Resume Writer & Career Coach — ResumeToReferral.com


FOR RESUME WRITING &
CAREER COACHING SERVICES,
CALL MY OFFICE: (937) 325-2149

  • » Free Quote
  • Writing Services
    • Resume Writing Services
      • Resume Examples
    • LinkedIn Profile Writing Services
    • Resume Writing For Sales & Marketing Managers
    • Resume Services For Military Vets
  • Interview & Career Coaching
    • Career Coaching & Pathing
    • Interview Coaching & Prep
  • Employee Outplacement
  • eBooks
    • 30-Day Job-Search Action Plan
    • Jobseeker’s Guide to Developing a Brag Book
    • Best Practices For Writing Thank-You Notes
    • Jobseeker’s Guide to Getting Started With LinkedIn
  • Contact Me / Ask
    • Connect With Me On LinkedIn
    • Follow Me On Facebook
    • Client Testimonials To Check Out
    • About / Working With Me
  • Career Blog
    • Resume & Cover Letter Writing + Content Examples
      • Need a Better Resume? Get Help From This Free Online Resume Book.
      • How to Give Your Resume Edge (With These 5 Easy Steps)
      • Here’s How to Write a Resume You Can Be Proud Of
      • 3 DIY Resume Tips — When You Can’t Hire a Professional Resume Writer
      • Is Your Beyond.com (now Nexxt) Resume Review, Fact or Fiction?
      • What To Name Your Resume on Monster & CareerBuilder + Examples
    • Job Interview Tips & Strategies
      • Interview Strategies: How To Explain Why I Was Fired?
      • What To Say About Yourself In An Interview — SOAR Interview Examples
      • Get More Interviews by Remedying These 6 Resume Blemishes
      • When You’ve Had a Bad Interview, Here’s How You Can Save Yourself.
      • How to Answer These 5 Weird Interview Questions
    • Employment & Job Search Success
    • Career Books/Guides
You are here: Home / Resume & Cover Letter / What’s Your Resume Objective?

What’s Your Resume Objective?

January 11, 2018 by Teena Rose, CPRW, CEIP | Resume Writer & Career Coach (937) 325-2149

Few jobseekers effectively use a resume summary and instead opt for a weakly worded objective statement instead.

Resume summary vs. objective. Which is right for you?

And, if your resume uses an objective statement… 

… you’re not leveraging the “prime real estate” of your resume.

The top half is arguably the MOST IMPORTANT part of your resume.

It’s seen first, right?

Imagine you were trying to sell your house and opted to leave the front of your house dirty; the front door unpainted, and your windows were buried by overgrown bushes.

What kind of impression would you be giving new buyers? Not a good one, I’m sure.

When writing your resume, it must introduce your skills and qualifications to readers in addition to encouraging the reader to do something; i.e. call, write, email, or heck, send a smoke signal. 🙂

Okay, So What’s the Difference Between a Resume Objective & a Resume Summary

A resume objective is most often basic, consisting of a sentence or two. In fact, most objectives start out with, “To obtain a sales position…” or “Seeking a position as an R&D clerk…”

Another characteristic of a resume objective is that they’re self-focused, not employer-focused.

And, because of this, resume objectives tend to say what the “jobseeker wants” and not what the jobseeker can do for the hiring company.

Let’s take a look at two example resume objectives:

To apply my skills and enthusiasm in business to meet the project engineering and construction needs of a progressive company.

Here’s another example of an old-style objective:

To obtain a position in outside sales, which would enable me to work closely with prospects and clients throughout Florida and Southeast areas of the United States.

Both of these examples are very blah, right?

The top section of your resume is PRIME REAL ESTATE, and therefore, should focus on the hiring manager/company’s wants, needs, and desires.

HR managers NEED your resume to answer these questions:

Is this candidate experienced and capable of fulfilling this role?

Can this candidate do what we need him/her to do?

Can this candidate produce results for our company?

They want to know immediately if you are worth further examination.

That’s it!

No great secret there, right?

What should you use instead of an objective statement?

The best way to begin your resume is by using a summary statement.

Unlike a basic resume objective, a resume summary includes some wonderful, employer-specific details. Such as:

  • Quick details about your target job title & industry
  • Overview of your most relevant skills that match the job being pursued
  • Any unique notables about you; e.g. language or tech skills
  • Snapshot of your most recent (and relevant) accomplishments

When you have specific qualifications that push your candidacy over that “competitive edge,” list it!

