One of the oldest (and controversial) questions when it comes to creating a resume is: do I have to include a resume? If you decide to include one, inevitably the next question is always: how the heck do I write the objective? Unfortunately there is not always an easy answer for either of these questions. I'm hoping, however, that I can help clarify a few things with this post regarding to different scenarios when you might want to include an objective and how it may be most effective to write one if you do in fact decide to include it.
Again, Do I Need an Objective Statement?
The answer to this question is really: it depends. That's always an infuriating answer to anyone who just wants to write their resume fast and get started with their job search. In order to decide if you should include an objective you should consider the following:
- Do you know what you are looking for? Objectives work best if you know exactly what position you want and which company you want it with. They should be different on every single resume you write and should be customized as much as possible to the position you are trying to get. If you are going through job boards and applying to many different positions as fast as possible, the objective will most likely not work for you
- How much experience do you have? It is important to look at the skills and experience that you currently have. Are you having trouble filling out a single page for your resume? If so, an objective can be a good way to add a little extra content to your page and show enthusiasm for a particular position by demonstrating a willingness to do your research before applying. However, if you have several years of relevant experience in the field you are applying, the space that the objective would normally take would be better utilized by including a summary of the skills that you have (Writing an effective summary will be covered in a future post).
- How am I applying to the position I want? A little disclaimer before my next point, I have not conducted any sort of formal research on this and have no data to truly back this up. However, I have had enough success applying for positions and helping friends apply for positions that I believe that the point I am about to discuss may have some merit. I believe that you can include keywords into your objective statement that may help you achieve a higher likelihood of success when applying to a position directly through a company's website. Think about it, they are receiving hundreds, or possibly thousands of resumes for a position and they will need some ways to cut that number down drastically in order to facilitate their search. Including words that will stand out to someone scanning many resumes quickly right near the top of the page will help your chances of having your resume move to the next stage in the process.
So What Do I Put in My Objective Statement?
Ok, so at this point you have decided that for one of the reasons listed above, you want to include an objective statement as part of your resume. Before thinking about what to include in it, it is important to ensure the objective is placed in the correct spot on your resume. Otherwise it will lose almost all of its value immediately. It is important to make sure the objective is placed as close to the top of the resume as possible, usually right below your name and contact information. Depending on how you have formatted your resume you may also want to give it its own heading to ensure that whoever looks at the resume knows what they are looking at. So now we come to the big question: what do I put in the resume? There are usually three key factors I recommend as part of the objective statement:
- Position Title: One of the most important aspects of an objective is that it should be as specific as possible. This starts with knowing what you are applying for.
- Company Name: When writing an objective the last thing you want is for it to sound generic. If you include an objective without the name of the company you are seeking employment with, it will seem as if you have been using the exact same resume to apply to many different companies without any thought as to why you are applying with them. Adding the company name gives the objective statement a little bit of a personal touch and will show enthusiasm for what you are doing
- What skills/experience are you bringing to the role: Many objectives discuss what a candidate is looking to get out of the role. I have always believed that it is more important to focus on the value you will be bringing to them. Including this information so close to the top of the resume will give you a chance to immediately pique the curiosity of whoever is looking through the resume and get them to read more
A Brief Example to Get You Going
I hope the information above has been helpful and given a better idea of when to include an objective statement and what to include with it. Throughout my job search history, I have typically used objectives and I believe they can be helpful. However, I know many people who have obtained amazing positions without one as well so it really depends on your personal situation. The last thing I will include as part of this post is a sample of what an objective statement on one of my resumes might look like. If you think it is good please feel free to use it as a starting point and customize for your needs. If you don't think it is effective I would love to hear your thoughts on why or how it could be improved.
Example: "To obtain a position as manufacturing engineer with SpaceX where I can apply my experience with LEAN methodology and Six Sigma to assist with streamlining the manufacturing process while maintaining established quality standards"