In resume writing, introductory statements are beneficial for job seekers. The purpose of having an introductory statement is to highlight your career goals and to summarize your qualifications to give potential employers a quick overview of your skillset. When deciding whether to include an introductory statement, job seekers often have a hard time choosing if they are going to use a resume summary or an objective statement since they serve different purposes and we are all taught to use one or the other.
Let’s first look at the definitions and purposes of each:
A professional summary, also known as a professional profile, is a short paragraph at the beginning of your resume that highlights your key skills and experiences. This is a way of telling the employer who you are, what value you have to offer based on your past experience, your skills and knowledge, and what makes you unique or different as a job candidate. Its purpose is to directly relate the job seeker’s experience and qualifications to the company’s needs. Here’s a good example of a professional summary: