content strategy to help increase company website traffic and drive B2B and B2C content engagement.

Resume objectives focus on your career goals and interest in the job you’re applying for. This is why there’s an argument that those who limited experience or who are changing career fields are better served by a resume objective.

A resume summary statement, on the other hand, looks like this:

Accomplished copywriter with over five years of experience in digital marketing, content strategy, and graphic design. Have increased organic search traffic by 43% year-over-year for the past three years through engaging B2B and B2C content.

Resume summary statements are focused more on your skills and experience, which means they’re more focused on selling you to the employer. That’s why in many ways they’re preferred by experts now, as emphasizing your skills is a way to show how you’ll be an asset to the recruiter’s organization.

Does that make a resume summary statement inherently superior ? Not necessarily. Different recruiters will be looking for different things. Some experts even just recommend putting a list of skills at the top of your resume as a way to showcase your abilities.

Which one you choose to use will depend on the circumstances and how well your resume summary statement comes out. An unengaging or flat resume summary statement isn’t going to be better than a strong objective, a list of skills, or even just using more space in your experience section.

A resume summary statement is a very short section at the top of your resume that can make a big impact on recruiters and hiring managers.

Whether you’re a job seeker with plenty of impressive and relevant experience or a recent graduate with hardly any, a resume summary statement puts your accomplishments front and center.

Taken together with a stellar cover letter , your resume summary statement allows employers to understand your professional experience more thoroughly.

Remember to make small adjustments to your resume summary statement depending on the employer and the job description .

With a tailored resume summary statement, you’re sure to get called for interviews more often.

How long should a resume summary statement be?

A resume summary statement should be about two to four lines long. Your summary should be short and to the point because it’s designed to grab readers’ attention, not bog them down with a list of every job you’ve had or your reasons for choosing your career.

Should I write a resume summary?

Yes, you should write a resume summary. Unless you have very little experience and can’t write a good resume summary, it’s generally a good idea to include one on your resume.

A solid resume summary sets your resume apart from the rest and gives hiring managers a sense of what you bring to the table right off the bat.

What’s an executive resume summary?

An executive resume summary is another name for a resume summary. Hiring managers may request an executive summary if you’re applying for a high-level or executive position.

They do this because having a summary of your experience makes it easier for them to sift through your extensive work history to find the most important pieces.

Columbia University for Career Education – How to Write a Resume Profile or Summary Statement

University of Arizona – Writing a Resume Summary Statement

What’s a quick resume tip?

Tonia Derkos Professional Resume Writing

My tip is to get rid of objectives — employers don’t care about your objective, they only care that you can fulfill their objective.

Instead, have a profile highlighting key strengths, skills, and accomplishments with concrete examples, such as percentages, goals achieved, and a proven track record of success.

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David Luther was the Content Marketing Editor for the Zippia Advice blog. He developed partnerships with external reporting agencies in addition to generating original research and reporting for the Zippia Career Advice blog. David obtained his BA from UNC Chapel Hill.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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• Resume Summary Statement

How to Write a Resume Summary Statement

This is a step-by-step resume writing article will walk you through how to write a resume summary. This article is intended for new job seekers, teens, students, and recent graduates.

Knowing how show off your skills and abilities in a professional summary is an advantage that will help you get hired faster.

This article will cover:

• Where a resume summary belongs in a resume?
• How long your professional summary should be
• What job seekers should list in a summary
• Resume summary FAQ

Where Does A Resume Summary Go In A Resume?

Your resume summary should be the first thing hiring managers read when looking at your resume.

To make your resume summary the center of attention, it needs to be placed directly below your name and contact information.

Try using the true red resume template which has a clearly defined resume summary section already in place.

How Long Should A Resume Summary Be?

There is no hard and fast rule for resume summary length. But most HR experts agree that it should be between one to four sentences.

What To List In A Professional Summary

Now that we know how long your resume summary should be and where to place it, let’s discuss the content your resume summary should contain.

If you need more summary inspiration, check out this list of 30 realistic resume summary examples if you have no experience or limited work experience here!

Sentence #1

The first sentence of your resume summary will include a strong adjective to describe yourself, the position you are applying for, and your level of education. Let’s check out these examples:

Personable entry-level restaurant hostess currently pursuing a bachelor of science degree in biology from EdgeWater University.

Passionate entry-level cashier possessing an associate of arts degree from EdgeWater Community College.

Hardworking entry-level landscaper who recently obtained a GED certification.

Sentence #2

The second sentence of your resume summary will dive into the hard and soft skills you possess. Here are some examples:

Strong verbal and written communication skills combined with a hardworking attitude.

Strong computer skills, including experience with MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Adobe Creative Suite.

Strong time management and organization skills.

Sentences #3 & #4

After describing your skills, the next one or two sentences will focus on your achievements, volunteer work, certifications, or interests. Check out these examples:

Previous experience volunteering in local homeless shelters practicing food service and customer service.

Possesses a CPR and first aid certification.

Passionate about aeronautics, technology and science.

Resume Summary FAQ

Let’s answer the most common resume summary questions that job seekers ask.

Q: What is a resume summary?

A: A resume summary, also known as a professional summary, is the section of your resume that gives the hiring manager a brief overview of who you are professionally, what you have done in the past, and what your relevant skills are.

Q: How long should a resume summary be?

A: A resume summary is written in paragraph form and should be 1 to 4 sentences in length.

Q: Where does a resume summary go on a resume?

A: The resume summary should come directly after your name and contact information.

Q: Should a resume summary be written in first or third person?

A: Your entire resume, including the resume summary, should always be written in third person. Avoid writing ‘I’, ‘My’ or ‘We’.

Q: What should you include in your resume summary?

A: Your resume summary should include a descriptive adjective, your desired job title, and your level of education. Your achievements, certifications, and interests are also optional.

Q: Should you always use the same resume summary?

A: No! A resume summary should be tailored for each job application.

Q: Can I include my personal hobbies in my resume summary?

A: Avoid writing your personal hobbies in your resume summary unless they are relevant to the job you are applying for.

In most cases, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know that you love riding your bicycle or that you love playing video games…. unless you are applying for a video game tester or to the circus, of course.

Don’t miss our related article on what to list on your resume when you have no work experience or limited work experience here !

15 Amazing Resume Summary Statement Examples for Job Seekers

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

Updated 6/9/2022.

What is the best way to start my resume? How do I get the attention of the hiring manager? Is there something specific I should be doing? These are questions we have all asked ourselves at one point or another. Fortunately, there’s mainly one answer: use a resume summary statement.

So, how do you create an amazing professional summary for a resume? Well, looking at some outstanding resume summary examples is typically a good place to start. If you want to make sure your resume is in the best shape possible, here’s what you need to know about the resume summary statement.

Understanding the Resume Summary Statement

So, what exactly is a resume summary statement? Well, according to the folks at The Balance Careers :

“A resume summary statement is a brief list or a few sentences at the top of your resume (after your contact information) that highlights your qualifications for a job.” That’s a good way to look at it.

And, what about the purpose of a resume summary? Well, they go on to add that resume summaries allow “the person reviewing your resume… to view your most important attributes at a glance.” In the end, that’s really what it’s all about.

A resume summary statement is similar to an objective statement in that it is a quick way for a job seeker to catch a hiring manager’s attention by summarizing critical information in an easy-to-read format. Now, a “Resume Objective” and “Resume Summary Statement” are two very different things and should not be confused. However, they serve a similar purpose, acting as an introduction.

Resume statements essentially are just a few short, well-worded, well-targeted sentences that summarize your skills and experiences. Sometimes called “Qualification Summaries” or even just “Competencies,” these two or three sentences can, when done right, give you a real advantage in the hiring game.

You may be wondering, “Why do I need a resume summary when they can just read my application?” Well, mainly because hiring managers may receive dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes.

In the end, hiring managers don’t have time to read every application word-for-word. Instead, they skim key areas looking for the right details, giving each resume an average of just six to seven seconds of their time before making an initial determination.

Usually, the resume summary statement is a part they always read. It showcases the best of what you have to offer, giving them critical insights upfront. That’s why getting your professional summary for your resume right is essential.

How to Write a Great Resume Summary Statement

So, how do you write a great resume summary statement? Well, as with much of your job search, it all begins with research. You need to make sure that you’re maximizing your potential, so the more you know, the better.

The goal is to get your statement distilled down into two or three laser-focused sentences that the hiring manager will consider relevant. To make that happen, go back and look at the job you’re applying for and determine your target audience. Re-read the job description, keeping your eyes open for key phrases and words.

• Who are they looking for?
• What do they want that person to bring to the table? What value can they provide?
• What would l look for in a hire if I were the one posting this job?

Once you identify those things, it’s time to figure out how you fit into them.

What are your top selling points? Find three or four things that define you as a professional, are unique to you, and involve skills you enjoy using. If you include things you’re good at but hate doing, you could find yourself only attracting interest on jobs that leave you stuck doing them again.

After that, see if you can identify any problems this position solves. Can you showcase value in that specific area?

As your summary starts to take shape, compare it to the job description and the company’s mission and values. How does your summary align with what the company is after? Keep rechecking as you adjust, ensuring it’s really on point by the time you’re done.

