Resume Introduction Examples: Crafting a Powerful First Impression

We talk a lot about crafting the perfect resume, but it doesn't stop there. Most resumes will be attached to a cover letter, and it could be said that your cover letter is even more important than your resume.

A cover letter is often the first thing a hiring manager will see, and just like people get judged—no matter how unfairly—on the clothes they wear, or books get judged by their covers, you might be judged on your cover letter.

In fact, you might be judged on the first few sentences of your cover letter!

Create your professional resume now

What Is a Resume Introduction?

Your resume introduction is a brief paragraph that will serve as the first impression you make on a hiring manager. So think about what kind of message you want to convey before you start writing!

A good resume introduction should be engaging, and it should provide a short summary of your professional background and qualifications. However, you need to make those qualifications matter by highlighting how they match up with the qualifications a prospective employer is looking for.

That means you can't have a one-size-fits-all intro for your resume. You'll need to tailor it to every resume you send out.

Why Is a Strong Resume Introduction Important?

Think of it this way. Your cover letter and resume are how you market yourself when looking for a job. With that in mind, consider this: in marketing, there is something called the 3-second rule. The 3-second rule is the idea that a marketer only has 3 seconds to grab someone's attention. If you fail to do that, they'll move on.

When you're doomscrolling on your favorite social media app, how many sponsored ads do you scroll right by? But what about the ones that made you stop and pay attention? That's what you want to achieve with your resume introduction. You want to make a strong first impression that stops a hiring manager from just moving on to the next resume.

How the Right Introduction Can Improve Your Chances

Imagine a hiring manager looking through hundreds—or thousands!—of resumes. There's a good chance they have something like an instant reject pile and a pile that deserves another glance. And they may do that very fast. Think of how important your resume introduction is then. So make that first paragraph strong, and make it count!

Types of Resume Introductions

Professional Summary (Best for experienced professionals)

Of the different types of resume introductions, the professional summary is the most common. However, it needs to be stated that this type is only recommended for someone with a list of qualifications and a lot of experience.

The professional summary is a brief—but compelling—intro that highlights your important skills, accomplishments, and industry expertise. Think of it as a snapshot of your qualifications, something that gives hiring managers a quick overview of what you could bring to their table.

Overall, this type is best for:

• Mid-to-senior level professionals who have years of industry experience
• Candidates with a strong track record of achievements
• Anyone transitioning within an industry—although, depending on a skill set, this could work for someone transitioning between industries as well. (See examples below)

This introduction to your resume should include:

• Your years of experience
• Any key skills and areas of expertise
• Notable achievements and contributions

Resume Objective (Ideal for entry-level candidates and career changers)

Starting a resume with a resume objective statement would be appropriate for anyone who is entry level or looking to entirely change their career. In this case, your introduction outlines your career goals and how they align with the company's needs. Because its focus is on where you want to take your career and what kind of transferable skills you have, this is the perfect intro option for someone who may not have a lot of work experience.

Overall, this type is best for:

• Recent grads with little or no experience
• Anyone transitioning to a new career field
• Job seekers who are reentering the workforce

This introduction to your resume should include:

• Your career goals and enthusiasm for the role
• Any relevant skills and strengths—including transferable skills
• How you could contribute to the company's success

Resume Profile (A mix of summary and objective)

The resume profile takes the two distinct intros mentioned above and combines them—so the professional summary and the resume objective becomes the resume profile. It provides an overview of a candidate's skills, experience, and career goals but at the same time it emphasizes how you can contribute to the hiring company's success.

Overall, this type is best for:

• Mid-level professionals looking to advance
• Job seekers who are transitioning to a different field
• Candidates with a mix of experience and future career aspirations
• Anyone with experience but who is looking to grow in their careers

This introduction to your resume should include:

• Any relevant experience and skills
• Notable achievements and/or strengths
• Career goals that are aligned with the job description

Personal Statement (More common in academic or creative fields)

Unlike the previous introductions, this one is more of a narrative statement, which is why it's most common in academic, creative, or research-based fields, where storytelling and personal passions are more common.

This introduction highlights your background, motivations, and aspirations—but with a different focus. It tells the story of why you're passionate about your field and what it is that drives you professionally.

Overall, this type is best for:

• Academic and research positions
• Creative industries such as writing, design, or film
• Applications for graduate schools or fellowships

This introduction to your resume should include:

• A narrative of your career motivations
• Any relevant experience and unique skills
• Your passion for the field and your career aspirations

How to Write a Strong Resume Introduction

Let's walk through the steps of writing a strong intro.

