Since college I've been told that a resume ought to have an "objective statement" at the top. Maybe you've been told the same.
I'm here to tell you somebody's been lying to you!
Well, not necessarily, but maybe. Every resume has an objective, but not every resume has to have an objective statement. So before you get the urge to hunt online for sample resume objectives, keep reading.
Every resume has an objective. How you Talk about that objective in the resume is a distinct matter entirely.
An objective statement naturally states your objective. I got a four-year degree so I could make brilliant statements like that. But it's true, and most of the sample resume objectives you'll find online are statements of what the job seeker wants.
That's a mistake. A bad mistake.
A good resume objective statement should tell the reader what the candidate will do for him. Specifically, it ought to tell him what profit the candidate will add.
No, I'm not kidding. Here's an example of what I mean:
"A highly experienced sales and marketing professional with farranging strategic planning and implementation skills, and million in total profit correction added in 8 years, seeking a position as a Sales owner where these skills will add similar or greater value."
Wow! That objective statement screams, "Keep reading!" Do You know any hiring owner or menagerial who would turn his nose up at million in 8 years? I don't. It's at least worth talking to you about, which means you'll get an interview. What if it was only million, or 0,000? anything the number, it's money, and that counts.
And that, folks, is the magic. Everything in the job hunt process should have a focused purpose, and be done on purpose. The purpose of your resume and cover letter is to power an interview. A strong objective statement like that can help.
Feel free to start with a sample or three. Just be sure to modify any sample you use. Keep the good and scrap the bad.
But is that the best you can do? Hardly.
I have nothing against objective statements, and you can find some solid sample resume objectives online. My only gripe is that using a solid objective statement is settling for good when there's a (typically) best alternative.
That alternative is the resume summary. Some might call it a "Profile," or a "Summary of Qualifications," or even just "Qualifications." anything the name, it's a grab-'em-by-the-throat killer. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:
"Savvy, results-oriented leader with proven success in managing multimillion-dollar software goods rollouts to disparate sales channels. Background includes launching a high-productivity specialist improvement team, addition wage by .5 million and achieving unit profitability within nine months (six months ahead of plan), at Widgets, Inc., with prominent technology and feature-rich goods releases to meet known demand. Indispensable thinker and adept negotiator who can apply farranging commerce knowledge to profitable vendor partnerships and revenue-enhancing co-branding opportunities. Professionally directs development, technology integration, and customer examine discovery. Published author, and frequent keynote speaker at commerce conferences."
Good grief! If the example resume objective a few paragraphs ago was solid, that overview will leave a reader gasping for air.
Put a overview like that in a resume (with your own qualifications in it, of course), and you'll approximately in effect get a phone call for a job interview.
I can hear you saying that whoever has the overview you just read can walk on water. What about lowly old you? Here's what I used on my last resume, and I wasn't a high-powered menagerial either:
"Results-oriented software developer and consulting project owner with six years' touch at Big 5 firm. Experienced Oo developer with singular expertise in Java and ultimate Programming (Xp). Over seven years' touch developing software and managing projects in challenging, fast-paced consulting environments. Demonstrated quality to obtain technical knowledge and skills rapidly. Innovative qoute solver, able to see the firm and technical sides of a problem. Proven leadership, negotiation and qoute resolution abilities. Exceptional transportation skills, both oral and written. Published author and seminar speaker."
See? That overview needs some improvement, but it shows mere mortals can do it too. That means you can.
A powerfully stated objective statement makes your resume pop. A powerfully stated overview makes it a thermonuclear explosion. Most others in the resume pile (and there's all the time a pile) have objectives that translate into "get a job." Then you come along with a Sherman tank summary. They're dead meat.
Make no mistake, job hunt is war. Grand summaries give you an advantage.
(c) Copyright 2005 by Roy Miller
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