Now, there are also things you shouldn’t put in your statement. For example, proficiency in software that practically everyone knows – like Microsoft Office – isn’t ideal in your resume summary. Similarly, certain cliché adjectives, like ‘results-oriented,’ ‘hardworking,’ ‘innovative,’ and ‘motivated’ are also no-nos.

Now that we’ve looked at what to include and what NOT to include, it’s time to start writing your own resume summary examples.

Start out your statement by being specific! Make sure it’s tailored to not only the position but the company as well. Are you applying to five jobs? You should have five objective statements. Ten jobs? Ten statements, and so on.

Focus on how you’re a benefit to the company, not how the company can benefit you. Keep it valuable; make sure you point out what you bring to the table. Also, keep it short and sweet.

Finally, always open your statement with your title (or, for recent graduates, your degree earned). Why? Because you want to let whoever is reading the resume know at a glance exactly who they’re dealing with.

Remember, there are lots of people applying for these jobs, and the last thing you want to do is get lost in the shuffle. Plus, if the job is specifically looking for someone to fill a role and you’re already doing that role at another job, you’ve just ensured that the hiring managers take a second look at your resume!

Resume Summary Examples

Are you looking for more inspiration? Here are a few resume summary statement examples that you can use as a starting point.

Just remember, don’t use them verbatim. You want to tailor these statements to the needs of the company you are interviewing with, and you can’t do that if you use these word-for-word.

Still, these resume summary examples will get you moving in the right direction. Here are 15 examples of a professional summary for a resume, each aligned with different careers and various experience levels.

1. Newly-Minted Nursing Assistant

Certified nursing assistant with training in vital sign monitoring, patient examinations, wound dressing, patient records, and phlebotomy. Graduated at the top of the class, passing the exam with a score in the top 1%. Completed internship in a fast-paced, local clinic, offering exceptional patient care and consistently exceeding expectations.

2. Recent Engineering Graduate

Engineering Graduate with leadership training and experience with academic training at the University of Montana. Proven skills in project management, organization, and research with a background in office administration and organization. Able to provide employers with administrative support and professional communication skills.

3. Restaurant Shift Lead

Shift lead with 3+ years at a fast-paced, high-end dining restaurant with proven leadership capabilities. Experience overseeing teams of 12+ in a high-energy, customer-focused environment. Skilled at schedule management, conflict resolution, and adapting to ever-changing priorities.

4. Digital Marketing Professional

Digital marketing specialist with 2+ years of experience working at a high-volume firm focused on consumer food products. Skilled at creating content across several leading platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Helped launch TikTok for an emerging beverage brand, securing 10,000 followers in just three months. 

5. Administrative Office Manager

Current Administrative Office Manager. Versatile, reliable, and efficient with 8+ years of experience supporting managers and executives in high-paced environments. Diversified skills include client relations, human resources, recruiting, project management, and administrative support. Excellent phone and digital communication skills.

6. Call Center Representative

Call center representative with 4+ years of experience in a high-volume environment, handing upward of 100 contacts daily. Supported both sales and technical support departments, securing an average customer satisfaction rate of 92% across both areas.

7. IT Specialist Pivoting to New Field

Proven IT Specialist with experience in start-ups as well as established operations leveraging expertise in organization, computer networking, and problem-solving to provide exceptional user support and assistance in resolving conflict. Experience includes managing sensitive materials and providing after-hours support for clients.

8. Architectural Project Coordinator

Architectural Project Coordinator with over fifteen years of experience. Versatile, bilingual professional with management experience ranging in size from small private projects to full-scale multi-million-dollar high profile corporate construction projects. Ability to oversee and manage hundreds of individuals while ensuring timely completion of project deadlines, all while remaining on or under budget.

9. Recruiter

Recruiter with 8+ years of experience in a large industrial environment with fluctuating, seasonal needs. Organized and coordinated large-scale hiring events, securing 20 new hires for seasonal positions in just three days. Overall time-to-hire reduced by 56%, while new hire quality improved by 31%.

10. Sales Manager

Experienced sales manager in the retail industry with strengths in customer service, sales, and negotiations. Proven skills in marketing, advertising, product integration, and promotions. Successful in developing strategies that have resulted in an over 20% increase in new customers. Instrumental in developing an incentives rewards program with a repeat customer success rate of over 45%.

11. Warehouse Manager

Reliable warehouse manager with 12+ years of experience overseeing operations and supervising teams of 10 or more. Leadership, coaching, and delegation skills. Certified heavy equipment operator, including forklift and scissor lift.

12. Project Manager

Project Manager with 10+ years of experience specializing in web production, education publications, public outreach, and consumer packaging. Professional, creative, and flexible with proven analytical skills. Adept at researching and crafting award-winning marketing campaigns for a wide variety of clients and products.

13. Data Analyst

Data analyst with 6 years of experience providing data-driven insights, creating critical reports, and supporting strategic operational objectives. Adept at both written and verbal communication, including explaining complex technical information in a simplified manner. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Analytics.

14. Social Worker

Bilingual licensed social worker with more than 9 years of experience focused on geriatric care, serving as an advocate while providing counseling, coordinating care, and supporting families. Managed average caseload of 32 clients, collaborating with a multi-discipline team to ensure positive outcomes and provide holistic care.

15. Sales Department Executive

Sales executive with 11+ years of leadership experience. Rejuvenated underperforming department, boosting sales by 82% within 12 months. Strategic-minded and action-oriented, adept at finding scalable solutions designed to promote revenue growth and reduce expenditures.

Putting It All Together

So, there you have it. Use the tips and resume summary examples above to create the perfect start to your application. Just remember that the most important thing for you to do is spend the time researching the company you are interviewing with and tailor your summary to the company. That way, you can stand out as an exceptional candidate.

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In it you'll get word-for-word sample resume summaries covering a variety of positions you can use right away .

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Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

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Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

Content writer resume summary examples.

Approved by hiring managers, here are proven resume summary examples you can use on your Content Writer resume. Learn what real hiring managers want to see on your resume, and when to use which.

• Content Writer
• Blog Writer
• Content Strategist
• Content Writer and Editor
• Content Writer, E-commerce
• Content Writer, Healthcare
• Content Writer, Tech
• Freelance Content Writer
• Junior Content Writer
• Senior Content Writer
• Content Writer resume templates
• Similar summary examples

Content Writer Resume Summary Example

Display your storytelling prowess.

Emphasizing your ability to construct compelling narratives showcases your skill as a writer. It implies you understand how to engage readers, maintain their interest, and drive them to action.

Highlight your leadership capabilities

Managing a team of writers not only shows that you can lead, but also that you can collaborate with others. It adds a dimension of interpersonal skills to your profile that many recruiters look for.

Showcase your strategic thinking

Delivering comprehensive content strategies reflects your capability to think big picture. It demonstrates your understanding of how content fits into a broader marketing strategy.

Advertise your versatility

Experience across various types of companies indicates adaptability. It shows you can handle different work environments and adjust your writing style to suit a company's unique needs.

Underline your technical skills

Mentioning your SEO strategies highlights your ability to write content that performs well online. It shows you understand the digital landscape and can drive web traffic effectively.

Blog Writer Resume Summary Example

Variety of writing experience.

Mentioning that you've authored over 300 blog posts in various industries portrays your versatility as a writer and your ability to adapt to different topics and tones.

Traffic boost

By stating that you contributed to a 20% increase in blog traffic, you're showing that your writing attracts readers. This highlights your understanding of how SEO works and your ability to create engaging content that readers want to consume.

CMS proficiency

Referencing your experience with WordPress and other CMS platforms demonstrates your technical skills and highlights that you're not just a wordsmith, but also savvy with the essential tools of the trade.

Content calendar management

Managing content calendars shows organizational skills and an understanding of content scheduling and planning, which is key in maintaining a consistent and effective content strategy.

Teamwork with marketing

Coordinating with marketing teams indicates your ability to align your writing with promotional efforts, demonstrating a strategic mindset that goes beyond pure content creation.

Most resumes don't make it past the first round of screening. Our tool analyzes your resume and provides actionable insights to help you get noticed by hiring managers. Get an instant score and find out how to improve your chances of landing an interview.

Content Strategist Resume Summary Example

Demonstrate your strategic thinking.

Devising and executing content strategies shows your ability to think strategically. It signals your understanding of how content fits into larger business objectives and your ability to plan effectively.

Quantify your impact

Increasing website traffic speaks volumes about your capability to drive results. It's a concrete demonstration of your effectiveness and your understanding of digital marketing.

Highlight your leadership abilities

Managing a global team of content writers showcases your ability to work with diverse teams. It indicates your leadership skills and your ability to handle cross-cultural dynamics.

Showcase your data-driven approach

Creating data-driven content plans shows you make decisions based on data, not just gut feelings. It indicates you understand the importance of data in driving content strategy and can use it effectively.

Prove your SEO expertise

Implementing successful SEO strategies clearly shows your understanding of SEO. It's a testament to your technical abilities and your capability to navigate the digital landscape effectively.

Content Writer and Editor Resume Summary Example

Showcase your organizational skills.

Oversight of content production indicates your ability to coordinate complex projects. It shows you can manage time and resources efficiently to achieve objectives.