Step 1: Identify Your Strengths and Career Goals

Before you actually start writing your cover letter or intro, it's a good idea to take a moment and think about your strengths and how you would define your career goals. This will help you remain focused on what's important and keep your intro clear, targeted, and compelling.

So how do you identify your strengths? 

• Review your experience. What are your most relevant work experiences and accomplishments?
• Highlight any key skills. List any applicable technical skills, soft skills, and industry expertise that may set you apart.
• Consider your unique value. What do you have to contribute that others may not?

Define your career goals:

• Short-term goals. What type of role are you looking for now?
• Long-term goals. Where do you see yourself in a few years?
• Company fit. How do your skills align with the company's needs?

Step 2: Use Concise and Clear Language

If you want to grab the attention of a hiring manager, then write a strong resume intro that is brief, direct, and impactful. Avoid unnecessary details and only focus on relevant qualifications.

Here are some tips to help keep things concise:

• Keep it short and sweet. Aim for three to five sentences or about 50 to 75 words.
• Avoid fluff. Don't use vague phrases like "hardworking professional" or "results-driven individual"—unless you can also back them up with your specific list of qualifications and skills.
• Use strong action words. These would be words like managed, developed, improved, and led. Words like this will make your introduction more compelling. But again, you need to be able to back these claims up.
• Focus on relevance. Only include skills and experiences that align with the job you're applying for.

Step 3: Incorporate Industry-Specific Keywords

When you use industry specific keywords in your resume introduction, you can make yourself stand out to a hiring manager. And using keywords will help serve another purpose—most, if not all, companies hiring online will be using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) software. This means that your resume will pass by a bot before a human sees it, and if your resume doesn't include keywords that are pertinent to the industry and the specific position, there's a good chance a human will never see it.

Your keywords should include any job certifications you have, tools you've used, essential skills, and any job-related terminology you find in the job posting.

Identify your keywords using the following guidelines:

• Review the job description and highlight any keywords that stand out or appear frequently.
• Familiarize yourself with industry trends and use terminology that aligns with current best practices.
• Include any related skills and technology—this means any that are relevant. You should mention any software, methodologies, or certifications you have that are typically required in the field.

Step 4: Keep It Short and Impactful

A strong resume introduction should be concise but powerful—short and sweet. It should capture the attention of a hiring manager in just a few sentences. Keep in mind they likely have at least hundreds of resumes to look at, so they'll often just skim them and separate out any they feel deserve a deeper look.

You don't want your resume in the trash can pile! That means your intro needs to quickly communicate your value to the company.

Tips for writing a short but impactful introduction:

• Limit your intro to five sentences or about 50 to 75 words.
• Only focus on relevant qualifications. Skip anything generic or using phrases like "seeking a challenging role."
• Make every word count, and stick to strong, direct language.

Resume Introduction Examples

As mentioned, it's important to tailor your resume—and by extension, your resume introduction—to specific jobs or job types. With that in mind, we're providing several resume intro examples for you to follow. And since there are far too many specific jobs to cover, we'll provide introductions for resume examples across the four types mentioned above.

Note that while the following are mostly five sentences each, they do tend to be long sentences, so in most cases, we're pushing the 75-word limit. But don't worry if your intro ends up closer to the shorter end of the limit.

Professional Summary Examples

Sample 1: Project Manager (Experienced Professional)

Results-driven Project Manager with 8+ years of experience in leading cross-functional teams, managing budgets up to $5M, and delivering projects on time and within scope. Skilled in Agile methodologies, risk management, and stakeholder communication. A proven track record of improving operational efficiency and driving business growth through strategic planning and process optimization. PMP-certified with expertise in software development, construction, and enterprise-level initiatives.

Sample 2: Sales Rep (Transitioning Within the Same Industry)

Experienced Sales Representative transitioning into Account Management, bringing 6+ years of expertise in client relationship building, contract negotiation, and revenue growth. Adept at understanding customer needs, identifying business opportunities, and delivering tailored solutions to enhance client satisfaction. Skilled in CRM systems, data analysis, and strategic account planning. Excited to leverage sales expertise in a consultative role to drive long-term business partnerships.

Resume Objective Examples

Sample 1: Entry Level Software Developer

Motivated and results oriented coding bootcamp graduate with a strong foundation in full-stack development. Proficient in JavaScript, React, and Node.js, with experience in building and deploying web applications. Passionate about continuous learning and staying up to date with the latest technologies. I'm seeking an entry-level Software Developer position where I can contribute to innovative projects. 

Sample 2: Career Change from Teacher to Corporate Trainer

Dedicated educator transitioning into corporate training, bringing 10+ years of experience in curriculum development, public speaking, and employee engagement. Adept at designing and delivering interactive training programs, simplifying complex concepts, and developing team collaboration. Skilled in instructional design, LMS platforms, and performance evaluation. Passionate about leveraging teaching expertise to enhance workforce development and organizational learning. I'm excited about the chance to bring a fresh perspective and strong communication skills to a corporate training role. 

