How to Add a Summary of Qualifications to a Resume [+Examples]
The summary of qualifications, or highlight of qualifications, is one of the most critical sections, and you will want to ensure that you get it right. Potential employers need to look at your resume and see all the information required to form a judgment about you without the unnecessary waffle.
When it comes to adding a summary of qualifications to a resume, knowing exactly how to present the list and what order to put things in will help ensure that your resume provides the best possible first impression of you and your skills.
What does a Summary of Qualifications Mean on a Resume?
In most cases, a summary of qualifications is a section placed at the top of your resume. It would help if you used this section to list all of your most important achievements, qualifications, certifications, and experience. You will often need to adjust your summary of qualifications to the job you are applying for to be as relevant as possible for each role.
What Should you Include in a Summary of Qualifications?
You should use your summary of qualifications to highlight the skills that make you the ideal candidate for a role. This means focussing on those most relevant to the position. Although you should ensure to include any industry-relevant certifications, you should also include soft skills that are particularly relevant. This can include things such as team management and communication skills.
How to Write a Summary of Qualifications?
You may wonder where to start if you have never written a summary of qualifications before.
The most important thing that you can do is to make sure that you thoroughly read the job description for the role you are applying for. This will help you identify key skills, experience, and qualifications that recruiters hope to find in candidates. Using this information, you can ensure that your qualifications summary is tailored to the specific role and is as relevant as possible.
There are a few other things to consider when writing your summary of qualifications that can help to make sure that your resume is attention-grabbing and memorable for all of the right reasons:
1. Write your summary of qualifications after completing the rest of your resume.
Your summary of qualifications is supposed to be an overview of the key points held within your resume, so it makes sense to write it once the rest of your resume is complete.
2. Consider your strengths
The idea of your summary of qualifications is to highlight the skills and abilities which make you the best person for the job. Take some time to write down the things you are good at and the skills you have learned in previous positions. This could be the targets you have achieved, the technology you have mastered, or your featured publications.
3. Use quantifiable numerical data wherever possible
When speaking about your achievements, you should include information such as the number of years you worked within a role, the number of people in a team, and the budgets you worked with.
4. Check out industry and employment websites for keywords and phrases
When applying for a new job, you should always make sure to thoroughly read the job description and check the company’s website. The information you can gather from these places offers insight into keywords and commonly used terms and the skills that are often desired. Using keywords can help your resume stand out and catch recruiters’ interest.
5. Personalize your summary of qualifications wherever possible
Although you should avoid statements like “I” and “we,” your summary of qualifications should be unique to you. Take the time to consider the things which emphasize your role.
6. Keep your summary of qualifications brief
Try to avoid unnecessary words and keep your statements as short as possible.
Summary of Qualifications Examples
How you write your summary of qualifications will largely depend on the role you are applying for and the level of experience you have. Below are some examples you can use to guide you when writing your summary of qualifications.
Example 1: Students
- Completed a 2-year course in (relevant qualification) with honors
- Voted student ambassador for senior year
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and similar systems
- Three years of voluntary experience with a local soup kitchen
Example 2: Entry-Level Roles
- Four years experience working as a volunteer for a church youth group, assigning roles and completing tasks.
- Worked as part of a team of 8 volunteers to successfully run an easter holiday camp for 60 children aged 5-12.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and similar systems, able to work with both Excel and Word
- Completed (name of degree) at (name of college) in (year)
- Studied for first aid certification and completed required assessments
Example 3: Accountants
- Completed Bachelors Degree in Accounting at (relevant college)
- Experienced and familiar with a variety of data entry systems and accounting software
- Five years of experience working within a large accounting firm, achieving deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Promoted to team leader within my department after six months
- Five years of experience working with a variety of accountancy software
- Experienced in taxation and regulatory compliance
Example 4: Administrative Assistants
- 15 years working with a team of administrative assistants
- Experience with a variety of different record-keeping and data-entry systems
- Introduced a new method of data entry which helped to reduce clerical errors by 25% and streamlined processes
- Collaborated with a team of 5 others to liaise between different departments and clients
Example 5: Project Managers
- Experience leading a team of 12
- Seven years of working with the same team of staff members
- Grew profits from 5% to 12% annually within my department
- Met deadlines for every project within the last five years
Example 6: Teachers
- Ten years of experience working with special needs children
- Five years experience as the lead teacher in the English department
- Successful completion of special needs training, ASL, and disability handling courses
- Five years working as head of the English department in a high school setting
Example 7: Medical Assistants
- Seven years of experience working within a medical environment
- Two years working in an Emergency Department
- Experienced in organizing and handling patient charts and documentation
- Trained in techniques required to collect patient vitals and the best ways to document this
- Excellent communication skills and ability to liaise between patients and doctors where required
- Experience working within a fast-paced and highly-demanding working environment which required fast reactions and attention to detail
Example 8: Financial Analysts
- Completed Master Degree in Accounting from (relevant college)
- Registered and licensed with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- Three years experience working as a trainee financial analyst
Example 9: Customer Service Roles
- Six years of experience working in retail
- Completed relevant training to become a designated first aider
- Promoted to Duty Manager after 12 months
- Awarded employee of the month on five separate occasions
- Trained in cash handling and balancing
Example 10: Management Positions
- Successfully led a team of 25 to increase growth and revenue by 30% over ten years.
- Reduced staff turnover by 59% by implementing a range of staff satisfaction measures
- Increased department profits by 7% in the first 12 months
- Implemented growth and sustainability measures which were adopted company-wide
In Conclusion
Your resume will often be the first impression a potential employer has of you, so it is crucial to get it right. Making sure you include a summary of qualifications tailored to the role you are applying for can help you stand out from the crowd, promoting your strengths and the skills that make you the best candidate for the job.