CUNY LEADS: Let’s discuss resumes: is the objective statement necessary?

A lot of time and effort is put into the composition of the ‘objective’ statement when writing resumes. Located directly below the name and contact line, it is the first piece of professional information that is seen by a potential employer. The purpose of the objective statement is to inform the human resources professional of the type of position that you are seeking.

While this resume style has been the practice for years, there is current discussion as to whether the traditional objective statement is helpful in the present labor market which is more digitally than paper focused. One reason that it may not be as useful for a resume that is submitted online is because the employer receives a huge volume of resumes and may not have the time to read each one in detail. They must see the very important keywords immediately.

Another reason is that objective statements may tell the reader ‘this is what I want’ instead of ‘this is what I have to offer”.  In today’s market, the resume needs to create a strong first impression that should offer the employer a solution to their human resource needs.

The branding or profile statement

You may want to consider an alternative known as a ‘profile or branding’ statement.  A branding statement is a concise and clear description of the job that you are seeking and a brief statement of your skills that are relevant to that specific opportunity.

Here are two examples of profile or branding statements:

SALES PROFESSIONAL
Experienced sales professional with exceptional sales instincts and significant record of progressive success in a sales-development role.

ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONAL
Enthusiastic recent graduate in accounting with strong writing, analytical, organizational and creative problem-solving skills.

The statements are brief, but still clearly describe the strengths of the candidate and what can be offered to the organization.

Is the traditional objective statement ever useful?

Since there is no ‘one fit’ for all resumes, there are certainly times when the objective may serve you well. A few of these scenarios may include: when one is new and just entering the job market with more flexibility as to what one is seeking. Another situation may be after having a variety of jobs in different industries and you want to clarify that you are currently seeking.

The most important issue to keep in mind is that your resume should reflect you in the most positive light and should reflect the job that you are applying for. It should encourage the employer to take the next step and invite you for an interview.  Good luck on your job search!

CUNY LEADS (City University of New York Linking Employment, Academics and Disability Services) is a program of CUNY created to provide students with disabilities the skills to make realistic academic and career choices that will result in successful careers.  CUNY LEADS will share job search insight on this blog on the 2^nd Tuesday of every month.

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The views, opinions, or expressions provided by CUNY LEADS do not necessarily represent the views, opinions, or expressions of the City of New York and/or the New York City Department of Small Business Services.