At long last the pandemic has started to loosen its claws, its death grips on our lives and we can breathe a sigh of relief (keeping our masks on while we’re at it though!). Having stayed indoors away from the world, we shut our windows tight and kept our doors locked to keep the air out that had become fetid with the deadly Corona virus. Smaller than the diameter of a hair it threatened to wipe out our entire existence, but we stood stronger and fought back with resilience and how! Now that many countries around the world have declared endemic status our lives are slowly returning to normal. Albeit slowly but surely so. There has been a massive shift in the way of our lives were though. What was constant before has now become volatile; everything has taken a turn for the worse.
Livelihoods have become harder, means to earn it even more so. On that very note perhaps the greatest shift has taken place in the job market. Layoffs have become a reality for everyone, with companies cutting jobs by not hundreds, but thousands just to stay afloat. Securing a good job has become next to impossible; finding a unicorn outside one’s window is probably more likely than receiving an appointment letter! Whatever one’s credentials may be good jobs have become rarer than South Sea pearls. Given the current circumstances an applicant must work extra hard to make his or her resume stand out in a sea of equally eligible candidates with stellar track record. Statistics show that hiring managers spend 6 seconds to skim through a resume from the pile they receive every day. And the first bit they notice? The resume objective.
WHAT IS A RESUME OBJECTIVE?
In your resume template the first thing they see is a resume introduction. So, this brings us to the second point, to explain what a resume objective is. A short statement that encapsulates all of one’s professional achievements, most notable successes, goals that individual has. everything else they intend to achieve and whatever value they will be bringing that new job is essentially what it is. Sounds simple enough right? There is a lot more to it what meets the eye! Writing a resume objective is no child’s play. So many things come into play to construct an effective resume objective that will paint one in the best picture while highlighting the best achievements.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
There is a lot of heated debate surrounding the importance of a resume objective. Some resources suggest that an applicant should use cover letters to explain their goals, ambitions and how he or she will use her talent and experiences to achieve them in the new job while bringing great value to the firm. If a company accepts cover letters that can be done as different companies tend to have different policies. In this regard a resume objective is deemed unnecessary; explaining yourself in detail is acceptable.
On the contrary many forward-thinking companies have moved past the archaic concept of including a cover letter with the job application entirely. This has created the need for a resume objective primarily because:
a) It is short and sweet which saves the hiring manager time, energy and effort.
b) Because of the pandemic many applicants have been laid off, furloughed or have been temporarily suspended which makes it difficult for them to address topics like goals and ambitions, achievements and successes.
Using a resume objective is smart in that it catches the hiring manager’s eyes and gives him or her a glimpse of the edge an applicant has to offer that perhaps no one else does. This begets the question- how to write a killer resume objective that will turn those precious six seconds into six minutes and maybe interview as well!
WRITE A DETAILED ACCOUNT FIRST
It is a good idea to begin by writing down all of your experiences and achievements in great detail first, followed by your goals and ambitions, and how they align with the company’s values. Then explain how you want to use your skills to bring value to the job. Listing these points elaborately will help you focus and give you clarity. Once the long version is ready work on editing, removing unnecessary details and condense ideas into smaller sentences using effective rhetoric. Ideally, a resume objective should be between 60-80 words, and no longer than that. Working on the statement for a couple of days, taking time with it will help construct a great one.
WRITE AN OBJECTIVE TAILORED TO EACH JOB
Perhaps the biggest mistake applicants make is to use the same resume objective for every job. Doing this is like taking one medicine for every ailment- it just won’t work! An applicant may have a fixed set of skills and experiences but they can be applied to various different jobs in unique ways. So, using the same resume objective for all jobswill lead to rejection by ATS, which is an applicant tracking system used by many companies to filter through hundreds of resumes they receive at the very preliminary stage. Reading a job description thoroughly is paramount to match one’s skills and experiences pertaining to a particular job and finding a relevant connection between the two.
BE CLEAR ABOUT THE VALUE YOU WILL BRING TO THE JOB
So, your existing skills and experiences are sufficient and will be highly valuable to the job you have your eyes on. When writing your resume objective, you presume that a hiring manager will be able to make the connection so you don’t mention it. This is a surefire way to get rejected because firstly, hiring managers are notorious for their nonchalance; you must grab their attention with your captivating statement to highlight your value. Secondly, ask yourself how you will be valuable to this firm, and then match it with your skills, experiences. Align your goals and ambitions with the firm’s and state it clearly, boldly and firmly to the recruiter is instantly aware of it.
EDIT YOUR RESUME OBJECTIVE THOROUGHLY
When a resume objective is replete with grammatical errors and misspelled, many things happen simultaneously. Since it is the very first item a hiring manager will notice about you it makes you look like a sloppy, clumsy person with no regard for decorum and conduct. Then it shows the poor quality of your education that you weren’t taught even the very basics. Lastly it shows a careless attitude towards the entire hiring process which is not only disrespectful but will lead to definite rejection at the very first stage. Take your time with it, write, edit and correct several times. Have a friend, relative or a family member proofread it for you so small details are not missed.
USE EFFECTIVE RHETORIC TO WRITE YOUR RESUME OBJECTIVE
Words are powerful. Using words to your advantage? It makes things powerful as well as smart! Your objective must be loaded with action words, which are effective words that enhance a sentence and deliver your message in the best possible way.For instance, instead of saying “I managed 3 teams and 6 projects” write “oversaw six projects that had 3 teams with multiple subordinates.” Such simple but effective tweaks make a fantastic impact and engages the hiring manager instantly who immediately pegs you as a doer of great things!
SAY IT WITH NUMBERS!
Flowers maybe pretty but when it comes to resume objectives say it with numbers and you’ll be receiving flowers for bagging the job! A sneaky little trick not many people are aware of, numbers truly make a huge difference in the way a recruiter is going to view your entire resume. Serviced 5 calls simultaneously in 15 minutes? Trained 4 teams with 3 members? Put it all on your resume objective clearly for the hiring manager to see and decide for himself how incredible your skills really are!
BE TRUTHFUL ABOUT YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES
This is a no-brainer. While it is so tempting to get carried away when writing about your accomplishments, being honest is essential. Whatever details you write about in your resume headline be sure to back that up with more facts and figures in detail in the skills and experiences section of your resume. Making claims that are not substantiated will make you look like an imposter trying to make up things. That’s the last thing you want your hiring manager to think of you! Even if your skills aren’t much to speak of, talk about them in a positive light. Your goals and ambitions are another topic you can talk about but be sure to relate it with the job you are applying for and your existing set of skills and experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a resume Profile?
A resume profile, also called a resume summary is used by professionals who has some professional experience in their chosen field. It is a short pitch about why you make such a good choice for the job.
What is the difference between resume profile and resume objective?
They key difference between resume objective and resume summary is mainly the years of experience a person has. A resume objective is primarily used by someone who is entering the professional job market for the first time like an intern or a student. Or if a professional who has no experience in the industry he or she wishes to apply to.
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