The CV summary: how to write the three lines recruiters actually read

The summary sits in the most-read spot on your CV and is usually the worst-written part of it: 'A motivated, results-driven professional with excellent communication skills…'. That sentence is on ten thousand other CVs. It says nothing.

What a good summary does

In two to three lines, it tells the recruiter who you are professionally, the evidence, and the fit — tuned to this role. Think of it as the answer to "why should I keep reading?"

A simple formula

*[Your professional identity] with [specific, evidenced strength] looking to [the value you bring to this kind of role].* For example: "Product manager with six years owning B2B SaaS roadmaps, including growing one analytics product from 800 to 3,000 active accounts. Strong on discovery and turning user research into shipped features."

Rules of thumb

• Lead with a real specialism, not an adjective.
• Include one concrete proof point — a number, a domain, a notable outcome.
• Mirror the role: a summary aimed at *this* job beats a generic one.
• Cut every word you can't evidence. 'Excellent' and 'passionate' are not evidence.

If your summary would fit on any CV in the pile, it belongs on none of them.