The “About Me” section of a resume is a brief paragraph at the top of the document that gives a hiring manager a quick overview of your qualifications. As the first part a potential employer reads, it is an opportunity to make a strong first impression. This summary acts as a professional “elevator pitch,” highlighting your skills, experience, and the value you can bring to the role.
What is a Resume “About Me” Section?
The “About Me” section, also known as a professional bio, can be written as either a professional summary or a resume objective. The best choice depends on your level of experience and career goals. Each type serves a distinct purpose tailored to the candidate’s specific situation.
A Professional Summary is for individuals with established careers. This format highlights your most relevant skills and significant accomplishments from past roles. It provides a snapshot of your professional identity and demonstrates your ability to contribute effectively.
A Resume Objective is better for those entering the workforce, such as recent graduates, or for individuals making a career change. This approach emphasizes your career aspirations and transferable skills, explaining how they align with the company’s goals. It frames your potential as a valuable asset when you have limited direct experience.
Key Elements to Include
An effective “About Me” section is built from several components that create a compelling snapshot of your professional self. The goal is to provide a concise introduction that encourages a hiring manager to read the rest of your resume.
- Professional Title and Experience: Begin by stating your professional title and the number of years you have worked in your field. This immediately orients the reader and establishes your level of expertise. For instance, starting with “Diploma-qualified graphic designer with six years of experience” is more impactful than a generic opening.
- Top Skills: Highlight two or three of your most relevant skills. These should be a mix of hard skills, such as proficiency with specific software like Jira or Asana, and soft skills, like communication or leadership. This demonstrates that you have the qualifications the employer is looking for.
- Key Accomplishments: Include a quantifiable achievement to add weight to your summary. Using numbers or percentages to describe your successes makes them more concrete, such as “increased sales by 15%.” This data provides tangible proof of your ability to deliver results for the company.
- Career Goals: Conclude your “About Me” section by briefly stating your career goals. Frame your aspirations in a way that shows how they align with the company’s objectives. This demonstrates that you have researched the organization and are interested in contributing to its success.
How to Write Your “About Me” Section
Crafting an effective “About Me” section requires a strategic approach. This involves tailoring your message, choosing your words carefully, and adhering to professional conventions to create a summary that is both informative and compelling for hiring managers.
Keep your summary concise, aiming for a length of three to five sentences. This forces you to be selective and focus on the most pertinent information. A hiring manager should be able to grasp your qualifications in a quick glance, as a shorter statement is more effective.
Customize this section for each job application. Read the job description to identify keywords and specific requirements the employer is looking for. Incorporating this language into your summary shows that you are a good fit for the specific role and increases your chances of catching the reader’s attention.
Use strong action verbs like “led,” “developed,” or “implemented” to describe your accomplishments. It is standard practice to write the summary in the third person, avoiding personal pronouns like “I” or “me.” This creates a more professional and objective tone.
What to Avoid
When writing your “About Me” section, it is important to know what to exclude. Common mistakes can undermine the professionalism of your resume and reduce your chances of securing an interview. Avoiding these pitfalls will help ensure your summary presents you in the best possible light.
Avoid overused clichés and buzzwords such as “team player,” “hard worker,” or “go-getter.” These traits are more impactful when demonstrated with specific examples rather than stated outright. Provide concrete evidence of your skills and accomplishments to make your summary stand out.
Your “About Me” section should remain strictly professional. Do not include personal information such as hobbies, marital status, or political affiliations. These details are irrelevant to your qualifications and can introduce unconscious bias into the hiring process.
Be truthful in your summary and do not exaggerate your skills or accomplishments. Finally, proofread your entire resume for any typos or grammatical errors. A polished, error-free document demonstrates your attention to detail and professionalism.
“About Me” Section Examples
Seeing these principles in practice can help you craft your own summary. The following examples are tailored for different career situations, showcasing how to highlight relevant strengths for an experienced professional, a new graduate, or a career changer.
Example for an Experienced Professional (Professional Summary)
“A detail-oriented data analyst with over eight years of experience in the tech industry. Highly skilled in SQL, Python, and data visualization tools, with a proven record of developing dashboards that led to a 20% improvement in operational efficiency. Seeking to apply deep analytical skills to drive data-informed business strategies at a forward-thinking organization.”
Example for a Recent Graduate (Resume Objective)
“A recent honors graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and internship experience in social media management. Proficient in content creation, campaign analysis, and SEO principles. Eager to contribute fresh ideas and a strong work ethic to a dynamic marketing team while developing practical skills in a fast-paced environment.”
Example for a Career Changer (Hybrid Summary/Objective)
“A dedicated former educator with 10 years of experience in training and curriculum development, now transitioning into corporate learning and development. Excels in communication, project management, and instructional design, with a history of improving student engagement by 30%. Aims to leverage transferable skills to create effective employee training programs that support company growth.”