Before and after: the summary/profile on a store manager's resume

I review hundreds of retail management resumes every year and unfortunately most summaries or profiles that I see don't provide a lot of value to the reader. Far too often the summary section at the top reads something like this:


PERSONAL PROFILE

Dynamic, results-oriented retail professional with outstanding people and leadership skills. Communicate effectively at all levels while building and leading teams to superior sales results in challenging, fast-paced environments. Performance driven with excellent organizational and time management skills. Dedicated team player and accomplished change agent. Highly motivated. 

Core Competencies:

Business Analysis - Business Development - Process Optimization - Marketing
P&L Management - Budgeting - Strategic Planning - Risk Management - Cost Control
Team Building - Succession Planning - Coaching & Development - Driving Results


The problem with a summary like that is it's all opinion, or at least it will be perceived as your opinion of yourself. Everything in there will make the reader think, "Oh yeah, prove it" - and that's not what a resume should do. An effective resume will focus on the facts and leave the hyperbole out.

In the example above, the job-seeker has wasted perhaps half of the first page - the most valuable real estate on the resume - on a self-assessment that will hold little value for the reader. Instead, I suggest something like this:


TOP-PERFORMING STORE MANAGER

• 8 years' experience as a top store manager with Victoria's Secret, Old Navy, and Coldwater Creek. Managed 5 different locations with sales up to $9M.  Led teams of up to 45.
• Recognized as a turnaround expert. Led a struggling Old Navy store from 23rd to 1st in the region in 18 months, and a Victoria's Secret store from 6th to 1st in the district in 1 year.
• Skilled in all areas of team building including staffing (hired and trained 100+ associates in the last 5 years) and talent development (identified and developed 8 new store managers internally).
• Ranked as "consistently exceeds expectations" on every performance review in the last 5 years.

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A profile that truly summarizes your background and provides a snapshot of your qualifications may actually get read by a busy recruiter. But remember, they will likely be more interested in your work history than a summary of your work history, so don't go overboard.

Also don't assume that you HAVE to have a summary on your resume. If your work history is short or you have a lot of other valuable information that you'd rather include, you can leave it out (and perhaps use your cover letter to summarize your background).

All the best!
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