The opening section sets the tone for your resume. To generate interviews during the job search, it’s important to grab the hiring manager’s attention as quickly as possible. In the past, job seekers typically relied on a resume objective to introduce themselves to prospective employers. In recent years, however, the hiring process has evolved in a myriad of ways. This guide will explore the resume objective and assess its value within the contemporary job market.
What Is a Resume Objective?
A resume objective is a concise opening statement that explains your career goals and why you’re applying for a particular job. While resume objectives were widely used for many years, they’re now considered outdated by most resume writers and recruiters. In its place, job seekers in today’s market have adopted what is referred to as a professional summary, profile, or summary of qualifications.
The primary reason for this shift is that a resume objective focuses on the candidate’s goals, whereas a professional summary demonstrates why the candidate is qualified for the job they’re applying for. A resume’s main goal is to generate interviews, and the best way to make a positive impression on the hiring manager is to emphasize the potential value you can bring to their organization.
Should I Include a Resume Objective?
The short answer is no in most cases. Not only does the resume objective take the emphasis away from your qualifications, but it risks making you appear dated in the eyes of potential employers. Even when writing a resume for a grad school or internship application, you’ll be better served by simply building a strong summary that emphasizes your most impressive academic achievements and relevant skill sets.
Are Resume Objectives Helpful During a Career Change?
At a cursory glance, one might think this is a situation where having a resume objective might be useful. It does present an opportunity to explain your desire to transition into a new field. However, once you look deeper, the same drawbacks continue to emerge.
The truth is hiring managers aren’t interested in learning about your long-term career goals when reviewing your resume. They understand that you’re interested in the job because you’ve applied for it. Rather than explaining your objectives, emphasize relevant experience and qualifications from your previous industry that will allow you to excel in the new position.
Should I Use a Resume Objective To Explain an Employment Gap?
This is another unique circumstance where the idea of a resume objective appears more suitable. Employment gaps can be incredibly challenging to overcome in the competitive job market, and providing context for the hiring manager seems like a viable strategy. Unfortunately, this approach tends to make the gap even more glaring and diverts attention away from your qualifications. An employment gap is better addressed during the interview and, in some cases, even the cover letter. It should never be the first thing you draw attention to on your resume.
How To Write a Great Resume Objective
While we can’t recommend using a resume objective, if you do opt for this approach, there are ways to heighten its impact. Rather than only highlighting your career goals, create an objective that emphasizes how your unique background and skills can create value for potential employers. Also, mention something specific about the company and why you’re seeking this opportunity. This allows you to tell some of your story while also demonstrating how your qualifications align with the roles you’re targeting.
Resume Objective Examples
New graduate
A recent graduate with a degree in web design, specializing in user experience (UX) design, front-end development, and graphic design. Seeking a position with Pantheon Technologies to apply user-centered design principles in a forward-thinking work environment centered on innovation and real-world solutions.
A recent nursing graduate with entry-level work experience specializing in patient relations, post-anesthesia care, and process improvement. Seeking a registered nurse (RN) position with University of Pennsylvania Hospital to deliver exceptional patient-centered care and grow as a medical professional within one of the nation’s leading hospitals.
A recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in economics, specializing in finance, financial modeling, accounting principles, and risk assessment. Seeking an internship position at Vanguard to forecast long-term business outlooks and identify financial risks for clients at one of the world’s largest investment firms.
Career or industry change
A military veteran with over 10 years of experience in supply chain management, logistics, fleet management, and procurement. Seeking a position at Olsen Manufacturing to transition from a military career to the private sector. A proven track record of overseeing multi-million-dollar supply chains to support military operations.
A server with seven years of professional experience specializing in upselling, client relations, customer service, and communication. Seeking a sales representative position with Morgan Electronics to transition from the hospitality industry to a sales career at an industry-leading technology company.
An event manager with eight years of experience advertising, planning, and executing virtual events. Seeking a marketing coordinator position with Cadence Inc. to transition from the events space to a digital marketing career. Adept at developing impactful marketing strategies to drive customer engagement.
Seeking advancement
A software developer with seven years of experience specializing in Agile software development, back-end development, Python, and web development. A strong history of developing innovative application features and software solutions to enhance the UX. Seeking a technical project manager position with Aiden Corporation to advance into a leadership role.
A construction worker with eight years of experience supporting commercial and residential projects, including construction, home renovations, and landscaping. Adept at coordinating with diverse teams to execute complex projects on-time and under budget. Seeking a construction manager position with Ajax Construction Co. to further leadership growth.
A principal with nine years of professional experience specializing in policy development, program management, educational leadership, and school administration. Seeking a superintendent position with the Swarthmore School District to drive the success of students and teachers at one of the state’s highest-performing districts.
Resume Objective Examples by Job Title
Administrative assistant
A results-driven medical administrative assistant with five years of experience specializing in office administration, calendar management, and patient relations. Seeking a position with St. Mark’s Medical Center to apply administrative expertise in a fast-paced clinical setting at one of the state’s finest hospitals.
Office manager
A dynamic office manager with eight years of experience supporting daily operations and managing calendars for C-level executives. A proven track record of identifying opportunities to enhance client communications and administrative functions. Seeking an office manager position with Allied Marketing Corp. to transition into a leadership role.
Sales representative
A sales representative with four years of experience specializing in cross-selling, cold calling, lead generation, and client relations. A strong history of developing customer relationships and identifying appropriate products based on client needs. Seeking a sales representative position with State Farm to continue career growth at one of the best insurance providers in the U.S.
