How to write a CV Career Summary or CV Career Profile

By: Sobhan Mohmand, Editorial manager       Last updated: 16 Oct 2018

The CV Career Summary is one of the important sections of your CV which outlines the work experience you have and also the future career aspirations you might have.

There are three slightly different names used when referring to this section of your CV:

1. Career Profile
2. Career Summary
3. Career Objective

Which one should you use? Let’s, first of all, find out what each of these terms means.

Definitions

• Career Objective is a section in your CV which tells the reader which position you’re seeking.

An example of a CV Career Objective: ‘A dynamic, people-oriented professional specialised in various forms of communication seeking a career in Public Relations where previous experience and skills can be put to efficient use’

• Career Profile and Career Summary are one and the same thing; it is a section of your CV which informs the reader about your career and experience to date.

Example of a CV Career Profile: ‘A Professional caterer with ten years’ experience in all aspects of catering and specific expertise in catering management for large occasions such as weddings and birthday parties.’

What you should (or shouldn’t!) include on your CV

We have come across CVs which have both a Career Objective and a Career Profile. This is wrong. We have also seen CVs containing neither a Career Objective nor a Career Profile! That is telling a potential employer:

‘I do not have the vision to think about my career,

I am applying for the sake of applying.’

To strike a good balance on your CV, you should combine your Career Objective and your Career Profile and label it either as ‘Career Profile’ or as ‘Career Summary.’

How to write a CV Career Summary

The following is the guidelines for writing your CV Career profile:

1. Mention your work background and experience
2. Follow this up by the job position you wish to seek.

Here is an example of how Mark Williams wrote his Career Profile on his CV:

Remember: the Career profile is meant to be a banner headline for your CV; position it right at the top of your CV. Everything else that follows in your CV should revolve around your Career profile and not vice versa.