Summary of qualification allows you to make a quick and favorable impression immediately. More to the point, it allows you the flexibility to control how the resume is read.

It combines the best aspects of a functional resume with that of a chronological resume. Functional resumes work great in highlighting the unique skills and accomplishments a seasoned professional would have accumulated over the years. Yet, many recruiters and human resources managers tend to think that those who use a functional resume have something to hide, such as weird employment gaps. With a summary of qualifications, you can list your unique attributes right up front, and then follow it with a chronological layout.

A well written summary can also project a solid sense of confidence. It can transform your work history into a marketing tool to showcase what you can bring to the table. Of course, key to this transformation is that the information in your summary is not simply a rehash of what is to follow.

You can approach the summary in a couple of different directions. First, you could write a paragraph of 4 to 5 lines that emphasizes your strongest points:

Example #1:

Demonstrated ability to formulate and implement comprehensive product introduction strategy; experienced in managing multi-departmental organizations with strong background in developing long term and complex budgets for achieving marketing goals. Excellent ability in assessing and identifying strategic opportunities; along with designing implementable solutions.

By the way, it should go with saying that whatever you write in the summary of qualifications is explicitly supportable with the information in the remainder of the resume. It would be odd to have a strong opening statement and have it followed by something this is completely disconnected

The second option would be to write it with bullet points.

Example #2:

Designed and implemented successful xyx widget product launch in greater Atlanta market.

Developed and implemented sales and marketing strategy for multi-State location that increased market share by 8% within 2 years.

By identifying inefficiencies and waste in marketing program; successfully reduced cost by 11% and returned $23,000 to bottom-line.

While you could be more general with a paragraph introduction, I think the bullet point format allows you to be more specific in using actual accomplishments. Your objective is to pull out those accomplishments that demonstrate your qualifications for the job you are applying for. Some also list accomplishments for each job held in the chronological format. That is fine, so long as it does not restate or rehash your summary.

Lastly, the summary can be a sort of big picture introduction to your work history and accomplishments. It can give the reader a sense of who you are and what you are capable of.

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