Demonstrate your leadership

Managing an editorial team showcases your ability to lead, mentor, and manage others. It indicates you can handle responsibilities and function well in a leadership role.

Highlight strategic initiatives

Developing and implementing a content strategy shows your strategic thinking capabilities. It suggests you can see beyond individual pieces of content and understand how they fit into a larger goal.

Showcase your adaptability

Experience in fast-paced environments suggests you can handle pressure and adapt quickly. It indicates you're comfortable with change and can keep up with demanding schedules.

Quantify your editorial experience

Editing a large number of articles reflects your eye for detail and understanding of language and style. It shows you can improve content quality and maintain consistency in voice and tone.

Content Writer, E-commerce Resume Summary Example

Product description prowess.

By stating that you've produced over 500 product descriptions, you show your ability to craft persuasive and concise narratives that effectively sell products, a critical skill in e-commerce writing.

Sales impact

Noting a 30% increase in sales tells potential employers that your writing has a direct impact on bottom-line results. This makes you a valuable asset to any e-commerce team.

Narrative crafting

Narrative crafting is a powerful tool in e-commerce content. By collaborating with marketing and design teams, you're showing your ability to weave engaging stories around products, which can dramatically enhance their appeal.

Fast-paced environment experience

Revealing your experience in a fast-paced e-commerce environment signals your resilience, adaptability, and ability to cope with high levels of stress and tight deadlines.

Exceeding targets

Consistently meeting tight deadlines and exceeding sales targets shows your commitment to excellence and your results-oriented mindset, a trait highly appreciated by employers in any industry.

Content Writer, Healthcare Resume Summary Example

Domain expertise.

With 150 healthcare-related articles under your belt, you're showing deep understanding and experience in the healthcare domain. Employers value industry-specific knowledge and expertise.

Traffic growth

Claiming a 25% increase in site traffic proves your content's effectiveness in driving engagement and visitors, a crucial metric for any online platform.

Accuracy emphasis

By coordinating with medical professionals to ensure content accuracy, you're showing your commitment to factual correctness and integrity, an essential trait for medical writing.

Industry experience

Pointing to your experience in the healthcare industry signals to employers that you're familiar with the regulations, jargon, and intricacies of the field.

Adherence to guidelines

Adhering to medical writing guidelines is paramount. It assures potential employers of your accuracy, dedication to quality, and respect for industry standards.

Content Writer, Tech Resume Summary Example

The power of numbers.

When you specify the number of articles crafted (200 in this case), it gives a clearer picture of your writing volume and efficiency. It's tangible proof of your hard work and dedication to your craft.

Quantifying impact

By indicating a 30% increase in readership, you provide quantifiable evidence of the positive impact you've had, making your value to future employers immediately apparent.

Alignment with marketing strategies

Highlighting your ability to work in tandem with marketing initiatives reflects your teamwork skills and your understanding of broader business goals beyond just writing.

Complex concept simplification

Expressing your ability to distill complicated tech concepts into understandable content is a vital skill in the tech industry. It demonstrates you're not just a writer, but a communicator.

Meeting deadlines

Mentioning your ability to consistently meet tight deadlines implies that you're dependable, efficient, and capable of handling stress. This is a valuable trait in any high-pressure environment.

Freelance Content Writer Resume Summary Example

Showcase your productivity.

Having produced a large volume of content shows your ability to consistently produce quality work. It's a testament to your discipline, creativity, and productivity.

Prove your SEO efficacy

Contributing to increased website traffic through SEO-optimized content helps demonstrate your understanding of digital marketing. It shows you know how to use SEO to drive online traffic and increase visibility.

Highlight your project management skills

Managing content projects from ideation to publication shows your ability to see a project through. It indicates your organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Demonstrate your reliability

Delivering content that consistently meets deadlines shows your reliability and professionalism. It shows employers that you're someone they can count on to deliver on time.

Quantify client satisfaction

Exceeding client expectations shows you're not just meeting the bare minimum. It indicates that you go above and beyond to deliver work that impresses your clients.

Junior Content Writer Resume Summary Example

Quantify your content output.

Stating the number of pieces you've written gives prospective employers an idea of your productivity. It shows you're able to consistently produce content, a valuable trait for a writer.

Demonstrate your effectiveness

Showing how your work contributed to an increase in organic traffic helps employers see the tangible results you can deliver. It proves your work drives results, making you a valuable addition to any team.

Highlight your strategic input

Assisting in creating content strategies shows your understanding of the bigger picture. It indicates your willingness and ability to contribute beyond just writing.

Demonstrate teamwork

Working closely with marketing teams shows that you understand the importance of collaboration in achieving business objectives. It adds a dimension of interpersonal skills to your profile that recruiters appreciate.

Showcase your SEO knowledge

Experience with SEO tools signals your understanding of how search engines work. It shows you can optimize content to improve visibility online, a critical skill in the digital age.

Senior Content Writer Resume Summary Example

Lead with your leadership skills.

Leading a team in a fast-paced environment shows that you can handle pressure and make quick decisions. It's a testament to your ability to manage teams efficiently under stress.

Quantify your achievements

By quantifying the amount of content you've produced, you provide concrete evidence of your output. It gives employers a clear idea of what you can produce and your ability to deliver on deadlines.

Emphasize strategic initiatives

Spearheading a content overhaul shows you're proactive and can take charge of large projects. It demonstrates strategic thinking and the ability to manage and implement change.

Display your impact

Quantifying your impact in terms of lead generation gives a clear picture of how your work translates into business results. It proves you understand the business implications of your role.

Show your cross-functional collaboration

Experience in cross-functional collaboration indicates that you can work well with different departments. It shows that you understand the need for alignment in a company's messaging across different channels.

Content Writer Resume Templates

Content creator.

Underwriter

Resume Summary Examples Similar To Content Writer Roles

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Resume Objective Examples Similar To Content Writer Roles

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Marketing Resume Summary Examples

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• > Marketing Manager Summary Examples
• > Social Media Manager Summary Examples

Marketing Resume Objective Examples

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• > Event Coordinator Objective Examples
• > Marketing Manager Objective Examples
• > Social Media Manager Objective Examples

Marketing Resume Guides

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• > Event Coordinator Resume Guides
• > Marketing Manager Resume Guides
• > Social Media Manager Resume Guides

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

Generate Your Resume Summary in Seconds

The AI Resume Summary Generator will write you tailored, position-specific summaries in a matter of seconds. Start generating resume summaries that showcase your strongest career wins in a way that will instantly grab the attention of future employers.

Write a Better Resume Summary with Teal

Write Impactful Summaries that Leverage Your Biggest Wins

The Resume Summary Generator condenses your experience in an impactful way so you can present an overview of your professional accomplishments.

Think of it like the trailer to the movie. Leveraging AI shows you which scenes to include to capture the recruiter or hiring manager's attention.

Immediately Grab the Attention of Hiring Managers

Take advantage of the most visible section on your resume to quickly make an impression.

Our Resume Summary Generator will help you sharpen your opening in a way that entices hiring managers to read further.

Start Tailoring Your Resume Summary to the Job

Every facet of your resume should be tailored to the individual position you're applying for. That includes your resume summary.

Simply match your resume to a specific job posting, then generate a summary to customize and align it with the needs of the role.

Your goal: to show the upfront value you can bring to the job.

Write a Resume Summary that Lands You an Interview

As you start the process of working through your resume and getting ready to apply for jobs, it's important to remember that certain parts of your resume will stand out and be seen more than others.

Your resume summary is one of the core sections that potential employers will see right away, so it's crucial to make sure you're seizing the opportunity.

Craft a summary that draws people in and gets them excited about your resume.

The Resume Summary Generator was created to summarize your most impressive, most relevant skills and experiences in a way that makes an enticing case for you as a candidate.

Use Teal to differentiate your resume with a summary that gains attention and helps you secure interviews.

How to Use the Resume Summary Generator

Import your existing resume into the resume builder.

Don’t have an existing resume? Import your LinkedIn profile, or easily build a resume from scratch in a matter of minutes.

The more career details you provide, the better your summary will be.

Update Your Work Experiences and Add Achievements

To get the most out of the Resume Summary Generator and emphasize your success in an impactful way, it’s best to include multiple achievements for the recent roles you’ve held.

If you haven't already, add 1-2 of your strongest achievements in each of the last 2-3 roles you've held in your career. Be sure to add metrics for maximum impact.

Generate Your Resume Summary with AI

Save the AI-generated resume summaries to your Teal Resume Builder.

When you tailor your resume later, you can toggle on and off the one you want to use and make updates if needed.

Review & Regenerate Your Summary

From here, you can make adjustments to your resume summary, add in any missing keywords you want to emphasize, or simply click "Re-generate with AI" to create a new professional summary based on the existing settings.

Teal lets you save unlimited summaries, in case you want to use different versions of your resume for different job applications.

What's Free & What's

• Unlimited Resumes
• Unlimited Resumes Templates
• Unlimited Job Tracking
• Top 5 Keywords
• 1 Email Template Per job stage
• Limited AI Usage for Resume Achievements (5), Professional Summaries (2) and Cover Letter (1)
• Basic analysis in the resume builder
• Basic Resume Keyword Matching
• Everything in Teal Free
• Unlimited Advanced Resume Analysis
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• Unlimited AI Usage for Resume Achievements, Professional Summaries and Cover Letter
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the Resume Summary Generator can be an excellent tool to strenghten the top half of your resumes and improve the overall quality of your job applications.

