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The first lines: writing a one-paragraph summary

Readers decide from the first few lines whether to keep reading. Practice summarizing yourself in a single paragraph.

Answer three questions

Answer each of these in one sentence: what kind of work have you done, what are you good at, and what role do you want next? Polishing these three sentences gives you the skeleton of your summary.

Use evidence instead of adjectives

Phrases anyone could use, such as “hard-working and detail-oriented”, are not memorable. Instead, briefly mention the single most representative experience from your experience section as the basis for your summary.

Adjust it slightly for each application

The summary is the part you will revise most for each posting. Putting the experience that overlaps with the skills the posting emphasizes first gives the same resume a tailored impression.

Three or four lines is enough

A long summary repeats the body of the resume. Keep it within three or four lines on an A4 page and leave the details to your experience and project blocks.

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