The Importance of Resume Objectives

The Importance of Resume Objectives

by John Gates

Developing tight and specific resume objectives or resume summaries are critical for Resume Success

There are violent disagreements among resume "scholars" about resume objectives. Many resume gurus, resume book authors, and professional resume writers argue that a specific objective paints you into a corner with the reader. After all, they ask, "What if the reader has filled the job and is considering you for something else? What if your experience supports a larger role in the organization? You should NEVER use a specific resume objective because you close doors for yourself that might otherwise be open. You don’t know about unadvertised openings, and a specific resume objective might position you too narrowly to be considered."

Hogwash.

You should ALWAYS have a specific objective on your resume because it is kind to the reader. Being unkind to your reader is resume suicide, and your resume becomes worm-food before you can say "specific objective."

Why do I say specific objectives are kind to the reader?

When I am pawing through 300 resumes in an afternoon, I’m usually very pressed for time. In fact, I don’t know a single Corporate Recruiter or short-staffed hiring manager who has any extra time. The specific objective on your resume allows the reader to interpret everything that follows. It gives her a blueprint, a shortcut to understanding what your resume is trying to sell.

For example, if my resume says "Objective: A challenging position in software development where I can add value by leading large projects," the reader knows that she should be looking for education, work history, and accomplishments that support that objective. If the objective is non-existent or vague, something like "Objective: To enjoy my work with a stable company," the reader has no idea what to look for and must spend precious time and mental energy figuring out what you want and where you might fit.

To have a successful resume, you absolutely must understand how your reader works and digests information, and you must present your information in a tasty way. Leaving off, dumbing down, or generalizing the specific objective gives professional recruiters the dry heaves.

In order to be successful in your job search and differentiate yourself from the masses, you have to do be sensitive to the reader. Presenting a clear, specific resume objective makes the reader happy because now he knows what to look for in the rest of the document. Don’t pawn off the work on the reader. Instead, outwork the competition by creating a targeted resume for each job you are applying for.

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