Make the top third scan-worthy
How to Write a Resume Summary (With 20+ Examples)
Eye-tracking research shows recruiters focus heavily on the top of your resume. A good summary makes your role, niche, and proof obvious in seconds.
What a resume summary should do
- Clarify fit: who you are and what roles you’re targeting.
- Prove value: 1–2 concrete wins or credible scope.
- Support scanning: short, specific lines — not a dense paragraph.
A simple template
Template:
[Role] + [niche] with [X] years in [domain]. Proven track record of [impact metric] by [method]. Strengths: [3 relevant skills/tools].
Keep it tight. If it can’t be scanned quickly, it’s too long.
Do / don’t rules
- Do: use the target title and relevant keywords naturally.
- Do: include numbers (growth, cost saved, latency, conversion, scale).
- Don’t: start with “motivated” or “hardworking” — it’s not proof.
- Don’t: list every skill you have. Pick the most relevant 3–6.
20+ resume summary examples
Software Engineer (mid-level)
Backend engineer (5+ years) building scalable APIs in fintech. Reduced p95 latency 75% and cut infra spend 18% through query optimization and caching. Strong in Go, Postgres, and observability.
Software Engineer (senior)
Senior software engineer leading platform reliability for 1M+ users. Delivered 99.95% uptime by improving incident response and release pipelines. Experienced in distributed systems, SRE practices, and cross-team technical leadership.
Product Manager (growth)
Growth PM driving activation and retention for B2B SaaS. Increased trial→paid conversion 9% and improved week‑1 activation from 42% → 55% by redesigning onboarding and lifecycle messaging. Strong in experimentation, funnels, and analytics.
Product Manager (platform)
Platform product manager aligning API strategy across 6 teams. Shipped governance and developer tooling that reduced integration time 30%. Skilled in stakeholder management, roadmap planning, and technical product discovery.
Data Analyst
Data analyst with 4 years in marketplace analytics. Built dashboards and models that improved forecast accuracy 15% and reduced reporting time by 10 hours/week. Proficient in SQL, Python, Looker, and experimentation analysis.
Marketing Manager (performance)
Performance marketer managing $250k/month spend across paid search and social. Increased ROAS 22% by restructuring campaigns and improving landing page alignment. Strengths: lifecycle segmentation, creative testing, and attribution.
UX Designer
Product designer focused on simplifying complex workflows. Improved task success rate 19% through usability testing and iterative prototyping. Experienced in design systems, Figma, and cross-functional collaboration.
Customer Success Manager
Customer success manager supporting 50+ enterprise accounts. Increased renewals from 86% → 93% by improving onboarding and success planning. Strong in stakeholder management, QBRs, and retention strategy.
Finance Analyst
FP&A analyst with 3 years supporting GTM teams. Built forecasting models that improved accuracy 12% and surfaced cost-saving opportunities worth $180k/year. Strong in Excel, SQL, and financial storytelling.
Operations Manager
Operations manager improving systems and processes across a 30-person team. Reduced cycle time 30% by standardizing SOPs and implementing performance dashboards. Skilled in process design, tooling, and change management.
New grad (software)
Computer science graduate with internship experience building internal tools. Delivered a React dashboard that reduced manual reporting by 6 hours/week and improved data visibility for stakeholders. Seeking backend/full-stack roles.
Career changer (to PM)
Former consultant transitioning to product management. Led cross-functional projects and improved client outcomes through data-driven recommendations. Bringing strong stakeholder communication, prioritization, and analytics fundamentals.
Want to validate your summary quickly? Run a scan and check whether the top third lights up: resume scanner.