CV Introduction [+Opening Paragraph Examples]

When you don’t know how to start a CV, most people will tell you to start at the beginning.

But—

That’s no help at all. 

In fact, it is better to write your CV introduction last. When your entire document is ready it will be much easier to pick out the things you want to show off.

In this guide you will learn how to write the perfect CV intro paragraph that will have recruiters reading on to the very end. Ready?

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Check other tips that will help you overcome writer’s block:

• What to Include in a CV
• What Should a CV Look Like
• Best CV Templates
• How to Write a CV
• CV Summary
• How Long Should a CV Be?
• CV Layout
• CV Format
• CV Structure

Choosing a CV Introduction

If the first thing that comes out of your mouth when you meet someone is “what up?” then it’s safe to say that a lot of people are just going to turn the other way. The same goes for your CV.

But before choosing what you want to say, you need to think about how you’re going to say it. What’s the message you want to get across, what are your strongest selling points?

Those are the things that you’ll want to include in your CV profile.

The good news is that it doesn’t really matter what industry you’re in. From marketing to medicine, the guidelines around creating an introduction for your CV are the same.

Depending on your experience and skills, you have two versions of a CV profile to choose from:

CV Objective

The CV objective is the go to CV introduction if you’re just starting your career or have little experience. It also works well for career changers.

The CV objective focuses on your skills and knowledge to show that you have the potential to be a successful employee.

Here’s an example of a great CV objective for someone with no work experience and applying for an internship:

CV Introduction Example

This example puts the focus on the skills and drive that the candidate has to prove that they’re an investment worth the employer’s time.

But what if you’re changing your career focus after several years on the job? This example will show you how an objective can start your career change CV:

Sample CV Introduction

Although this candidate is completely switching sectors, the focus is on the skills and experience that the NGO can really take benefit from.

CV Summary

A CV summary is the CV introduction of choice for anyone who has several years of experience or those continuing on in their career.

The CV summary highlights your experience and acquired skills to demonstrate that you’re the perfect candidate for the job.

Here’s a CV introduction example of a compelling CV summary:

Intro for a CV

This example underlines the key skills and quantifiable achievements of the candidate from the start and hooks the hiring manager into reading on.

So how can you write an intro just as good as the CV introduction examples above? We’ll show you.

Summary of Qualifications

A summary of qualifications is a bulleted list of achievements, skills, and relevant experience which proves you’re a perfect fit for the job. You can think of it as a career summary presented in an easy-to-skim bullet point paragraph form.

Let’s take the above-mentioned CV summary and change it into a qualifications summary. 

Sample Introductions for a CV

Easy, right? Simply choose the best 4-5 highlights from your CV and reword them into short bullet points.

CV Headline

Having problems fitting the contents of your CV onto a one- or two-pages template? Choose a CV headline. A CV headline, also called a CV title, is a brief phrase at the top of your CV that shows your professional identity and highlights your strengths. It goes under your contact information.

See the examples below:

Introduction for a CV: Example

So how can you write an intro just as good as the CV introduction examples above? We’ll show you.

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Start With The Rest of Your CV

Just because your CV opening statement is at the beginning of your CV doesn’t mean that you can write and forget about it in the rest of your text. In fact, a good rule of thumb is to leave off writing your CV introduction until the end.

Why?

Because your CV introduction needs to relate to the rest of your CV sections to get the most bang for your buck.

Writing your other CV sections like your work experience, skills, education, and additional sections can help you flesh out your accomplishments and key skills. Then, you can go back to your CV introduction and highlight those in your summary or objective.

Writing a CV Introduction

Knowing whether to write a summary or an objective is just half the battle. Now you need to figure out what you’re going to write.

Here are some tips that’ll make your CV introduction more compelling:

• Keep it concise. You really don’t need more than 3-4 powerful sentences.
• Tailor your CV intro paragraph to the position you’re applying for. Use the job ad as a cheat sheet to focus on the attributes they’re looking for. Drop the name of the company for extra brownie points.
• Use action words to add some power to your statements and CV keywords for a more ATS-friendly CV template.
• Show your worth. Add a note at the end on how you’d like to add value to the company and show the employer that this isn’t just another job for you.

Always remember to proofread when you’re finished. There’s nothing worse than a few typos destroying the impression you worked so hard to build.

Read more: How to Write a CV Profile

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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Key Takeaway

When writing your CV introduction keep the following things in mind:

• Choose a CV summary or CV objective.
• Focus on your strengths and tailor your CV intro to the job ad.
• Keep it concise, use action words, and make a statement about your worth.

Thanks for reading! Do you have any questions about writing a great CV introduction? Let us know down in the comments below and we’ll get back to you!

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Sources

• https://doi.org/10.2190%2FBK23-74U3-333Q-0T86