How to Write Objective in Resume

How to Write Objective in Resume – Resume objective is a part of your resume where you highlight your career aspiration in an in-depth and concise manner and it in fact requires a lot of practice and in-depth research in order to write a marvellous and impressive resume objective.

A resume objective is a short, one or two sentence statement placed at the top of your resume. The goal of an objective statement is to briefly explain the position you are seeking, while also showcasing your transferable skills, qualifications, and personal qualities. Many job seekers choose to use an objective statement to guide their resume writing efforts. Your resume can be more effective if it includes an objective statement that illustrates your career goals. Below are some tips that will help you write a strong resume objective.

Ask one person about including an objective statement on your resume and they’ll say it’s paramount. Ask another person and they’ll say it’s outdated. Who knew a couple of sentences could be so polarizing? You’re bound to find conflicting information about this topic, making the objective statement, well, subjective.

A resume objective is a short statement that outlines your career direction. Objective statements were once the standard on every job seeker’s resume. A decade or so ago, you wouldn’t have sent out a resume without one. But times change, and what recruiters look for in a standard CV has changed, too.

Read on to learn about resume objectives, why they are important and how to distinguish your resume objective from thousands of other job seekers.

How to Write Objective in Resume

What is a Resume Objective?

A resume objective is a statement of your professional goals as they relate to the job you are applying for, and it is usually listed at the top of your resume. A resume objective is typically one or two sentences long, and can be tricky to write given the space limitations. However, when crafted well, a resume objective can make you and your skills stand out from the crowd and introduce you to recruiters in just the right way.

Ultimately, the resume objective section of a resume should answer the question, “What is this resume (or job seeker) trying to accomplish?” It should be short, to-the-point, and customized for each resume.

Method 1: Writing a Resume Objective

1. Read the job description again. Finding exactly what an employer is looking for will help cater your resume objective to the specific job that you’re seeking. Look for traits that the company is looking for and try to relate it to skills that you possess. Instead of copying the exact wording of the job description, think of different ways that you can explain your positive traits using different words.
   • For example, if the job listing is looking for an IT professional “with knowledge of multiple programming languages” you can write that you have “a full grasp on CSS, PHP, and Java.”
2. Start the resume objective with your experience or education. The introduction for your resume objective should explain who you are and why you are applying for the job. Start your objective by talking about your major in school or the experience that you have.
   • For example, a good opening would be “Third-year law student with one year of experience working as a paralegal for Smith & Co.
3. Include a positive trait and the job title. The next part of your resume objective should be a positive characteristic that you can bring to the position you’re applying to. Relate the trait to the job listing and then cite the job title itself. Think of things that set you apart from the rest and that also relates to the duties that you’d have to do if you got the job.
   • You can say something like, “Looking to leverage my research and organizational skills as an associate researcher for your organization.”
   • Or you could say, “Seeking to leverage my customer service and PR skills to become a account executive with your organization.”
4. End the statement with what kind of value you bring the employer. Locate keywords within the job listing and end your statement by emphasizing how your skills and traits match with the position. Keywords include adjectives like team player, organized, reliable, disciplined, hardworking, and dedicated.
   • You can say something like “I’m disciplined and hardworking and will go above and beyond on whatever I’m doing.”
   • The full resume objective would read, “Third-year law student with one year of experience working as a paralegal for Smith & Co. Looking to leverage my research and organizational skills as an associate researcher for your organization. I’m disciplined and hardworking and will go above and beyond the scope of the position.”
5. Think of the skills that you gained in school. If you have little to no experience, you can write about how your experiences in school or clubs can translate to your new job. Think of your work ethic or skills you gained at school, and write down a list of traits that might relate to the job.
   • For example, if you are academically excellent you can say you are “driven, organized, or a quick learner.”
   • If you were great in sports you can say that you’re a “team player, disciplined, or strategic”.
   • If you were part of a community drama club, you can say that you’re “creative or expressive”.

Method 2: Improving the Quality of Your Resume Objectives

1. Keep it short and concise. Long resume objectives that don’t get to the point are less useful. Hiring managers often have to look through hundreds of applicants and won’t have the time to read a long resume objective. Your resume objective should be kept to three sentences.^[4]
2. Make your objective specific. A resume objective is meant to be to the point and concise. Avoid adding extra words that don’t actually give any explanation to your objectives or career goals, or using words or descriptions that could be applied to virtually any job. Many times you might be tempted to list things that may not actually apply to your personality in order to impress the hiring manager. Don’t do this.^[5]
   • An example of a poor resume objective would be something like “Looking for career advancement in a challenging and positive environment” because these are things that most people look for in any job.
3. Avoid writing a statement about what you’re looking for in a career. Resume objectives inform the employer why you would be a good hire, not an explanation of what you expect from them. Avoid writing resume objectives that explain your career goals or what you hope to get out of the job.
   • For instance, you wouldn’t want to write “2-year professional writer looking for a progressive and friendly publication.”
4. Cater your resume objectives to different jobs. If you’re applying to different kinds of positions, you don’t want to have just one resume objective. Change your resume objective to the different jobs that you’re applying to so that it applies to that specific job description.Advertisement

