BlogResume WritingTips for Writing a Professional Resume Profile [+ 27 Examples]

Tips for Writing a Professional Resume Profile [+ 27 Examples]

resume profile

Creating a professional resume is all about grabbing the recruiter’s attention and making a good first impression. 

Since every resume begins with a resume profile, getting this part right is crucial. A resume profile acts as an introduction to the rest of the document—it sparks the hiring manager’s interest and entices them to keep reading.

To be that catchy, a resume profile should be highly impactful and emphasize your vital skills and most impressive achievements. However, you have just a couple of sentences to accomplish such a feat, so there’s no time to lose!

We’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to help you master the skill of writing a perfect resume profile and complete your CV writing on a high note. Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways

  • A resume profile is a brief section at the top of your resume that highlights the most important aspects of your professional career. 

  • A neatly written resume profile is essential for grabbing recruiters’ attention and getting them to read the rest of your resume.

  • Your resume profile should include years of work experience, your area of expertise, some soft and hard skills you possess, and your most impactful achievements.

  • You should write a unique resume profile for each position you apply for.

  • The most common types of resume profile are resume summary and resume objective.

What is a Resume Profile?

resume headline

A resume profile is a brief section that sits at the top of your resume whose purpose is to instantly showcase your professional skills and achievements to the recruiter. It should be one to four sentences long and packed with significant information.

If you have an extensive employment history filled with relevant accomplishments, you will want to highlight your most impressive work. In that case, a resume profile is also known as a resume summary because it acts as an outline for the rest of the document. It should explain to the recruiter why you’re the best person for the job in one concise paragraph.

On the other hand, a resume profile for fresh graduates or someone with no work experience is also called a resume objective. It should emphasize the skills you gained during your studies and show your eagerness to learn and grow within the company you’re applying to.

Why is Writing a Resume Profile Essential?

Resume summary or objective

A resume profile is both an introduction to your resume and its summary. Not only is it a vital part, but it also brings multiple benefits when it's done properly.

Most hiring managers skim through dozens of resumes on a daily basis, spending no more than 6-7 seconds on each. In essence, your unique skills and achievements act as keywords that they look for. By putting them in your resume profile, you’re much more likely to attract the attention of the recruiters or pass the ATS scan.

Once the hiring managers are hooked, your resume profile becomes your elevator pitch. You gain a few more precious seconds to prove you are the one for the job by giving them a quick preview of who you are and what they’ll find in your application letter.

What to Include in a Resume Profile?

A resume profile needs to be short but still filled with as much valuable information as possible.

Here are several vital things you want to include in it:

What to Include

  • Years of experience in the market. The longer you work in a specific field, the more skilled you should be. Don’t just describe yourself as an intermediate or a senior professional, but quantify your experience with the exact number of years. Stating that you have 5+ years of experience in a fast-changing IT industry will grab the recruiter’s attention from the very beginning.

  • Your area of expertise. Another way to show that you’re the perfect candidate for the position is by displaying your expertise in the area relevant to the position you’re applying for.

  • Soft and hard skills gained. Let the recruiter know what your biggest strengths are right away. Leverage a couple of hard skills you have gained throughout your career, and then add a few soft skills you’re most proud of to impress your potential employer.

  • Your achievements. The best way to display your value to future employers is to write about your most prominent achievements. This allows you to impress the recruiter by presenting some real-life results of your hard work and dedication.

3 Easy Steps to Writing a Professional Resume Profile

If writing a professional resume profile seems like a daunting task, you can follow these easy steps to create this part of your resume with minimal hassle.

Step #1. Make a Unique Resume Profile for Each Position You Apply For

Your resume needs to be precisely tailored to the job position you’re applying for. Recruiters are always looking for candidates with industry-specific skill sets and work experience. That’s why the content of your resume will always vary from one application to another.

The same goes for writing a resume profile. You should always write a new one for each job application and personalize its contents according to the job you’re applying for. That way, you can highlight only the most relevant information without including unrelated and redundant details.

The best strategy is to research the company and check out the main requirements for the position you’re applying for. That way, you’ll find out what types of skills, experience, and achievements the recruiters are looking for. 

Once you do it, compare your skill set and accomplishments to those in the job ad, choose the ones that match the job description, and add them to your resume profile.

