Resume 101: Writing Your Objective Statement

Like our first Resume 101, we’ll cover a section of your resume in this post.

The objective statement of your resume is at the top, just under your contact information, so it’s the first thing most people will read. It consists of three elements:

1. A career area or “headline”
2. Your three major strengths
3. A statement of what you can do for an employer

One. The career area looks something like one of these:

• Project management
• Special event coordination
• Process accounting supervision
• Plant maintenance
• Systems planning

Two. Your three major strengths can be things like:

• Communications
• Efficiency
• Empathy
• Problem solving

Three. Write what you can do for an employer, such as:

• Save time
• Create new products
• Motivate others
• Maintain production levels
• Expand sales
• Develop new customers

Your objective statement allows you make it clear that you will contribute positively to the bottom line.

Here are a few examples of complete objective statements:

Contribute to a printing company’s increased profitability through effective use of human resources.

Contribute to a more rapid and profitable turnaround of varied manufacturing projects through efficient use of existing staff and equipment.

Contribute to increased recovery of assets and reduced losses through the use of proven accounting techniques and methods.

Putting it all together.

Now, combine all three parts into your career objective which is a single, clear statement of what you intend to do in the workplace. Here are a few examples, but make sure that what you write is yours alone!

Objective: Cost estimator, where proven strengths in the areas of perception, problem solving and planning will significantly contribute to a transportation company’s increased profitability through more accurate pricing.

Objective: Construction project management, where proven strengths in the areas of organization, leadership and communication will contribute to a construction company’s increased profitability through effective coordination of people and materials.

Objective: Financial management, where proven strengths in the areas of system design, project planning and cost recovery will improve asset recovery and reduce losses through the use of proven accounting techniques and methods.

We’re here for you. If you have any questions about your resume or other career related issues, Ask The Counselor!