How to Write a Great Summary of Qualifications in 2025

You have only seven seconds on average to grab a recruiter’s attention, so your resume needs to get off to a strong start. 

An impactful summary of qualifications can do precisely that. But how do you know when to use one? Where does it go on your resume? And how do you write one that will get you noticed?

In this article, you’ll learn when to use a summary of qualifications vs. other resume summaries and what to include. Plus, you'll find practical resume templates to help you craft a strong summary. 

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What is a summary of qualifications? 

A summary of qualifications (aka a statement of qualifications) is a short, bulleted list of your top qualifications that shows recruiters why you’re the best person for the job. Think of it as the TL;DR of your resume, designed to hook the reader, like a short bio or personal statement. 

Now, what do we mean by “qualifications”? These are your skills, experience, credentials, and accomplishments that best match the specific role you’re applying for. They might include:

• Your number of years of experience in an industry
• A top career achievement
• An industry-specific certification
• A specialization 
• Language skills
• An award that highlights your contributions to the industry

Your summary should be four to six bullet points max, so it’s easy to scan. 

As for where a summary of qualifications goes on your resume, it’s best to put it right at the top, just after your name and contact information, for maximum impact. As David Fano, founder of Teal, shared on LinkedIn:

‍“Most resumes get skimmed and scanned in seconds—[so] put your best work up front; qualified resumes get studied.”

What’s the difference between a summary of qualifications and a professional summary?

These two summaries appear at the top of your resume and aim to quickly show why you’re a strong fit, but they do it in different ways. 

A summary of qualifications is like a grocery list: clear, concise, scannable, and focused on the essentials. 

Meanwhile, a professional summary is like a chef’s note at the top of a recipe: It gives a quick backstory and flavor profile—who you are, what you do, and what you can bring to the table (pun intended 😉). 

Here’s a breakdown of how they compare:

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Why this section matters in 2025 

Here are some reasons why you should include a summary of qualifications in your resume: 

• Catch recruiters’ attention quickly. Research has shown that recruiters “make the initial ‘fit or no fit’ decision” about a candidate after only a few seconds of screening their resume. Make that time count by highlighting why you’re a good fit for the role with a succinct, high-impact list of your qualifications. 
• Highlight the most relevant skills first. Right away, recruiters and hiring managers can see you’re exactly what they’re looking for, motivating them to read on. 
• Make your value clear immediately. Recruiters and hiring managers can quickly see what you will bring to the role—and what sets you apart from other candidates—without digging through your resume. 
• Helps with ATS parsing. Your summary of qualifications is a great place to include keywords and phrases from the job description to ensure applicant tracking systems (ATS) don’t overlook your resume. 

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How to write a strong summary of qualifications: Step-by-step

1. Start with the job description

Begin by carefully reviewing the job posting. Identify the top skills, qualifications, and experiences needed for the role.

Pay special attention to keywords, especially industry-specific terms. Sprinkling these into your summary of qualifications can help your resume surface in ATS filter results.

‍Example:

A job description for a software developer position at Airbnb highlights skills like front-end development with React and TypeScript, experience with scalable systems, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline familiarity, and cross-functional collaboration.

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2. Match key qualifications to your experience

Once you’ve pinpointed the key qualifications, choose three to five of your strongest that align most closely with the role.

Review your current resume—or, if you have one, your master resume (a reference document with your complete career history)—to identify the skills, experiences, and achievements that support those qualifications. Ask yourself:

• Which of my accomplishments show I can bring exceptional value to this role?
• What have I done that proves I meet or exceed the role’s requirements?
• Which projects or tasks align with the key skills needed for the job?

Example:

After reviewing the Airbnb job posting, you identify these as top qualifications: React/TypeScript, CI/CD experience, and team collaboration.

3. Use results-focused bullet points

Format your summary using bullet points. Keep the bullets succinct—one to two lines each is enough. 

Additionally, avoid using “I” statements. Instead, start each one with an action verb, e.g., “led,” “won,” “implemented.”

And most importantly, emphasize the impact of your work, rather than just describing tasks. Where you can, back up each claim with a measurable result or concrete example of the results you delivered. 

Example:

❌ “Migrated front-end to React”
✅ “Led migration of core product to React and TypeScript, improving performance by 22%”

❌ “Improved CI/CD pipeline”
✅ “Reduced CI/CD deployment time by 30%, accelerating feature releases”

4. List your most relevant qualifications first

Finally, put your strongest, most relevant qualifications at the top of your summary. Doing so makes it easier for a recruiter or hiring manager to quickly see why you’re a strong fit for this role.