Step #2. Emphasize Your Top Achievements

Even though your resume profile needs to be short and to the point, it must portray you as an ideal candidate for the position. That’s why you want to focus on your best achievements and leave some room for them in your resume profile.

Remember some moments in your career when your performance exceeded everyone’s expectations and yielded outstanding results. Then describe those accomplishments in your resume profile by using suitable action verbs and power words. Also, use exact numbers to quantify those achievements, as that will make them more credible and memorable.

Finally, you don’t want to overburden this section. Instead of trying to fit in as many achievements as possible, draw the recruiter’s attention to the best and most impactful ones.

Step #3. List Your Relevant Skills to the Position

Relevance is the name of the game when it comes to resume building. Therefore, you should definitely have it in mind when thinking about the skills you want to include in your resume profile.

Keep in mind that hiring managers mostly care about whether you’re skilled for the job that they offer. If you’re applying for a team lead position, for example, you want to emphasize your communication, problem-solving, and delegation skills. The fact that you know how to use design software might not be the most important thing to put in your resume profile on this occasion.

Also, be sure to find a healthy mix of soft and hard skills. Relevant hard skills show that you’re able to do the job, while soft skills tell recruiters about your interpersonal and other transferable skills.

How to Create a Resume Profile for Students

student resume

The purpose of a resume profile is to show off a candidate's abilities through their professional accomplishments. However, if you’re a student or a recent graduate, chances are you have little to no work history. Even so, you shouldn't let that stop you from using the power of a well-written resume profile.

If you don’t have any work experience, your resume profile (in this instance, a resume objective) should focus on your abilities and academic achievements. Pick a couple of key skills that show your qualifications for the position in the chosen company. If your GPA is above 3.5, you can leverage it for more impact.

Continue by displaying ambition and drive to become a part of their team and contribute to their success. Make sure to describe your career goals and align them with the company’s needs. You want the recruiters to recognize your potential even though you don’t have much experience and see you as someone who is willing to grow and improve.

Here’s an example of a student’s resume profile:

Student Resume Profile Example

"Driven and organized graphic design student with a record of academic and extracurricular success. Extensive management and tutoring experience and expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, typography, and color theory. Wishing to leverage strong creative thinking skills to help [Company] in your future ventures."

What is the Difference Between a Resume Profile and a Resume Objective?

resume objective

Before you write a resume profile, you need to know which type suits your needs. For example, resume profiles for a career change are completely different from those that belong to seasoned professionals with many years of experience in the industry.

Depending on the amount of experience you have under your belt, you may need to create:

  1. Resume profile (summary)

  2. Resume objective

Resume Profile

A resume profile, which is also called a resume summary, showcases your skills and achievements mostly through work experience. Because of this, it's the best option for candidates with a lot of professional experience.

A resume profile acts as a career summary, which can give hiring managers an insight into your competencies and significant professional endeavors. It’s a brief and to-the-point paragraph that emphasizes your biggest strengths and proudest accomplishments.

Resume Objective

If you’re a high school student, a recent graduate, or someone who wants to switch careers, your relevant work experience will be limited. In that case, you want to start your application with a resume objective. Just like a resume summary, this section will also be short and concise, but its focus will be on your skills.

Since you don’t have an extensive professional history to feature, your resume objective should highlight your abilities and academic achievements. This is also the time to show a willingness to learn and to convince recruiters that you’ll be productive regardless of your lack of work experience.

Top 27+ Job-Winning Resume Profile Examples

The best way to learn more is through real-life resume profile examples. Keep reading to see how they look in action.

#1. Administration

Office Manager Resume Profile

“Attentive and organized office manager with 10+ years of experience in the field. Effectively managed teams of 5 to 20 members in the IT and marketing industries. Extensive experience in data entry with proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite. Has strong multitasking and communicative skills and is highly team-oriented.”

Executive Assistant Resume Profile

“Result-driven executive assistant with 7+ years of experience. Extensive knowledge of corporate procedures, business terminologies, and standard practices. Impeccable interpersonal skills with a focus on strategic planning and professionalism. Proficient in QuickBooks, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and Slack.”

Administrative Assistant Resume Profile

“Well-organized administrative assistant with a 5+ year background in human resources. Able to multitask in a highly productive environment while maintaining efficiency and quality. Adept at database management and all MS Office applications.”

