Adding a resume objective at the top of your resume can be a great way to highlight the right skills and emphasize how you can bring value to the company you want to work for.
A well-written resume objective should be short, to-the-point and being forwarded the right information that will make your resume interesting to the hiring manager.
Learn how to write a resume.
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What is a resume objective?
A resume objective, simply put, is why you are writing the resume. It is a statement of your career goals and what you want to get out of your employment. Typically, a resume objective sits at the top of your resume and is only a few sentences long.
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When to include a resume objective?
Here, opinions differ.
Some experts believe that resume objectives are very useful, while others think they are a thing of the past or should be left for the cover letter.
Learn how to write a cover letter.
The final decision is, of course, up to you. But a resume objective can come in very handy when you want to emphasize your ambitions and where you are looking to get in your career.
Below are some examples of specific situations when a resume objective may be particularly useful.
- You are changing careers. In this case, a resume objective can help explain why you are applying for the job and why you may be a good fit for it, even if you have little work experience in the field.
- You are new to the employment market. If you have recently graduated and have little working experience, adding a resume objective can help the hiring manager learn more about you, what your professional objectives are and how they align with what the company has to offer.
- You have moved to a different city/country. If you have recently moved to a new location or are planning to do so, a sentence in your resume objective can explain your relocation.
Resume summary vs. resume objective
Another thing to take into account is that a resume objective is not the same as a resume summary. Just like a resume is not the same as a cover letter.
Learn Cover Letter vs. Resume: What’s the Difference?
A resume summary is a brief description of your skills and qualifications (that you will elaborate on in your resume). The purpose of a resume summary is to explain why you are the best candidate for the job.
A resume objective, on the other hand, is a short statement that describes your career goals. It explains why you are seeking employment and what you want to achieve.
To learn how to write a good resume summary, check out our post on Effective Resume Summary. 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid.
How to write an effective resume objective?
Match your resume objective to the position you are applying for
The most important thing you should aim for with your resume objective is that it matches the job you are applying for. This means you may need to alter your resume objective when applying for different positions. This doesn’t mean that you have to be untruthful.
You should still be honest about what you want to achieve professionally — but can make slight tweaks to your resume objective that reflect how this particular job falls in line with your long-term career goals.
Be as specific as possible
As we’ve mentioned above, a resume objective should be just a few sentences long. This leaves no space for being vague or going into generalities. Focus on particular skills you want to develop and specific goals you want to achieve.
Use the right keywords
Another effective strategy you can use when writing your resume objective is incorporating the keywords that you see in the job listing you are applying for. For instance, you can note down what skills the job offer lists as desirable and add a few of these to your resume objective as the skills you want to develop.
Emphasize how you can add value
One of the most popular mistakes in resume objectives is that the applicant may focus too much on what they want to achieve in their career. But fail to mention how this may benefit the company. Yes, your resume objective should focus on what you want to achieve professionally. But it will work in your favor if you also mention how your professional growth will add value to the position you want to get.
Keep it short
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Your resume objective should be just a few sentences long. There is no need to go into too much detail here. And even if you do, there is a strong chance that the hiring manager will simply skip through it. What’s more, the long introduction to your resume may lead to them losing interest in carefully reading your resume further. As a result, you will be actually conveying less information instead of more.
Resume objective examples
Below, we have gathered some simple resume objectives examples that you can easily tailor to your own needs.
Resume objective sample: standard
I am a university professor looking for a position at a mid-size university where I can fully apply my ten years of teaching experience. I am particularly interested in curriculum development and STEM-oriented instruction.
Resume objective sample: career change
Experienced marketing professional with a strong track record of successful product launches now looking for a new career path at a nonprofit organization. I am looking for a change to apply my skills to drive positive change in my community.
Resume objective sample: relocation
Experienced IT professional relocating to San Diego in September. Looking for opportunities in a fast-growing startup or established company where I can use my JavaScript programming skills and experience in tech development to create commercially successful software products.
Resume objective sample: new graduate
New business school graduate looking for a full-time position in finance. Strong passion for market analytics and profitability management. Highly driven to grow together with the company I am working for and gain hands-on experience in a financial organization.
Resume sample: entering the employment market
Aspiring fashion designer with strong communication skills searching for a position to further my knowledge of the fashion industry as a retail associate in a high-fashion boutique.
Resume objective sample: career development
Dedicated and experienced personal assistant with over five years of experience looking for opportunities to apply my organizational skills as an office manager in the fashion industry.
How to write a resume objective in 2023: summary
So, let’s sum up what we’ve learned today about writing a resume objective.
- A resume objective is a statement that describes your career goals and professional motivation.
- It should be just a few sentences long.
- In your resume objective, try to be as specific as you can, mentioning specific goals, skills and how you can add value to the company you want to work for.
- Tweak your resume objective for the job you are applying for. You can also add keywords from the job description to better highlight relevant skills.
Learn more about writing a good resume in our post on Top Resume Formats. Tips and Examples.