The Resume: Do I Need an Objective?
Well, let me think about that for a split second…YES!!!!
All resumes must have an objective (or some semblance of an objective which can show up in the form of a “Career Summary” or “Executive Summary” – appearing, like the objective would, at the top of your resume, under your name and contact info.
The objective tells the reader what the heck you want to do for them (and in your professional life). It stops them from guessing (especially if you don’t send a cover letter, or if your cover letter gets separated from your resume when the HR person passes your resume around the organization’s departments, or, more commonly, if you have held several seemingly-unrelated jobs.
For example, if you currently are working at the customer service counter at your local discount store, but before that you were a Warehouse Manager at that cool internet shop that has all sorts of gizmos and gadgets for your electronic needs, and five years prior to that you had your own flower shop for 10 years, without an objective, the reader (your potential employer) has NO IDEA what you want to do for them. Do you want to work with customers? Do you want to ship electronics? Do you want to stop and smell the flowers?
What is perhaps worse than not having an objective is having a poorly-written one! Absolutely do NOT state in your objective the type of company in which you want to be employed OR what you hope to gain from the experience. “To obtain a high-paying position where I can learn a lot about an industry I know very little about and with a company that is a Fortune 500 business.” Yikes!
SEND your resume to Fortune 500 companies if that is what appeals to you; don’t say that in your objective. Further, don’t say what you hope to get out of the deal; rather, state what you will produce for them.
There are three ways to write an effective objective.
First, you can actually state the title or role of the position for which you are appplying right in the objective. “To secure a position as a Chicken Coop Cleaner…”
Second, you can write your objective so that it is not so specific (this way you don’t have to change it every time you send out your resume). “To secure a position in farming…”
Third, you can write your objective so that you can possibly be considered for a number of different roles with the employer vs. the one they may have advertised months ago that you are just getting around to acknowledging right now. (Even if they just posted the job today, and you respond today, it is possible they aready have that position filled “in their minds” with someone they want, but have to advertise the role anyway. If you leave the objective wording “open” they won’t automatically file your resume in the “outbound file” bin under the desk because they see “Chicken Coop Cleaner” in the objective).
“To secure a rewarding position where my well-rounded experience, exceptional work ethic, and ability to embrace new challenges will be fully employed to deliver profitable and professional results.” Now that’s a great objective! You could be considered for any number of possible positions with the company.
For help writing your objective or with any other career or resume-related questions, contact us at (877) 884-1960 or email us at writerswithspark@aol.com
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