The rules
- 5 to 6 sentences, about 70 to 95 words, in one paragraph.
- No personal pronouns: write Leads cross-functional teams, not I lead.
- No years of experience. They invite age assumptions and add nothing a recruiter cannot see in your dates.
- No figures. Numbers belong in your bullets, where they have context.
- No filler such as passionate, dynamic or hard-working. Show the strength instead.
The six-sentence formula
- Who you are for this job: the posting's job title plus the three or four requirements you can prove.
- Scope: the kind of teams, programs, markets or tools you work with.
- Impact in words: process improvement, operational efficiency, project delivery.
- Leadership and collaboration: team leadership, stakeholder management, coaching.
- Working style: problem-solving, accountability, performing under pressure.
- Why you fit this posting: the employer's main needs, in the employer's words.
Before and after
Before: I am a hard-working professional with over 10 years of experience. I am passionate about customer service and I am a team player.
After: Customer success manager skilled in account retention, onboarding and stakeholder management. Background spans software subscriptions and service programs for small and mid-sized business clients. Improves renewal rates through clear processes and consistent follow-up. Coaches new team members and works closely with sales, product and support teams. Known for staying calm under pressure, solving problems quickly and acting with integrity. Ready to protect revenue and grow long-term client relationships for a fast-growing customer team.
The second version is longer, but every sentence gives the recruiter a reason to keep reading, and each strength can be backed by a bullet below it.
Let the tool draft it
ProofFit builds your summary from three sources: your original summary, the job posting, and a list of the phrases hiring managers search for most. It uses a phrase only when a line of your resume supports it, and shows you that line so you can check it.
Check your own resume now
Paste a job posting, upload your resume and see your estimated score, the requirements you do not show yet, and a tailored version that never invents experience. The check is free; your first tailored application is free after sign-in.
Check my resume, freeQuestions
Should I use a summary or an objective?
A summary. An objective says what you want; a summary says what you offer the employer, which is what a recruiter is looking for.
How long should a resume summary be?
Five to six sentences, about 70 to 95 words. Shorter often misses key requirements; longer gets skipped.
Should I change my summary for every job?
Yes. The first and last sentences should always reflect the specific posting.