What is a Career Objective and Do I Need One?

“Is it important to have a career objective on a resume?" Janet asked. "I am going after two different kinds of jobs. Does that mean I'll need different resumes with different objectives?"

"A good rule of thumb is to include an objective if a potential employer cannot easily tell what type of position you might be applying for, based on the body of your resume," I answered. "It can be especially helpful for young people who don't have much experience or when it's not immediately evident how their experience relates to the job they are applying for."

Don't Make This Mistake

"The biggest mistake people make with a career objective is to have it read something like this: "A position in the 'fill-in-the-blank' field where I can learn…." I warned.

"Employers want to hire people who can contribute to their organization, not to provide a learning experience (no matter what their public relations materials say). Instead, use your objective to tell a potential employer what skills and/or knowledge you can contribute."

"Here is an example of an objective that focuses on contribution: 'Marketing position with opportunity to contribute to goals of the organization based on track record of strategic counsel, ability to generate innovative ideas, and well-honed client relationship skills.'"

Use a Summary Instead of a Career Objective

"What about people like me with more experience?" Janet asked.

"A summary can be much more effective for someone like you than the standard objective. A summary is an opportunity for a potential employer to take a ten-second look at your resume and know they want to interview you. Since a summary or profile is right up front on your resume, it will influence how the reader (employer) perceives the rest of the information on your resume. That is why a summary or profile is your best tool for steering the impression of a potential employer. It also prevents them from missing key points about your experience that may be buried further along in your resume."

"What does a summary look like?" Janet asked.

"A summary or profile is generally 5-8 bullet points (a bullet point can have more than one phrase or sentence) or a long paragraph that is a snapshot of your resume. It may change based on what kind of job or organization you are applying to, so you may need more than one summary. You can repeat experiences/skills that you list in your job descriptors below, but don’t use the same exact phrasing."

"Here is an example of a summary in a bulleted format:

• Experienced in integrated marketing, public relations, brand development, customer relationships, and project management.

• Developed and managed complex projects, working effectively as a member of cross-functional teams and individually. Strategic viewpoint combined with strong tactical execution.

• Crafted and implemented media plans, including reputation building and issues management.

• Knowledgeable in branding and the use of messages and graphics to build and express identity.

• Wrote, designed, and supervised production of marketing and communication materials. Developed strategy and navigation and wrote copy for web sites.

• Developed PowerPoint and other audio-visual presentations.

• Created, presented, and executed programs, including consulting with colleagues, executives, influencers, and key constituents. Developed and managed relationships with key constituent organizations, including media organizations.

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and FrontPage. Familiar with Microsoft Access and Excel, Adobe Acrobat and PageMaker, HTML, and Macromedia Dreamweaver.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; adept at reading people and group dynamics; creative, detail-oriented, and self-motivated. "

 "Whether you use a career objective or a summary, make sure it is focused on your what you can contribute and employers will sit up and take notice."