The Summary of Qualifications -

To impress a recruiter, right off the bat you need to stand out. Highlight your best selling points and maximize your qualifications in the top half of page 1, and you will quickly let them know that you are worthy of the position they are offering.

Your Summary of Qualifications is generally placed just below your Objective or Headline.

Here are 5 steps for creating a Summary of Qualifications that will capture their attention.

1) Start with a blank piece of paper. Make a list of 12 to 15 of your best qualifications and make sure they are relevant to the job you are applying for.

List your key accomplishments, your years of experience or expertise, highlights of your professional career, significant skills, industry-specific qualifications or soft skills, awards or certifications, your education or any specialized training.

Be honest, but don’t be afraid to blow your own horn here.

2) After writing at least a dozen, revamp your list. Bring your most impressive to the top, the second most impressive next, and so on.

3) Eliminate the least striking until you have between 5 and 8. Executive resumes are allowed a few more.

4) Check your wording. Eliminate word articles such as “a”, “an”, and “the”. Try to use strong adjectives and verbs to describe your skills.

Example #1:

Registered Nurse with 33 years experience in clinical nursing

Wide-ranging managerial and leadership roles in acute hospital care

Responsible for project development, process improvement, budgeting,
strategic planning and staff enhancement

Extensive HCAHPS process improvement activities

Broad working knowledge of all general medical & surgical diagnosis/treatments
serving all populations from newborn to geriatric


Example #2:

• Over 15 years experience in business & program management
• Strong acumen for process development and improvement
• Expert sales ability and proven client management skills
  

Example #3:

• 25+ years experience in the international hospitality industry,
  with specialty in hotel & resort management
• Demonstrated history of programs implementation & employee training/participation
• Supervised renovations, account management & operational plans
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in 4 languages: English, Spanish, Aramic, and Italian
  

5) Last but not least, transfer your list to your resume, right below your Objective or Headline. Put it in bulleted and indented form to accentuate and draw the eye, or perhaps center the whole section.

Lay claim to the job that you are destined for by writing your best list of Qualifications ever. Don't skimp on the time you spend here, even if it takes a couple of days to write, think, then edit some more. Ask relatives or friends to look it over. Can they add something more you hadn't thought of? This section is worthy of any time you spend on it. It could make or break your success rate.