Why Your Resume Shouldn't Contain an Objective Statement

Remember: It's not about what you want, it's about what you can offer.

Once upon a time, standard wisdom was that a resume should begin with an Objective statement. The purpose of this statement was to briefly identify the job seeker's target goal. Common Objective statements sound like this:

• Seeking a challenging and rewarding position where I can utilize my skills.
• To obtain a full-time position in the sales industry.
• Opportunity for growth by leveraging my abilities in customer service and information technology.

One big problem with Objectives statements such as these is that they're bland and meaningless. They do nothing to set you apart from other applicants or show the hiring manager why you're special. Who doesn't want a rewarding position? What job seeker doesn't want to use their skills? And yet, Objectives statements are generally placed at the top of the resume-that's prime real estate that should be used for a better purpose.

But the larger problem with an Objectives statement is this: It's all about you and what you are seeking. A good resume, on the other hand, is all about what you can deliver to your new employer. When a potential employer picks up your resume, their first question isn't "What does this person want?" Their question is, "What does this person have to offer me and my company?"

Use that prime real estate at the top of your resume to tell them what they want to know. Cut that Objectives statement and replace it with a Qualifications or Profile section that highlights your key accomplishments and qualifications.

Effective Qualifications or Profile sections sound something like this:

• Talented Sales Manager with 10 years' experience driving revenue growth.
• Results-oriented IT Manager with productive combination of broad technical abilities plus proven management expertise.
• Highly accomplished Executive with over 20 years' diverse management experience in Human Resources and Facilities Management in software development environments.
• Service-oriented Customer Care Representative with proven talent in problem solving and communication.

Statements such as these are the perfect way to start your resume: They summarize your key qualifications, they state benefits you can deliver a potential employer, and they're specific, concrete, and accomplishments-based.

To learn more about writing effective resumes based on accomplishments and results, see

How To Write an Accomplishments-Based Resume
What Companies Want
What Hiring Managers Want

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