Account manager
An account manager with six years of experience within the technology industry, specializing in business-to-business (B2B) sales and Software as a service (SaaS). A proven track record of exceeding sales quotas and collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve the sales process. Seeking a position with Starlight Inc. to drive revenue growth in a fast-paced startup environment.
Software developer
A software developer with six years of experience specializing in Agile software development, back-end development, Python, and web development. A strong history of developing innovative application features to enhance the UX. Seeking a developer role with Cubix to provide valuable contributions to cutting-edge software solutions.
Software engineer
A lead software engineer with eight years of experience developing innovative software solutions for enterprise customers. A proven track record of executing multi-million-dollar technology projects. Seeking a software development manager position with Genetech Solutions to fuel leadership growth at one of the world’s best innovators in the technology space.
Digital marketing specialist
A digital marketing specialist with seven years of experience specializing in brand messaging, Google Analytics, and SEO strategy. A proven track record of executing digital campaigns to enhance user engagement and drive market penetration. Seeking a digital marketing manager position at Impossible Foods to drive brand awareness for a leading plant-based food company.
Marketing manager
An experienced leader and brand marketing professional with over 10 years in health care, specializing in content marketing, brand messaging, and ad campaigns. A strong history of guiding dynamic marketing teams to execute high-impact digital campaigns. Seeking a marketing manager position with Better Help to raise awareness of mental health resources.
Manager
A customer service manager with over 10 years of experience specializing in continuous improvement, client relations, and cross-functional leadership. A proven track record identifying opportunities to enhance the customer experience and improve satisfaction ratings. Seeking to advance into a customer service manager role with TD Bank.
Customer service representative
A customer service representative with six years of experience supporting sales teams and turning cancellations into satisfied customers. Seeking a customer service team lead position with Astound Broadband to enhance client retention for a premiere internet provider.
Registered nurse
A registered nurse (RN) with over seven years of clinical experience providing quality care to critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU), oncology, and surgical units. A strong history of identifying opportunities to drive patient-centered care and improve clinical operations. Seeking a position at Columbia University Hospital to grow as a health care professional at one of the nation’s leading hospitals.
Medical surgical nurse
A certified medical surgical nurse with eight years of experience specializing in surgical care and patient education. A strong background of collaborating with interdisciplinary health care teams to deliver patient-centered care within high-volume acute care environments. Seeking to advance into a nurse manager position at St. Mark’s Medical Center.
Lawyer
A senior immigration lawyer with seven years of experience managing and navigating complex immigration, citizenship, and asylum cases. A strong history of serving as a client advocate and consistently achieving high approval rates. Seeking a position with Rosenberg LLP to provide exceptional legal services to clients at a reputable immigration law firm.
Attorney
An associate attorney with four years of experience specializing in regulatory compliance, court litigation, legal research, and environmental law. A proven track record of navigating complex legal landscapes to obtain favorable outcomes. Seeking a position at Nelson Legal Associates to manage high-value cases related to environmental regulatory violations.
Project manager
A construction project manager with eight years of experience overseeing large build-outs and commercial construction projects valued at up to $25 million. A strong history of leading diverse construction teams and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Seeking a superintendent position with Ranson Construction Inc. to advance at one of the state’s top firms.
Technical project manager
An information technology (IT) project manager with 10 years of professional experience managing and building cross-functional teams from the ground up to execute multimillion-dollar enterprise-level projects. Seeking an IT director position with Cadence Technologies to advance as an industry leader at a company centered on innovation and real-world solutions.
HR recruiter
A human resources (HR) recruiter with six years of experience specializing in talent acquisition, recruiting, sourcing strategies, and learning and development. A proven track record of running high-impact recruitment initiatives to drive the retention of top talent. Seeking an HR manager role at Deloitte to grow within one of the nation’s leading financial firms.
Human resources specialist
A results-driven HR specialist with eight years of experience coordinating and enhancing HR operations. A proven track record of developing HR programs to improve employee satisfaction and retention. Seeking an HR manager role at Accenture to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) recruiting initiatives at an enterprise-level company.
Graphic designer
A senior graphic designer with over 10 years of experience specializing in brand messaging, digital marketing, project management, and UX design. A proven track record of defining high-impact visual solutions to drive brand awareness and sales growth. Seeking to advance into a digital design manager position with Arkline Inc.
UX designer
A UX designer with six years of experience specializing in UX research, design systems, user interface (UI) prototyping, and user-centered design. A proven track record of managing UX teams to develop design solutions for an unparalleled UX. Seeking a UX manager position at Ascension Inc. to drive innovation at one of the nation’s best web solution providers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Objectives
Should I use a resume objective instead of a summary?-
In most cases, it’s best to avoid using a resume objective in today’s job market. Career objectives have been largely phased out in favor of professional summaries, as they divert the focus of your resume away from your relevant qualifications and skills.
Why are resume objectives considered outdated?-
Resume objectives are considered outdated because they aren’t an effective way to grab the hiring manager’s attention quickly. Discussing your career goals is a topic much better suited for the interview, as your top priority should be marketing your skills and experience to potential employers.
How can I write a great resume objective?-
While it’s not advisable to clutter your resume with unnecessary details about your long-term career objectives, if you choose to include one, explain why you’re interested in this particular company and how you can provide value to their team.
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