Every resume should have a ‘Professional Summary.’  This key section of a resume should be on the front page directly after your name and contact details. This section may also be referred to as a ‘Professional Profile’ or a ‘Professional Statement.’ 

The ‘Professional Summary’ is the first section of the resume the reader engages with. Its role is to succinctly communicate your professional brand to the reader.  In doing so the ‘Professional Summary’ should showcase key information relevant to the role for which you are applying  - who you are, what you offer and why they should hire you!

This summary should engage the reader, create interest, and sell you for the role you seek.

Four key elements to include in your summary:

BRANDING - Who you are professionally - your specialisation(s), functional title(s), professional portfolio and level

HARD SKILLS - Your specific areas of functional/clinical/technical expertise, education & qualifications

SOFT SKILLS - Your strengths, competencies, interest areas, motivations and personal attributes

IMPACT - Your overall impact/contribution

Remember, this is where you STATE YOUR CASE to capture the reader's attention and answer the question, "Why should I interview this applicant instead of others?" It needs to differentiate you and to articulate your uniqueness for a particular role.

The structure of your professional summary can vary. It can be a mix of 1 or 2 paragraphs and bullet points that address the four points above. Subheadings can also be used to organise information in this section such as:

1. Key strengths /Professional Attributes
2. Career Highlights/ Achievements
3. Career Objective

Sub-Headings

The information under the subheadings ‘Key strengths /Professional Attributes’ and ‘Career Highlights/ Achievements’ is best organised using bullet points.

These bullet points should aim to build a compelling case outlining your suitability for the role you seek – what you bring and how the organisation  benefits

1. Key Strengths / Professional Attributes:

This sub-section is optional however it builds on the claims in your professional summary and includes 4-5 bullet points that articulate the key strengths you wish to highlight for the role. Use the key selection criteria for the role/specialist college as your guide – make it relevant and compelling. Highlight the ‘feature’ (strength) and then make sure to articulate the ‘benefit’ of this feature to the reader.

Example:

• A skilled communicator (FEATURE)- Able to maintain cultural sensitivity, establish rapport with members of diverse groups and promote team cohesiveness. (BENEFIT)

 

2. Career Highlights & Achievements

This is an optional section but can be useful in highlighting the career achievements of which you are most proud, and which are most relevant . This section should support the claims in your professional summary and reinforce your branding and key strengths.

List highlights/achievements as bullet points – 3 or 4 should be enough. These can also be repeated in the employment history section where they are linked to the individual role.

Example:

• Successfully built and developed a highly competent team of 25 clinicians at 6 facilities delivering a high quality of treatment and care to patients of the facility. Achieved a 30% increase in key performance metrics during my tenure in the role by ensuring all team members were trained in geriatric care techniques, as well as in policies and procedures appropriate to each facility.

 

3. Career Objective

You may wish to state in one of two sentences the career pathway you are looking to secure  and your professional aspirations as they relate to the role or training program you seek. This is optional.

Example ‘Professional summary’ for different career stages

(Guide only)

Example 1: Intern 

I am a highly motivated and personable medical intern with a deep passion for XXXX health, community engagement, and enhancing XXXX education for medical students. My inquisitive and innovative nature has driven extensive involvement in XXXX research aimed at improving the management of XXXX. I am empathetic and collaborative, working closely with colleagues and families to deliver patient-centred care.

Key Strengths:

• Safe, Patient-Centred Care: I provide evidence-based medical management, acknowledging the limits of my capabilities, and working with families to treat patients holistically.
• Excellent Work Ethic - Known for my hardworking nature and positive demeanour, I have substantial experience as both a leader and a team player in clinical and non-clinical settings.
• Systematic and Organized: I adopt a structured clinical approach, with a strong capability in task prioritization and efficient completion.
• Passion and Commitment: I have a robust background in promoting XXXX awareness, engaging in community service, conducting research, and providing education.
• Clear, Concise, and Empathetic Communication: I excel in verbal and written communication, documenting effectively, and establishing rapport with patients, including non-verbal young children.

Career Objective

• To obtain an RCH Paediatric JRMO position.

Example 2: HMO2

Professional Profile

A dedicated, conscientious, and motivated doctor, aiming to develop proficiency as a medical practitioner, educator, researcher, and advocate for public health throughout my career. Currently completing an internship at XXXX while pursuing a Master of Public Health at XXXX University. My goal is to engage in further public health-related research after completing my degree.

As a medical practitioner, I strive for excellence in patient care. Possess a strong commitment to ongoing education and training with the goal of teaching and mentoring future generations of medical professionals. Highly motivated to pursue professional development opportunities I have participated in multiple XXXX registrar tutorials during various intern rotations and have completed several XXXX courses, including the XXXX Course for XXXX Trainees and an Advanced Life Support (ALS) course.

