Writing the Perfect Resume Objective

By Joseph Pratt
Resume-Templates.com

A resume objective is the statement at the top of your resume that tells the employer why you have sent them your resume. Think of it as an introduction. The objective is one of the most important parts of a resume, but it is also one of the most difficult parts to write. Many resume objectives are very vague, others are too specific. In general, a good resume objective should tell the employer about your skills, goals, attributes, and accomplishments.

How long should an objective be? In general, don't let it take up more than three lines on your resume. If it is too long, it probably won't be read. Remember, most resumes are reviewed in less than 15 seconds. Don't force them to skim past something important because it is lost in the words.

State Your Current Goal

Start your objective by informing the reader on the type of position you are applying for. You can be general or more specific. For example, you might start the objective with "seeking a position as a graphic designer." If you are sending your resume in reply to a job advertisement, you should use the title the company used in the ad.

State Your Career Goal

After you have declared the position you are seeking, you should include what your career goals are. If you are applying for the graphic design position and your goal is to become a web developer, you might add, "at a company with growth opportunities in web development."

Tell the Employer About You

Last, return to your objective and see where you can add a summary of your qualifications. The statement might become, "Seeking a position as a graphic designer, which utilizes my creative talents with colors and shapes, at a company with growth opportunities in web development." Finally you have an objective that defines your current and long-term goals, and tells the reader a little about you.

If you decide to include a resume objective, make sure it is good! There is no point in taking up valuable page space with an objective like "Painter." Employers consider this the second most important part of a resume, so don't let a poorly written objective keep you from getting an interview!

More information on writing resume objectives that get interviews can be found in our Resume Template Package.

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