Method 3: Knowing When You Need an Objective

1. Write a resume objective if you are going through a career change. If you’re going through a career change, the experience on your resume may not match up with the job you’re applying to. In this case, a resume objective can give an explanation on how your experiences and skills can transfer to your new position, as well as the positive traits that you can bring to their company.^[6]
   • You can start your resume objective with something like, “Seeking to leverage my decade of experience in customer service to become an effective account executive.”
2. Create an objective if you’re seeking an entry-level position. If you have little to no experience, a resume objective can help explain how your skills or experiences in school or with extracurricular activities can translate to the job position you are applying to. Concentrate on talking about your positive traits, and how it would help you in your new role.^[7]
   • An example would be “A third year engineering student with proven organization and critical thinking skills. Seeking an opportunity to leverage my talents as a research assistant with your organization. I have the dedication and eye for detail that will help me aid the company in their objectives.”
3. Include an objective if you are targeting a particular position. When you are writing a resume objective for a specific position, you can use it to let the employer know about your unique skills or experience that would help you in your new position. Include specific skills that would make you a good fit for the position.

Resume Objective Dos & Don’ts

Keep these tips in mind to avoid the pitfalls of a horribly boring objective section.

Do:

Make it interesting
Objective statements have a reputation for being boring and unnecessary. If you’ve decided it’s necessary, make it interesting. Throw a dose of personality onto the page, share a relevant personal anecdote, add something you’ve wanted to say that hasn’t fit in any other part of your resume. Catch someone’s attention with a unique and genuine objective statement.

Keep it short
This is not your cover letter. This is not even a paragraph. Your objective statement should be a few sentences, that’s it! Communicating in few words can be surprisingly tricky, but when done well, it shows thoughtful skill. Take some time to think about how you’d best like to maximize these sentences. When space is at a premium, only include what’s absolutely necessary.

Make it specific
Your objective statement is different from your elevator pitch. It’s something that’s tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. For every resume you submit, your objective statement should reflect the expectations of the employer and/or hiring manager of the specific job. Ultimately, your objective statement is not about you, but about why you are the best for the job.

Don’t:

Don’t use weak action verbs
You didn’t “help lead” a group initiative. You “spearheaded” one. Always look to use stronger and more impressive power verbs at the beginning of your bullet points, while avoiding weaker ones like “help” or “assisted.”

Don’t forget to ask someone to proofread
It’s great that you took the time to edit and refine your resume. Now let your friends and family members help as well. If even professional writers and authors have editors to proofread and make changes to their works, then you should too.

It’s easy at times to think that what you wrote makes perfect sense because after all, you wrote it! But unfortunately, we’re all prone to making some mistakes or suboptimal writing decisions that we simply can’t catch and fix ourselves. So never skip this final step – it might just be the most important one!

Don’t mention the obvious
While it’s great to have the mindset of leaving no stone unturned, everyone already assumes you have experience with Microsoft Word and Outlook. There’s also no point in mentioning that you know English if it’s obvious that you’ve worked in an English-speaking country your entire life. Instead, save your precious resume real estate for more technical skills that are far more impressive.

If you do know a second language though, be sure to mention it, as it’s currently a very sought-after talent that companies love.

General resume objective examples

To help you craft your resume objective statement, consider these examples:

New graduate/entering the job market for the first time:

“Highly driven recent business school graduate seeking a full-time position in finance where I can lend my knowledge of market analytics to help your organization improve profitability.”

“Motivated team player and aspiring fashion buyer with proven communications skills seeking to grow my knowledge of the couture industry and use my conversational skills as a junior retail associate for your women’s formal wear boutique.”

Career or industry change:

“Dedicated and experienced accounting professional with proven success managing finances for mid-size commercial organizations. Seeking an opportunity to use my decade of experience to serve the state government.”

“Accomplished leader in marketing communications seeking a new career path with a nonprofit organization. Looking for an opportunity to apply my passion for philanthropy and professional experience to drive positive change in my community.”

“Accomplished human resources professional seeking to leverage extensive knowledge of employee relations, business and positive communication in a customer-focused position that works directly with clients and ensures a positive experience.”

Moving to a new geographic area:

“Experienced software developer relocating to San Francisco in August and seeking employment with a fast-growing startup. I bring more than eight years experience writing JavaScript and more than ten years experience in the technology industry.”

“Current kitchen manager with more than ten years experience in the restaurant industry seeking to begin a sous chef position when I relocate to Chicago in September. I am eager to apply my culinary skills and grow my experience as part of an established

Conclusion

An objective on your resume is a very important component that will greatly influence the first impression of your potential employer. Writing an objective can be tricky, but it’s actually easier than you may think.