Tag: objective statement

I reviewed a resume that had an objective statement that illustrates several mistakes. The job seeker was an experienced consultant. I can't tell you the exact experience level because their resume didn't have employment dates (a major problem). I would guess the person had close to 10 years of experience.

Below is the objective statement:

<University Name> MBA seeks Contract Possitions anywhere in the US or Internationally will travel anywhere as long as per diem is provided. Will consider permanent/direct hire possitions in the <Metro Area> area only.

The first problem is the spelling of “Possitions.” This doesn't bother me much. The job seeker is from a non-english speaking country and spent a portion of their career in that country. Additionally, the job seeker is a technical consultant, making communications skills less important than in other roles.

Another problem is way the candidate states the value they offer. The job seeker makes their MBA the only feature important enough to highlight in their objective. For a recent graduate, this would be ok, but this candidate has significant experience. They should emphasize their experience, skills or accomplishments instead of their education.

The biggest problem with the objective is that it doesn't say what the job seeker wants to do. There is a goal regarding geography – they won't relocate permanently, but they will travel anywhere for a contract position. This doesn't narrow the possibilities that much. The objective doesn't say what type of job the person wants. From their resume, I can make an educated guess based on their experience, but you don't want to make a hiring manager have to work to figure out what you want.

Finally, your objective statement should not specify your compensation or benefits requirements. The statement that per diem is required doesn't help the impression. Although this is a very reasonable expectation, stating it this prominently in the resume objective gives me the impression that this person is going to be very demanding and difficult to manage.

I received a resume recently from a pharmaceutic sales rep.  What I liked about the resume was the objective.  It was very clear and concise.  I knew exactly what the job seeker was looking for.  Here’s the entire four word objective statement:

GOAL: Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

There’s no ambiguity here.  If I was looking for a Pharmaceutic Sales Rep, I’d know this candidate is interested and I could focus on assessing them.  I like specific objectives – either in the cover letter or on the resume for three reasons:

First, a specific objective statement ensures that you are considered for the position you want.  A general objective forces the reader to decide what job is best for you.  Usually, they will assume you want a position similar or identical to your current role.  If you want a position that is different, you may not be considered for that role if you aren’t specific.  This is especially important if you are changing careers. 

Second, a specific objective shows decisiveness.  Hiring managers don’t want someone wishy-washy that can’t make a decision.  Failing to be specific creates an impression that you can’t be decisive. 

Third, many hiring managers screen resumes with a specific position in mind.  Stating your objective  may help you get a more thorough look.  If your objective is specific and matches the company’s needs, the hiring manager should look closely at your background to see if it supports your goal.  With a general objective, your resume will probably only get a quick scan.  You are relying on the hiring manager to see something in that scan that catches their attention and causes them to want to read more closely. 

Now some job seekers try to write their resume and cover letter to be very general.  The idea is to make their background applicable to as many jobs as possible.  Unfortunately, this doesn’t work.  Hiring managers don’t read your resume with the goal of finding a job for you.  They are focused on their needs and that means finding the best candidate for a specific position.