When creating a resume, you may notice the tendency on resumes to include an “objective statement” explains Martin Polanco. As of late, this has become less common; however, if your resume is lacking an objective statement and your job search requires one (i.e., you will not be considered for a position without one), it’s important to know what type of information should make up your objective statement.
Oftentimes, people will use their resume’s objective section as an opportunity to explain why they are qualified for the particular role they are applying for or are at least interested in pursuing. This can come off lazy because if potential employers cared about why you wanted the job, they would have asked during interview rounds.
The question of whether resumes need a “personal statement” or a personal objective is a common one. The answer depends on what type of job you’re seeking. According to Career Mosaic, an online resume writing service, your best bet is not to use the traditional objective in most cases.
However, if you are so directed by a job listing or have been advised otherwise by a personal career coach, then the following categories will help you think about what information might go into such an objective section:
I. A “Career Objective” Statement
This category focuses on the applicant’s future career plans rather than current skills and abilities. This type of wording provides employers with information that may show whether they would be interested in hiring you for the long term. To write an effective “career objective” statement, list your ideal job title or broad department that you would like to work in and then state how your skills fit into that role.
II. An “Accomplishment Statement”
This type of resume personal statement is more appropriate for experienced applicants who have had notable accomplishments in their past jobs or internships. To write one, think of experiences where you have overcome obstacles, helped your team succeed or taken on a new responsibility before anyone else did. Then explain what happened and why it was important to your previous employer’s company success.
III. A “Skills Summary” Statement
This resume personal statement is intended to show off some of the skills you possess that would be beneficial to your prospective employer. To write one, list 3-5 skills that you feel would be important for the role and why, explaining how you’ve acquired each of those abilities and how they could help you succeed in the new job.
IV. A “Statement about You”
This type of resume personal statement is used by applicants who do not have a specific job title or department in mind but instead want to highlight their personality traits or non-work related interests. According to Career Mosaic, this can be risky because it might make it seem like you are applying for every open position under the sun without really caring about anything in particular. However, if you choose this method, explain how your interests make you well suited to thrive in your prospective career says Martin Polanco.
V. A “Career Profile” Statement
This resume personal statement is used when you are applying to work for a company that has a very specific culture or mission (think Google) and you want to show off how closely your own beliefs align with theirs. To write one, create an acronym using the name of their company as the first letters in each word. Then list 4-5 accomplishments or skills that relate to this acronym, explaining why they’re important and what they say about you as a potential employee who fits into their workplace culture.
VI. A “Job Objective” Statement
The most traditional option is simply to use an objective section at the top of your that states which position you are applying for and where you saw the listing explains Martin Polanco. This is also appropriate if you are a new college graduate who does not yet have concrete career aspirations but just wants to get your foot in the door somewhere. This statement should be customized to each job, rather than written once and then used over and over again for every position that interests you.
Conclusion:
The best option for you is largely dependent on where and how you found the listing as well as your individual personality, so it’s important to read the description carefully and consider what will make an employer want to hire you. Then, spend some time thinking about what those key elements are and how they can be woven into a coherent and compelling statement that tells them just why they should interview you.