However, it's important to note that the quality of the summary output from Teal will depend on the level of detail that you include in your resume.

To improve the AI-generated summary, make sure to update and optimize your resume first. To maximize the quality, it's best to also attach your resume to a job description to get a customized professional summary tailored to that unique role.

The tool uses two sources of information to personalize your professional summary:

• Your Resume
• The Job Description of the position you've attached

As mentioned, to get your resume summary right, it should both align with your career history, and should be tailored to the needs and requirements of the role.

The Resume Summary Generator is designed to make this process seamless and efficient.

Yes, simply sign up for a free Teal account , and follow the steps outlined above.

You will be allotted 2 free professional summary AI generations in the free tier, and unlimited AI usage as a Teal+ member (along with many other benefits).

Better Resume. Faster Search. More Offers.

More From Forbes

How to use personal branding to supercharge your resume.

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Your resume is a professional document, but have you ever considered that integrating your personal brand into your resume could give you a competitive edge?

Personal branding can be a powerful tool that enhances your appeal, giving you the opportunity to connect with employers before you have even met them.

By showcasing a strong brand during the job search, you can increase your chances of standing out in an oversaturated marketplace.

Here's how you can develop your personal brand, reflect your unique skills and values, and make a truly irresistible offer in your resume.

Define your personal brand

It's a good idea to start by identifying what it is that makes you unique and therefore, an excellent candidate.

This doesn't just have to focus on the professional skills outlined in the job description. It should include your strengths, skills, values, and key characteristics.

Consider what it is that sets you apart from others in your field. Do you always bring a sense of humour to the workplace? Or are you that colleague who is always on hand to support others when they are struggling?

Your personal brand should also reflect your expertise, personality, and professional goals. So spend some time making notes and defining your brand before you begin.

This can make it much easier to inject personality into your resume.

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Apple ipad 2024 release date your final complete guide to what and when, katy perry met gala dresses go viral but they re ai fakes, craft a compelling resume summary.

Your resume should start with a compelling resume summary that is carefully crafted to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

This gives you the perfect chance to create a catchy summary that encapsulates your personal brand.

To do this, you should highlight the key skills that best align with the job, but also write in a tone and style which reflects more of your personality.

Instead of sticking to the usual corporate spiel, throw in some more conversational language to bring it to life and show that you really care about your work.

Share your biggest achievements and how they’ve shaped your career

Your resume is an opportunity to tell your story. It is your chance to showcase your professional journey by sharing key achievements that align with your personal brand.

By sharing examples of your skills and experience as anecdotes, such as specific projects you’ve completed, awards you've won, or big milestones you’ve reached, you can illustrate your passion and personality.

It’s also a good idea to back these stories up with facts and figures, highlighting tangible results and proving why you’d be a valuable asset to the company.

Showcasing a strong brand during the job search can increase your chances of standing out.

Think carefully about your design

The design of your resume is a great way to reflect some of your personal style, whether it's a simple slick corporate style or a modern graphic-focused layout.

You can take the opportunity to make some smaller changes that reflect your unique brand. For example, changing the color of your headings or adding a photo of yourself can really add life to your resume and help you get noticed.

But just be careful not to go too far and start adding design elements or color schemes that ruin it's functionality. Remember, your resume needs to be clearly structured, easy to read, and ATS-friendly.

Give insights into how you spend your free time

As well as your work experience, it’s a good idea to outline any volunteer work, local projects, or community days you take part in. These can help to really let your character shine through, as well as show off a range of transferable skills.

You might also consider adding a hobbies and interests section to give more insight into who you are and to show how you fit with the company culture. This can be a great way to show off your personal brand and what you like to do outside the workplace.

That being said, you should only add a hobbies and interests section to your resume if you have the space to do so without compromising on your experience and education sections.

It’s also best to include activities that are closely related to your career in some way or show transferable skills that are desirable in the workplace.

Let your authentic self shine through

It can be hard to inject personality into a resume as these tend to follow traditional structures and you need to make sure you’re ticking all the right boxes.

But through your use of language and authenticity your personal brand can come through on paper.

By using genuine and engaging language throughout and avoiding overused cliches and phrases, you can make your resume unique and reflect your personal brand, helping you to stand out from the crowd.

Continuously update your resume to reflect your journey

Finally, as your career progresses, it’s a good idea to revisit and update your personal branding and your resume to reflect any new values, experiences, skills, and goals you may have.

Your resume should always be a dynamic document that evolves alongside your professional journey.

So when you're ready to take the next step in your career, remember this and take into account the advice above. That way, you can seamlessly incorporate your personal brand into your resume and enhance your applications.

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Hush money trial judge raises threat of jail as he finds Trump violated gag order, fines him $9K

Donald Trump has been fined $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case.

El expresidente Donald Trump ante el tribunal penal de Manhattan antes de su juicio en Nueva York, el martes 30 de abril de 2024. (Justin Lane/Pool Foto vía AP)

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Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Victor J. Blue/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)

Former President Donald Trump leaves the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, NY, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Victor J. Bluel/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)

Former President Donald Trump leaves the courtroom following the day’s proceedings in his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)

Former President Donald Trump talks to reporters as leaves the courtroom following the day’s proceedings in his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)

Former President Donald Trump speaks with the media as he leaves the courtroom following the day’s proceedings in his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)

Eric Trump listens as his father former President Donald Trump speaks with the media leaves as he leaves the courtroom following the day’s proceedings in his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined $9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.

Prosecutors had alleged 10 violations, but New York Judge Juan M. Merchan found there were nine. Trump stared down at the table in front of him as the judge read the ruling, frowning slightly.

What to know about Trump’s hush money trial:

• Trump faces jail threat over gag order. Follow today’s live updates .
• A guide to terms used in the Trump trial.
• Trump is the first ex-president on criminal trial. Here’s what to know about the hush money case.
• Trump is facing four criminal indictments, and a civil lawsuit. You can track all of the cases here.

It was a stinging rebuke of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s insistence that he was exercising his free speech rights and a reminder that he’s a criminal defendant subject to the harsh realities of trial procedure. And the judge’s remarkable threat to jail a former president signaled that Trump’s already precarious legal standing could further spiral depending on his behavior during the remainder of the trial.

Merchan wrote that he is “keenly aware of, and protective of,” Trump’s First Amendment rights, “particularly given his candidacy for the office of President of the United States.”

“It is critically important that defendant’s legitimate free speech rights not be curtailed, that he be able to fully campaign for the office which he seeks and that he be able to respond and defend himself against political attacks,” Merchan wrote.

Donald Trump as he returns from a break during his trial at Manhattan criminal court, April 26, 2024, in New York. (Dave Sanders/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Still, he warned that the court would not tolerate “willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment.”

With that statement, the judge drew nearer the specter of Trump becoming the first former president of the United States behind bars.

“This gag order is totally unconstitutional,” Trump said as court adjourned after a day that included testimony from a Hollywood lawyer who negotiated two of the hush money deals at issue in the case. “I’m the Republican candidate for president of the United States ... and I’m sitting in a courthouse all day long listening to this stuff.”

Trump is used to having constant access to his social media bullhorn to slam opponents and speak his mind. After he was banned from Twitter following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by his supporters , Trump launched his own platform, where his posts wouldn’t be blocked or restricted. He has long tried to distance himself from controversial messages he’s amplified to his millions of followers by insisting they’re “only retweets.”

But he does have experience with gag orders , which were also imposed in other legal matters. After he was found to have violated orders in his civil fraud trial, he paid more than $15,000 in fines.

Trump also is subject to a gag order in his federal criminal election interference case in Washington. That order limits what he can say about known or reasonably foreseeable witnesses in the case and about court staff and other lawyers, though an appeals court freed him to speak about special counsel Jack Smith, who brought the case.

Tuesday’s ruling in New York came at the start of the second week of testimony in the historic case, which involves allegations that Trump and his associates took part in an illegal scheme to influence the 2016 presidential campaign by purchasing and then burying seamy stories. The payouts went to a doorman with a torrid yarn; ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal, who had accusations of an affair; and to porn performer Stormy Daniels, who alleged a sexual encounter with Trump. He has pleaded not guilty and says the stories are all fake.

Trump deleted, as ordered, the offending posts from his Truth Social account and campaign website and has until Friday to pay the fine. The judge was also weighing other alleged gag-order violations by Trump and will hear arguments Thursday. He also announced that he will halt the trial on May 17 to allow Trump to attend his son Barron’s high school graduation.

Of the 10 posts, the one Merchan ruled was not a violation came on April 10, a post referring to witnesses Michael Cohen and Daniels as “sleaze bags.” Merchan said Trump’s contention that he was responding to previous posts by Cohen “is sufficient to give” him pause on whether the post was a violation.

Merchan cautioned that the gag order “not be used as a sword instead of a shield by potential witnesses” and that if people who are protected by the order, like Cohen, continue to attack Trump “it becomes apparent” they don’t need the gag order’s protection.

Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, has said he will refrain from commenting about Trump until after he testifies. On Tuesday, he said in a text message to The Associated Press: “Judge Merchan’s decision elucidates that this behavior will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law.”

