Resume Advice: How to Write an Objective Statement

Stating Your Objective

Catch the reader’s attention by stating how you can benefit the company. An Objective statement is one or two sentences that clearly identifies the job title or career field you are seeking and describes the industry or type of company you would prefer. A well-written Objective statement demonstrates why you are qualified for the position and explains how an employer would benefit from hiring you. This statement should be concise, focused and compelling.

When preparing your resume, write your objective statement first. This will help you focus your efforts on writing the remainder of your resume in a way that demonstrates why you are qualified for the position. It will also help potential employers match your skills and abilities with the right job opening. Your Objective statement also helps a company decide who should see your resume and where it should be filed if no immediate position is available.

Insider Tip:  If you are applying for a specific position at a specific company, use the same (or similar) job title as it appears in the job advertisement. If you are applying for a variety of positions, use your Objective statement to target a specific industry or describe a more general career category. 

When to Use an Objective

If you are an experienced professional, consider using a Summary statement instead of an Objective statement (see “Should I use a Summary instead of an Objective” under Questions and Answers on using an Objective Statement in a Resume). However, if you can clearly define the position you are seeking, then an Objective statement is recommended.

Advantages to Using an Objective:

·  Assures the reader that you are focused in a particular career field.

·  Allows hiring managers to match your resume with appropriate jobs quickly.

·  Helps focus your resume to support your qualifications for a specific career.

Disadvantages to Using an Objective:

·  Prevents you from being considered for other positions you may be qualified for.

·  Requires you to spend more time developing a resume that targets each career field.

·  A broadly-stated Objective becomes meaningless and makes you seem unfocused.

How to Write an Objective Statement

When writing your Objective statement, consider how much you want to tailor or customize your resume to match the requirements of the position, as well as how widely you will need to distribute your resume. If you are applying for a targeted position that has been advertised or posted, then write your Objective to include the exact job title and ensure that your preferred type of company or industry matches the description of the company to which you are applying. 

If you are applying for the same or similar position but targeting a large number of different companies and industries, you may want to use a more general Objective that describes the career field you are seeking and communicates your relevant skills, abilities and experience. Many companies have slightly different names for a particular job title so, when listing your preferred career, consider using several different job titles or use a broader career field term such as “Marketing Management.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

         Avoid obvious or meaningless statements such as “A challenging and rewarding position…” or “A position offering the opportunity for advancement.” Employers assume you would prefer a challenging and rewarding position.

         Avoid self-serving statements such as “A position that will grow my skills and experience…” Employers would much rather understand why you are qualified for the position than what you are expecting of them.

         Avoid using “entry-level position” in your Objective, even though you are just beginning your career. This statement may preclude you from being considered for a more advanced position you might otherwise be qualified to manage.

Examples – Stating Your Objective

Related Articles:

1. When to Use an Objective Statement and when to use a Summary Statement in a Resume

2. Alternative to an Objective Statement - Job Target

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