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Resume Help: What to do with my Objective?

astrogeek

I see a lot of advice saying to leave the Objective section off of a resume, and I really don't like how mine reads anyway. I'm not sure what to put in its place though, (if anything). If I remove it then my resume looks a little too static to me, so I don't know if that would help or hinder it.

I'm curious if you guys n gals think I should just ax it completely or replace it with something else, and if so what would be a better idea?

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Comments

The Technomancer

Leave it off entirely. Remember, at the end of the day, your resume should tell your career story, and leave the reader interested to learn more (and initiate the interview process). Besides, your objective is implicit via your application/resume submission: you're the best damn person for the job and you're out to prove it.

My resume format is:

Contact info
Technologies used (bullet points, with skill level. e.g: * Apache - Expert)
Education/Certifications
Work history, with projects and business outcomes delivered in prose format
Close with "References available upon request".

If you feel the need to sell yourself further, utilize the cover letter for this, and keep it at "elevator pitch" length.

gbdavidx

I dont even have one any more, i figure if i'm applying for the job they already know im interested

Tremie24

Leave it off, I've been told that by a few people that have a lot experience with resumes. Same was said in a resume workshop I took. I use the same format as The Technomancer.

DCD

You should attach your resume so we can look at it. That said, no on the objectives you not being paid for your objective they have specific work they want you to do.

j23evan

If anything save an objective for a cover letter and write one specific to each company. Just my two cents.

networker050184

I use a summary instead. Just a few sentences briefly describing my qualifications and background.

210mike

You're resume serves 1 purpose, to get you an interview. You have about 30 seconds to convince the person reviewing it that they need to talk to you.

Objective statements should indeed be left off. They're stupid. It's basically implied your objective is to get a job, and no one really wants to work at a job that isn't challenging or doesn't make use of their skills. I read everyone's entire resume out of respect for the process but when I see the following:

Objective: To obtain a challenging position in <field> that will utilize my knowledge and skills <blah blah blah>

I just want to bang my head against the table. It tells me you're putting no effort into finding a job. What kind of effort are you going to put in if I hire you?

Lead the resume off with a Summary statement or Summary of Qualifications statement.
Example:

Summary
"Experienced Cisco Certified Network Engineer with over <x> years experience in <technology wanted by place hiring> yada yada yada. Make sure you are hitting key words from the job posting. If they want a Cisco guy with Layer 3, OSPF, B2B VPN or whatever else is going on in Cisco land these days, try to incorporate those key words into your summary. You want the person reading the resume to say "Dang, I need to talk to this guy right now, he's everything we're looking for" and you have 30 to 60 seconds to do it.

Another thing about formatting. If you have a professional career, your work experience should be the next thing listed. This is my preferred format. Listing your certifications and skills at the top of your resume is not good formatting in my opinion. I don't care about your alphabet soup, I want to see what you have accomplished at jobs where you have been paid. If you've worked professionally I don't care about where you went to school, you're GPA, the massive list of skills of every technology you've ever touched. I. Don't. Care. What can you do for me NOW. If I pay you money what can you accomplish?

Info
Summary
Work Experience
Skills
-Hardware
-Software
-Certifications
Education

Another thing that is implied is 'References available on Request'. No joke. It doesn't need to be said, it's just an implied part of the hiring process that you'll be able to provide references if needed. Don't waste a line on your resume with this statement.

Terrie

Leave off "references available upon request." With so many automated application systems, they make you input them anyway, and it looks silly when they have your references anyway.

pert

networker050184 wrote: »

I use a summary instead. Just a few sentences briefly describing my qualifications and background.

I agree. The object is insanely stupid. No one cares what your objective is, they care what their objective is. Your job is to show you can meet their objective. That's why you use a summary. You give someone a strong reason why they should continue reading, by convincing them you can meet their objectives.

cknapp78

Agreement here. Leave off the objective. We all know the objective is to obtain a job pertaining to your skills and allow for growth, blah blah blah.

The only way I would say to leave objective on is if you put something really out there on the first line...

For example: "Obtain a new position to fund my love of squirrel farming."

I completely made that one up but I once had a resume sent me with something similar. When I asked the guy why he had it on there he said, "To get your attention."

He definitely did. Of course he didn't get the job. But I still think of that resume at least a few times a year.

Corey

RouteMyPacket

An objective has been a "no no" for some time now. Google around to keep up on resume trends...it was through that I learned more about keeping my resume up to date.

Same as "References available upon request". Leave that off as well, they will ask if they want them.

Or you could try to catch someones eye with

Objective: To swim in the never ending sea of 1's and 0's, to direct our precious packets to their appropriate destinations.

** That was joke **