Could Your Resume Use a Highlight Reel? 🎬

The Value of a Summary on Your Resume

I’ll admit it—I’m a self-professed control freak. Which is exactly why I love a summary at the top of a resume.

Think about the power of first impressions. Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time or skimming a document, those opening lines set the tone for everything that follows. Psychologists call this the primacy effect—we tend to remember what comes first more than what comes later. A summary works the same way on a resume: it primes the reader’s brain, frames your story, and helps recruiters know what to pay attention to.

Here’s an example. If someone introduces me to their friend Jack, I’m inclined to see him as trustworthy because of the connection. If they introduce him as their plumber, I immediately assess him in a professional context—can he solve my problem? If they introduce him as a Harvard graduate, it’s just information—I don’t yet know what to make of it.

Your resume summary functions the same way. It provides the lens through which the rest of your experience is read. Without it, recruiters are left to make their own assumptions.

We used to be able to use functional resumes, which group skills into themes rather than timelines to control the narrative, but those rarely make it past the robots these days. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) struggle with non-linear structures and can’t always connect the dots. Since most companies still rely on chronological resumes, a summary at the top becomes your best chance to control how your story gets read.

What Is a Resume Summary (and Why It Replaced the Objective)?

For decades, resumes typically began with an objective—a short statement about what the job seeker wanted. Something like, “Seeking a challenging marketing position where I can grow my skills and advance my career.”

The problem? Objectives were entirely self-focused. They told the employer what you wanted, not what you could offer.

Then the 2000s changed everything. Online job boards like Monster and CareerBuilder meant employers were flooded with resumes. Recruiters didn’t have time to read carefully—they skimmed. Meanwhile, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) became standard, filtering applications by scanning for keywords from job postings. The result: hiring became faster, higher volume, and much more competitive.

Enter the modern resume summary. Instead of focusing on the job seeker’s goals, the summary shifted the spotlight to the employer’s needs. It’s a short professional pitch—2 to 5 sentences—that:

• Puts the employer first by highlighting your most relevant skills and achievements.

• Uses keywords strategically to get noticed by both ATS and human readers.

• Acts as a highlight reel, drawing the recruiter in and showing them at a glance how you can solve their problem.

But the summary isn’t just a convenience. It’s also a framing device rooted in how our brains actually work:

• Schema theory: By providing a frame—say, “Creative Executive transitioning into Project Management”—you prime the recruiter to look for the evidence that supports it.

• Framing effect: The angle you choose shapes the interpretation. Call yourself a “strategic communicator,” and your experience reads differently than if you call yourself a “public relations specialist.”

• Predictive coding: Our brains make predictions as we read. A summary primes those predictions so the recruiter naturally interprets your bullet points as proof of the story you’ve already set up.

That’s why a resume summary has become so valuable. It’s not just a nice-to-have—it’s a tool to control the narrative. Instead of leaving a recruiter to draw their own conclusions, you hand them the lens through which to see your career.

How to Write a Strong Summary

The biggest mistake I see with summaries is that people treat them like packing for a family vacation—seven bathing suits, rash guards in every size, a pile of goggles, flip flops, sneakers, workout clothes, a sun hat, baseball cap, bucket hat, floppy hat, wide-brim beach hat… and that’s before the fancy dinner outfits, bags, and jackets. All crammed into one suitcase.

Your summary is not a luggage cart of your entire career. It’s a go-bag: just the essentials that make you nimble, primed, and ready.

So how do you actually write a summary that captures attention, frames your story, and signals to both humans and machines that you’re the right fit? A strong summary follows a few key principles:

• Keep it short: 2–5 sentences.

• Use keywords: Borrow directly from the job description to show alignment.

• Tailor it for each role: Write your resume first, then craft your summary for that specific opening.

• Include one concrete accomplishment: Numbers or outcomes make it real.

• Skip personal pronouns: Keep the focus professional.

If you need a place to start, here’s a simple formula (from Jobscan). Use it as a guide, then make it your own:

[Job Title] with experience in [Skill 1], [Skill 2], and [Skill 3]. Proven ability to [Accomplishment 1] and [Accomplishment 2]. Known for [Work style, strength, or value you bring to the role].

