Describing Yourself in a Resume: Effective Strategies
9 min read
You know you have the skills and experience for the jobs you seek. In fact, you've applied to several of them, yet, for some reason, you haven't landed an interview. Is it that employers are simply posting jobs without taking another step (which you know isn't likely), or is there something else going on? Maybe your resume is the issue?
There are several reasons your resume might not be landing you interviews, even if you're qualified. One could be that it's not written in a way so that it gets past an employer's ATS, or applicant tracking system - for more information on that topic, refer to "ATS Resume Test: Free ATS Checker and Formatting Examples (2024)".
It could also be that your resume doesn't describe you in the best light possible and with the clarity necessary to entice human readers to learn more. Your resume needs to clearly indicate why you're a viable candidate for the job, which requires using the right words to describe yourself and how you can add value.
In this post, we cover how to describe yourself on a resume, including how to write an “about me” section and the types of words to use, with examples.
How to describe yourself on a resume
Understanding how to describe yourself on a resume is vital to ensure you make the best first impression possible. In those few seconds it takes for employers to decide if they’ll interview you when skimming your resume, you need to grab their attention enough so they add your name to the “yes” list.
Fortunately, with some careful consideration and thoughtfulness, it is possible to learn how to describe yourself on a resume in a way that makes hiring managers say, “I want to interview this person.”
Read on for seven strategies regarding how to describe yourself on a resume to stand out.
Strategy #1: Write a strong “About Me” section
Regardless of your experience level, you want your resume to start strong with an “about me” section–a resume summary of career highlights that emphasize the value you can add to an organization. Even if you’re a student or entry-level individual, there are relevant skills and qualifications about yourself that you can pull from your academic experience and any extracurricular activities or part-time work experience you might have.
To write a stand out “about me” section, use an upbeat tone while highlighting the following:
Positive adjectives to describe yourself
Your level and position with years of experience
A minimum of three skills relevant to the job
Quantifiable data for at least one achievement
Each of these four items is described in more detail in the following sections. Before we get to them, here are a couple of additional tips to consider for your resume summary:
Keep it short and concise. Your "about me" section needs to be brief and to the point, using three to five punchy sentences. The sentences crafted are generally incomplete, as seen in the examples provided below.
Relate it to the job description with keywords. Align your summary with the job description by incorporating the most significant skills and achievements you have that relate to the requirements of the job. This also allows you to incorporate keywords from the job description to grab the attention of hiring managers while also helping you get past an ATS.
We share some examples of how to write an “about me” section near the end of this post.
Strategy #2: Choose powerful adjectives
Powerful adjectives backed by proof are essential for your “about me” section. When considering words to describe yourself on a resume, here are some excellent adjectives with examples of how one might use them in a resume summary:
Getting too personal. Personal details about your life don’t belong on your resume, nor does personal information, like birthdays and marital status. Sharing this type of information can make hiring managers uncomfortable and also puts employers at risk for discrimination claims. Though it’s okay to include some personal interests in a “Hobbies & Interests” section when it adds value to your resume, it’s not a typical practice. If you do include this type of section, ensure you only list items that cast a positive light, and it should be the last section you include.
Including too much history. Your recent professional history is what employers are most interested in. Unless you have a significant award or honor from more than 15 years ago, only mention or include relevant experience from the last 10 to 15 years on your resume.
Overselling yourself. Resume readers cringe when they read a resume with a bunch of hype or superlatives describing how wonderful you are. True, you want to come across as confident and competent, but exaggerating on your resume can make you appear overly confident, incompetent, and lacking in self-awareness.
Including career objectives. Your resume shouldn’t emphasize your career goals, as it focuses more on you and not on what you can do for the prospective employer. Also, career goals are typically mentioned in a career objective, which tends to add very little, if any, valuable information for employers. Incorporating a resume summary instead of a career objective is standard practice today.
Using personal pronouns. Though there's some debate, it's generally an agreed-upon-best practice to avoid using pronouns on your resume, including first person pronouns like "I" and "me." Since it's not standard practice, you could come across as unprofessional if you choose to do so.
Strategy #3: Use plenty of power verbs
Another must when describing yourself in your resume is to use plenty of power verbs, which are most relevant in the work experience section. Each achievement you list for the positions you’ve held should begin with a strong action verb to grab the reader’s attention. Also, use power verbs when emphasizing key achievements in your “about me” section.
Here are just a few of the dozens of power verbs you have to choose from:
Delivered
Spearheaded
Developed
Supervised
Implemented
Advised
Coached
Discovered
Collaborated
Created
Resolved
Reconciled
Strategy #4: Show value added, using real numbers
The primary goal of your resume is to help the reader appreciate why you're the right fit for the job. Use as much quantifiable data as possible to support them in this area. In other words, don't just share what you did - share the results of the actions you took, as well, to verify the value you add.
Think of quantifiable data as a way to show vs. tell and a more powerful way of sharing your professional history. Use as many numbers as possible in your work experience section. In your resume profile, include at least one significant quantifiable achievement to start your resume off with a bang.
Strategy #5: Emphasize credentials
Of course, you'll want to include your degrees under your education section. You can also include additional relevant training and certifications under your education section or create a separate section for these items.
