Essay Guideline

Well, if you want to make sure a prospective employer reads your resume, the objective statement can be more than special: It can be critical.

If you are in the market for a new computer and a salesperson asks you what features you are specifically looking for, you may spout off a few details, such as: 512KB RAM, 160 GB hard drive, flat panel monitor, wireless optical mouse or any of a dozen other desired features. The salesperson is much better equipped to find a computer that matches your description if you provide the right kind of information.

The same is true of an objective statement. If you don’t use one, an employer might not be able to figure out what type of position you are seeking.

Do not assume your resume is clear and to the point. Do not assume your cover letter will be able to convey everything, either. The cover letter might not even get read. Even if it does get read, it could very easily get separated from your resume. If that happens, the employer has no lead-in to your resume and it has to stand alone.

It is for this reason that the objective statement becomes critical.

Are you interested in getting hired for a specific position or are you ok with interviewing for any position an employer has available? Most people are relatively specific about the kind of work they want to do. You probably are, too.

That means the employer needs some direction from you.

The objective statement tells the employer what you are interested in. A well written objective statement does it in a way that lets the employer know what you can do for them, too.

What can an objective statement do for you?

It can:

Arouse interest in the rest of the resume

Inject energy and enthusiasm

Express your desire to contribute to the organization

Articulate your knowledge of one or more aspects of the company

Use the objective statement to garner interest in the rest of your resume. Be specific and target every word to the position desired and the employer’s needs.

Employers are not mind readers. They need assistance in making sure your resume is read by the right people for the right job. Your willingness to clearly identify the position you are seeking may make the difference in you getting a phone call for an interview, or your personal history being filed away permanently.

Do it right - and reap the rewards.

~Carla Vaughan

Other articles on Resume-Writing can be found at:
http://www.professional-resume-example.com/resume-related-articles.html

Carla Vaughan is the owner of http://www.Professional-Resume-Example.com, a web site devoted to assisting candidates in the job-search process. She holds a B.S. in Business from Southern Illinois University and has authored several books.

Her blog: http://professional-resumes.blogspot.com/

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All right, that’s a bit strident.

Some professional resume writers would strongly recommend an objective statement. There’s nothing necessarily WRONG with one, but I think it’s a challenge to make any objective strong and compelling enough, and sometimes it gives you enough rope to hang yourself.

A typical objective statement goes something like this:

“A challenging position with a respected and dynamic company in the industry.”

Let me rephrase that for you:

“A job.”

Most resumes have such a poorly written objective that the person reading uses it for garbage bin target practice.

Don’t misunderstand me here. It’s possible to have a well-written objective statement. That would look something like this:

“An extremely motivated Senior Manager with a proven track record in operations management and quality improvement. Possessing expert TQM skills in addition to excellent communication, interpersonal and analytical skills. Seeking a challenging position where these skills will be used fully.”

That objective statement probably won’t get your resume thrown out.

See the difference?

The first resume objective statement was more about you than about them. The second one certainly had things about you in it, but it was (I hope) targeted to the specific kind of job you’re looking for, and it included your qualifications for the job. In other words, it’s about what you can do for them.

An even better resume objective would look like this:

“A highly experienced sales and marketing professional with comprehensive strategic planning and implementation skills, and $27 million in total profit improvement added in 8 years, seeking a position as a Sales Manager where these skills will add value.”

You’re hired! No, probably not yet. But you’re not eliminated as a candidate either.

A weak resume objective statement gets your resume tossed. A strong one won’t necessarily get you the job interview, but it’ll pass the initial screening, and encourage the reader to get the details that back up your intro.

If the details are good enough, you’ll get the interview. That’s the goal.

Copyright (c) by Roy Miller

Roy Miller created http://www.Job-Search-Guidepost.com.

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