How to Write a Resume Profile

How to Write a Resume Profile | Tips, Templates & Examples | Resume.com

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A resume profile is one of the best ways to summarize your professional experience when applying for jobs. It gives you the chance to gain an employer’s attention within the first few seconds of them looking at your resume. Continue reading to learn how a strong resume profile can attract recruiters and emphasize your unique skillset.

What is a resume profile?

A resume profile, also known as a professional profile, is a short paragraph or list of bullet points. It is located at the top of your resume and gives employers an overview of your top qualifications. The profile generally highlights your work history, unique skills, and measurable accomplishments in a way that demonstrates your ability to succeed in your field.

Why is it important to include an introduction on your resume?

An introduction puts your strengths at the forefront of your application and gives hiring managers a reason to pay attention to the rest of your resume. Hiring managers review many applications for each position, so they look for keywords and impressive qualifications to help them decide which resumes to take a closer look at. A properly formatted resume profile groups your top accomplishments in the most prominent part of the page.

Resume profile vs. resume objective

Resume profiles and resume objectives are two popular strategies for introducing your resume. A resume profile is a general overview of your career highlights. A resume objective is specific to a position and focuses on the skills an applicant can bring to a company.

People looking for entry-level positions or switching careers benefit from using a resume objective because it shows how their strengths apply to a new field. More experienced applicants should use a resume profile because it immediately showcases excellence in their field.

For example, a recent college graduate looking to start their career could use a resume objective to explain how they will apply their education to a work environment. An established project manager could show the breadth of their experience by using a resume profile. Consider using both introduction approaches to show your best qualities to hiring managers.

How to write a resume profile

Follow these steps to write a resume profile that attracts potential employers.

1. First, decide on a format

You can write your resume profile in a bullet point or paragraph format depending on your personal preference. Both structures must be brief, with a maximum of four sentences or 500 characters. If your resume has a lot of bullet points, use a paragraph format to create visual interest.

2. Second, select relevant details

Decide which career experiences are most impressive and relevant to the type of job you are seeking. Think about how your knowledge and skills have benefited past employers. Choose relevant details to show employers what makes you unique.

3. Finally, tell your story with unique details

Your resume profile should tell a story about your skills and accomplishments. When listing achievements, share them in an order that shows how they build on one another. Open with your years of experience, then introduce your area of expertise and the skills you have developed through your work history. Finally, share measurable successes, such as sales rates or efficiency improvements.

Resume profile tips

Use these tips to help create a resume profile that leaves a great impression.

Include keywords

Browse common keywords that companies use for jobs in your field. Job sites and recruitment software often pick up on applicants who match their skills to a specific industry or position. Keywords indicate that you are a top match for a position. Look for places where your experience matches the job description, and emphasize those areas of your work history in the resume profile.

Use vivid language

Include strong adjectives to describe your strengths and skills. Use vivid but professional language to bring attention to your unique qualities. Select powerful action verbs and descriptions that indicate your expertise. Your word choices help create a narrative about your professional growth and how it will benefit future employers.

Edit the resume as a whole

After writing your resume profile, read through your resume as a whole and remove any repetitive information. Review the entire resume to make sure that you emphasize your accomplishments while still providing new information.

Resume profile templates

The following resume profile formats provide a great outline for beginning your resume.

Paragraph format

Example: [Positive character traits related to a job description] with experience in [job responsibility], [skills] and [industry knowledge]. Specialized expertise in [qualifications, skills and interests]. Earned [award or achievement] by [highlights of job history]. Improved [job performance] by [specific amount] through [techniques and skills].

Bullet point format

Example:

  • [Position name] with [number] years of experience [using a skill to perform a key responsibility]
  • [Certified/expert/specialized] in [specific area of industry knowledge and skills]
  • Demonstrated [skill] by [completing measurable improvements or accomplishments]
  • Accomplished [professional goal], benefiting [employer] by [positive results of your actions]

Resume profile examples

Use these examples as a model when preparing your resume profile.

Elementary school teacher

Example: Motivated, passionate ESL teacher with 10 years of experience in special needs education, lesson planning, and inclusive programming. Expertise in Montessori teaching theories and state benchmarks for success. Earned teacher of the year award three times by creating lasting relationships with students that fostered academic growth. Improved student test and behavior scores by 10% after being promoted to 4th-grade lead teacher and implementing regular multimodal activities across the grade level.

Pharmacy technician

Example:

  • Certified pharmacy technician with advanced customer service experience skills and proven attention to detail in a pharmacy setting.
  • Well-versed in medical terminology, pharmaceutical classifications, and ethical standards.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of insurance procedures by processing payment requests and training new employees.
  • Processed all prescriptions within the same day of receiving them, resulting in increased ratings for customer satisfaction and efficiency on company surveys.

Web developer

Example: Knowledgeable, creative web developer with experience in full-stack programming for high-traffic web pages. Demonstrated expertise in JavaScript, C++, Python, and Ruby on Rails. Managed several client accounts, from brainstorming design concepts to launching and maintaining web pages. Attracted several client accounts to the company through positive testimonials from existing customers.

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