Resume Profile Examples

Sample 1: Customer Success Manager

Customer-focused professional with 5+ years of experience in client relations, account management, and service optimization. Proven track record of increasing customer retention and satisfaction through proactive engagement and tailored solutions. Skilled in CRM tools, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. Passionate about driving business growth by building strong client relationships and continuously improving customer experience. Seeking to leverage expertise in a dynamic environment to enhance customer success strategies.

Personal Statement Example

Sample 1: Academic Personal Statement (Graduate Program in Environmental Science)

Since I was young, I've been fascinated by the intricate balance of ecosystems and the impact of human activity on our environment. With a degree in Biology and hands-on research experience in sustainable resource management, I'm eager to take my exploration into environmental conservation solutions further. My passion for ecological preservation, combined with strong analytical and research skills, drives my ambition to contribute to meaningful advancements in sustainability through graduate studies in Environmental Science.

Sample 2: Creative Personal Statement (Aspiring Screenwriter)

Stories have the power to inspire, challenge, and connect us, and I've always been captivated by the art of storytelling. With a background in journalism and a deep passion for screenwriting, I'm dedicated to crafting compelling narratives that evoke emotion and spark conversation. My experience in character development, dialogue writing, and visual storytelling fuels my drive to bring authentic voices and diverse perspectives to the screen, shaping stories that leave a lasting impact.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As with most things, there's often a right way and a wrong way to do things—or at least a better way to do things. To make sure your resume introduction leans to the better or right way, be sure to avoid any of the following:

• Being too generic. Avoid saying vague things like "hardworking professional seeking a challenging role." Instead, be very specific about your skills and experience.
• TMI/too much information. No one likes TMI! So keep your intro concise, at the three to five sentence mark. All you want to do is highlight your skills and qualifications—you do not want to overwhelm whoever is reading your resume.
• Overfocusing on personal goals. A prospective employer wants to know what you can do for them. So instead of telling them you're looking for personal growth opportunities—they don't care!—focus on how your skills could benefit their company.
• Lack of keywords. A failure to add industry and job specific keywords—especially front and center in your intro—could lead to it getting rejected by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Using passive or weak language. This will almost certainly get you overlooked. Instead, use strong action words like "led," "developed," or "optimized," as this will make your introduction more impactful.
• Failing to tailor your intro to the job. A generic introduction will never stand out because it's just like a million others. So customize your intro to align with specific roles or company needs.
• Rewriting your resume. Remember, your intro is just a summary, not a repeat of your entire resume. Keep it focused on your top strengths.

Tips to Make Your Resume Introduction Stand Out

Now that we've covered the things you want to avoid, here is a list of things that could make your resume—and especially your introduction—stand out in a sea of other resumes.

• Start with a strong opening. Grab that hiring manager's attention right away! Write a compelling first sentence that highlights applicable expertise, skills, and achievements.
• Be concise and impactful. Remember to keep your intro to three to five sentences that focus on what makes you a great—or the best!—candidate. Avoid unnecessary details.
• Use industry specific keywords. Make sure to incorporate any relevant skills, certifications, and technologies that align with the industry. This should—at least—get you past the Applicant Tracking System.
• Highlight your relevant achievements. If possible, stick to achievements you can quantify. These would be statements like "increased sales by 25%" or "led a team of 10 to deliver a major project."
• Tailor your intro to the job. Customize your introduction for each role by matching it with the job description and company needs.
• Use strong action words. Replace any weak phrases like "responsible for" with something impactful like you "led," "developed," or "optimized" something at your old company.
• Show passion and personality. Use your intro to present yourself as someone who is enthusiastic about the role and industry, but don't go too far. Always remain professional.

Create your professional resume now

Conclusion

Always keep in mind that your resume introduction is your first opportunity to make a strong impression on a potential employer. In fact, it might be your only opportunity!

So regardless of the type you choose—a professional summary, resume objective, resume profile, or personal statement—the key is to be concise, impactful, and tailored to the job. Avoid common mistakes like vague statements, excessive details, or fail to include industry specific keywords. Instead, focus on your skills, relevant experience, and your career goals while using strong, action-oriented words.

When you take the time to craft a well-structured introduction, you increase your chances of grabbing a hiring manager's attention and making it past applicant tracking systems. You'll have a compelling intro that sets the tone for the rest of your resume, hopefully ensuring that prospective employers see your value right away.

Need help with your resume too? You can find resume templates and CV templates at our website.