How to write a CV summary

The CV summary (or professional profile) is the short paragraph under your name. It's the first thing read and it decides whether the recruiter keeps going. Its job is to answer in a few lines: who you are, what you do well and what you're looking for.

Who you are, what sets you apart and what you are looking for make up the three-sentence formula.

1. 1Who you are: your role or specialty and years of experience.
2. 2What sets you apart: 2–3 concrete strengths (industry, tools, an achievement).
3. 3What you're looking for or bring: the kind of role or challenge you want.

Server, nurse, developer, sales and no-experience examples show professional profiles in action.

• Server: “Server with 5 years in high-volume restaurants and cocktail bars. Fast on the floor and great with guests. Available nights and weekends.”
• Nurse: “Registered nurse with 5 years in emergency care. Skilled in triage and life support, with a strong focus on patient safety.”
• Developer: “Front-end developer with 5 years in React and TypeScript. I care about performance and accessibility. Experienced in agile product teams.”
• Sales: “B2B sales rep with 8 years in industrial supplies. Manages a £2.1M portfolio and wins new accounts. Open to travel.”
• No experience: “Business graduate with a finance internship at a small company. Advanced Excel and fluent Spanish. Looking for my first role in administration or finance.”

Use these tailored examples as inspiration for your own CV, but make sure to customise them to match your unique background and the local market.

• Retail Sales Associate: “Customer-focused retail sales associate with 3 years of experience in high-end apparel. Proven track record in exceeding daily sales targets and delivering exceptional customer service. Fluent in English and Spanish.”
• Administrative Assistant: “Detail-oriented administrative assistant with 4 years supporting busy office environments. Skilled in calendar management, expense reporting, and advanced data entry. Eager to bring strong organizational skills to a new team.”
• Customer Service Representative: “Dedicated customer support specialist with 3 years in fast-paced call centres and live chat environments. Expert in conflict resolution and CRM software. Known for maintaining high customer satisfaction scores.”
• Teacher: “Qualified secondary school teacher with 6 years of experience designing engaging history curricula and improving student retention rates. Strong background in bilingual instruction and classroom management.”
• Accountant: “Detail-driven staff accountant with 5 years managing accounts payable, general ledgers, and monthly financial close processes. Certified public accountant candidate with advanced proficiency in QuickBooks and Excel.”
• Graphic Designer: “Creative graphic designer with a portfolio of branding and digital campaigns for local businesses. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, with a strong eye for typography and layout.”
• Digital Marketing Specialist: “Results-driven digital marketer with 4 years managing paid social campaigns and SEO strategies. Increased organic traffic by 45 percent for previous tech startup clients through targeted content marketing.”
• Receptionist: “Warm and professional front desk receptionist with 2 years managing multi-line phone systems and welcoming international clients. Excellent communication skills and proficiency in modern office suite tools.”
• Warehouse Associate: “Reliable warehouse associate with 3 years of experience in inventory control and order fulfillment. Certified forklift operator comfortable working in fast-paced logistics and distribution centres.”
• Nursing Assistant: “Compassionate certified nursing assistant returning to the workforce after a career break, backed by 6 years in elder care facilities. Skilled in patient mobility support, vital signs monitoring, and emergency response.”

Length, tailoring, keywords, proof and voice are the main tips for your summary.

• Two to four lines. If it fills half a page, it's no longer a summary.
• Tailor it to each job: it's the easiest part to change and the one that shows most.
• Use the job's keywords (the job title, the tools).
• No adjectives without proof: if you're organised, your experience will show it.
• Write it without “I” (“Looking for…”) or in the third person — just be consistent.