• Generally, employers will spend less than 10 seconds screening your resume the first time. Their goal is to eliminate as many candidates as possible and concentrate on the best. Therefore, highlighting your qualifications early in the resume is an effective way to improve your chances for consideration.
• While a job objective states what you want, a qualifications summary states what you know.
• A summary consists of three or four statements of your best qualifications that tell the reviewer why you are the ideal candidate for the job. It is similar to the blurb on the back of a book or the trailer to a movie. It should capture the essence of your experience, skills and traits. It is a good place to insert “keywords” for electronic scanning.
• It belongs below your contact information or objective statement. Most resume writers choose either an objective statement or summary, but some use both.
• A summary works well for applicants with extensive or varied experience because it prevents the important facts from being lost among the details.

Sample Summary Statements:

• A Sales Manager with 12 years experience in expanding territories and profits to exceptional levels. A hands-on team player skilled at developing staff and increasing morale while enhancing the bottom line.
• An Office Administrator with over five years of secretarial and administrative experience. Special strengths in scheduling, coordinating, desktop publishing, and handling correspondence. A loyal, punctual, self-disciplined worker.
• Ten years experience in the design and delivery of PC training programs, with a focus on customized software applications and solutions. Ability to translate internal customer needs into technology solutions and communicate implementation through state-of-the-art training.
• Over 8 years hands-on experience with automotive electronics, electronic fuel delivery systems, and computers. A responsible, capable, and hardworking service technician who adapts well to both domestic and foreign car repair.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS – Explanation

• Write three or four bullet statements that summarize why you would be good at your job objective. Each statement should be no longer than two lines.
• Your statements should highlight your relevant strengths such as experience, skills, community service, and personality traits.
• Prioritize the statements in this section so the most relevant one comes first.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS – Example #1

• More than 10 years of experience in the retail and customer service.
• Excellent reputation with customers as a competent, knowledgeable, and helpful professional.
• Enjoy the work and consistently greet customers with a smile.
• Honest, reliable, and productive.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS – Example #2

• Five years as a print production professional, working in corporate and independent settings.
• Degree in journalism with additional training at daily news publication.
• Noted for accelerating production through strong managerial skills.

Any of the following terms may be used as your career objective, qualifications summary or profile. Please remember to be succinct and avoid such objective statements as, “Seeking an opportunity that fits my education and experience that will allow me to advance in the company.” Such statements say nothing about what you have to offer, only vaguely describes what you want.

Objective

Qualifications Summary

Some people choose to use a qualifications summary instead of a career objective. This is a list of the strongest qualifications you can bring to the job and should be tailored to each application.

Some applicants may choose not to use this section. It is optional. However a well crafted Summary of Qualifications may encourage the employer to read more of your resume. This can be one of the defining elements of your resume. The employer will typically scan your resume for sixty seconds and look for key words and this section allows you place those key words in a clearly marked location.

Example:

• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong ability to effectively multi-task in a fast-paced office environment
• Motivated towards achieving set goals and deadlines in a timely manner
• Experienced in customer service and warranty claims
• Professional and energetic work attitude

Career Objective

Some job seekers choose to give their resume focus by starting with a career objective. This is helpful when your experiences do not indicate a particular career direction. If your career direction is obvious based on your education and experiences, such as teaching, an objective may not be needed. If you choose to use a Career Objective, avoid flowery phrases, clichés and vague general language. A Career Objective must focus on a function, an industry or the skills you wish to use.

Examples:

• An entry-level position in arts administration
• Writing, Research and Copy Editing Professional
• An internship in a biochemical research lab

• Highlights your key skill areas – draws attention to specific skills that support your job goal
• Can either be done in paragraph form or as a bulleted list
• Should include your Security Clearance if you have one. Remember to have your resume cleared by your Security Manager.
• Time to “brag” about your best qualities – your “greatest hits”

Hints For Writing Qualification Statements

• Draw the reader’s attention to specific skills that you possess and can offer the company.
• Look for key words in the job announcement and write qualification statements that highlight those key words
• Can either be written as a short paragraph or short list with 4-5 bullet statements.
• This is your time to brag about your best qualities.
• List your certifications, licenses or security clearance if required for the position.

Example #1: Summary of Qualifications for a Law Enforcement Professional

Law enforcement professional with a degree in criminal justice. Qualifications include 15 years’ experience in international and homeland security, outstanding leadership capability managing large security teams, knowledge of patrol, search and rescue, investigative and criminal procedures. Ability to handle deadline-oriented and crisis situations. Sharpshooter and expert marksman qualifications. Active Top Secret Clearance.

Example #2: Summary of Qualifications for Human Resources Manager

• Human Resource Management
• Organizational Development and Process Improvement
• Training Development and Delivery
• Compensation and Benefits Administration
• Management and Supervision
• Resource Allocation and Administration
• Planning and Budget Management
• Legal Compliance

Example #3: Summary of Qualifications for a Network Administrator

Solutions-oriented IT professional with experience in Network Administration, Network Support and Help Desk services

• Knowledge of LAN/WAN network administration
• Expert capabilities for hardware, software and networking issues
• Outstanding customer service skills
• Certifications: MCSE Windows 2000 and CCNA
• Hardware: Desktops, servers, laptops, modems, network cards, printers, scanners, etc.
• Systems: Windows NT/2000, SCO Unix, Windows 95/97XP

This section will provide a concise overview of your qualifications as they relate to your Career Objective.

• Emphasize those skills you have developed in terms of interpersonal, organizational, supervisory, etc.

Describe your duties, skills, responsibilities:

• State your major accomplishments, achievements, skill area.
• Start each with an action verb; try to keep each to 1-2 lines.
• Use an asterisk (*), dash (-), or bullet (•) to draw attention to each statement.
• Give specific results to show your qualifications.
• List your most important accomplishments first.

Summary of Qualifcations – Real World Example

Experience in recruitment and staffing, benefits administration, project development and implementation, and workforce planning.

Professional experience includes competencies in the following areas: analytical thinking, client orientation, creative thinking, decision-making, problem solving, time management, leadership,interpersonal skills, oral communication, written communication, and computer skills.

The qualifications summary, which evolved from the objective, is an overview designed to quickly answer the employer’s question “Why should I hire you?” It lists a few of your best qualifications and belongs below your contact information or objective statement.

A qualifications summary, like an objective, is optional. It can be particularly effective for applicants with extensive or varied experience because it prevents the important facts from being lost among the details. Most resume writers choose either an objective or a summary, but some use both.

Summarized Qualifications

This is one of the most important parts of your resume. The “Job Objective” or “Summary of Qualifications” section powerfully illustrates your top selling points. Most job seekers exclude this information, but this is an ideal way to get noticed-fast. This is a section of the America’s Job Bank Resume Builder.

Summary of Qualifications:

This section highlights key skills areas and is intended to draw attention to the specific skills that you posses and can offer the company.

• This section should be in the form of a paragraph or short list with skills listed as bullets or bullet statements
• This is a good place to catch the employer’s interest and “sell” your best qualities up front