- Parts Of A Resume
- How To Write A Resume
- Resume Skills Section
- Resume Objective Section
- Career Objective Section
- Resume Reference Section
- Resume Summary Section
- Resume Summary Example
- Resume Interests Section
- Address On Resume
- Relevant Work Experience
- Anticipated Graduation Date On Resume
- Education Section On Resume
- Contact Information On Resume
- Statement Of Qualifications
- How To List Publications On Resume
- Accomplishments On Resumes
- Awards On Resume
- Dean's List On Resume
- Study Abroad On Resume
- Resume Format
- Resume Templates
- General Resume Examples
- Resume Builder
- Resume Format
- Resume Margins
- Resume Header
- Work Experience On Resume
- Irrelevant Work Experience
- Listing Languages On Resume
- Volunteer Work On Resume
- GPA On Resume
- Resume Title
- Summary Of Qualifications
- Resume Picture
- Python Project On Resume
- Google Docs Resume Template
- Professional Bio On Resume
- Multiple Positions At Same Company
- Relevant Coursework Resume
- Where And How To Put Internships On Your Resume
- Professional Resume Formats
- Resume Types
Even though every section of your resume is valuable, you might be wondering how to really emphasize your skills to a potential employer.
Often, there are important details about your achievements, performance, or personality that you want to put front and center for a hiring manager to see. Therefore, simply putting these qualifications in your work experience descriptions may not have the impact you’re looking for.
The best way to emphasize details about your qualifications to a potential employer is by listing them as their own separate section on your resume. This section of your resume is called a Summary of Qualifications, and will give you the opportunity to share what makes you a great employee.
Key Takeaways:
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A summary of qualifications presents your most qualifying traits in a section tailored for your potential employer.
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Use bullet points in your summary of qualifications.
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Things you can address in your summary of qualifications include years of experience you have in a select field, any specializations or unique skills you were trained in, and critical achievements.
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As with most of your resume, use quantifiable data when possible in your summary of qualifications.
What Is A Summary Of Qualifications
A Summary of Qualifications presents your most defining achievements or personality traits in a way that is meant to maximize your perceived value as an employee.
A Summary of Qualifications should be tailored to the employer you are applying to. Therefore, a Summary of Qualifications should only include information relevant to the job. It is located at the top of a resume to direct the reader’s attention and introduce your most important qualifications.
A Summary of Qualifications is optional, however it can be very beneficial, especially if you meet certain criteria, such as exceptional and extensive qualifications.
How To Format A Summary Of Qualifications
How you format a Summary of Qualifications is just as important as what you say. To format a Summary of Qualifications:
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Keep it brief. Like other important sections of your resume, such as your education and work experience, your Summary of Qualifications should aim to be brief, while also highlighting important details.
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Place it at the top of your resume. As mentioned previously, this section of your resume serves as a way to highlight your value, and should leave a memorable impact. Therefore, you should place your summary of qualifications at the top of your resume.
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Avoid first person language. You should also keep in mind that the way in which you write is important. Avoid I or me statements, and instead focus on an active voice with action verbs.
Instead of writing “I was awarded for completing 85% of my group’s graphing and paperwork”, start your statement with an action verb, and keep an active voice by saying:
Awarded by the team for completing over 85% of the group’s graphing and paperwork post-excavation
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Use bullet points. Additionally, in talking about impact and readable formatting, it’s important to note that the most effective way to present Qualifications Summary is through the use of a bullet list. This formatting works in favor of you and your potential employer for a few reasons:
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Focus. The bullet list style will make each qualification stand out as an individual merit.
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Direct. The bullet style conveys a directness that will highlight the importance of your words.
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Easy to read. The hiring manager will be able to skim the summary without missing out on the critical details
Ideally, you should limit your bullet list to no more than 6 or 7 qualifications, and those qualifications shouldn’t be more than 2 lines long. In keeping to this formatting, you will maximize the benefits mentioned above.
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What Is In A Qualifications Summary
Even though you know how to format your Summary of Qualifications, maybe you aren’t sure what to include. Perhaps you feel too average, or like you lack some of this incredible experience that some of the samples convey.
However, you shouldn’t fear. There are always clever ways to make yourself seem extraordinary, and a Qualifications Summary will only help on that front.
Here is an general template for a Summary of Qualifications:
Years of experience you have in a select field
Highest degree you’ve achieved, including your major, school and graduation year
Leadership experience, including how many people you worked with or worked for you
Critical achievement or major project you completed, ideally including numerical data
Any specializations or unique skills you were trained in
Important daily tasks or responsibilities you had in a previous role
Professional recognitions, including certifications or awards you received
As you can see, a Summary of Qualifications should be crisp and clean. All of the bullet notes are easy to skim without losing their punch, and this will benefit you immensely in your pursuit of that shiny new job. Though, keep in mind that this is a template, and if you feel you lack any of the items listed, you do not need to include them.
Here is an example of a Summary of Qualifications using some of the items on the template:
Summary Of Qualifications
Ten years of experience working as an ER nurse and midwife
Achieved a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Boston (2018)
Five years of experience leading a team of 15 nurses
Reduced patient mortality rate in the ER by 11%
Managed up to 20 patients a day, including recording and monitoring their condition
Even if you can’t hit all of the key points on the template, there is always something you can include as a qualification you have. No matter what, those qualifications will make you stand out above another applicant.