In other developments, testimony resumed Tuesday with a banker who helped Cohen open accounts, including one used to buy Daniels’ silence. Trump’s attorneys have suggested that the payments were aimed at protecting his name and his family — not influencing the outcome of the presidential election.

Jurors also began hearing from Keith Davidson , a lawyer who represented McDougal and Daniels in their negotiations with the National Enquirer and Cohen. He testified that he arranged a meeting at his Los Angeles office during the summer of 2016 to see whether the tabloid’s parent company American Media, Inc. was interested in McDougal’s story. At first they demurred, saying she “lacked documentary evidence of the interaction,” Davidson testified.

But the tabloid at the behest of publisher David Pecker eventually bought the rights, and Davidson testified that he understood — and McDougal preferred — it would never be published. Asked why American Media Inc., would buy a story it didn’t intend to run, Davidson said he was aware of two reasons.

“One explanation I was given is they were trying to build Karen into a brand and didn’t want to diminish her brand,” he said. “And the second was an unspoken understanding that there was an affiliation between David Pecker and Donald Trump and that AMI wouldn’t run this story, any story related to Karen, because it would hurt Donald Trump.”

As for Daniels, the October 2016 leak of Trump’s 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape — in which Trump bragged about grabbing women sexually without asking permission — had “tremendous influence” on the marketability of her story. Before the video was made public, “there was very little if any interest” in her claims, Davidson told jurors.

A deal was reached with the tabloid for Daniels story, but the Enquirer backed out. Though Pecker testified that he had agreed to serve as the Trump campaign’s “eyes and ears” by helping to squelch unflattering rumors and claims about Trump and women, he drew the line with Daniels after paying out $180,000 to scoop up and sit on stories. Davidson began negotiating with Cohen directly, hiked up the price to $130,000, and reached a deal.

But Daniels and Davidson grew frustrated as weeks passed and instead of the money, she got excuses from Cohen about broken computers, Secret Service “firewalls” and the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

“I thought he was trying to kick the can down the road until after the election,” Davidson said.

While Cohen never explicitly said he was negotiating the deal on Trump’s behalf, Davidson felt the implication was clear.

“Every single time I talked to Michael Cohen, he leaned on his close affiliation with Donald Trump,” Davidson said. Plus, he figured that Trump “was the beneficiary of this contract.”

The GOP presidential hopeful is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payments. The detailed evidence on business transactions and bank accounts is setting the stage for testimony from Cohen, who went to federal prison after pleading guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations and other crimes.

The trial — the first of Trump’s four criminal cases to come before a jury — is expected to last for another month or more.

AP AUDIO: Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him $9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial.

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Donald Trump is being held in contempt of court for violating a gag order in his hush money case.

___ Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

Trump trial highlights: Lawyer for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal takes the stand

What to know about the hush money trial.

• The fourth witness to take the stand today was Keith Davidson, who worked as an attorney for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal — the Playboy playmate who accused Donald Trump of having a monthslong affair. Trump has denied affairs with both women.
• Earlier in the day, the jury heard from witnesses who authenticated videos of Trump, including on the campaign trail and during a deposition.
• Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, another woman who accused Trump of having an affair. He has pleaded not guilty and denied a relationship with her.
• Court proceedings are set to resume on Thursday.

Outside courtroom, Trump repeats claims that gag order is 'unconstitutional'

Zoë Richards

Isabelle Schmeler

Speaking with reporters after leaving court this afternoon, Trump repeated earlier claims that Judge Merchan's gag order violates his constitutional rights.

"It’s totally unconstitutional," Trump said, adding that he was spending time in court instead of making trips to Georgia, New Hampshire, Ohio "and lots of other places" as part of his presidential campaign.

His comments come after he posted on Truth Social shortly before returning to court earlier this afternoon that Merchan "has taken away my Constitutional Right to FREE SPEECH."

Trump's legal team and prosecutors depart in contrasting fashion

As the Trump team strolled out, a single legal assistant struggled to exit under a pile of boxes and binders that everyone else left behind.

The district attorney's team left in a notably less glamorous fashion sharing the load, with even Steinglass, a two-decade plus veteran of the office, carrying his own bankers box and binder.

Court is done for the day, trial resumes Thursday

Gary Grumbach

Rebecca Shabad is in Washington, D.C.

Trial proceedings are done for the day.

Court will be back in session Thursday, starting with a gag order hearing at 9:30 a.m. ET. The jury is set to return at 10 a.m.

Dylan Howard told Keith Davidson to 'push for the cash'

One text presented from former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard to Davidson said, "Push for the cash. [David Pecker] and I just told him he has to pay the $150K."

Davidson said he thought that meant, “That I should try to get as much as I could, up to 150,000.”

Davidson said that the deal for Daniels changed from National Enquirer's parent company to Michael Cohen and his corporate entity.

"He says you are paying," Davidson texted Howard, referring to Cohen.

“Dylan tells me push for the cash, and then basically tells me to call Cohen. And then when I call Cohen he says I’m not paying anything," Davidson testified. "It's just one more snafu."

Prosecutors struggle to get Davidson to make direct Trump link to Cohen negotiations

Laura Jarrett

Davidson could be a useful witness to prosecutors because he helps explain the motivation to bury Stormy Daniels' story, but the DA's office has struggled to get him to bring Trump directly into his protracted negotiations with Cohen for weeks leading up to the 2016 election.

Prosecutor tries to get at how Davidson understood Trump would be paying

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is having a hard time asking Keith Davidson a question that Judge Juan Merchan will allow about how and why he understood Trump would be paying for the deal.

Steinglass notes that at one point Davidson paused when he was asked who he understood would be responsible ultimately for paying Daniels. Davidson responded that he found the question confusing.

Steinglass then asked whether during his dealings with Michael Cohen, Davidson understood how the deal would be funded. Davidson responded that he “had an assumption,” and Trump attorney Emil Bove interjected an objection, which Judge Merchan honored.

Davidson said 'it would be a tornado' if Daniels story got out

More text messages between Keith Davidson and Dylan Howard presented during the trial this afternoon reflected Davidson's belief, he said, that if Stormy Daniels' story got out, "it would be a tornado."

The texts also corroborated Davidson's testimony that he walked away not only from Michael Cohen but also from representing Gina Rodriguez, Daniels' manager, and Daniels herself. Davidson said he expected "there would be tremendous media activity around this story."

Court has resumed

The trial is back and Davidson is on the stand.

Former Trump aide Carter Page is in the courtroom

Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page is in the courtroom, seated in the last row.

Page was the target of a secret national security surveillance warrant executed by the FBI during the Russia probe. He was never charged with a crime.

Trial takes a break

The trial has taken a break until 3:50 p.m.

Davidson says he didn't believe Cohen was the source of the deal's funds

Kyla Guilfoil

The prosecution pushed Davison on whether he "ever believed that Michael Cohen was going to be the ultimate source of the funds" for the deal, to which Davidson responded, "Never. Never prior to funding."

Davidson went on to testify that he believed the money would be coming from "Donald Trump or some corporate affiliation thereof."  

Appeals court denies Trump's request for a trial delay

Days after the trial began, an appeal's court today denied Trump's request that the trial be delayed. Trump sought a delay because Judge Merchan refused to recuse himself, because he couldn't invoke a presidential immunity defense and because the judge made his team file motions with a delay to allow for redactions.

Keith Davidson email to Michael Cohen details delay of funds in Stormy Daniels deal

By Oct. 17, 2016, Keith Davidson emailed Michael Cohen at his  Trumporg.com  address with the subject line: “PP v. DD: Important.”

In the email presented during the trial, Davidson said, “My client informs me that she intends to cancel the settlement agreement if no funds are received by the close of business today.”

Davidson testified that Cohen gave him a series of excuses about not paying in a phone conversation. "The conversations didn’t leave me with a comfort level” that the settlement would be funded, he said.

Some of the excuses included the Secret Service setting up firewalls in their email system, the computers being “all f----- up,” and Cohen’s inability to reach Trump who Cohen said was in “4 or 5 different states today” and that he was “doing the best” he could.

Eric Trump listens as Davidson continues testimony on Cohen

Eric Trump is looking up at the screen showing the email between Cohen and Davidson about the side letter agreement as Davidson reads from it.

Davidson goes on to testify that Cohen insisted that only he could keep a copy of the side letter agreement, which Davidson acknowledges was highly unusual.

Davidson says pseudonyms were used in agreement for Daniels and Trump

Keith Davidson testified this afternoon that pseudonyms were used in the settlement to identify Stormy Daniels and Trump: Daniels was "Peggy Peterson" and Trump was "David Dennison." He said they used pseudonyms to ensure additional confidentiality, in case the contract was lost, misplaced or stolen.

Davidson said that he came up with the pseudonyms as stand-ins for the parties, and that he knew someone named David Dennison who was on his high school hockey team. “He’s very upset,” Davidson said, noting that his former teammate wasn't pleased about being associated with the agreement.

When asked by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass whose identities were meant to be protected, Davidson replied, "Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump."

Davidson testifies no one wanted to deal with Cohen

Davidson testified that when the deal between Dylan Howard, the former National Enquirer editor-in-chief, and Gina Rodriguez, Stormy Daniels' manager, fell through, Davidson was pressured into negotiating with Cohen.