Key strengths

• Well organised - Able to prioritise issues and generate results within limited time and budgetary expectations.
• Broad general medical knowledge and clinical reasoning- Able to make overall assessments of situations and reach logical conclusions appropriate to common medical presentations.
• Excellent communication skills- Able to elicit and provide information to and from both patients and colleagues in a respectful and dignified manner.
• Comprehensive understanding of cultural differences and issues that arise in healthcare- Have had extensive experience as an undergraduate with various ethnic groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, through my rural clinical rotations, and rotations at various tertiary hospitals.

Career Objective:

I hope to pursue a career in one of two areas of medicine: Anaesthetics and Critical Care, or Physician training and Endocrinology.

Example 3: Resident (PGY3-4)

Professional Summary

A committed and highly competent doctor with three years of diverse clinical experience gained in the role of 'Medical Officer' in both public and private health sectors. Highly adaptable with strong clinical reasoning skills applied in a range of specialties including surgical, medical, and critical care. A wealth of practical knowledge and skills facilitate the delivery of professional service with timely precision and an attention to detail. Dedicated to academic development, with a passion for research, the completion of courses in anatomy, radiology and research skills has assisted the completion of research projects in paediatric radiology.

Career Highlights and Achievements

• Graduated with a post-graduate diploma in XXXX while working full time.
• Achieving a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Methods while completing research.
• Working in XXXX with the Emergency Department and Royal Flying Doctor's Service.
• Working as a Volunteer for 2 years with XXXX.

Career Objective

To specialise in XXXX and build a career in the public sector, utilizing sound judgment and expertise to contribute to the productivity and reputation of the XXXX Department. With the ambition to complete research, achieve a Master of XXXX and promote and supervise research and education amongst doctors in training.

Example 4: Registrar

Professional Profile

Highly motivated advanced trainee in Emergency Medicine with experience in Intensive care, anaesthetic and retrieval. Comprehensive clinical skills and knowledge with a commitment to continued learning and advancement of professional competence. An energetic self-starter with excellent organization and communication skills.

Professional Attributes:

• Strong Work Ethic – I take pride in being the best doctor I can be. I consider myself reliable, hardworking, and proactive individual.
• Commitment to Learning – I love practicing medicine and constantly look out for areas I need to improve, taking initiative to better myself – evidenced by my continuing education. I welcome feedback and strongly believe you can learn from any experience.
• Team Player – I thrive on working in an efficient and highly professional cohesive team who respect each other and their roles and who communicate effectively.
   

Example 5: Consultant

Professional Summary

A highly competent XXXX Consultant, with many years’ experience in both rural and metropolitan community XXXX settings. Possess the unique additional skill of extensive training in XXXX, which enables the provision of highly skilled care to patients with both XXXX and XXXX disorders.

A history of strong academic achievement with a commitment to ongoing self-motivated learning as evidenced by the completion in recent years of a number of qualifications including, an International Master’s degree in XXXX studies and an Advanced Certificate in XXXX. During this time, I have also completed training in XXXX Medicine and have obtained recognition as a XXXX Specialist.

Key Strengths:

• Highly motivated and organised with a strong work ethic ensuring the demands of a challenging clinical role are met.
• Unique combined training in XXXX and XXXX enables the assessment and management of complex XXXX disorders that would ordinarily require the input of two services or experts.
• A clear concise and focused communicator with extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams and engaging in close liaison with general practitioners.
• A creative problem solver, taking initiative to promptly address issues as they arise.
• Experienced in setting up new services with a focus on continuous improvement and service development - ensuring best practice, efficiency, and innovation.
   

Example 6: Consultant

Professional Summary

A knowledgeable and highly competent XXXX with twenty years’ experience working with individuals, groups, and facilities, with a particular emphasis on XXXX and the XXXX within that population. Effectively operated in the public and private sector in both clinical, teaching, and supervisory roles. A fellow of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of XXXX and a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of XXXX.
 

Example 7: Senior Consultant

Professional Summary

Example 8: Consultant / Leader

Professional Summary

Healthcare leader with experience in medical leadership, clinical governance, and XXXX department leadership. Experience in safety and quality improvement, governance and accreditation, leading organisation wide change, medical workforce, and people management. Passionate about fostering wellbeing at work and creating an inclusive workplace.

A Fellow of the XXXX College of XXXX and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors with a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Holds the appointment of Honorary XXXX in the Faculty of XXXX at the University XXXX.

Key achievements

• Successfully led the expansion of the XXXX service at XXXX, which tripled in size under my stewardship.
• Head of Unit of the XXXX Service and responsible for successfully integrating several independent metropolitan and regional services into a single statewide XXXX services, including the development of the governance framework for the service, and liaising with government.
  National expert in XXXX, co-authoring four college XXXX best-practice guideline utilised for XXXX diagnosis in Australia and New Zealand.
• Lead facilitator of the XXXX education program which engages 150 senior XXXX consultants and registrars from across Australia and New Zealand annually.