Additionally, regardless of what you choose to include, easy details to start with are how long you’ve been working in a certain field, and your highest education level. These qualifications are especially valuable if you’re applying to a position that requires relevant experience in these fields . You should also keep in mind that the most beneficial way to present these skills is through quantifiable data, showing exactly what you have achieved. Instead of saying that you have many years of experience, say:
7 years of experience working in X field
When in doubt, some key skills you should display in your summary are: authority, creativity, efficiency, management, and communication.
Here are some powerful words you can use to display those skills:
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Authority and Management: mentored, supervised, administered, coordinated, delegated, trained
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Creativity: envisioned, conceptualized, designed, performed, customized
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Efficiency: maintained, organized, prepared, arranged, updated, scheduled
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Communication: collaborated, persuaded, discussed, presented, clarified, facilitated
All that being said, you’re more than ready to write a glowing Summary of Qualifications.
Other Examples Of Qualification Summaries
Worked at Tom’s Groceries for nearly 2 years
Achieved a high school degree from Franklin High with a GPA of 3.7
Complemented by grocery staff and teachers alike as being extremely patient and eager to learn
Trained as a cashier and a cart attendant
Skilled in multitasking, due to balancing a part time job at Tom’s Groceries and honors classes in high school at the same time
Volunteered for a field archaeology project in Pompeii every summer for 4 years
Graduated Anthro University with a Masters in Anthropology and a 3.8 GPA
Worked with 5 other Archaeologists in a unit, requiring intense communication and passionate teamwork
Completed a 70 page research project, which studied the civilian life at the height of the Roman Republic
Finished 14 projects before their due date, while maintaining professional quality
Awarded by the team for completing over 85% of the group’s graphing and paperwork post-excavation
Over 10 years of experience in customer service
Achieved a high school degree from Samson High (2010)
Trained 7 newly hired sales associates, and mentored them so they could adapt to their new responsibilities
Set a Black Friday record at Bob’s Electronics for checking out 287 customers
Well-spoken and easy to talk to, often utilizing a proficiency in English and Spanish to communicate with customers
Awarded Employee of the Month on two separate occasions, including November 2019 and July 2020.
Experience working as a Realtor in the capital region for over 6 years
Graduated from Housing College with a Masters degree in Business Administration (2017)
Adept at networking, and licensed to work as a realtor in New York and Connecticut
Increased housing sales by 22% while working at Realtor Co.
Gave 72 sellers renovation advice that resulted in a return on investment of at least $15,000
Helped 60% of buyers receive offers that were over asking
Received Top Realtor of the Month for 7 months in a row from August 2019 through March 2020
Why Is A Summary Of Qualifications Important
Having this section as a part of your resume is not required, however, that’s what makes it stand out. If someone is competing for the same position as you, and submits a resume that lacks a Summary of Qualifications, you will gain a step up by including one. By displaying your value front and center, a hiring manager should not only be confident in your individual merit, but also your potential as a new employee.
Should I Use A Summary Of Qualifications?
Using a summary of qualifications depends on your circumstances. You should strongly consider providing a Summary of Qualifications if:
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You have extensive professional experience. If you have a lot of experience, a Summary of Qualifications can help to summarize your most important traits. A Summary of Qualifications brings those traits to the attention of the reader a lot faster.
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You are a recent graduate or have little professional experience. Conversely, you may have little experience but plenty of transferable skills and accomplishments you want to highlight, which a Summary of Qualifications can do for you.
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You are changing careers. When changing careers, your resume at first glance may look like its filled with irrelevant job experience. A Summary of Qualifications helps you show you have the desired traits.
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You have the space. If you find you still have space on a one page resume, a Summary of Qualifications can be a nice way to bring to the reader’s attention your most important abilities.
Remember, a Summary of Qualifications is optional, so it is up to you to decide whether or not you want to provide one.
- Parts Of A Resume
- How To Write A Resume
- Resume Skills Section
- Resume Objective Section
- Career Objective Section
- Resume Reference Section
- Resume Summary Section
- Resume Summary Example
- Resume Interests Section
- Address On Resume
- Relevant Work Experience
- Anticipated Graduation Date On Resume
- Education Section On Resume
- Contact Information On Resume
- Statement Of Qualifications
- How To List Publications On Resume
- Accomplishments On Resumes
- Awards On Resume
- Dean's List On Resume
- Study Abroad On Resume
- Resume Format
- Resume Templates
- General Resume Examples
- Resume Builder
- Resume Format
- Resume Margins
- Resume Header
- Work Experience On Resume
- Irrelevant Work Experience
- Listing Languages On Resume
- Volunteer Work On Resume
- GPA On Resume
- Resume Title
- Summary Of Qualifications
- Resume Picture
- Python Project On Resume
- Google Docs Resume Template
- Professional Bio On Resume
- Multiple Positions At Same Company
- Relevant Coursework Resume
- Where And How To Put Internships On Your Resume
- Professional Resume Formats
- Resume Types