"The story is no one wanted to talk to Cohen," Davidson testified.

“Gina approached me. She said, ‘Hey, we have this deal and it’s going to be the easiest deal you’ve ever done in your entire life, and it’s already been negotiated. All you need to do is pay for it and talk to that a------,'” referring to Cohen.

Keith Davidson says they needed to 'pad the deal' so he could get a cut

Jillian Frankel

Keith Davidson said when he took over negotiating the deal on Stormy Daniels' behalf — working with Michael Cohen after the National Enquirer backed out — that he "needed to pad the deal" by making the total larger.

"We needed to pad the deal. To compensate me now, because I was added to the deal. And Stormy and Gina weren’t going to take a discount for adding me," he testified.

Keith Davidson says 'Access Hollywood' tape had 'tremendous influence' on Daniels' story

Keith Davidson said that the "Access Hollywood" tape had "tremendous influence" on Stormy Daniels' story.

"I think before, before 'Access Hollywood' tape, there was very little interest from what I understand," he said.

After the tape resurfaced, Davidson said interest in Daniels' story "reached a crescendo."

"Trump is f-----," Davidson said in a text to Dylan Howard.

"Waive the white flag. It’s over people!" Howard said.

Davidson testifies about 'barrage of insults' in conversation with Cohen

Keith Davidson said that Stormy Daniels was a client who had been referred to him by Gina Rodriguez, Daniels' talent manager.

Asked if he spoke to Daniels during various encounters, Davidson said, “I think I had a brief conversation with Stormy and Gina ... but most of my conversations I believe were with Gina.”

He said that he sent a cease-and-desist letter for Daniels. "There was a blog post or a story posted on the website that stated that Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump had some sort of physical romantic interaction," he testified.

Davidson said he spoke to Michael Cohen by phone and "before I could even get my name out, I was just met with a hostile barrage of insults."

"I don’t think he was accusing us of anything, he was just screaming," Davidson said.

According to Davidson, Cohen thought the story was leaked by Daniels and Davidson said he was calling because Daniels didn't want the story published. He said he was successful and had the story taken down.

More testimony about ABC News trying to secure McDougal interview

Allan Smith

Davidson testified that as part of his negotiations with ABC News in possibly having it break the story of McDougal’s alleged affair with Trump, ABC News dangled the opportunity for McDougal to appear on a future season of “Dancing With the Stars.”

“It was discussed a lot,” Davidson said of McDougal appearing on a future season of the long-running show. “There was an inference that best efforts would be made that would happen. But it was never guaranteed. Best efforts were discussed.”

Davidson testified that Rhonda Schwartz, a producer for Brian Ross, was calling regularly to try to secure the interview.

Davidson ended discussions with ABC News after signing a catch-and-kill agreement with American Media Inc., the publisher of National Enquirer.

ABC News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Davidson said National Enquirer wanted to help McDougal and Trump by buying the story

The prosecution asked Davidson why he thought National Enquirer purchased the McDougal story if it didn't intend to print it.

Davidson responded that there were two goals: to help build McDougal up as a brand and to help Donald Trump by not exposing the affair.

He went on to say in his testimony that “there was an unspoken understanding” that there was a close affiliation between David Pecker and Trump.

Keith Davidson says married man identified in National Enquirer-McDougal deal was Trump

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Keith Davidson about the final deal signed by the National Enquirer parent company and Karen McDougal, which Davidson said was effective Aug. 5, 2016.

Davidson said one of the paragraphs said that it grants her life rights to the subject manager regarding an affair she had with a married man.

“Was there a particular married man you understood this to apply?” Steinglass asked.

"Yes," Davidson said. "Donald Trump."

Prosecutors show nitty gritty of deal negotiations for McDougal story

The prosecution is walking Davidson through a series of text messages where he appeared to be hammering out a deal for McDougal to be paid to keep quiet about her story.

One text that former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard sent to Davidson said, appearing to refer to Karen McDougal, "She’ll get more out of a deal with AMI than ABC and I’m happy to sign some sort of agreement that alleviates..."

Another from Davidson to Howard said, “Let’s try and wrap up Karen’s deal. She is getting repeated calls from Rhonda Schwartz.” She was a producer at ABC News.

"We are figuring out the mechanics of the deal already," Howard texted Davidson.

Davidson also texted Howard about then-AMI general counsel Cameron Stracher, “He wants me to call Cohen. U think that’s okay? I’ve been trying like hell to avoid that.”

Trump posts on Truth Social shortly after deletion of posts Merchan fined him for

Trump posted on Truth Social just minutes before returning to court Tuesday afternoon and less than an hour after other posts — which Judge Merchan had ordered to be deleted in accordance with his gag order — were taken down.

"This Judge has taken away my Constitutional Right to FREE SPEECH," Trump's new post read.

"I am the only Presidential Candidate in History to be GAGGED. This whole 'Trial' is RIGGED, and by taking away my FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THIS HIGHLY CONFLICTED JUDGE IS RIGGING THE PRESIDENTIAL OF 2024 ELECTION. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!" the post continued.

Texas AG Ken Paxton and Club for Growth's Dave McIntosh are in the courtroom

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Club for Growth President Dave McIntosh, a former congressman, are both in the courtroom. Paxton is an avid Trump supporter. And McIntosh, after opposing Trump in the Republican primary, backed his campaign earlier this year.

Court is back in session

The trial has resumed.

The posts that Merchan ordered Trump to take down are now gone

As of 1:24 p.m. ET, all of the Truth Social and campaign website posts that Judge Merchan ordered Trump to remove by 2:15 p.m. ET today have been taken down.

Merchan ruled this morning that the posts had violated Trump's gag order and fined the former president $9,000 — $1,000 for each offending post. The judge also threatened Trump with possible jail time if he continues to violate the order.

Court takes a lunch break

The court has taken a break for lunch. Davidson is expected to continue testifying once the trial resumes.

Davidson says one of McDougal's goals was to not go public with her story

Summer Concepcion

Davidson stressed that McDougal did not want to go public with her story, and he said that a competing deal with ABC would have forced her to come out and tell it.

Her goals included that she rejuvenate her career, make money and avoid becoming “the scarlet letter,” he said.

“Was AMI attractive because she would not actually have to tell her story?” Steinglass asked.

“That was one of her stated goals, and that would be in alignment with one of her very important stated goals," Davidson answered.

Analysis: Davidson is keeping his disposition monotone

Keith Davidson's disposition on the witness stand is notable. His speech is monotone, without a lot of elaboration and seemingly avoiding colorful language.

For instance, he called the alleged dealings between his client, Karen McDougal, and Trump a "personal interaction."

Davidson is looking at his own text messages and asked to explain the context surrounding events even he described as a "bombshell" at the time, but today on the stand, his voice pattern never changes — even when the subject is objectively eyebrow-raising.

Keith Davidson said in one text that McDougal was 'being cornered by the estrogen mafia'

In one text exchange between Keith Davidson and Dylan Howard, Davidson said, “Don’t forget about Cohen. Time is of the essence. The girl is being cornered by the estrogen mafia."

Davidson testified, “That was a very unfortunate, regrettable text I sent. That phrase is not one that I used or came up with. That was a term by one of, I think, one of Karen’s associates that was at the first meeting. And there was several women who were leaning on Karen to sign a deal with ABC.”

Trump campaign fundraises off of fine for violating gag order

Jake Traylor

The Trump campaign swiftly moved to fundraise off of the fine the former president received for violating Merchan’s gag order, sending an email this morning arguing that the fine is part of an effort to “silence” him.

“A Democrat judge JUST HELD ME IN CONTEMPT OF COURT!” an email from the Trump campaign this morning reads. “I was fined $9,000 for 9 gag order violations. THEY WANT TO SILENCE ME!

The email goes onto decry the gag order as an “undeniable election interference” effort and includes a link to contribute financially to his campaign.

Keith Davidson describes meeting in which McDougal alleged affair with Trump for 'several weeks to months'

Davidson said that by June 20, 2016, Dylan Howard texted him that he had landed and was en route to Davidson’s office, where they met with McDougal, Jay Giardina (her ex-brother-in-law), and a man named Johnny Crawford, a friend of McDougal's.

At that meeting, McDougal alleged she had had a romantic and sexual affair with Donald Trump for “several weeks to months” some years prior.

Davidson is detailing meetings and details we first learned about from David Pecker’s testimony, but with more details and from a different vantage point.

Text exchange between Davidson and Enquirer reporter revealed Trump and McDougal's affair

Keith Davidson testified that he had texted with National Enquirer reporter Dylan Howard, saying he had a "blockbuster Trump story," in June 2016.

Davidson testified that the story was about the interactions between Trump and Davidson's client, Karen McDougal.

Howard had responded to Davison, "Talk 1st thing, I will get you more than ANYONE for it. You know why..."

Davidson said he didn't know if he had a "clear understanding at the time" of Howard's text.

"But I knew that Dylan’s boss David Pecker and Mr. Trump were longtime friends and had a former business relationship," Davison continued.

"Mr. Pecker published Trump magazine, and at the time, AMI had announced, kind of announced explicitly that they had endorsed Mr. Trump’s candidacy," Davidson continued.  

