These are short powerful statements which clearly state who you are, what you can do and your career goals. They are normally at the beginning of your resume, and although it’s not compulsory to have one, many people do include a objective paragraph as they feel it can add value to their application. Remember that if all the job applicants are evenly matched then a well written objective statement can make all the difference.

This page gives you advice on how to write your own eye catching resume objective and also provides you with many professionally written examples that you can use as guides.

A resume objective should

  • Be an introduction to the rest of your resume.
  • Quickly highlight your most relevant skills and abilities (matching your competencies to the recruiters needs).
  • Give reasons why you are applying for the position.
  • Tell the employer exactly how you will be of value to their organization.
  • Be a good way of showing off your communication skills.
  • Make a resume a much more personal document.

A resume objective statement tells an employer

  • Who you are.
  • What you want.
  • How you can benefit them.
  • Why you want to work for them.

A resume objective will show

  • That you know what you want.
  • Are clear about your employment goals.
  • Are familiar with the industry or job being applied for.
  • Can communicate well.

EXAMPLES OF RESUME OBJECTIVES

Here are the main ‘sections’ that should make up a resume objective;

  • Introduce yourself.
  • Explain why you feel you are suitable for the job.
  • Explain why you want the job or to work in your industry
  • Describe your most relevant skills.
  • Mention your career aims and what job you are looking for.
  • Explain why you would like to work for their company.

Below are short sentence examples of how to write out the above sections. Note that all of them have been written in the third person. Use these examples as guides, and don’t forget to edit and re-write them to suit your own personal circumstances.

Introducing yourself
Examples:

‘An articulate, well presented and focused individual who would make an immediate impact on the operations of any ambitious company.’

‘A motivated, committed and high performing ……….. with a wealth of …………..  experience behind him.’

‘A well presented, highly personable individual, who is also hardworking and has an upbeat and positive attitude.’

Explaining why you feel you are suitable for the job
Examples:

‘Richard strong believes he has the required qualifications, relevant experience and future potential that you are looking for in a candidate.’

‘Richard is very confident that his passion for the …………. field, together with his experience of ………… and ………….. will enable him to make a significant difference at your company.’

‘The work he has done to date has really solidified his ambition to forge a path in …………., and he now wishes to expand his practical experience in collaboration with a company like yours.’

‘He is currently seeking a position such as yours that will immediately benefit from his extensive work experience and industry contacts.’

‘Richard has a background in ……………, and is renowned for being determined, hard working and target driven.’

‘Your vacancy is a excellent match for his work experience, qualifications and abilities.’

Explaining why you want the job or to work in your industry
Examples:

‘Richard chose a career in …………… because he realised that his passion for it was the only thing that would get him out of bed on a cold grey morning.’

‘The more knowledge he gained of …………………….. the more he understood and enjoyed it.’

Describing your most relevant skills
Examples:

‘He possesses a proven track record in the fields of …………., ………………. and ……………..’

‘Having specialist knowledge of …………… and ……………., he is more than able to meet your company’s requirements in these fields.’

‘Richard has highly developed skills in ………………. and  …………………., as well as a pragmatic and analytical approach to problem solving.’

‘Possessing extensive knowledge of ………… and excellent …………. skills, he is able to quickly come up with solutions of seemingly intractable problems.’

Mentioning your career aims and what job you are looking for
Examples:

‘Currently looking to work for a company that renowned for hiring exceptional people and for giving them unparalleled opportunities to build their careers and capabilities.’

‘He would like to spend the next ……… years working in the …………. field, learning as much as he can about the business, and continuing to expand his abilities.’

‘Richard is currently looking to progress in a business that can match his career aspirations.’

‘Presently searching for a suitable position with a company which will not only challenge him, but also allow him to continue to develop his knowledge and future potential.’

Explaining why you would like to work for their company
Research the company by looking for any product launches, press releases or statements on their website. Find out something interesting or positive about them and then consider using that as a reason for wanting to join them.
Examples:

‘Richard feels that working for an industry focused company such as yours will give him invaluable experience in ………….,a field that he is very interested in.’

‘Richard wants to work with people who are at the top of their field and who are involved at the forefront of the industry.’

‘He wants a team player role in a people orientated organisation like yours.’

‘Eager to work for a well established company that offers a secure position with good prospects for the future.’

He believes that working for your company will allow him to meet and work with exceptional people from very different backgrounds and business experiences, all of this would help enormously in shaping his professional interests and ambitions.’

‘This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to work for a well known and respected company like yours.’

‘He has always been passionate about ………………………, so I would like to get involved with an organisation like yours that tackles these issues.’

‘He believes the prospects for advancement within your company are fantastic.’

‘Your new ………………… product shows a true commitment to saving the environment.’

‘Richard was greatly impressed by a recent customer case study which showed your company was very highly regarded by consumers and competitors a like.’

‘Your company has a well deserved reputation for treating employees fairly and supporting them at every opportunity.’

‘He is attracted by your company’s, its products and its portfolio.’

TIPS ON WRITING A RESUME OBJECTIVE

Writing a resume objective
You must have a clear objective of what you want the resume objective to say before you start to putting pen to paper. Start off by answering the following points:

  • What exactly are your career goals and why.
  • What is the employer looking for (read the job advert carefully and look for key requirements etc).
  • Make a list of your most matching and relevant skills.
  • Finally decide which of your skills sets are most relevant to the position you are applying for.

Only once you have the above information should you sit down and start to write your first draft.

Write it in the third person
Resumes should always be written as the third person and not the first person. Keep in mind that your resume is a formal business document, and writing it in the first person is just to informal. Instead it that should accurately reflect the level of professionalism that is appropriate for the type of job you hope to get.

Use words like ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’, rather than ‘I’ or ‘my’.

Research prospective employers
Having an awareness of the goals of the organization or business to which they’re applying can be a great advantage. If you know exactly what they are looking for then you can accurately tailor your objective to match their specific requirements. You can usually find something about them from the job advert, their website or from press releases.

Read the job advert
Make notes and use matching or exactly the same keywords in your objective as you see in the job description. Be sure that the sentences you use are written properly and accurately reflect what you are trying to accomplish as a job seeker.

Customise your resume objective
Don’t carry over an objective from one resume to the other when applying for different jobs, always try to customize it for every applied job. If you write it specifically for the employer then many hiring managers will appreciate this. They will acknowledge and appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to put something together just for them. Doing this will greatly increase your chances of winning an interview.

When not to use a resume objective
A resume objective may not be necessary if you are sending in a cover letter, or if you are blatantly over qualified for the position.

 

Related links
Difference between CV and resume
Resume templates
Sample resume
Student resume
What is a resume

More useful links
Cover letter examples