A resume profile (or professional profile) is a brief, three to four-sentence resume introduction placed at the top of the page. Creating a punchy introduction is a key step to writing a resume that impresses hiring managers because it provides them with a concise summary of your background, most relevant skills, and accomplishments. It can, but doesn’t need to, be tailored to each job you apply to.
How to write a profile for a resume
A good professional resume profile immediately grabs an employer’s attention and convinces them that you’re the ideal candidate for the job.
One of the best ways to make a good profile for your resume is by using a resume summary generator and adjusting the end result to your needs. But you can also always write your resume profile from scratch.
To start off your resume profile, give it a section title such as “professional profile”, “professional summary”, or simply “profile”.
Then, decide if you want to write your profile in paragraph form or using a short bulleted list.
No matter which format you choose, your profile should include an introductory sentence, one or two sentences highlighting your skills and achievements, and a concluding statement of your career goals.
Here’s an example showing the two different ways to format a resume profile:
In paragraph format:
In bullet format:
What to put in a resume profile
Include these four elements in your profile statement to best capture how qualified you are:
Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.
1. Years of experience or education
Your first sentence should introduce who you are, your current job title, and how many years of experience you have in your field. Leading with your experience helps grab the reader’s attention by immediately proving you meet the basic requirements for the position.
If you’re a student or recent graduate writing a resume with no experience, don’t worry. Simply mention what you’re studying and any extracurricular activities, relevant coursework, or volunteer experience you have. You can still come across as a capable candidate even if you don’t have formal work experience.
Here’s how the first sentence of a profile on a resume might look for an experienced accountant:
In contrast, check out the first sentence of this resume profile statement for a recent graduate:
2. Major accomplishments
The next sentence(s) in your resume profile should highlight some of your most impressive professional accomplishments and skills. This is the most important part of your profile section, because it provides a convincing reason for why you’re suited for the position and why employers should hire you.
Be sure to quantify your achievements wherever possible using hard numbers (such as dollar amounts or percentages) to illustrate their positive impact on the business.
Here’s an example of what the middle section of a resume profile should look like:
3. Industry-relevant skills
In your next sentence, you should showcase any skills you have that are relevant to the position.
If you’re unsure what the best skills for your resume are, start by doing some research on the most valuable or in-demand job skills for your industry.
If you’re changing careers and don’t have any relevant skills yet, consider transferable skills that will help you immediately contribute to the company in a new position. Additionally, if you have any relevant certifications or licenses, mention them in this part of your profile.
Here’s an example of what this part of a resume profile looks like:
4. Career goals
Your final point should state your current career goal or what kind of position you’re looking for.
This part is especially important when posting your resume on LinkedIn, as it helps recruiters see what type of work aligns with your background and interests.
When writing this last sentence, make sure you specify whether you’re looking for an entry-level, mid-level, or managerial opportunity.
Here’s an example of a good resume profile conclusion sentence:
The candidate specifies what kind of position they’re looking for and offers the hiring manager some insight into their professional goals.
Professional resume profile examples
Here are 15 professional resume profile examples formatted in both paragraph and bullet format to give you a better idea of what your own profile should look like:
