Résumé and Job Search Help

An objective statement is another piece of the résumé puzzle that clients often tell me they were taught in high school. Some of the ones I have seen are just silly. The only reason to even have an objective statement is if you know EXACTLY which job you have written your résumé for.

Think about it, most objective statements are written in a very general way such as, “Seeking a position which allows me to use my 10 years of experience and offers opportunity for advancement.” It doesn’t tell the hiring official anything useful and on top of that, it’s basically all about the what the seeker is looking for.

If you have an objective statement on your résumé, just delete it! Instead, design a Professional Summary or Skills Summary. This is a small paragraph in the top 1/3 of the page that briefly describes your skills, your experience and what you have to offer the employer, should you be hired for the job.

Just as your résumé should change for each job you apply to, your professional summary should change as well. You can target résumé and your professional summary for the specific job you are applying for. This is especially helpful if you have training or experience in two different fields.

So what does a professional summary look like? Well, each person should have their own version and that version should change a bit for each job they are targeting, however let me give you a very generic example:

“Retired Army veteran offering 20 years of project management and supervisory experience. Product-focused with a proven ability to reduce the bottom line and increase team cohesiveness. A conscientious leader and dedicated team member who strives for exceptional results and demonstrates success in all endeavors. ”

Now, where do you find a description of yourself and how do you come up with this 15-second commercial? This is when letters of recommendation come in handy. If you don’t have any, ask your current supervisor or coworkers to write one for you. You may never need to show anyone, but it gives you and idea of what others think of your work ethic and accomplishments. Not only that, but you can compile those letters into an portfolio to take along to an interview. How awesome would you look if you passed a portfolio around to the members of your interview panel full of accolades about you?

Related posts:

1. What is Branding?