#2. Marketing

Copywriter Resume Profile

“Proficient copywriter with 5+ years of experience in writing different types of copy for high-end clients. Strong research skills and impeccable attention to detail. Looking to utilize my knowledge to become a valuable member of your team.”

Social Media Marketing Manager Resume Profile

“Committed social media manager with 7+ years of extensive experience on various platforms. Helped increase online reach by 65% and boost landing page conversions by 19% in the last quarter. Seeking to leverage accumulated knowledge to help raise ABC Company’s KPIs and grow a customer base.”

Junior Marketing Assistant Resume Profile

“Performance-driven marketer with 3+ years of collaborating with development and sales teams to create brand-consistent campaigns. Implemented novelty strategies to ensure an up-to-date and impactful market presence. Seeking to leverage current knowledge and forward-thinking to gain more experience and progress with ABC Company.”

#3. Management

Project Manager Resume Profile

“Focused project manager with more than 5 years of work experience in the field and a PMP certification. Piloted extensive projects to meet every deadline while staying within budget. Spotless track record with immaculate organizational skills and time management. Looking to leverage my skills to take on sizable projects at ABC Company.”

Marketing Manager Resume Profile

“Result-oriented marketing manager with 3+ years of experience working on branding and online reach for high-profile businesses. Well-versed in handling marketing budgets, fine-tuning different strategies, and optimizing processes to exceed expected goals. Improved Company A’s last year’s ROI by 7%.”

#4. Hospitality

Bartender Resume Profile

“Expeditive bartender with 6+ years of experience working at busy bars and managing bar areas. Familiar with more than 120 cocktail recipes and capable of producing them with high efficiency. Awarded for exceptional customer service and workplace organization. Looking to leverage my skills and knowledge to become a bar supervisor.”

Housekeeper Resume Profile

“Efficient and methodical housekeeper with more than 5 years of experience in keeping a 5-star hotel interior immaculate. Flawless attention to detail with great communication and people skills. Always striving for perfection and looking to maintain a degree of sophistication.”

Fast Food Cook Resume Profile

“Skilled cook with 3+ years of experience working in a fast-paced environment. Efficient in preparing dishes while maintaining the highest degree of quality. Well-versed in strict safety rules and dietary guidelines. Always striving to serve exquisite food on time while maintaining impeccable hygiene standards.”

#5. Customer Support

Customer Service Specialist Resume Profile

“Energetic customer service specialist with 4 years of experience communicating with customers and resolving complex issues. Strong people skills, active listening skills, and emotion control. Looking to help ABC Company build a larger online presence and boost your brand by focusing on maintaining customer satisfaction.”

Technical Support Specialist Resume Profile

“Responsible and adaptable technical support specialist with 10+ years of experience working in fast-paced call centers. Proficient in recognizing customer concerns and swiftly finding optimal solutions that ensure customer satisfaction and boost loyalty. Looking to leverage my background to help increase customer retention and drive more revenue.”

#6. Sales

Sales Leader Resume Profile

“Result-driven sales leader with more than 10 years of experience working for premium retail clients. Focused on client satisfaction with exceptional communication and time management skills. Helped increase sales revenue of XYZ company last year by 27%. Looking to use my extensive knowledge to help a proficient team reach their maximum potential.”

Fashion Sales Representative Resume Profile

“Adept fashion sales representative with a focus on customer satisfaction. 7+ years of experience working with streetwear and fitness brands. Impeccable track record of exceeding quotas and increasing profits. Grew market share for a previous client by 15% in the last two years.”

Retail Sales Professional Profile

“Accomplished sales professional with more than 15 years of retail experience. History of building long-lasting business relationships to help increase reach and revenue. Exceptional organizational and communication skills with spot-on time management. Always looking for ways to refine sales strategies and improve the team’s productivity.”

#7. Education

Tutor Resume Profile

“Mathematics tutor with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computing and 5+ years of teaching experience. Exceptional listening skills and communication. Capable of dividing complex problems into easy-to-follow, step-by-step solutions. Looking to help high school and college students enhance their mathematical abilities and technological literacy.”

