Writing a Resume Objective
A resume objective simply states what career an applicant is pursuing, so an employer can
immediately tell if a job seeker is compatible with an opening. A resume objective is not,
though often misinterpreted as, the place to tell an employer what you expect or hope to gain
from a position.
Writing more than a straightforward statement of your chosen field may raise hurdles in your
job search. Here are some real-life examples of what not to include in an objective.
“To use the skills I have acquired through previous experience to obtain a challenging and
rewarding career.”
Despite the writer’s attempt to employ current resume lingo, “previous experience” is
redundant and demonstrates poor writing. Plus, “a challenging and rewarding career” is so
generic that the phrase is rendered meaningless. After all, who’s looking for an unchallenging
and unrewarding career? Finally, not specifically addressing the position in the objective
leaves the impression that the applicant doesn’t have a career objective—he or she will take
any job.
“Competent, detail-oriented professional seeks to utilize education, extensive experience,
and proven capabilities to benefit a progressive and well-respected organization.”
Not too bad, but it's limiting. Calling oneself “competent” is not much of a selling point.
Secondly, does the job seeker really want a recruiter to determine what he means by
“progressive”? The word is vague and subject to misinterpretation. Finally, the resume
writer doesn’t specify in what field he has extensive experience. It would be much better to
write: "Detail-oriented professional seeks to utilize education, 20 years of accounting
experience, and proven capabilities to benefit an organization.”
A resume objective simply states what career an applicant is pursuing, so an employer can
immediately tell if a job seeker is compatible with an opening. A resume objective is not,
though often misinterpreted as, the place to tell an employer what you expect or hope to gain
from a position.
Writing more than a straightforward statement of your chosen field may raise hurdles in your
job search. Here are some real-life examples of what not to include in an objective.
“To use the skills I have acquired through previous experience to obtain a challenging and
rewarding career.”
Despite the writer’s attempt to employ current resume lingo, “previous experience” is
redundant and demonstrates poor writing. Plus, “a challenging and rewarding career” is so
generic that the phrase is rendered meaningless. After all, who’s looking for an unchallenging
and unrewarding career? Finally, not specifically addressing the position in the objective
leaves the impression that the applicant doesn’t have a career objective—he or she will take
any job.
“Competent, detail-oriented professional seeks to utilize education, extensive experience,
and proven capabilities to benefit a progressive and well-respected organization.”
Not too bad, but it's limiting. Calling oneself “competent” is not much of a selling point.
Secondly, does the job seeker really want a recruiter to determine what he means by
“progressive”? The word is vague and subject to misinterpretation. Finally, the resume
writer doesn’t specify in what field he has extensive experience. It would be much better to
write: "Detail-oriented professional seeks to utilize education, 20 years of accounting
experience, and proven capabilities to benefit an organization.”
“Looking for a job where I can increase my knowledge and expand my skills in advertising.”
This recent graduate is informing an employer that he lacks experience and expects to learn
on the job. Emphasizing a lack of experience, even on a college resume, is
counterproductive. He’d be much better serviced by simply stating in a resume objective that
he is interested in launching a career in advertising.
In my opinion, because it’s too easy to make a mistake when writing a resume objective, one
should only be used when the career goal is not abundantly clear from the resume.
Recent graduates may use a resume objective, especially those with liberal arts degrees. If
Jane Grad studied political science and wants to obtain a position in market research, she
could write: “To apply my recent degree and analytical skills toward a career in market
research.” This readily identifies to a market research firm that the resume is worth further
consideration.
Similarly, recent older graduates in the midst of a career change should incorporate key
transferable skills into their resume objective. For example: “To use my recent graduate
degree in education and demonstrated presentation and motivational skills to pursue a
career in teaching.”
Any career change requires a resume objective. If a job seeker with five years in retail decides
to enter the customer service field, he needs an objective: “To transfer my multitasking and
relationship-building skills toward a career in customer service.”
For most job seekers, a summary of skills at the top of the page will benefit them more than
an objective. If an insurance salesperson with 15 years experience applies for a position as
an insurance salesperson, he or she should use that precious space to highlight skills and
accomplishments, instead of stating the obvious.
An objective, if necessary, should be one straightforward sentence. It should clearly state
what position/career the applicant is pursuing--ideally including the specific job title position.
Most of all, it should not be used to tell an employer what you expect from them or call
attention to limitations. If it does, your objective may be why an employer objects to calling
you for an interview.
-I. Gray-Resume Writer
This recent graduate is informing an employer that he lacks experience and expects to learn
on the job. Emphasizing a lack of experience, even on a college resume, is
counterproductive. He’d be much better serviced by simply stating in a resume objective that
he is interested in launching a career in advertising.
In my opinion, because it’s too easy to make a mistake when writing a resume objective, one
should only be used when the career goal is not abundantly clear from the resume.
Recent graduates may use a resume objective, especially those with liberal arts degrees. If
Jane Grad studied political science and wants to obtain a position in market research, she
could write: “To apply my recent degree and analytical skills toward a career in market
research.” This readily identifies to a market research firm that the resume is worth further
consideration.
Similarly, recent older graduates in the midst of a career change should incorporate key
transferable skills into their resume objective. For example: “To use my recent graduate
degree in education and demonstrated presentation and motivational skills to pursue a
career in teaching.”
Any career change requires a resume objective. If a job seeker with five years in retail decides
to enter the customer service field, he needs an objective: “To transfer my multitasking and
relationship-building skills toward a career in customer service.”
For most job seekers, a summary of skills at the top of the page will benefit them more than
an objective. If an insurance salesperson with 15 years experience applies for a position as
an insurance salesperson, he or she should use that precious space to highlight skills and
accomplishments, instead of stating the obvious.
An objective, if necessary, should be one straightforward sentence. It should clearly state
what position/career the applicant is pursuing--ideally including the specific job title position.
Most of all, it should not be used to tell an employer what you expect from them or call
attention to limitations. If it does, your objective may be why an employer objects to calling
you for an interview.
-I. Gray-Resume Writer
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