Examples of Weak vs. Strong Summaries

I always find it helpful to see examples, but before we dive into those let’s be clear on what makes a summary weak versus what makes it strong.

A weak summary is vague, generic, and self-focused. It tells the employer what you want but doesn’t show them what you can deliver. It lacks specifics, keywords, and measurable impact.

A strong summary, on the other hand, is precise, employer-focused, and backed by proof. It highlights the value you bring, uses language from the job description, and gives the recruiter a reason to keep reading. It frames your story and makes it easy to connect the dots.

Below are three examples of how that difference plays out in practice. Let’s start with a weak executive-level example that doesn’t do much heavy lifting:

Weak:
“Experienced communications professional with a background in media and leadership. Looking for a senior role where I can use my skills and help a company succeed.”

Why it’s weak: It’s vague, self-focused, and filled with clichés. The phrases “experienced” and “looking for a senior role” could apply to thousands of candidates. There’s no evidence, no accomplishments, and no sense of what makes this person stand out.

Here’s a stronger version of that same summary:

Strong:
“EVP of Communications with expertise in corporate strategy, media relations, and executive messaging. Proven ability to lead global teams and manage multi-million-dollar campaigns that elevate brand reputation and drive stakeholder engagement. Known for combining strategic vision with hands-on execution to deliver clear, compelling communications in high-stakes environments.”

Why it’s strong: It leads with the title, signals seniority, and immediately names core strengths. Notice the use of action-driven phrases like “proven ability” and “known for.” It quantifies scope (global teams, multi-million-dollar campaigns) and shows impact (elevating brand reputation, driving engagement). This frames the candidate as a strategic leader who delivers results.

Now let’s look at a career pivot.

Weak:
“Creative professional with experience in entertainment and production. Looking for a role that leverages my skills in management and strategy.”

Why it’s weak: Again, it’s generic and self-focused. “Creative professional” could mean anything. “Looking for a role” tells us nothing about what the applicant can contribute. There’s no connection between past experience and the role they’re targeting.

Strong (career pivot):
“Creative Executive transitioning to Project Manager. Bringing 10 years of experience leading cross-functional teams with transferable strengths in strategic planning, budget management, and deadline execution. Known for delivering complex projects 15% under budget and improving team efficiency by 20%. Ready to apply proven leadership skills to fast-paced project environments.”

Why it’s strong: It names the pivot directly—“transitioning to Project Manager”—and guides the recruiter’s lens. Transferable skills are spelled out, accomplishments are quantified, and the tone is confident. Instead of asking the recruiter to connect the dots, it does the work for them.

And here’s how it works for someone just starting out.

Weak:
“Recent graduate seeking an entry-level position to learn new skills and gain experience.”

Why it’s weak: This is purely self-oriented—it tells us what the candidate wants rather than what they offer. There are no specifics, no evidence, and nothing memorable.

Strong (objective statement for a recent graduate):
“Recent graduate with a B.A. in Communications and hands-on experience in digital media. Completed an internship managing content calendars and boosting engagement by 15%. Eager to bring strong writing skills, fresh ideas, and digital fluency to a growing marketing team.”

Why it’s strong: It’s specific (degree + field), offers proof of experience (internship + 15% boost in engagement), and shifts the focus to what the graduate can contribute (skills, ideas, energy). It positions them as ready to add value, not just hoping to gain it.

In a job market where recruiters spend seconds scanning resumes, your summary isn’t just an intro—it’s your headline, your hook, and your chance to control the story.

Bottom Line

A summary is your chance to control the narrative. Just like the way you’re introduced to “Jack” changes how you see him—friend, plumber, or Harvard grad—your summary sets the lens through which recruiters read your entire resume. Without it, they’re left to make snap judgments based on scattered details.

Psychology tells us this matters: framing shapes interpretation, schemas guide what people notice, and the brain looks for patterns to confirm its first impression. By writing a focused, employer-centered summary, you’re not just listing skills—you’re directing how your career story gets processed, remembered, and valued.

That’s why the summary isn’t filler. It’s strategy.

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Here are four questions to help you reflect on the value of framing your career story through a resume summary: