Let us try to understand the goals of an objective statement in a resume.
Most of the times you may have heard conflicting views about whether to include an objective
statement or not, on the resume.
So, what should we really do?
Should we really include the objective?
Or not?
In what cases do we need an objective statement?
When can we omit it?
The objective statement in a resume can be of great value if done correctly and presented
to the target, in this case, your future employer.
So, before we see when to present an objective statement, let us understand why we should
present it, in the first place.
An objective statement is written to help the reader understand your reasons and the
motivation for applying for a specific job.
In other words, it could be seen as your interest behind the job application and this gives
direction to the way the things can progress.
Having said that, there are two scenarios that we need to consider while writing an
objective statement.
The first case is that, you are very early in your career or maybe you have recently
graduated or perhaps you are in between changing careers.
In cases such as these, you will find a very good use for an objective statement.
This is very helpful because firstly, you may not have much of an experience to talk
about.
Secondly, mentioning why you are interested in a specific job requirement, will help your
future employer understand where you want to go with your selections in life and your
purpose for doing so.
This will give them an opportunity to understand where you might fit in the organization and
then make a decision based on that.
In the second case, you are someone who is experienced and have worked for some time
in the industry.
So, for such professionals who have gathered experience over the years, an objective statement
is very less likely to be useful and hence not required.
Let’s take a look at few examples of objective statements.
Example 1- Standard way of writing an objective statement
To obtain a web designer position that promotes growth in an environment that I can contribute
my web design skills and continue to develop experience in a professional environment.
This statement is pretty basic in the sense that it just defines the role that this job
application is for and then it discusses the skills that the applicant has and how these
skills will be utilized.
For some, this might seem like a pretty basic statement.
And yes, why not?
If you are really new in the industry or fresh out of graduation, such kind of standard objective
statement could be a lifesaver.
Example 2 - Bad way of writing an objective statement
Create new icons, create new designs in Photoshop, convert photoshop designs to HTML pages.
Visualizing these goals, we can deliver new product to the customer.
This objective statement merely states the tasks that the applicant has done, pretty
much every day at the desk.
It fails to deliver the real reason or the motivation behind applying for this job and
hence causes the reader to lose track of what to expect, if the candidate is hired.
This kind of a job statement is a perfect recipe for disaster, so make sure to AVOID
it at all costs.
Example 3 - Correct way of writing an objective statement
An expert designer well versed in the field of web design and development, I am seeking
a challenging opportunity to serve large projects where my talent, skills and passion for web
design along with my experience could be fully utilized.
This objective statement is a really good way of describing in a very brief manner,
why the applicant is worthy of the job.
It gives a brief, yet good insight into the skills that the applicant has and how the
skills and experience would be used to benefit the organization.
Such kind of objective statement would definitely increase the employers’ interest in the
resume and would inspire them to keep reading further.
As the applicant have summarized his skills as web design and web development related,
this instantly conveys to the employer that the applicant is a perfect aspirant for web
design and development related jobs.
This could be one of the dealmakers for the applicant if the resume is shortlisted at
the end.
On the same lines as the applicant has listed the skills that he or she possesses very clearly,
they would not be called for interview for other job roles.
This saves time for both the job applicant and the employer.
In conclusion, an objective statement is great option to list on your resume, if you are
a fresher in the industry, as it provides a sense of direction for the future employer
and understand your interest.
On the flip side, if you are someone who has many years of experience, you can omit writing
an objective statement and instead, focus on writing a professional summary that would
summarize your achievements.
We will look at how to write a professional summary, in the next video.
That’s all for now, see you in the next video.
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