subject: Leave Off The Objective [print this page] The resume objective is no longer the required headliner for your resume. They take up space and do not tell the employer what he really wants to know: how he can benefit from hiring you. Delete your objective, and replace it with a summary of qualifications.
Why to Delete Your Objective
Objectives are often all about you and what you can get from the job. In the past, it was thought that telling the employer what kind of job and work environment you wanted would help him decide if you would fit in with the company. Not so anymore. In the initial stages of hiring, employers only want to know what you can offer them.
Objectives can be too general or have nothing to do with the job for which you are applying. These types of objectives do not show that you care about the job that much and that you do not have an eye for detail. Objectives are also often written in such a general way that they do not compel the reader to pick up the phone to call you in for an interview. They simply state the obvious: that you want a job in a particular field.
What to Put in its Place
Employers want to read a very short list of what you have accomplished and what you can do. At the top of your resume, you might include a summary of qualifications, professional summary, or other similarly-worded section. Include a concise version of your skills and previous experience here. It can be listed in bullet or paragraph format. It should be short, however, typically no more than about three lines of text.
For example, your Professional Summary for an administrative assistant job might read:
Dedicated administrative assistant with 15 years of experience.
Strong ability to analyze data and create reports.
Skilled in scheduling, editing and composing.
It should entice the employer to read the rest of your resume. Tailor your summary of qualifications to the specific job for which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for an accountant job, avoid including irrelevant skills in your summary, such as being able to answer the phone in a professional manner.
A resume objective does not convey why the employer should immediately call you for an interview. Focus your resume on what you have to offer the employer, not on what he can do for you. A desperate plea for a job in the form of a resume objective is not likely to get a positive reaction. Confidence and the ability to convince the employer to interview you will. Write a concise and accurate summary of qualifications to help your resume be noticed instead of an objective statement.
