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Resume Objectives ... The Hidden Pitfalls
By
Roger Clark
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Why Use Resume Objectives
Before we can discuss the pitfalls you first need to
understand the reasons for including your resume
objectives and how they relate to your resume and
interview selection process.
Including an objectives section at the beginning of your
resume provides a brief introduction to the purpose of the
resume, highlighting your career objectives and the type
of job you are seeking.
It is very common for job-seekers to include a brief
objectives section at the beginning of their resume
The objectives section can be an important part of a
resume, and might be the first thing employers looks at.
Therefore you should put considerable thought into
constructing focused and clear objectives.
Look At These Resume Objective Examples
A resume objective does exactly what the name suggests; it
highlights your objectives and states the type of job you
are seeking.
Here are some examples of career objectives:
·To obtain an elementary education teaching position with
upward mobility to a principalship.
·To obtain a position in manufacturing operations and
development which will utilize acquired knowledge and
collective experience.
·Public relations writer for a large metropolitan
hospital.
·Auditor position in the public accounting field in the
Philadelphia area.
As you can see, the objectives are short and sweet;
meaning they are to the point in describing the purpose of
creating your resume.
Doorway To The Interview... Resumes
What is a resume... usually it is the first contact you
have with potential employers. It is also where you list
your skills and create a marketable presentation so that
companies understand the benefits of employing you.
Your resume is also the first (and possibly the last!)
opportunity you have to persuade your prospective employer
to give you an interview.
Clearly... it is in your best interests to ensure your
resume is compelling enough to leave the recruiter with no
other option but to invite you to an interview.
If you want to learn more about writing resumes that get
interviews, visit a site such as Top Career Resumes where
you will find numerous articles and tips.
Or, if you prefer... a cost effective alternative is to
use a resume writing service to prepare your resume for
you.
Pitfalls of Using Resume Objectives
You may have noticed that all previous references to
objectives focus on you and therein lies the pitfall !
Employers are not interested in what you want ...
If your objectives fail to match those of the employer,
you will not even get to first base ! So keep your options
open until you find out more about their objectives.
Some people decide to omit the objectives section and use
that space to highlight other abilities and
accomplishments.
Whether you choose to use resume objectives or not will
depend greatly on your particular situation.
Reasons Against ...
A few experts feel that the resume objectives section can
be limiting to job seekers. It makes you be very specific
as to your goals. This may be constraining if you want to
be general and leave your options open.
Employers on average take only 30 seconds to look at a
resume. The objectives section is the first thing that
catches their eye. If you have a specific objective
written, for example to obtain a managerial position, the
manager may pass on your resume if he was looking for some
other position.
If you are thinking about getting a professionally written
resume, now would be a good time.
However, remember that the objectives section can
disqualify you for jobs different from your stated
objective... if you are not looking for a targeted job you
can skip the section without many negative consequences.
It would be advisable to skip the resume objective section
rather than be too vague. Unfocused objectives will put
off many hiring managers. They may not end up looking at
your experience and skills, which would of shown you to be
a suitable candidate for the job.
Reasons For ...
If you do include your resume objectives, you should
construct several different resumes, each specifically
tailored to the job you are applying for. You will want to
make your resume relevant to each job. The objectives
section may be the best way to create job specific
resumes.
A draw back of not including the objectives section is
that a hiring manager may not be willing to search your
resume to figure out your job objectives and goals... and
may bypass your resume.
If you have a specific job position in mind and are clear
about your objectives, this section can be useful in
informing potential employers about your reasons for
applying.
In either case, it may pay you to seek professional advice
before you make your final decision. The modest cost of
doing this pales into insignificance compared with the
cost of making a poor career decision.
Stating Your Resume Objectives
This has greatest benefits for career changers and recent
college graduates. Your objectives should be concise and
to the point, to quickly inform employers about your
background and goals.
Entry-level workers can state in their resume objectives
that they are recent graduates looking for positions in
their particular field. Career changers should state how
they can use their previously earned skills to make a
transition into their new career.
Be Employer Focused
An alternative to resume objectives might be the
‘Qualifications Summary’ section. This is a section
where you can briefly discuss your skills and how you
intend to use them.
This can make your resume more employer focused, as the
employer wants to find out what you can do for them. This
might be more beneficial than having a self-focused
resume, simply listing what you want to do.
Many employers prefer to have employees that are focused
on their goals and motivated to achieving them. A well
presented objective can be just the high-impact tool that
can get a hiring manager’s attention from the start.
Finally ...
When writing your resume objectives you have to consider
your career plans. If you have not already done so, now
would be a good time to get assistance with career
assessment and planning.
When you have completed your planning and taken some time
to match your interests with your chosen career, your
resume objectives should complement the results you
obtained through your searches.
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