Students: Career Planning: Resume Writing: Step 2

STEP 1 |STEP 2 |STEP 3 |STEP 4 |STEP 5

Writing an Objective

Once you have completed to self-analysis, you can begin to formulate an appropriate career objective. In order to make your objective effective, establish a career statement that is realistic. Your objective should focus on what you want to do, for the employer rather than what you want the employer to do for you. An objective may describe the skills you want to use on the job, the job function you seek, or the environment/industry in which you want to work. Ideally, the job objective states the work you want to do and all other information in the résumé is supportive data for why you should be interviewed for that position.

When formulating your objective, avoid terms such as: growing, dynamic company; opportunity for advancement; challenging position; position dealing with people; a progressive company. These phrases have little meaning to the person who will make a decision for an interview invitation and in fact may indicate the candidate has no idea about his/her professional objectives. For instance, read the following poor résumé objective:

"Desire a rewarding position in a challenging environment using my people skills and problem solving talents."

This objective tells nothing about what the individual wants to do. In fact, this objective could fit any position from a Doctor to a Zookeeper!

Watch a CollegeGrad.com 1 minute video: Your Resume Objective Section 

Listed below are examples of good résumé objectives. Remember: these are merely examples of objectives and not meant as "catch-all" objectives for the listed position. Be sure to tailor your objectives to your own skills, education, and professional goals.

Public Accountant... Desire to join a small to medium size firm which will provide training in auditing, taxation, and management services, and where I can contribute to the advancement of the firm. Aspire to partnership within a reasonable period of time.

Sales representative... Wish to work in a position that offers contact with the public, structured on-the-job training, exposure to management, and the opportunity to market a quality product or service.

Human Resources... Desire a position that will utilize my knowledge and experience in interviewing, performance appraisal, employee benefits and wage administration. Hope to advance to management position in the compensation/benefits area.

Computer Specialist... Seeking an entry-level systems analyst position in a software service firm which will make the best use of my quantitative background.

Electrical Engineer... Desire to obtain an entry-level position as an Electrical Engineer where I can apply my education to the design and testing of communication systems hardware.

Secondary Teacher... To obtain a secondary teaching position in biology and chemistry in grades 5-12, in order to contribute to the scientific development of junior and senior high school students.

Banking... Initially desire to gain experience in branch management operations, and commercial lending, where I can conduct complex credit analysis and assist commercial customers. Long-term goal is to become a senior operating officer.

Management... Seeking a management opportunity that would provide exposure to staffing, scheduling and overall supervision of operations best utilizing my communication and administrative skills.

Public Relations Assistant... Interested in copywriting, editing, writing speeches with news releases. Desire experience with an organization's internal and external publications. Aspire to a management position within the public relations department.