By Andrew Fennell

Your professional summary is one of the most important aspects of your resume and, therefore, you need to spend some time getting it right – at least, if you hope to secure yourself an interview.

While it can feel daunting—after all, you have just a few sentences to impress the recruiter—there are some simple steps you can follow to make writing your professional statement a bit easier.

What Is a Professional Summary and Why Do I Need One?

Your professional summary is an introductory statement that lets the recruiter know who you are. This is found at the top of your resume and should be no longer than three to five snappy sentences.

It allows the recruiter to quickly decide whether you’re a potential fit for the role, without having to read your resume in its entirety. For this reason, it needs to grab their attention right away and encourage them to keep reading.

Here is how to do it.

1. Always Start with Thorough Research

Before you begin writing your summary, you need to do your research. This will help you to tailor your statement to the specific role and company you’re applying to.

There are several resources available to help you conduct your research. Firstly, you can use the job advert to highlight the key skills and requirements that the employer is looking for.

You can also use the company’s website or run an internet search to find out more about the company and the industry as a whole.

2. Begin by Summarizing Your Experience

You should open your professional summary with an attention-grabbing sentence which outlines your job title, any standout experience or qualifications, and how many years’ experience you have.

This aims to grab the recruiter’s attention right away, highlighting why you’d be qualified for the role.

For example: I am an attentive Nurse Practitioner at {hospital name}, with three years’ experience diagnosing patients and managing their treatments.

3. Showcase Your Relevant Core Skills and Strengths

Next, you should highlight some of your core skills. At this stage, it’s a good idea to refer back to the job advert to find out which skills are most desirable to the employer.

These could be a number of soft and hard skills; for example, a nurse might want to include some of the following:

• Clinical nursing skills (these should be tailored closely to the role you’re applying for)
• Communication
• Strong diagnostic skills
• Empathy
• Problem-solving
• Ability to work under pressure
• Analytical skills

4. Add in a Standout Achievement or Result

Now you want to demonstrate to the recruiter how you can add real value to the business, so you need to share one or two of your key achievements from previous positions.

An example of this might be: In my current role I frequently receive personal requests and thank you notes from my patients, as a result, patient retention rates to the practice have increased by 20% this year.

Your healthcare professional summary is your chance to impress the recruiter and convince them to continue reading the rest of your resume.

Be sure to follow the four steps above, taking time and care over crafting a persuasive professional statement that is sure to increase your chances of winning the role.

Andrew Fennell is the founder of CV writing advice website StandOut CV – he is a former recruitment consultant and contributes careers advice to websites like Business Insider, The Guardian and FastCompany.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.