For example, most candidates wouldn’t list language skills within a resume summary. But, for professionals pursuing employment with companies that deal with the Asian market, for example, listing RELEVANT language skills (e.g. ability to speak Mandarin, Putonghua, or Filipino) within the top section of a resume are ideal.

These are the types of notables that set you apart from other candidates. 

Other examples of information that might give a professional that edge over other candidates might be your experiences with special projects, involvement with industry executive boards, acquisition of certain certifications, and so on.

The summary statement of your resume is ideally a VALUE-RICH STATEMENT that shows your worth to potential employers quickly and effectively.

There are 2 key no-nos to avoid when writing resume summaries. 

First, avoid cliché or overused phrases and words in a summary statement in the resume out of necessity.

Some examples would be “enthusiastic”, “detail-oriented”, “people person”, “goal-oriented”, and “dedicated”. These phrases have been used so much in resumes that readers no longer give any credence and consider them fluff.

Choose better words that more powerfully paint a picture of your wealthy career.

Second, keep your summary statement to a summary, not an expository paragraph.

If a piece of detail in that top area DOES NOT position you as a candidate to be interviewed, ditch it.

Here’s an example of a resume summary:

Manage civil projects involving environmental and construction aspects of the engineering field — projects typically budgeted from $769,000 to $2.3M. Liaison to the executive board during project milestones. Served as Project Administrator during a recent management change, which involved managing the company’s $32.2M P&L in addition to overseeing project budgets, implementing cost controls, and identifying on-site improvements to avoid construction delays and costly errors. Recently saved $371,000 by identifying and remedying an equipment schematic flaw previously overlooked by mechanical contractors.

Much better, right?

Here are 2 more example summaries to check out:

Example Resume Summary For Sales & Account Manager

Example Resume Summary for Communications Director

When striving to give your resume edge, remember to consult with an expert in resume writing for the best results.

Most experts will tell you to ditch the objective statement and go with a powerful summary statement to reach out and grab the attention of the hiring manager. Avoid handicapping your prospects for success by utilizing the outdated, ineffective resume objective.

Filed Under: Resume & Cover Letter  

About Teena Rose, CPRW, CEIP | Resume Writer & Career Coach (937) 325-2149

Do you need help with your resume or job-search efforts? If so, be sure to reach out to Teena @ (937) 325-2149 or via email at [email protected] to discuss your resume writing and job-search needs. Teena works extensively with managers, executives, and other top-tier professionals. Click here to submit your resume for a quote and initial consultation.

FREE DOWNLOAD

WRITING & COACHING SERVICES


» Resume Writing Services


» LinkedIn Profile Writing


» Outplacement Services


» Interview Coaching


» Downloads For You

REQUEST QUOTE / MAKE CONTACT

REQUEST QUOTE
Click Here to Request a Quote

MEET TEENA ROSE / RESUME WRITER & CAREER COACH

Hi, my name is Teena Rose. I've been working with top-tier professionals since 1999.

Is your resume COSTING YOU valuable interviews and subsequent job offers?
Do you need resume writing? Contact me to help with your resume.
Are you a professional who could benefit from a seasoned resume writer and/or career coach?

» A great next step... Be sure to reach out to me and request an initial consultation to discuss your resume project and get a quote.

CAREER/JOB-SEARCH BLOG

Resume Writer Review – What To Know BEFORE Hiring One

Resume Writer Review – What To Know BEFORE Hiring One

Sample Cover Letter Content That Explains Employment Gaps

Sample Cover Letter Content That Explains Employment Gaps

Get More Job Interviews With These 5 Advanced Resume Strategies

Get More Job Interviews With These 5 Advanced Resume Strategies

The Best Resume For YOU in 2018 — Here’s How

The Best Resume For YOU in 2018 — Here’s How

Examples & Tips To Write Better Cover Letters (In-Depth Guide)

Examples & Tips To Write Better Cover Letters (In-Depth Guide)

More Posts from this Category

  • Home
  • Outplacement Services
  • Testimonials
  • + More Client Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Affiliate Program
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Me
  • Write For Us

Copyright © 2018 · Dynamik Website Builder on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in