I was watching a news show this morning while eating breakfast and the hosts were debating the candidacy of upcoming presidential hopefuls. They were talking about shifting positions and how the closer to election time, the more the positions of the candidates seem to change to fit the demands of the polls. I was thinking that it's important to look at the past voting record of candidates rather than just listening to their campaign promises to best judge the candidates' positions on various issues. Then it struck me - that's exactly what employers do when reading a resume.
Instead of making a judgment on the job candidate on the basis of the summary (promises), they look at the track record of the candidate in terms of experience and results achieved for other employers. That's not to say a summary is not important - it is. It summarizes the high points of the job seeker's candidacy (obviously) and gives the reader a quick overview. If the summary is good (campaign promises), the reader will delve more deeply into the experience (the voting record).
How many times have you listened to an election candidate speak and thought I wouldn't vote for this guy for dog catcher.? It's because his message (summary) conflicts with what you are seeking. However, another candidate might have a message that attracts you and seems to fit exactly the type of things you want in an elected official. When that happens, the smart thing is to look further into the candidate's background and voting record. For employers, they look more closely at the experience, background, and accomplishments of the job candidate if the message of the summary hits the mark.
Just as not all candidates' messages hit the mark with voters, not all summaries will hit the mark with targeted employers. Every resume sent will not result in a call for an interview. What is important is to make sure the resume, and especially the summary, best represents you, the job seeker, by putting forth your best attributes and is clear on your message. A good resume will result in better interview rates just as a clear message for an election candidate will result in more votes.