Focus on what the job description emphasizes most—specific tools, skills, certifications, or accomplishments—and front-load those points to ensure they stand out right away.

Example:

Since the Airbnb job description heavily emphasizes React and TypeScript experience, you’d want to lead with that. This should appear first: “Led migration of core product to React and TypeScript, improving performance by 22%.”

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Summary of qualifications examples by experience level

Entry-level professional (and recent graduate)

• Master of Professional Studies in Integrated Marketing Communications, Georgetown University (GPA: 3.8)
• Completed 3-month internship at a leading B2C brand, supporting digital campaign strategy and content creation
• Proficient in Canva, Google Ads, Google Analytics, and SEO fundamentals
• Spearheaded social media for the campus student association, growing engagement by 45% in one year

Mid-career professional

• 7+ years of experience in product management across SaaS and fintech sectors
• Led cross-functional teams of up to 15, overseeing full product lifecycle from discovery to launch
• Improved feature adoption by 45% through customer feedback loops and A/B testing
• Skilled in Agile, Jira, stakeholder management, and user research

Senior professional 

• 15+ years in technical project management and systems engineering across enterprise and startup environments
• Deep expertise in Python, SQL, AWS, and cloud architecture for scalable solutions
• Streamlined deployment processes, reducing downtime by 30% through automation and infrastructure optimization
• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Career changer

• 10+ years in K–12 education
• Designed and facilitated training for 300+ learners in virtual and classroom formats
• Completed ATD Instructional Design Certificate (2024)
• Skilled in curriculum development, adult learning principles, and LMS platforms (e.g., Moodle, TalentLMS)

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Resume-ready summary of qualifications templates 

Use these formulas to craft high-impact bullet points for your summary of qualifications:

To describe your work experience:

• [Years] of experience in [industry/role], specializing in [area of expertise]  
• [Years] in [industry/field] with a focus on [specific function]
• [Years] of demonstrated success in [role or area of responsibility] across [types of projects or organizations]

To share your skills:

• Proven ability to [action + impact/metric]  
• Skilled in [hard skill], [tool], and [framework]  
• Strong track record of [metric-based result or responsibility]  
• Adept at [soft skills relevant to the role, e.g., interpersonal skills]
• Proficient in [technical skill], contributing to [outcome]

To list your accomplishments:

• Successfully [achievement], resulting in [outcome or metric]
• Consistently exceeded [benchmark/target] by [amount] over [period]
• Managed [number of reports], [outcome or metric]
• Achieved [outcome, e.g., revenue growth] by implementing [tool or strategy]
• Led [project], delivering [quantifiable achievements]

To detail your awards and certifications:

• Recipient of [name of award and significance]
• Awarded [name of award and significance]
• Certified in [certification and year], with an emphasis on [area of expertise]
• Currently pursuing a [certification]

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Mistakes to avoid when writing a summary of qualifications 

Avoid these missteps to keep your summary strong, focused, and recruiter-ready:

❌ Being restricted by your current role.

✅ Don’t feel boxed in by your current job description. After all, you’re applying to the job you want, not the job you have, so highlight achievements that show your readiness to step into that role. Take Teal founder David Fano’s advice: “This isn’t lying—it’s strategic storytelling that helps recruiters see you in the role you want.”

❌ Making contradictory statements.

✅ Contradictions like “generalist writer with niche expertise” or “entry-level marketer with extensive experience” create confusion. Make sure your bullet points align and tell a clear, cohesive story.

❌ Including generic, overused descriptions.

✅ Instead of saying “results-driven professional,” show a real result—like “Increased web traffic by 40% in six months.” Instead of “seasoned HR executive,” say something like “12+ years leading HR teams in tech and healthcare.” This makes it clear what you’ve actually done.

❌Burying your differentiating factor.

✅ Don’t make hiring teams hunt for what sets you apart. Your summary of qualifications is the perfect place for a bit of strategic bragging by spotlighting what makes you you. As we say at Teal, your resume needs to represent you when you’re not in the room.

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Is a summary of qualifications right for your resume?

Ask yourself this: Would a recruiter understand my strengths in five seconds or less? If not, a bulleted summary of qualifications can help surface your most relevant achievements right away.

It’s especially useful if:

• You’re pivoting to a new role or industry
• The job is highly specialized or technical
• You want to lead with metrics and credentials, not narrative

Still deciding? Try writing both a summary of qualifications and a professional summary. Then choose the one that makes your value clearest for this role. The right choice is the one that helps your resume get noticed faster.