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Tips for Writing a Resume Objective

by Carlie Evie

Objective: To write a compelling article to help resume writers capture the attention of potential employers using a great resume objective.

The first thing people will notice when reading your resume is the objective. It needs to be concise, positive, and it needs to capture the attention of the reader.

It needs to be tailored to each position you're applying for. This is an opportunity to show that you're a perfect fit for the job. If you want to write the perfect objective, here are some tips:

This is the place to describe the kind of job you're seeking. Keep the objective neutral. Do not state your desire, but what you can do for the company.

So instead of writing a statement like, "A position where I can use my skills and grow, etc.", be more specific about the job itself. Instead, write something like, "A position as an administrative assistant in a professional office environment. When you write your objective, focus on the company and the position. Consider what the manager would want in a new employee.

Only list one title for each resume! Don't make this a list of all the different things you can do. The resume objective is a place to answer a very specific question: "What kind of job do you want?"

The objective should consist of no more than one sentence. Two sentences will serve fine as long as both are short and to the point. Remember, a long objective is not going to get any attention.

Don't state the obvious. Don't mention your hopes for advancement; everyone wants that. Focus on the job. It's needless to reach for the next job before you've even landed this one! In your objective, don't tell them that you're responsible and hard-working; that ought to be redundant. Hopefully this will show up in your skill and experience!

So if you write your resume objective from the point of view of an employer, and if you keep all these tips in mind, you will be that much closer to the perfect job!

Trying to Write the Perfect Resume? Visit Make a Resume. We cover everything from Resume Cover Letters to writing a Sales Resume and every other position you can think of.

Published December 3rd, 2007

Filed in Career, Society