Resume Introduction Examples: How to Write Resume Intros

The first impression you make on a hiring manager can make or break your chances of landing a job. That's why it's crucial to have a strong, well-written resume introduction. So, don’t let your resume blend in with the stack. Read on to learn how to make your resume shine in the eyes of hiring managers.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide:

• Several professional resume introduction examples.
• What 4 types of resume introductions are there.
• When to use each resume introduction statement.
• How to write a compelling resume introduction that’s right for you.

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• How to Write Strong Resume Bullet Points
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• Resume Header Guide
• Resume in PDF or DOC?
• Resume Mistakes to Avoid

What is a Resume Introduction?

A resume introduction is a short paragraph located on top of your resume. Think of it as a snapshot that quickly shows the hiring manager your key skills, accomplishments at work, and why you're qualified for the job. It's like the catchy start that grabs attention for your resume!

And since it’s the first thing a recruiter will notice, it’s only natural that a resume introduction should be written first, right?

Absolutely not!

Just like you don’t create an abstract for a book or academic thesis first, you shouldn’t write your resume intro when you start writing your resume. Once you have the entire resume right in front of you, it’s going to be so much easier to pick and choose your best achievements to include in your resume introduction.

How to Write a Resume Introduction

The general principles of writing a resume intro look like this:

1. Study the Job Posting

Before writing your resume introduction, read the job posting. Identify key skills, qualifications, and attributes that the employer is seeking. This will help you tailor your introduction to match their expectations, improving your chances of landing an interview.

2. Use a Strong Adjective

Start your introduction with a strong resume action word that encapsulates your professional identity. This could be something like "Dynamic," "Efficient," or "Versatile." This sets the tone for the rest of your summary.

3. Include Your Job Title and Years of Experience

Clearly state your current job title and the number of years of experience you bring to the table (if you have any). This provides context for the reader and helps them understand your level of expertise.

4. Showcase Impressive Achievements

Highlight 1-3 of your most impressive achievements. Use quantifiable metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the impact of your work. This could be percentages of improvement, revenue generated, or successful project outcomes.

5. Proofread and Edit

Before finalizing your introduction, carefully proofread it for any grammatical errors or typos. Ensure that the language is clear and concise. Consider asking a friend or colleague to review it as well for a fresh perspective. You want your first impression to be as clean and professional as possible.

Resume Introduction Types and When to Use Them

When it comes to writing a resume introduction, there are four types to choose from, each with its own unique purpose and format. These types are:

• Resume summary
• Resume objective
• Summary of qualifications
• Resume headline

The first two are often grouped together and referred to as a resume profile, and they are the most common types of resume introductions we recommend you always have on your resume. Meanwhile, the summary of qualifications and the resume headline are rarer and more specialized.

Let’s start with the most common ones first:

Resume Summary

A resume summary is recommended for applicants with at least a couple of years of experience in a specific field. It's a great choice when you want to continue working in the same or similar field of work as you previously did. A resume summary pairs best with a reverse-chronological resume format.

As for what goes into it, a resume summary should showcase the following:

• Your professional title with the number of years worked.
• Key work achievement with a measurable result.
• Top 1–2 resume skills expected by the employer (find them in the job ad).
• One sentence on how you want to improve the company

Let’s see an example, shall we?

Resume Introduction Example—Summary

As you can see, this good intro for a resume checks all the aforementioned boxes. A recruiter with such a resume in front of them can instantly recognize the strengths of this applicant and the benefits they could bring the company. This quick decision is crucial in securing the next step in the interview process, as hiring managers only take about 7 seconds on average to scan your application.

Expert Hint: Before you write your resume introduction, take a moment to make a list of some resume power words. Using them in your resume introduction will greatly increase its impact.

Career Objective

Unlike a summary, a resume objective, sometimes called a career objective, is the best friend of inexperienced candidates. It follows a similar structure to a resume summary, as it still highlights different achievements, usually gained through internships and part-time jobs. It also focuses on your skills and presents what you can offer the company. But if you’ve worked for less than a year, make no mention of your years of experience.

A resume objective is also a good resume introduction for reverse chronological resumes, but it’s even better for functional resumes. On top of that, it works fantastic for entry-level resumes, and resumes with zero experience,

Here’s an example of what it should look like:

Resume Introduction Example—Objective

Even though this electrician has only entered the market, they can already present a valuable, measurable achievement and a selection of desirable hard skills.

In some situations, you can use a resume objective when making a career change resume. But only if you want to pivot your career into a completely new direction. If you have a lot of transferable skills to show, a resume objective will not be a good resume introduction for you. That’s where the next resume introduction type comes in.

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Summary of Qualifications

A summary of qualifications strongly focuses on highlighting both your skills and professional achievements, even if they come from different work fields. This makes it a perfect resume introduction for career change resumes or resumes with gaps in employment. And it’s important to hide them, as studies say that thirty-six percent of executives say they are very concerned when employment gaps appear on resumes. So you can find a summary of qualifications almost exclusively on combination resume formats.

It follows a different pattern from the previous examples, featuring a bulleted list of skills and accomplishments. But it’s not just these. This resume introduction statement can also include things like certifications for resume, memberships, or list your achievements and awards.

Here’s an example of what this introduction for a resume looks like:

Resume Introduction Example—Summary of Qualifications

And when you combine this intro with a hybrid resume, you have the perfect tool to hide all your bad-looking gaps in employment.

There is only one resume introduction left to discuss now.

Expert Hint: Because a summary of qualifications captures various resume sections into one succinct place, it’s very important to put a lot of emphasis on it. Resume keywords will help you with that tremendously.

Resume Headline

The final type of resume introductory statement is the resume headline. It’s kind of like a resume summary but boiled down to just a single sentence. It is typically placed underneath your name and contact information at the top of a resume. Since it’s an even shorter resume introduction than a summary or objective, it grabs the recruiters' attention much faster than the other types. And it doesn’t necessarily have to replace other introductions. A headline can be used in conjunction with them to maximize impact.

If you decide to put one on your resume, remember to follow some rules. Make it a short sentence highlighting your biggest achievement, skill, and/or certificate. If you have a couple of years of experience in the field already, also remember to include it. Here's a couple of headline introductions for a resume:

Resume Introduction Examples—Headline for Resume

Expert Hint: When writing a resume headline, don’t write down just one. Create several and then opt for one that sounds the best.

Resume Introduction Examples for Various Jobs

Below, you’ll find a selection of resume intros for several fields of work. Use them for inspiration when writing an introduction for your resume.

IT

These are sample resume introductions for the IT field:

Marketing

These are sample resume introductions for the marketing field:

Administrative Jobs

These are sample resume introductions for office jobs:

Finance

These are sample resume introductions for financial jobs:

And now you know all you need to write a good introduction for a resume. When hiring managers pick up your application, they will immediately know why they should hire YOU, not someone else.

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Key Points

When creating a resume introduction, remember these things:

• Choose the proper introduction for a resume depending on your chosen resume format, whether you’re changing career paths, and how many years of work experience you have.
• Select one of the most impressive and measurable achievements to demonstrate the impact you have had in your previous roles.
• Use keywords and resume action verbs to describe your achievement.
• Tailor it to the specific job. No recruiter wants to see a clearly copy-pasted resume introduction.
• Be concise and specific. An introduction needs to be short and sweet to hook the reader quickly. Avoid using elaborate language.

Do you have any questions about creating introductions for a resume? Still unsure how to start a resume introduction? We’re always happy to hear from you. Reach out to us in the comments below!