The about me in resume writing is all about highlighting what you can personally contribute to a business.
Traditionally, these sections may have highlighted softer skills or interests, but with the job market being so competitive, it’s now incredibly important that these first resume sections pack a punch.
We’re going to take a look at the perfect formula for an about me section on your resume, including some easy-to-follow steps to help you craft your own and land your dream role.
Why Is An About Me Section Important In A Resume?
The about me section in a resume helps hiring managers to, firstly, immediately assess suitability for a role and secondly, eliminate any weaker candidates from consideration.
The recruiter or hiring specialist will be skimming for job titles, skills, experiences, and even potential glimpses that there will be a personality match for the business.
Like a summary, an about section helps to highlight all of these key features that might sway a decision and force a recruiter to carefully read the rest of your resume. On average a recruiter only skims a resume for 6-8 seconds before they decide whether to read further, so this first impression is vital.
An application should always be personalized to suit the role and job description provided, which is where templates can be key. The early stages of any application should involve highlighting the keywords and phrases used by the hiring business. This will help to guide what you choose to include in the about me section.
Where Does An About Me Section Go?
The about me in resume formatting will usually go near the start of your resume after your contact information. If you’re using a template or getting help with rewriting your resume then the format will be important.
Some companies have preferences for formatting (like the XYZ resume format) whilst others will rely on the information being clear and easy to read. Headings can help to keep sections distinct and show recruiters where to start when skimming your resume.
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage the application process. Graphic-based, heavily designed resumes can be unreadable for these systems. A simple Word document is often the best choice and ensures the content is scannable. If you’re applying for a role where you may need to evidence designs or drawings, it’s a good idea to create a separate portfolio to highlight any of these skills.
The Formula For A Perfect About Me In Resume Crafting
With this in mind, what does the perfect attention-grabbing about me section look like in a top candidate’s resume? It’s actually not too complicated.
The Perfect About Me Resume Format
The below formula covers everything you need to include in the perfect about me section.
Seasoned “Job Title” with X years of experience in industry. Fluent at skill 1, skill 2, skill 3, and skill 4. Managed XXX+ ($ or qty of products) across global infrastructure including X, Y, and Z industries.
Let’s take a look at each part of this in a bit more detail.
Personalization
Before you begin to write, you need to do the research that will backup all of the content in your resume. This includes gathering an understanding of what the hiring manager is looking for, what the business values in its employees, and where you can significantly add value as a new hire.
Each resume should be tailored to suit the needs and requirements of this business. This can mean amending your highlighted skills, going into more depth in certain areas of your experience and even changing where and how you evidence your successes in previous roles.
Using A Clear Job Title
A clear and concise job title is important for the about me section. It’s an impactful opening that highlights how you will fit into your hiring business and fulfill their needs for the role.
Importantly, try to choose a title that is both fitting and recognisable for the hiring manager. If the title listed on the job description matches your current role, try to use that to help with familiarity.
Describing Experience
Similarly, including your time in the role (and similar roles) can help to paint a picture of your experience.
If you’re a recent graduate or transitioning into a new career field with limited experience, focus on highlighting your transferable skills, education, and any applicable internships or volunteer work. This straightaway demonstrates your potential and readiness to excel in the role.
Highlighting Relevant Skills
For your about me section, try to identify and highlight the skills you have that are most relevant and most important to the hiring business.
These can be technical skills, industry-specific expertise or even softer skills if you’re applying for management or team leader roles.
The skills you choose may be slightly different on each resume you submit. The content is dictated by your early research into keywords and the business’s ethos. Try to keep a clean copy of your template so you can easily adjust and amend this section to suit without losing the format.
Quantitative Examples
Potential employers may want to see quantitative examples. These can demonstrate the scale at which you worked or the responsibility you held.
These will be more relevant as you begin to write your resume bullet points but they can also be valuable in your about me section.
These examples can help to highlight your efficiency in previous roles. They can demonstrate examples of impressive statistics or times you had a significant responsibility in the business.
Try to keep this information relevant and impressive where possible.
Take a look at the examples below to see how this information should be included in a subtle but clear way for the perfect about me section.
Highlight Key Industries
Finally, it may be relevant to include key or past industries for the hiring manager to identify suitability and experience. This can be advantageous if you have worked in similar industries and held high-level positions in similar fields to the role you’re applying for.
About Me In Resume Examples
Here’s how the overall formula for the about me section might look on a completed resume.
Example 1:
Seasoned Senior Mechanical Engineer with 10 years of experience in the automotive industry. Proficient in CAD modeling, mechanical design, thermodynamics, and project management. Managed over 100,000 automotive components across global manufacturing facilities, including automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy sectors.
Example 2:
Seasoned Civil Engineer with 15 years of experience in the construction industry. Proficient in structural analysis, project management, AutoCAD, and building materials evaluation. Managed the construction of over 1 million square feet of commercial and residential properties across diverse geographical locations, including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
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About the author
Mollie Buttery
Writer | SEO | Articles & Blog Posts | Social Media
Mollie supports ULTMECHE through website growth, social media, SEO, and other digital marketing tricks. Mollie has 10+ years experience of in house and freelance marketing experience in industries such as Finance, Law, SAAS, Automotive, Building Services, Commerce, and more. Some of her favorite writing topics consist of sports and finance. Mollie has been key to the growth of ULTMECHE’s SEO and digital marketing efforts.
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