Professional summaries

Should I put keywords from the job description in my summary?

Yes, when they truthfully describe you. The summary is one of the first places a recruiter reads, and applicant tracking systems often search the whole resume for the terms used in the advert.

How to do it well:

  • Use the advert's exact wording for your job title and main skills, such as "accounts payable" rather than "supplier payments" if that is their term.
  • Include the most important two to four keywords, not twenty.
  • Make sure each keyword is backed up in your experience or skills section.

Example: an advert asks for "IFRS reporting", "consolidation" and "SAP". Summary: "Financial reporting accountant with 6 years preparing IFRS consolidated statements for a group of 12 entities in SAP."

Avoid lists of disconnected keywords. They read badly and do not help if the rest of the resume does not support them.

Reviewed · by the ResumeBuilder.ae editorial team

See all answers about professional summaries

Templates to try

Free to edit and preview. Single-column layouts are the safest choice for applicant tracking systems.

ATS Professional

Single column

Use this template: ATS Professional

ATS Classic

Single column

Use this template: ATS Classic

ATS Modern

Single column

Use this template: ATS Modern

General guidance for job seekers, not legal or immigration advice. Employers and applicant tracking systems differ, so always follow the instructions in the job advert. Spotted a mistake? Email support@jobb.ae.

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