In order to write an effective resume, you must immediately define who you are or who you want them to believe you are. You must set the first impression the reader will have about you and really catch their attention.
In order to create the best first impression, the summary section should start with a line about who you are. This first statement in the summary section is what I like to call the “positioning statement,” which is a term used in marketing. Your positioning statement is a succinct, specifically-focused description of what you want your target audience to associate with brand “you.” It’s how you want to position yourself in the mind of the resume reader.
Here are some examples:
- Marketing Specialist with a passion for creating and implementing strategies to increase name, service, and product awareness.
Project Manager who has successfully led teams in the construction, real estate, telecommunications, healthcare and manufacturing industries for 15+ years.- Human Resources Generalist with diverse experience supporting a variety of industries and using expertise in employment law, recruiting, benefits, and employee relations.
- C-Level Executive Leader with 20+ years of successful leadership in companies ranging from early-stage startups to turnaround situations in a variety of industries, including healthtech, alternative energy, and financial services.
- Business development professional with a unique background blend of sales, human resources, and clinical psychology.
- Degreed accountant with solid background in corporate accounting and proven ability to streamline processes and reduce costs.
Your positioning statement is the most powerful sentence or phrase on your resume, and, when well-constructed, it brings clarity into the mind of the resume reader and creates that all-important first distinct impression. When you start with a powerful positioning statement that attracts their attention, it sets the tone for what comes next on your resume.
© 2009, 2019 Angela Loeb