A resume’s introduction is important as it captivates the recruiter’s attention, compelling them to spend more time reviewing your resume. Considering the volume of resumes employers have to go through, you should already know they would take a swift scan of your resume, and at a glance, your resume should scream, I’m the perfect fit for this job.
So, how do you start an introduction to a resume? This article provides key information on making a powerful introduction and a polished resume that will positively impress the employer.
Although a resume introduction is usually the first section of a resume, we strongly recommend writing it after completing the rest of the resume. Writing the other parts, such as your skills, experiences, hobbies, and references can help decide the resume introduction format to adopt.
The resume introduction format varies depending on your experiences, skills, qualifications, and the industry you are applying to. Therefore, choosing how to start an introduction to a resume is very crucial.
Resume introduction formats
There are three formats to choose from when writing your resume introduction:
- Career objective
- Personal profile
- Qualifications summary
Career objective
Career objective resume introduction is used to target a certain position. This introduction format allows you to highlight all your objectives following the company you’re applying for needs. This is usually in the form of a short statement or a two-lined sentence paragraph.
Personal profile
A personal profile resume introduction is a much more flexible introduction format when compared to the career objective resume introduction. This is usually presented in the form of a paragraph or bullet-point list.
Qualifications summary
The qualifications summary introduction emphasizes the skills candidate possesses. This usually comes as a bullet-point list highlighting the relevant skills required for the position being applied for. This resume introduction format may focus on both academic achievements and work-related skills.
Here are some resume introduction examples you can use
Choosing the resume introduction format
As briefly discussed above, each format varies from the other and serves differently. Knowing how and when to use each format is of absolute importance to provide the resume with that professionally polished look that draws attention.
Choosing the career objective resume introduction
This works better when you have little to no relevant work experience for the position being applied for. You should highlight your objectives following the requirements the employers set in their job postings.
The information being relayed here should be relevant to the job posting and emphasize various aspects of your personality, character, and work ethic. This is the best-suited resume introduction for recent college graduates.
Choosing the personal profile resume introduction
The personal profile resume introduction is best to use when you’re applying for a position of a similar role, same industry, or when uploading a resume for online application job sites. This resume introduction format is well suited for experienced professionals as they tailor it to showcase their strengths.
Choosing the qualifications summary resume introduction
The qualifications summary resume introduction is best when you are applying to a different industry. It allows you to highlight relevant skills, accomplishments, and achievements you’ve made that meet the job position requirements. This resume introduction format may focus on both academic achievements or work-related skills.
How to start your resume introduction
By now, you’ve got an idea of writing a resume introduction as we have broken down the formats and talked about when each one of the formats should be applied. Now, let’s go over specific information each format should include.
What to write in your career objective introduction
The resume introduction should be a short paragraph, basically two to three sentences, detailing the career path you want to explore and what you wish to achieve from this job. This introduction should highlight:
- Relevant education, certifications, and licenses
- Experiences such as internships, job duties
- Skills and abilities relevant to company goals
- Personality traits and strengths
- Work ethics
Tip: always review the job description and focus on what the company wants from its workers. Use fonts that are easy to read.
What to write in your personal profile introduction
The personal profile introduction includes highlights of all your career experiences. This resume introduction should highlight:
- Relevant career achievements
- How many years of experience you have
- Your areas of expertise
- Transferable skills
- Personality traits and strengths
Tip: The use of short sentences makes it easier to go through, and you might consider using a different background color as it makes this section stand out.
What to write in your qualification summary introduction
The qualifications summary format lays more emphasis on skillset over experience. This section should consist of a maximum of seven bullet points and focus on your skills and key competencies relevant to the position. The resume introduction should highlight:
- Creativity and efficiency
- Effective communication
- Management skills
- Recognitions and achievements
- Relevant experience
- Teamwork and leadership
Tip: Although the skills can be listed in no particular order, it’s advisable to first list the most impressive skills. This section doesn’t necessarily need a different background color as bullet points always stand out.
Additional tips to make your introduction for resume more compelling:
- Be consistent
- Keep it concise
- Use action words and specific industry keywords
- Elaborate your worth and values
- Proofread
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