THE RESUME OBJECTIVE
A well-written resume objective can help you secure interviews - but most people get this part of their resume wrong. Find out how to write an objective that sells.
The best way to write an effective resume objective is not to write one at all.
Huh?
No, I'm not nuts!
It's just that the traditional resume objective is highly flawed because it focuses on what YOU want rather than what the employer needs. Think about it. If I'm a busy manager or recruiter, do I really care that you want to work for "a progressive company with good growth prospects?"
Of course not. I don't even know you! No, I care about my problems. I care that my customers are not being served properly, or my office is a mess, or my business is not doing as well as it should - or any number of other problems that have caused me to look for a new employee.This means that the traditional resume objective is ineffective because it doesn't address my needs.So replace your resume objective with a career target headline and a value-oriented profile.
Resume Objective Part 1 - Career Target Headline
The headline should describe what you do or what you want to do. For example:
"Marketing Manager"
or:
"Retail Sales Assistant"
This helps busy recruiters and managers because they now know which position they should be considering you for.(Remember they may have multiple vacancies, not just the one for which you applied).
Resume Objective Part 2 - Value-oriented Profile
After the headline, you should clearly tell the reader why you are the answer to his or her problems.
Make this section of your resume unique. Don't just copy words you see on other people's resumes because this won't help differentiate you. Instead, take the time to figure out what makes you uniquely valuable to your target employers.
Review job postings to get a sense of what employers are looking for.
Think back to similar positions you've held.
Write a list of compliments that have been paid to you by former managers or co-workers.
Ask people what they see as your strengths.
The more work you do to define what makes you special - or what we call your value proposition - the more effective you can make your profile.
(If you need help with this, sign up for my free resume writing course now. You'll get instant access and we'll never spam you or share your email address)
The Resume Objective - In Summary
The traditional resume objective tells employers what you are looking for in your next job. But my approach to creating a resume objective comprised of a career target headline and a value-oriented profile ensures that they know you can meet their needs.
Louise Fletcher is the President of Blue Sky Resumes, and author of the eBook, The Complete Guide to Resume Writing. Louise is also Managing Editor and Co-founder of the preeminent careers blog, Career Hub. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and many of her resumes have been published in the JIST "Expert Resumes" series. She has contributed to many online publications including About.com, Monster.com, The Ladders, and Net Temps.
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