Do you want to land more job interviews in the monitoring and evaluation niche? The easiest way to achieve this is by attracting a recruiter’s attention straight away by summarizing the highlights of your career right at the start of your resume — in a section called the resume summary. 

Without further ado, let’s show you how to write a monitoring and evaluation professional summary that will not only get you to more job interviews but will also help you land a job.

Table of Contents

• What is a resume summary?
• Benefits of a resume summary
• The resume summary versus the objective statement
• How to write a monitoring and evaluation resume summary
• Professional resume summary examples for the monitoring and evaluation industry
• Recommended cases for using a resume summary statement

What is a resume summary? #

A resume summary or career profile is a brief statement at the top of the resume format. If you are a career changer or have many years of experience, craft a powerful summary to highlight your accomplishments and skills. Use the resume summary section to show employers, at a glance, why you’re qualified for the job. 

The purpose of this resume section, which is also known as a professional summary or resume statement, is to create a good first impression. It sums up your work experience, skills, and achievements into a short and concise sales pitch where you are the product. 

• Reminder: The summary is especially important for those looking to make a career pivot. If that doesn’t apply to you, a summary may not be necessary for your resume and you can go immediately into your Professional Experience section.

Do it well, and your future employers will be more inclined to read the rest of your resume.

Benefits of a resume summary  #

Here are three reasons why you should craft a high-impact, keyword-rich, and strong monitoring and evaluation resume summary. 

1. You get noticed more quickly #

Because the resume summary sits at the top of your resume right below your contact information, the recruiter can easily spot and read it. Having a strong resume summary gives you a better chance of standing out and landing an interview since the hiring manager can see upfront what you bring to the table.

Related: How To Best Prepare For Interview With Recruiters In 7 Steps.

2. You sell your strongest attributes and top achievements #

A resume summary section showcases your top accomplishments, key skills, and experience. This helps recruiters quickly size you up and find key attributes they are looking for in your resume. It leverages the 7-second window by showing the recruiter why you are the best person for the job in just a few sentences.

3. You can include high-impact keywords and get past the ATS #

99% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen candidates and narrow the list down to the top job applicants. This means that recruiters and hiring managers are not the only ones you need to impress. The resume summary is a great place to capture relevant keywords that help you get past the ATS, outsmart the bots, and get your resume in front of a recruiter.

The resume summary versus the objective statement #

The difference between a professional resume summary and an objective statement is often confusing to job applicants who want to know which one to choose. Let’s break it down for you:

In the same way that a professional summary serves as an introduction to your resume, an objective statement serves as an overview of the qualifications you have for the job in order to capture the attention of prospective employers. However, there are a few differences to keep in mind:

Resume Summary

• Outlines candidate’s qualifications.
• Communicates why an applicant is a good fit.
• Recommended for experienced job seekers and applicants seeking the same type of job.

Objectif statement

• Communicates applicant’s goals.
• Expresses why a candidate wants the role.
• Recommended for first-time job applicants and career changers.

How to write a monitoring and evaluation resume summary #

Here are essential tips on how to write a monitoring and evaluation resume summary:

1. Keep it Brief #

A resume summary should be lean and easy to read. You want to put your best foot forward and deliver your relevant details in a concise, digestible manner. A paragraph with four to six sentences, or a list with four to six bullet points, should be enough.

Remember, your resume summary doesn’t need to detail your entire career trajectory or explain why you’re looking for a new job. A short summary of your qualifications is all it needs to be. Don’t lose focus of what the summary is trying to achieve.

2. Start with your current role or title #

Start your summary with your current role or title. This detail will tell the hiring manager what you currently do and give them a sense of your experience level.

When you open your summary by saying you are a “Detail-oriented M&E expert” or a “data analyst,” recruiters will have a good idea of who you are and your suitability for a particular role.

3. Use active language and concrete examples #

Use action verbs and quantifiable examples of your achievements to stand out from other applicants. Strong writing is an important part of showcasing your qualifications.

Try to identify your key strengths, relevant achievements, and any important projects that you have led. These can be used to demonstrate your skills and abilities using active language. Describe your most impressive accomplishments and highlight your competence.

Quantifiable achievements like sales, revenue, and user acquisition are all impressive examples of your abilities that look great in a summary statement. Any skills that you can back up with numbers will impress employers.

4. Customize your resume summary for every application #

Your resume summary will be most effective if you customize it for every application. The hiring company is looking for particular skills and experience, so you should tailor your summary to suit their exact specifications.

