List of Objectives for a Resume

Do you know what you should include on a list of objectives for a resume? This is an important component to the document, and the purpose is for it to stand out to the reader and to encourage him or her to continue reviewing your resume.

Use your resume to make a great first impression.

Your Resume is Your Calling Card to an Employer

When you apply for a job using your resume, it provides the only information the prospective employer knows about you. They don't have the benefit of being able to ask you to clarify anything ambiguous or unclear, and you aren't there to elaborate on anything you have written.

Make sure your list of objectives is clear and concise and tells the employer exactly what kind of position you are applying for. Put yourself in the employer's shoes: if you were getting 100 (or more) responses for a single position, you don't have time to give the resumes you see coming across your desk more than a quick scan before deciding whether it should be discarded or placed in a pile for a closer review.

Reasons for Including a List of Objectives for a Resume

The main reason for including a list of objectives is that a good number of employers (almost half according to some surveys) have indicated that they would prefer to see an objective statement on a resume.

If you are only looking for work locally and are not willing or able to relocate for a new position, you could include this fact in your objective statement. That way, a prospective employer will not consider you for a position that doesn't fit with your plans. Likewise, if you are only interested in a position where you can telecommute (at least part of the time), it's a good idea to mention this fact as part of your objective statement on your resume.

Reasons to Leave an Objective Statement Off a Resume

Some job seekers don't want to limit themselves to certain job descriptions by including an objective statement on their resume. This doesn't have to be a major concern, since you can use a word processing program to prepare multiple versions of your resume to tailor the objective to fit jobs you are applying for.

A busy hiring manager may focus only on the job title included on the resume and not consider an applicant's overall experience to see whether that person would be a good fit for another position in the company.

An Alternative to Objectives on a Resume

Instead of putting an objective statement on a resume, you may want to consider including a section below your contact information that summarizes your experience and your skills. If you decide to include this summary in your own resume, be conscious of keywords in case an employer scans the resume electronically for future reference.

Tips for Including a List of Objectives for a Resume

• Be brief. One or two sentences should be sufficient. Your goal is to pique the reader's interest to get them to read the rest of your resume.
• Keep it simple. There is nothing wrong with stating that you are looking for a job as a sales representative, an accountant, a nurse, etc. You can also list some components of the job you want, such as to supervise other workers or work with a certain type of technology.
• Your statement should focus on what value you can bring to the organization. Give the employer an idea of who they are getting if they decide to hire you.

If you decide not to include an objective statement in your resume, then do indicate the type of job you are looking for in your cover letter.

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