There's debate on whether an objective or summary statement is needed on a resume. Some say they are outdated and taking up valuable space on the resume. But as a recruiter and hiring manager who has seen MANY resumes, I can say that objective statements helped me get a quick idea of who the candidate is and why I should consider them for the job.
Great objective statements would catch my attention and make me want to read more of their resume. On the other hand, bad objective statements would cause me to move the resume into the “No” pile without reading anything else. So let’s discover how to construct an effective objective summary that’s going to make them want to read the rest of your resume.
Hold on! What IS an Objective Statement?
Before we begin writing an objective statement together, let’s figure out what it is in the first place!
An objective statement acts as your introduction to the recruiter or hiring manager. It should give a very clear, yet succinct, description of you along with what position you’re looking for and/or any career goals you have.
The statement should also be tailored to the job or company that you are turning your resume into. It needs to tell them that you are uniquely qualified for the job and that you are what they’re looking for. So it should have the ability to convince them that they should choose you over all the other candidates just in those couple of sentences.
This is why I feel that objective statements are so valuable. It’s the only place in the resume that shows your intent and your interest. It can quickly let a recruiter know why you’re interested in a specific position in their company. Or perhaps you’re looking for a career change and the objective statement explains why your work experience is not necessarily related to the open position. No other part of the resume allows you to do that.
Before we talk about how to write a great objective statement, let’s discuss what you shouldn’t do.
What NOT to Write
First thing: Don’t be long winded. The recruiter will use the objective statement to decide whether he wants to read the rest of your resume or not. But he’ll only spend several seconds making that decision. So make sure it’s not more than 2 sentences.
Also, don’t be too general or broad in your objective. You’ll want to be specific about your abilities and what you’re looking for. That means you should be tailoring your objective statement to the specific position and even the specific company that you’re applying for.
Here are some examples of what you SHOULDN’T write….
Hi there. I’m currently a host at a restaurant and I’m looking to be an assistant manager at your restaurant. I’ve worked in fine dining restaurants before and I can bring those skills here.
(The tone is WAY too conversational, it’s long-winded, and it doesn’t tell me what skills they have. Also, it’s a good idea now to use “I” statements. Keep reading to find out how to craft objective statements without “I”)
Want to be part of a restaurant that has great benefits and can help me move ahead in life.
(This is definitely succinct, but it doesn’t show off the candidate at all and doesn’t tell the recruiter anything about them)
Currently in a restaurant host position. No experience leading a team but I’m ready for the next step and eager to learn!
(I applaud the enthusiasm here, but it’s probably not a good idea to include phrases like “no experience” when you’re trying to impress the recruiter, not scare them away!)
So let’s move on from these bad examples and see how we can write a GREAT objective statement using my formula.
The Objective Statement Formula
Wait, a formula? Didn’t you say that each objective statement should be tailored to each position?
Yes, I did say that but it doesn’t mean that you have to reinvent the wheel for each new objective statement. There’s a way to deliberately craft your objective statement so that it shows off who you are and catches their attention.
Let’s look at this example:
Dedicated restaurant host, experienced in fine dining and knowledgeable in food safety regulations, seeking to lead and motivate employees as an Assistant Manager at XYZ Restaurant.
This statement tells you, in a very succinct way, what kind of worker the candidate is and what they’re good at. Then it tells you what they’re looking for and what goals they have in their next job. The recruiter is therefore able to learn so much about the candidate in so little time, which is so very valuable to the recruiter.
This objective statement can be broken down into 5 parts of my formula:
- Strong Adjective about you (in your current position)
- 1 or 2 Areas of expertise
- Career goal
- Desired position at the company
Referring back to the example:
- Strong Adjective about you = Dedicated restaurant host
- 1 or 2 Areas of expertise = experienced in fine dining and knowledgeable in food safety regulations
- Career goal = seeking to lead and motivate employees
- Desired position at the company = as an Assistant Manager at XYZ Restaurant
If you have more to offer, then you can elaborate on your current position, highlight more career goals, or add another sentence about your areas of expertise. But remember: do NOT exceed more than 2 sentences on your objective statement. If it’s too long, the recruiter will stop reading it and turn them off.
You’re now ready to craft your own awesome objective statement for your resume! Just follow my formula as you begin writing objective statements. But continue to tweak and make improvements to it as you go!
To learn more about resume writing, download my FREE step-by-step guide on how to write an awesome resume! The worksheet will take you through the 5 major components of a resume and help you come up with what to write. Plus get tips on an eye-catching design. Download the FREE worksheet HERE.