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to search candidate resumes for keywords. This software speeds up the hiring process by scanning resumes for the desired phrases. To get past the ATS, you need to make sure your resume has the right keywords.

To do this, research the position and the company. Study the job description to see which keywords you should use in your resume, and study the company website to find the company’s mission and values. A resume summary is different from a cover letter. Know the difference and start practicing how to craft one.

Read Also: How To Write a Cover Letter For an M&E Job Application

Professional resume summary examples for the monitoring and evaluation industry  #

Sample 1: 

Results-oriented M&E specialist with over seven years of experience in designing, implementing and managing M&E systems in humanitarian and development contexts. Proven ability to collect and analyze data to generate actionable insights for program and project improvement. Looking for a position where she can use her skills to make a positive impact in the world. 

Sample 2:

Experienced health research scientist with more than 10 years of experience designing, implementing and managing small- and large-scale population-based as well as population-specific (i.e., underserved, low-income adolescents, youth in the juvenile justice and foster care systems, K-12 students, and communities of color) research, evaluation, and performance measurement projects involving collaborative public, private and non-profit partnerships. Demonstrated experience conducting evaluation and performance monitoring of public health, human service, and education programs, policies, and interventions applying behavioral health and social science theories, methods, and techniques. Detail-oriented project manager with expertise in handling US Federal Government contracts.

The above two samples can inspire you to create your own job summary. 

Recommended cases for using a resume summary statement #

Use a resume summary statement if:

• You have worked for at least a year.
• You have switched companies often.
• You are applying for a senior role.
• You are applying again for the same job at a new firm.

You have worked for at least a year. #

When job candidates with more than one year of work experience include a professional summary in their resumes, they are more likely to get interviews than those who do not. As a result, resume summaries provide employers with a great snapshot of a potential employee. When used correctly, they provide employers with a sense of who you are, why you are qualified for the job, and what you can offer them.

Pro tip for applicants with at least one year of experience

• In your resume summary, be sure to place the keywords from the job description that are relevant to the qualifications you have and tailor it to fit the job. Be specific, focus on your most relevant strengths, and lead with them.

You have switched companies often. #

There is no doubt that employers will notice and are likely to question your job-hopping if you have had a lot of job changes, so it is important to be transparent from the beginning. Giving context to a hiring manager at the beginning can remove any doubt in their mind and help that manager see you as reliable.

In the past, you may have been more inclined to contract roles, but now you would prefer something permanent, or perhaps you have moved a lot because of circumstances that are beyond your control. Your reasons were valid, so let your employer know what they are.

Pro tip for applicants who have changed jobs frequently

• You will be able to downplay the job-hopping trend and help hiring managers see your potential for the role if you focus on the knowledge and skills you have gained through your experiences. Doing so will help you downplay your job-hopping and ensure that the hiring manager sees your potential.

You are applying for a senior role. #

A professional summary statement should be a key component of your application for a senior-level position when it comes to showing your leadership skills and career progression. Make sure you highlight your expertise in the areas that are relevant to the job, highlight an accomplishment, and illustrate your multitasking skills.

Pro tip for applicants seeking a senior-level position

• If you have previous experience as a M&E manager: Tell the hiring manager about it. Add an example that shows how you excelled.
• If you have no managerial experience: Emphasize your relevant skills. Example: “Taught five junior evaluators how to use our analyser data system.”

You are applying again for the same job at a new firm. #

Imagine you have been working at a big consulting company for three years now and you have enjoyed the work, but you are interested in the same position, M&E data analyst, at a smaller startup. The job seems similar, but you are ready to take on the challenges and develop the skills that startups offer.

As a career seeker, you need a professional summary that does a good job of explaining what you learned from your past employer so that employers gain a clear understanding of what you will be able to contribute to their organization

Pro tip for a company switch

• As a matter of fact, you should never try to put down the company you previously worked for or are currently working for! Instead, you should mention something you liked about it, show gratitude for what you learned while there, or briefly explain how your time there prepared you for this career change.

Key Takeaways  #

General guidelines to keep in mind: 

• The summary is especially important for those looking to make a career pivot. If that doesn’t apply to you, a summary may not be necessary for your resume and you can go immediately into your Professional Experience section.
• Keep your profile short. Two to five phrases written in a bulleted form or brief paragraph will do. Think of the summary as a snapshot of your skills,  accomplishments, and knowledge.
• Label your profile professionally: Summary of Qualifications, Career Profile, Career Highlights, Professional Summary, or just Summary or Profile. 
• Place your profile section at the top of your resume page, above your work history, so that the employer can see it when they first review your resume.