Howard had gone on to text Davidson asking if Trump cheated on Melania Trump or if the affair with McDougal happened during his marriage with her.

Davidson had responded, "I really can’t say yet, sorry," in a text. He testified today that he hadn't been prepared to discuss the details at that point.

Prosecutor shows texts between McDougal's lawyer and Dylan Howard: 'Did he cheat on Melania?'

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass introduced text messages as evidence between Davidson and Dylan Howard the morning after Davidson told him that he had a "blockbuster Trump story."

"Did he cheat on Melania?" Howard asked Davidson. "Do you know if the affair was during his marriage to Melania."

"I really can't say yet, sorry," Davidson said.

"Okay keep me informed," Howard said.

Davidson says he won’t testify about his conversations with McDougal because of attorney-client privilege

Asked by Steinglass whether he discussed with McDougal that he was authorized to negotiate on her behalf with media companies, Davidson declined to detail his discussions with his client.

 “I can’t and won’t discuss what I discussed with Ms. McDougal,” Davidson said, drawing a firm line with respect to attorney-client communications.

Prosecutor begins questioning Keith Davidson about Karen McDougal

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Keith Davidson a few questions about how he knows Karen McDougal. He said he met her about 25 years ago and she was dating his friend.

Asked if he represented McDougal in the summer of 2016, Davidson said, “I represented her in order to provide advice and counsel ... regarding a personal interaction she had ... with Donald Trump."

Trump appears to fall asleep during testimony

Trump appeared to have fallen asleep while listening to testimony — at times appearing to stir and then falling back to sleep.

Trump's eyes were closed for extended periods and his head at times jerked in a way consistent with sleeping.

With reporters mostly stationed in an overflow room and relying on screens showing Trump at a distance, it can be difficult to totally discern the nature of Trump’s shut-eye. His eyes are closed — a lot — but determining whether or not he is actually asleep is particularly tricky given the circumstances.

Davison said he met Cohen after article about Daniels and Trump was published

After being questioned about how the pair met, Keith Davidson testified that he met Michael Cohen after Trump and Stormy Daniels' relationship had been publicized in 2011.

“In approximately 2011, there was an article published in a blog about my client and Donald Trump, and I had occasion to talk to Michael Cohen," Davidson said.

Davidson confirmed that that client was Daniels.

Davidson details his work in civil litigation

Davidson said he is employed by a law firm that he owns, Davidson and Associates, and specializes in civil litigation such as injury and media cases.

He said that he was involved in media cases from 2003 to 2017, and that he regularly worked on nondisclosure agreements from 2015 to 2017 through which parties agreed to not discuss certain subjects.

Davidson said he got immunity through his grand jury testimony but did not seek it.

He acknowledged knowing a talent manager named Gina Rodriguez, who primarily manages reality TV stars, and has known her for more than a decade. 

Prosecutors call Keith Davidson as their next witness

Prosecutors have just called Keith Davidson to the stand. He is the former attorney for both Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.

Davidson is a key player in the scheme and alleged conspiracy, but he's managed to stay under the radar since we first heard his name in relation to Daniels and McDougal. He was a key source for Dylan Howard.

Jurors watch videos of Trump's remarks, but without much context to understand why

Today, for the first time, the jury is watching videos of the former president in his own words, but without much context as to why.

This is the only way for the prosecution to get some of this evidence in at trial, but the jury doesn’t know that yet. Hard to know what they make of this.

Analysis: Trump Team's unwillingness to authenticate records is adding to the witness list

As Phillip Thompson takes the stand, he is now the second witness called solely for records authentication purposes.

The last guy — Robert X. Browning — came from Indiana, leading his employer, C-SPAN, to hire counsel. Now, it's clear Thompson's employer, Esquire Deposition Solutions, has also had to hire counsel and fly him out from Texas to serve as a witness in the trial.

All of this could have been avoided if Trump's legal team had been willing to acknowledge the C-SPAN videos and Carroll deposition transcript were authentic and enter into a simple agreement to that effect. Instead, we now see these two witnesses having to testify themselves to prove authenticity on records.

Prosecutors call Phillip Thompson as their next witness

Prosecutors just called Phillip Thompson as their next witness to the stand. He's from Montgomery County, Texas, and is in his eighth year working at Esquire Deposition Solutions, which supplies court reporters and interpreters.

He's the regional director of field operations.

Esquire Deposition Solutions acquired TSG Reporting, which transcribed Trump’s deposition in the E. Jean Carroll trial.

The defense had no cross-examination of Browning.

Prosecutors play clip from Trump rally in North Carolina

After Browning detailed how C-SPAN works, prosecutors played to the jury a clip of a Trump rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, when he discussed allegations of sexual assault.

“The stories are total fiction,” Trump says in the clip.

Trump trial providing lessons in how the media works

Ginger Gibson Senior Washington Editor

First, David Pecker testified about how his tabloid defied all journalistic principles and paid for stories — a practice media ethicists say is far outside the norm and not how journalism works.

Now, Robert Browning, who oversees the archive process at C-SPAN, is testifying how television networks log videos.

It's not the most compelling stuff about making television. But it is what television staff are constantly doing, making sure that video feeds are working properly and that future archives are able to find them by keeping detailed transcripts.

Brown is testifying that C-SPAN has more than 278,000 videos in their archives alone.

Prosecutors call Robert X. Browning to the stand

Prosecutors just called Robert X. Browning as their next witness.

Browning is the executive director of the C-SPAN archives and has been in that role for 37 years. He is also a professor at Purdue University.

Merchan says no court the Friday before Memorial Day

Merchan says there will be no court on Friday, May 24. That ups the pressure on the prosecution to either be done well before then — and to not allow deliberations to extend over the holiday weekend — or to ensure there is still testimony after what is now a four-day weekend.

Merchan returns to the bench before Trump back in court

Merchan took the bench before Trump and his lawyers were back in court, but after a brief wait, the court is back in session.

Manhattan DA's office offers to withdraw July 2017 text exchange as evidence

The Manhattan district attorney’s office just offered to withdraw from evidence a July 1, 2017, text , in which Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal’s lawyer told American Media’s chief content officer: “He owes AMI everything & he f----- u. Idiot.”

Who is the "he" in question? Not entirely clear — but, presumably, Trump.

Court takes a break

Trump and the lawyers have left and the court is now taking a full morning break.

Defense wants text redacted that talks about 'shady' stuff going on

Prosecutors and Trump's defense team are now going over text messages from former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard again and whether they should redact one saying “there is shady s--- going on."

It was from Oct. 19, 2016, in the midst of negotiations over the Stormy Daniels deal and delays perceived by her publicist Gina Rodriguez. That's when she told Howard, "There is some shady s--- going on."

Court takes a brief morning recess

The jury is taking a brief morning recess, but the legal teams remain in the courtroom.

When jurors walk out for a break, they have to walk past the defense table. None of them look at Trump.

Some jurors shift in their seats as testimony goes deep into financial banking process

As Blanche's cross-examination of Farro goes into the weeds of the financial banking process, jurors appear to still be awake in the courtroom, but some are seen shifting in their seats with one having just rubbed his face and a couple seen yawning.

Gary Farro says he doesn't open shell companies

Gary Farro testified after questions from Trump lawyer Todd Blanche that he doesn't open accounts for shell companies and that he only opens LLCs.

He said shell companies have a business behind them and said there would be only one purpose for an LLC to buy a home, yacht or aircraft and the purpose would be to stay anonymous because it becomes public record.

“If the client had told me that this would be a shell corporation, the account would not have been opened," Farro said.

Blanche then asked, "If Mr. Cohen says he’s opening a consulting business or a law firm, that wouldn’t raise any red flags to you either?”

"Not at all," said Farro, who confirmed that's what Cohen was doing.

Trump lawyer tries to impugn Farro's credibility

Blanche is trying to impugn Farro’s credibility by insinuating that Farro and his group had lax practices and could or should have known Cohen had long been involved in risky business.

Trump lawyer asks Farro about the term 'de-risking'

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche asked Gary Farro if he's familiar with the term de-risking, which refers to the phenomenon of financial institutions terminating or restricting business relationships with clients or categories of clients to avoid, rather than manage, risk.

Farro said he's not familiar with that term. Blanche said the bank can decide it doesn't want to do business with a customer. He then asked Farro if he knows whether that analysis was done on Michael Cohen while he was at the bank. Farro said he doesn't know.

Farro recalls Cohen thinking there was an urgent matter '90% of the time'

Farro described Cohen as a “challenging client because of his desire to get things done so quickly.”

Farro recalled that with Cohen there was an “urgent matter” about “90% of the time.”

Trump just closed his eyes

Trump just closed his eyes for several minutes.

Sitting behind him, political aide Susie Wiles is straining to watch the witness, a juxtaposition to Trump sitting with his eyes closed.

Farro says wire transfer paperwork did not indicate money being transferred on behalf of a political candidate

Asked by Mangold whether any of the wire transfer paperwork indicated that money was being transferred on behalf of a political candidate, Farro said “no” and that additional questions would’ve been asked if that were the case.

Farro also denied that any of the wire transfer paperwork indicated that money was being transferred for payment to an adult film star.

