Career Resume Objective Statements to Catch Attention

Career Resume Objective Statements to Catch AttentionCareer Resume Objective Statements to Catch AttentionProfessional resume writers have abandoned the objective ansicht for an executive summary, but young professionals still rely on them and many amateur resume writers still insist.Time was, you would use the prime real estate atop your resume to declare your objective, to tell prospective employers how you wanted to obtain a lage at a well-established organization with a stable environment where you could maximize your management skills and effectively utilize your experience to blah, blah, blah.Resume objective statements were all about what you wanted, not about what you could do for a prospective employer.And that is precisely why your old-fashioned, objective-topped resume will make many professional resume writers shudder. Professional resume writers have replaced these messages with Executive Summary sections that sum up what skills the applicant brings the employer.Amanda Collins, chief of staff at The Grammar Doctors, explains the attitude adjustment Objectives disappeared years ago when resumes switched from applicant-oriented to employer-oriented. They need to instead share the WIIFM Factor Whats in it for me? from the employers prospective.But the objective statement has not entirely disappeared. Young professionals, with little to include in an executive summary, still rely on them and many amateur resume writers still insist on them. If youre in the latter group, the best advice is to make the transition to an executive summary, say professional resume writers and human resources (HR) executives. But if you are still a young professional, and still rely on the objective statement to introduce yourself to employers, there are best practices to follow. Ladders spoke to hiring managers and certified professional resume writers to determine the best way to structure this pithy alternative to an executive summary. Heres what they had to say.Be cl ear, and be what they needIn a nutshell, a worthwhile objective statement mustBe crystal-clear about your career directionlokalitt yourself as someone who wants to do exactly what the employer is offeringBe tailored to fit the job for which youre applying.Jillian Zavitz is the programs manager for TalktoCanada.com, an online English language-training course based in Canada, where she is responsible for hiring. She said that she does in fact see objective statements that catch her eye because they point to a candidate whos exactly what I am looking for, which, in her case, is somebody with experience related to teaching and specific to the job offer.Here are some examples of objective statements that have crossed her desk, some of which are spot-on and some of which are from the school of me-me-me resume writingBad objective statementsCareer employment or contract (twelve months).My Goal is to find employment that will help me begin paying off my student loans.ESL Teaching position w ith Talk to Canada.To obtain a challenging position where my education, skills and experiences can be highly utilized and later be applicable for growth and possible advancement.Good objective statementsPosition of ONLINE ENGLISH TEACHER with MarcMedias TalktoCanada, where I can apply my education, teaching experience and native linguistic skills to the delivery of quality language instruction.English-Language coach/Tutor of ESL or standard English. To assist, encourage and motivate students of every age to demonstrate and improve their verbal and written skills.Be relevantChristine Richardson, director of the career-services office at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, N.Y., said that employment objectives can serve as the glue that pulls together the content of the resume and gives the document finesse. However, theyre a waste of space unless they highlight relevant information that speaks directly to employers needs, she said.Richardson provided objective examples from new college g raduates with limited experience that are too general to make an impact.Too generalTo obtain a position that will enable me to use my educational background and transferable skills to manage and create new opportunities in international trade and networking.A full time position in the Human Resources Training Department.A position in the Business and Marketing Administration field.To obtain a position which will enable me to utilize my education and experience in the fashion industry.Fall Internship.More specific, but still needs workRichardson cited this next objective as being appropriately specific. Its from a sports-management graduate whose goal was to manage an athletic facility.Service Manager, interest in ensuring facility is well equipped and advocating for best guest and member experience.However, as written, it is unclear about the industry this job seeker is pursuing. And in the job seekers mind this was a very clear position title to list, but this title would probably have multiple meanings in multiple industries.She rewrote the objective this wayAthletic Facility Management Team Member PositionThat version might work, but Richardson said she still believes that other headings can be more useful on a resume, since objectives seldom highlight skills and experience and generally serve the job seeker more than the employer.The upshot If you really want to use an objective statement, make sure its about the employer, not just about you. Mention your skills and experiences. If youre not getting interviews, consider graduating to an executive summary and a summary of qualifications and/or career highlights, the standard for a modern resume.