Suppose you hold specific credentials required by the employer, like a specific certification, degree, or license. In that case, it's a good idea to include it in the resume summary. It's also appropriate to include a relevant credential in the resume summary that makes you stand out, even if it's not a requirement.
Strategy #6: Incorporate hard and soft skills
Another critical aspect of how to describe yourself in a resume is to highlight your relevant hard and soft skills. Pepper a few of these - three at a minimum - in your opening "about me" section while also emphasizing them in a core competencies list or a skills list on your resume.
Strategy #7: Be honest
It might be tempting to tell a little white lie here or there on your resume when describing yourself. What’s the harm, right? Well, it could cost you the job.
Let’s say you land an interview and you're asked a question about that, unbeknownst to the interviewer, little white lie. How will you respond? With a flushed face and stuttering, perhaps?
And let’s take it a step further and assume you land the job. What happens if the employer finds out you fabricated your resume? In many instances, it’s grounds for rescinding the offer or termination.
At the end of the day, honesty tends to be the best policy, as the old saying goes. This is definitely true for your resume. Be honest about your achievements and work history in all sections without fabricating the details.
How to describe yourself on a resume: what not to do
To avoid making yourself appear like an unprofessional or undesirable candidate, avoid doing the following when describing yourself on a resume:
Getting too personal. Personal details about your life don’t belong on your resume, nor does personal information, like birthdays and marital status. Sharing this type of information can make hiring managers uncomfortable and also puts employers at risk for discrimination claims. Though it’s okay to include some personal interests in a “Hobbies & Interests” section when it adds value to your resume, it’s not a typical practice. If you do include this type of section, ensure you only list items that cast a positive light, and it should be the last section you include.
Including too much history. Your recent professional history is what employers are most interested in. Unless you have a significant award or honor from more than 15 years ago, only mention or include relevant experience from the last 10 to 15 years on your resume.
Overselling yourself. Resume readers cringe when they read a resume with a bunch of hype or superlatives describing how wonderful you are. True, you want to come across as confident and competent, but exaggerating on your resume can make you appear overly confident, incompetent, and lacking in self-awareness.
Including career objectives. Your resume shouldn’t emphasize your career goals, as it focuses more on you and not on what you can do for the prospective employer. Also, career goals are typically mentioned in a career objective, which tends to add very little, if any, valuable information for employers. Incorporating a resume summary instead of a career objective is standard practice today.
Using personal pronouns. Though there's some debate, it's generally an agreed-upon-best practice to avoid using pronouns on your resume, including first person pronouns like "I" and "me." Since it's not standard practice, you could come across as unprofessional if you choose to do so.
How to describe yourself on a resume: examples
Below are some examples of how to describe yourself on a resume in your “about me” section.
About me resume example for experienced workers
PMP-certified project manager with 10 years of experience in the energy sector specializing in supply-chain management. Focused and highly motivated to maintain project timelines and goals for multi-department requirements. Ran $8M project to initiate new vendor management system, resulting in reduction of inefficient and duplicative vendor activity that led to 15% increased efficiency in supply chain management and $18K annual cost reduction in vendor payments. Ability to work with individuals at all levels within an organization to optimize goals and outcomes.
About me resume example for freshers
Highly knowledgeable human resources graduate with strong verbal and written communication skills. Astute understanding of HR concepts, including compensation design, employee relations, and employment law. Motivated and energetic leader promoted to Team Lead Server at ABC restaurant within six months of employment. Works well under pressure and skilled in conflict resolution and strategically handling client complaints.
About me resume example for students
Experienced hostess seeking part-time work in the restaurant industry while pursuing a degree in accounting. Personable professional with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Proven track record of connecting with customers and coworkers to improve customer experience through positive greetings, inquiries, and accommodations. Knowledgeable in opening and closing duties, including setting up and closing cash drawers, preparing hostess stations, and providing server support to up to 15 servers at a time.
You’ll notice in the student example that a career objective is included. In rare instances, this is okay, assuming it adds value by clarifying information for the employer and the “about me” section primarily emphasizes skills, achievements, and qualifications. Here, the career goal mentioned helps to clarify why the individual is seeking part-time work and can also speak to one’s limited experience or work history when necessary.
Describe yourself with the right words and “about me” info on your resume
Now you know how to describe yourself on a resume, including how to write your “about me” section, the types of words to use throughout, and what not to do. By using the above info as a guide, you’ll be able to describe yourself in a way that lands you interviews, and great job offers!
Do you feel confident that your resume describes you in the best light possible? Why not submit it for a free resume review to make sure? Our team of ZipJob team resume writers will help to ensure your resume describes you effectively to land interviews!
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Written by
Ronda Suder, Professional Writer
With a drive to foster safety and expand possibilities through writing, performing, and working with others, Ronda brings 25 years of combined experience in HR, recruiting, career advice, communications, mental and behavioral health, and storytelling to her work. She’s a certified career coach and holds a Master’s in Human Resources, a Master’s in Film and Media Production, and a Master’s in Counseling and Development. As a writer, she’s covered topics ranging from finance and rock mining to leadership and internet technology, with a passion for career advice and mental-health-related topics. When she’s not at her computer, Ronda enjoys connecting with others, personal growth and development, spending time with her beloved pooch, and entertainment through movies, television, acting, and other artistic endeavors. You can connect with Ronda on LinkedIn and through her website.