Gary Farro says bank asks for purpose of transfer to ensure it knows what it's getting involved in

On the paperwork requesting the transfer of $130,000 to Keith Davidson's account, Michael Cohen wrote that the purpose was “Retainer,” which was itself a lie.

Gary Farro said the bank asks for that information to ensure that the bank is not involving itself in anything it doesn’t want to be involved in. 

Prosecutor walks through key acts in Cohen's deception of his bankers

Using documents she painstakingly authenticated and admitted through Farro on Friday, prosecutor Rebecca Mangold is walking through key acts in furtherance of the conspiracy: Cohen’s rushed opening of, funding of, and deception of his bankers at First Republic.

But for Cohen’s misrepresentations about the purpose of his LLC and his request that the bankers expedite the opening of the account, the transfer of funds from Cohen’s home equity line of credit to the account, and ultimately, the wire transfer to Davidson, he might not have paid Stormy Daniels in time to ensure her silence before Election Day.

Throughout Farro’s testimony this morning, the jurors have been following along with the email chains with the computer monitors in front of them, with some seen taking notes.

Cohen praises gag order decision

Jesse Rodriguez

Michael Cohen — who has been the target of much of Trump's criticism that was cited as gag order violations — praised the decision.

"The imposed fine is irrelevant. Judge Merchan’s decision elucidates that this behavior will not be tolerated and that no one is above the law," Cohen said in a statement.

Judge orders Trump to remove social media posts violating gag order by 2:15 p.m.

Judge Merchan ordered Trump to remove the posts from Truth Social that violated the gag order by 2:15 p.m. ET.

Trump gets to go to son's graduation, despite his earlier claims

Amanda Terkel Politics Managing Editor

It's notable that the judge decided to allow Trump to attend Barron's graduation on May 17, since Trump and his campaign had earlier been claiming that the judge had barred him from doing so.

During the first week of trial, Trump told reporters: "My son is graduating high school, and it looks like the judge will not let me go to the graduation."

His campaign also sent out a text that read: "THEY ARE FORCING ME TO SKIP MY SON’S GRADUATION. I’LL BE IN COURT."

That text was wrong. The judge had not yet made a decision.

Farro says process would be different for payments to an adult film star

Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Mangold asked Farro whether the bank’s process for opening the account would be different if Cohen had indicated he was paying an adult film star.

Farro replied, “Yes, we would certainly ask additional questions."

Asked whether there was anything indicating that the account was made for paying an adult film star, Farro denied that was the case and that more questions would’ve been asked if he had known.

Trump says Time cover story ‘60% correct,’ compares Columbia protests to Jan . 6 riot

Speaking to reporters outside of the courtroom, Trump touted his new exclusive interview with Time magazine , in which he discussed his agenda if he wins a second term in office, saying that the story is “at least 60% correct.”

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee also criticized the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses nationwide, describing them as “Biden protests” in colleges that are “overrun.”

Trump argued that the 2017 Charlottesville “Unite the Right Rally,” which Biden has said is what led him to launch his presidential campaign, is “peanuts” compared to the protests happening at college campuses across the country.

“This whole country is up in arms breaking into colleges ... they took over a building,” he said, referring to news this morning of the occupation of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University by pro-Palestinian students.

Trump then said he wonders what is going to happen to the pro-Palestinian protesters compared to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters who stormed the building amid his refusal to concede the 2020 election to Biden.

Gary Farro back on the stand

Gary Farro, the banker that worked with Michael Cohen, is back on the stand.

Merchan threatens Trump with jail for further gag order violations

Merchan, in his decision finding that Trump had violated his gag order, wrote that he understands a $1,000 fine is unlikely to make much of a difference for someone with wealth, but that he cannot levy a larger fine.

"Because this Court is not cloaked with such discretion, it must therefore consider whether in some instances, jail may be a necessary punishment," Merchan wrote.

“Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate continued willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment."

Judge grants Trump permission to attend son's HS graduation

Merchan began proceedings Friday by addressing Trump's request at the beginning of the trial that he be able to attend his son Barron's high school graduation on May 17.

“I don’t think the May 17th date is a problem. So Mr. Trump can certainly attend that date. Attend his son’s graduation," Merchan said.

Judge orders Trump in criminal contempt for gag order violations, fines him $9,000

Judge Merchan has ruled that Trump is in criminal contempt for nine violations of the gag order. The punishment is $1,000 per violation. Merchan didn't elaborate on anything else.

Under the judge's ruling, Trump is fined $9,000.

Eric Trump joins his father in court

Vaughn Hillyard

Eric Trump has joined his father in the courtroom today, becoming the first of Trump's family members to be present at the trial.

Susie Wiles, a senior Trump campaign adviser, Dan Scavino, former White House deputy chief of staff for communications, and Jason Miller, longtime Trump adviser, are also in the courtroom today.

Court is in session

Merchan has taken the bench and the trial has resumed.

As the criminal hush money trial against former President Donald Trump enters its third week, NBC News’ Gary Grumbach previews who will be taking the stand and what to expect regarding the judge’s upcoming gag order decision.

Trump back in court for second week of witness testimony in hush money trial

Dareh Gregorian

The criminal trial of Donald Trump resumes in a Manhattan courtroom Tuesday with a focus on the hush money transaction that’s at the center of the allegations against the former president.

The first witness of the day will be Gary Farro , a banker who worked with then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen when Cohen, Trump’s self-described “fixer,” paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet during the 2016 presidential campaign about her allegation that she had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump denies her claim.

Farro, who in 2016 was an executive at First Republic Bank, testified Friday that Cohen reached out to him in mid-October of that year to set up a bank account for a company he was forming called Essential Consultants LLC.

Cohen described the company to the bank “as a real estate consulting company to collect fees for investment consulting work he does for real estate deals,” Farro told jurors. Prosecutors characterized it as a shell company that was set up to mask the source of the payment, which was made shortly before Election Day.

Read the full story here.

Gag order hearing set for Thursday

As the trial resumes today with Farro's testimony, we await a decision from Judge Juan Merchan on the prosecution’s request to hold Trump in contempt for 10 alleged violations of the gag order against him. There will be a hearing Thursday at 9:30 a.m. for the remaining four alleged violations and any others that might be added by the prosecution team.

Far-right news network OAN retracts article about Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels

One America News Network retracted an article Monday that said former President Donald Trump’s onetime attorney  Michael Cohen  had had an affair with adult film star  Stormy Daniels .

The March 27 article from the conservative news outlet quoted a post on X from a user who falsely claimed to have obtained information in 2018 from Daniels’ then-attorney, Michael Avenatti. Citing Avenatti, the post claimed that Cohen and Daniels had been having an affair since 2006 and that Cohen “cooked up” the hush money scheme to extort the Trump Organization ahead of the 2016 election.

“To be clear, no evidence suggests that Mr. Cohen and Ms. Daniels were having an affair and no evidence suggests that Mr. Cohen ‘cooked up’ the scheme to extort the Trump Organization before the 2016 election,” OAN said in a  statement  Monday.

The network said it was taking the story down “from all sites,” as well as “all social media.”

“This retraction is part of a settlement reached with Michael Cohen. Mr. Avenatti has denied making the allegations,” the statement said. “OAN apologizes to Mr. Cohen for any harm the publication may have caused him.”

Trump departs for Manhattan criminal court

Matthew Johnson

The former president has left Trump Tower and is headed to the courthouse.

Trump supporters gather outside court

Max Butterworth

A small crowd of Trump supporters gather outside Manhattan criminal court this morning in a planned protest at the invitation of the New York Young Republican Club, waving flags and wearing trademark MAGA hats.

What to expect in court today

Gary Farro, who testified on Friday that he was assigned as Michael Cohen’s banker at First Republic Bank in 2015, is scheduled to take the stand again today after the trial resumes at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Farro has said he helped Cohen set up   a bank account for the shell company that was used to pay Daniels. Farro also said he was assigned Cohen because of his “ability to handle individuals who might be a little ... challenging.”

It's not immediately clear who might take the stand if Farro's testimony concludes today.

Trump’s longtime executive assistant testified, along with a banker who helped Michael Cohen facilitate a payment to Stormy Daniels. Defense lawyers also completed their cross-examination of David Pecker, attempting to discredit the former publisher of the National Enquirer who testified about how he tried to bury negative stories about Donald Trump before the 2016 election. NBC News’ Laura Jarrett reports

Here's what happened when court was last in session

There were no court proceedings yesterday, so Friday was the most recent day of trial testimony. That's when former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker took the stand for a fourth day and was questioned by a Trump attorney who sought to reshape the narrative painted by prosecutors about the norms of Pecker's publication, particularly the practice of buying stories.

His cross-examination was followed by testimony from longtime Trump assistant Rhona Graff, who testified that she believed she had created contact information pages for Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels — displayed by the prosecution in court — that were saved in the Trump Organization’s computer system. An attorney for Trump sugg e sted that Trump had Daniels' contact information because he had indicated she might be an interesting candidate for "The Celebrity Apprentice," a reality TV show.

The last witness to take the stand on Friday was Gary Farro, who was Michael Cohen’s banker and allegedly helped set up the bank account for the shell company that was used to pay Daniels. Farro was asked about bank documents and communications, including paperwork for an account Cohen opened for an LLC .