If you struggle with writing those perfect resume summaries, today’s resume writing tip is for you.

For us, a resume summary is approached as a stand-alone piece of content. Pretend the rest of the resume gets lost, and the HR Manager has only the summary to read to decide whether to interview your client.

That’s what a resume summary means to us: taking the client’s best (preferably recent, absolutely relevant) career bits and turning them into something enticing.

In the past, resume summaries were very skills-focused, yet that’s changed as resume writers introduce sales and revenue accomplishments, unique language skills, spotlight critical career successes, and so on.

Here’s a great example of this in action:

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BUSINESS EXECUTIVE/CEO - TRANSFORMATIONAL & BUSINESS STRATEGIST FOR COMPANIES LOOKING TO GROW SALES & MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT EURASIA

Author and implement aggressive market-entry growth plans that align people, processes, and systems specific to consumer-product manufacturing, new business development, and customer growth. Put the infrastructure in place to handle increased sales volumes resulting from newly expanded, country-specific sales teams. Produce consistent needle-moving results, increasing revenue up to 75.6%, with cost reductions accounting for 32.4% annually. Exceptional multilingual skills, including French, Italian, Dutch, Japanese, and Portuguese. Launched a new product line throughout southern Japan, which is expected to generate $5.26M in the next 18 months.

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Here are the notes taken during the client intake call, which were referenced when writing the above summary:

• Client wants a C-level position - prefers companies dealing with barriers to entry in specific markets
• Had trouble with current BOD but still launched new product line with much success
• Likes ground-floor companies but would prefer a stable, profitable employer this go around
• Heavy performer - has an extensive history with expanding companies throughout Europe & Asia
• Many recommendation letters from past employers praising him for his results

You might be wondering what we wouldn’t put in a summary.

First, we wouldn't include software skills in such an essential area of the resume unless they are HIGHLY SPECIALIZED AND PERTINENT to the job or contained in the client’s ideal job target.

We often see basic sentences like these in resumes: “Proficient with MS software, including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel.” Ick!

Second, we wouldn’t write about what’s irrelevant to the client now.

For example, we didn’t write anything in the above about our client’s past history with start-ups because that’s not what our client is currently focused on.

If he were, we would have included something like, “Transform start-ups seeking second and third rounds of funding to include capital from venture capitalists and government funding.”

Third, we wouldn't include a lot of skills unless the client is in a support role. For those who hire vice and C-level executives, sales reps, and directors (aka results-driven professionals), want to see results and successes (the sizzle!).