Why Resume Objectives Are Obsolete
Creating a Resume Headline Is Better
Traditional resumes that start out with an objective are obsolete, passé, a thing of the past. Yet job seekers continue to be guided toward developing the perfect objective to describe their perfect job.
Well, there is no such thing – a perfect objective, that is. A perfect job? That’s another discussion.
The problem with an objective on a resume is three-fold:
- they are generally too vague to have impact;
- they are developed as if "one-size-fits-all";
- and finally, the real problem: they typically describe what a candidate wants, when the job seeker should be thinking about what the employer needs.
Problem #1: Objectives Can be Too Vague
The difficulty in writing a general objective is that it doesn’t add any substance to a resume. A resume objective that merely indicates that the job seeker is looking for a challenging opportunity to utilize their skills and abilities (or something equally boring) are a dime a dozen and does nothing to enlighten the reader.
Problem #2: "One-size-fits-all" Approach Limits Job Options
The next problem that candidates run into when developing an objective is to write it in such a way that it limits their job options. There is nothing worse than developing an objective claiming to be a highly motivated administrative assistant only to turn around and apply for a management position.
Problem #3: The Real Problem - Resume Objectives Should "Sell" the Job Seeker
Finally, the biggest issue of all is that resume objectives are all about the job seeker and what they want when they should be all about the employer and what they need. That’s why using a headline is better; it grabs the reader’s attention and sells the candidate’s skills and abilities.
Consider a newspaper headline and its purpose: to capture the reader’s imagination and draw them into the story. A resume headline should do virtually the same thing: capture the recruiter’s attention and draw them into the resume. Here’s how it works.
Say the candidate is an accountant with four years of public accounting experience and good computer skills. How might this individual sell their talents using a headline?
Highly skilled CPA and Excel/Access expert with demonstrated success in retail, manufacturing and healthcare environments
What this headline does is provide a snapshot of what the candidate has to offer the employer. This is particularly important if the job posting specifically requested candidates with these exact traits.
What about the administrative assistant? Depending on her skills, a potential headline might read:
Multi-talented administrative professional with top-notch MS Office skills and solid ability to develop strong relationships.
Again, depending on the job posting, this person could submit to a position for an administrative assistant, office manager, or even an administrative supervisor.
The easiest way for job seekers to develop their own headlines is to brainstorm (no self editing) and:
- create a list of their best skills and abilities based on their background and experience.
- define their strongest personal characteristics by gathering a list of descriptive words.
- combine this information into a single sentence that highlights their strongest traits and related experience.
- Write and rewrite until it’s perfect.
Okay, maybe not perfect; but at least better than the old fashioned concept of writing an objective.
