Resume writing can be a dreaded and daunting task for most of us. Sitting staring at a blank screen or resume template knowing that the decisions made here could land you a dream job or have you applying for an extension for unemployment benefits can be heavy. The first challenge in resume writing is usually creating the ‘objective.’
What does the word objective mean? Your objective is your goal or purpose. That’s easy enough. Every resume I have written has had the same objective:
“To get a job as soon as possible for as much pay as possible.”
That’s fine, unless an employer happens to read your resume objective. So what should you say?
Who are the Real Resume Writing Experts ?
While there seems to be plenty of information floating around about resume writing, how do you know what to believe? Some of the information is even contradictory. For instance, I found one website that stated the objective is the most important part of resume writing and within two minutes read on another site that the objective should be omitted altogether. Who is right?
There are people who know more about resume writing than others. I tend to put more stock in Human Resource personnel and former HR employees than many of the web writers. Yet before I declare anyone including myself as the God of resume writing maybe we should look closer at the objective.
Resume Writing: What is the Objective?
What is the resume objective? Usually a statement made at the top or beginning of a resume by the candidate about what they want. Let’s take a step back – what is a resume? Your resume is an advertisement about you for an employer.
I have asked numerous employers and human resource employees what the least important part of a resume is, and they almost unanimously and without hesitation answer, “the objective.” In all my years in hiring, I read very few objectives.
Who Cares?!
Think about this: In most resume formats, the objective gets top billing, listed first in the most important position on the page. This sends the message that the candidate’s own interest is the first consideration by the sheer definition of the word “objective” and the position. The candidate then has to backpedal to create a statement that offers conjectured contribution and a pledge of loyalty to an unfamiliar prospective employer. This is absurd.
I ask you, would you read any advertisement for new cars that started something like this:
“Our goal is to sell as many cars as possible while providing reliable transportation to the masses.”
When you read that do you think what most everyone does: “Who Cares?”
That is exactly what most employers think when they read the average objective on a resume.
Employers are trying to hire you for the future. Employers often cannot match your past with their future goals from your resume. Why is that so hard? Because a resume contains only a small amount of information and your objective is likely contrary and at best speculative.
How can your objective possibly match anything an unknown employer is planning? The odds are not good. The very best anyone can do is write an objective from the limited information about the position, which has usually come from an ad or second hand.
In addition, most objectives are written before a candidate even knows where the resume is going. The objective is then generally if not exactly the same on most resumes.
Hot Tip: An objective that does not seem to match the company’s direction or the interviewer’s perception of that direction can eliminate your resume.
How can you write an objective with the employer’s best interests and goals in mind if you have no idea what they are? You cannot.
You can find out what the employer goals are. You can write an amazing resume objective with the Mirror Method. See the resume objective Mirror Method.
The Final Answer
Could you omit the objective from your resume altogether?
The answer is: drum roll…… YES - Objectives can be omitted.
Wow! We just eliminated a major resume writing stumbling block for most people and some work for you.
However, I suggest of you are going to eliminate the objective you invest the time and effort that you might have used writing an objective, into writing a better resume and cover letter. The cover letter is a place to consider including an objective. However, that’s another subject.
Copyright 2009 Resume Dictionary
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