High School Teacher Resume Profile

“Devoted and ambitious high school teacher with a BSc in Physics and 3 years of experience in the field. Capable of presenting complex problems and ideas in an easy-to-understand manner. 3,000+ hours of classroom experience that resulted in a 37% college admission rate increase at ABC High School.”

College Professor Resume Profile

“Motivated professor of Law with a bachelor's degree at the Tennessee College of Law and 5+ years of experience in the field. Intense passion for teaching and proven results of helping over 500 students a year reach their goals. Looking to share my knowledge and inspire future academics through teamwork and cooperation.” 

#8. Finance & Accounting

Junior Accountant Resume Profile

“Ambitious junior accountant with 3 years of managing both payable and receivable accounts. Experience in budgeting and payroll administration. Worked on creating financial reports and budget estimates and helped reduce overhead by 14%. Attentive to detail and a strong communicator and willing to join a driven team.”

Data Entry Clerk Resume Profile

“Focused data entry clerk with more than 5 years of experience in data acquisition and processing. Excellent time management and typing speeds that average 60-90 wpm. Capable of intense focus and high productivity work while maintaining exceptional precision and accuracy.”

Financial Analyst Resume Profile

“Professional financial analyst with over 4 years of experience in budgeting and spending management. Worked with high-ranking executives on creating business goals, material reports, quarterly forecasts, and more. Focus on quality and precision resulted in reducing ABC Company’s overhead costs by 11% last year.”

#9. IT

Front End Developer Resume Profile

“Ambitious front-end developer with 3+ years of experience working with a broad range of clients. Proficient in JavaScript, Angular, and React. Continuously conducting research and keeping up with the trends in this ever-changing industry. Specialized in one-page websites. Looking to join a big team and take on large-scale projects.”

Software Engineer Resume Profile

“Seasoned software engineer with 10+ years of experience in the field. Track record of producing first-rate software for a range of high-end clients. Excellent at writing clean and structured code that’s in alignment with professional conventions. Proficient in Python, .Net, C++, and Java. Adept at managing large-scale teams and using Agile principles to reach goals and meet deadlines.”

Data Analyst Resume Summary

“Meticulous data analyst with more than 5 years of experience gathering and transforming information to help businesses make strategic, operational, and organizational decisions. Adept at probability, statistics, and data visualization. Helped boost ABC Company’s sales by 17% in the last quarter through market research and surveys."

#10. Other Industries

Junior Architect Resume Profile

“Motivated and thorough junior architectural designer with 3+ years of experience in drafting, modeling, project management, and customer relations. Proficient in AutoCAD, 3DS Max, Revit, and V-Ray. Looking to bring my skills and knowledge to a collaborative environment and help a team focused on sustainable architecture.”

Graphic Designer Resume Profile

“Inventive and client-centered graphic designer with experience in branding. Rich work history of more than 5 years of collaboration with various clients on logos, apparel design, ad creatives, and print preparation. Highly skilled in Adobe Creative Suite and Affinity Creative Software. Assisted in doubling social media following for Brand A last year and helped increase their engagement from 1 to 3%.”

Real Estate Agent Resume Profile

“Devoted real estate agent with 15+ years of experience in the field. Built a vast network of clients and associates. Strong active listener and tactful communicator with exceptional negotiation skills. More than 90 closed transactions and satisfied buyers. Continuously researching real estate rules and regulations and keeping up with the trends in the industry.”

Closing Thoughts

A resume profile is a fundamental part of your document. It’s your first contact with the employer and usually a deciding factor in your progress to the further stages of the interview process. Getting this part right means getting recruiters to look at the rest of your resume.

Knowing the different types of resume profiles, how they should be formatted and positioned, and what they should include will help you get the most out of them. Follow the rules and guidelines we provided you with, and you’ll have a seamless resume profile in a breeze!

Research the article closely and you’re bound to create a riveting and eye-catching resume profile!

Sheila Kravitz
Sheila Kravitz
Content Writer & Head Editor
By day, Sheila Kravitz writes stellar content and works as a head editor. At night, she spends her time winning at trivia nights or playing Dungeons & Dragons with her friends. Whether she’s writing or editing, she gives her maximum effort and ensures no error gets past her watchful eyes. When she’s doing none of the above, Sheila likes to spend time with her cats and her partner, endlessly watching crime documentaries on Netflix.

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