A resume objective is an important part of your resume when you’re applying for a job. What do you need to know about writing your own objective?
Think of the resume objective section of your resume as an overview of your resume. Your objective will not only communicate your career goals, but it will also describe prime skills and experiences you have that fit what the hiring manager is looking for.
Opinions on whether you should use a resume objective vary, but it can be a valid option for your resume. Here’s everything you need to know about a resume objective, and how to write one.
A resume objective is usually two to three sentences long, and placed at the top of your resume. It provides a bite-sized introduction to who you are and what your career objective is, with a highlighted skill and/or work experience.
Some see an objective as an outdated feature, but this may be partially due to people not understanding when you should use a resume objective. Let’s take a look at how a resume objective is put together, so you can make sure it works for you rather than against you.
Some keywords you might want to emphasize include:
These types of strong words will vary by industry, so make sure you look at resume samples from your field to see what types of words people are using. Make sure you use ResumeHelp’s advice on hard skills and soft skills for best results.
You’ll often see recommendations to use a summary instead of an objective in your resume. What’s the difference?
The biggest difference between these two is the intention behind them. A resume summary is typically used when you have relevant experience in the field you’re applying to. With a resume summary, you’re essentially providing an overview of your resume’s highlights. With a resume objective, however, you’re emphasizing your goals and job-specific skills to a hiring manager.
If you’re ever uncertain, assume that a resume objective is for people without a huge amount of experience, and a resume summary is for people with experience.
Resume objectives should typically be very short; some people keep it to as short as a single sentence. No need for long explanations as to why you’re applying; you should be able to sum up your relevant skills for a specific position in just a few sentences.
The other thing you need to do is make sure your resume objective is using the keywords that are popular in your field right now. For example, healthcare keywords are going to be different from human resources keywords. When working in healthcare, you might indicate that you’re “people-focused” and “empathetic,” whereas human resources workers might steer toward being “fair” and “good at defusing difficult situations.”
Your resume objective will always be at the top of your resume. You want your objective to be basically the first thing a hiring manager sees, so they’re prepared for the rest of your resume. Think of it as your response to the job description; you’re explaining exactly why you fit the description.
A resume objective highlights how you can benefit a company, and that your career goals align well with the company’s needs.
It’s a good idea to look at resume examples for your industry and see how many of them include a resume objective or resume summary. If you notice that many of the resume examples for your job or industry opt for a summary instead of a resume objective, you should consider doing the same.
The main thing to avoid in a resume objective is being over-wordy. Your resume should be quick, to the point, and effective, and so should your objective. Think of it as an “elevator pitch.” If your resume objective is more than a few lines long, step back and see where you can trim it down.
It’s also common for job seekers to forget that their resume objective is supposed to showcase how they fit a job rather than why they’re interested in the job. You need to focus on skills and/or experience that are perfect for what the company is looking for. The intention of your resume objective is to make the company as interested in you as you’re interested in the company.
A resume objective is not a replacement for a cover letter. A cover letter is significantly longer than a resume objective, typically taking up three paragraphs, or anywhere from half a page to a full page. A resume objective, on the other hand, shouldn’t be any longer than a slim paragraph and can be as short as just a single sentence.
Hiring managers will expect a cover letter, so remember to include one with your job application. The resume objective is just a section on the resume, but the cover letter is a complete statement that sums up your qualifications for a job, and opens the door to request an interview.
This really depends on your specific skills and experience, and how they relate to the job you want. However, your resume objective should definitely not be any longer than a single paragraph. In a resume objective, you are listing the two or three best qualifications you have for the company you’re hoping to work for, and explaining your goals.
First off, remove extraneous pronouns and related phrases like “I am.” Instead of saying “I am a high school teacher looking for full-time employment,” just say “High school teacher looking for full-time employment.” It’s technically a fragment, but it’s snappier and acceptable writing for a resume, so it’s allowable on your resume objective.
Additionally, only focus on your two or three standout skills. If you’re applying for a software development job and you understand both Python and Java, but you’re only really good at coding in Python, only list Python in your resume objective. The rest of the resume can be used to go over all your qualifications. Your objective should feature all your absolute best qualifications.
