Writing a Resume Objective

A resume objective can make or break your resume. For some "seasoned" HR employees they simply skip over the resume objective since people put so much "fluff" in them they have lost all their meaning.

For others the resume objective is read and "fluff" or not ... they know what kind of resume they have based on what's been written!

Regardless of WHO reads it or HOW its read the resume objective for most resume templates is at the top of the page! So it's often the 1st section of a resume that's "seen" if not read.

Since you have NO idea if the person you have sent your resume to views the resume objective as important or not it's important to assume they do and write a resume objective that stands out!

The resume objective should, generally speaking, be a sentence or two long and basically answer the question of "why are you the best candidate for the job".

For this reason every resume you submit should have a unique resume objective targeting the specific position you are applying for!

In each position you apply for you should have a fairly extensive job description describing the position and the key qualities they are looking for. This is your "cliff notes" to EXACTLY what you need to put into the resume objective.

For example ... here is a typical job description for the role of a "Supervisor" (specific references to the employer have been removed).

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Primary Job Requirements: Develop the team by conducting regular training, meetings, coaching and monthly/bi-annual employee assessments. Motivate, coach and reward Representatives for improved performance in areas such as: Resolution, Satisfaction, Quality, Productivity, Handle Time, Adherence, Availability, Attendance and Behaviors. Responsible for daily workflow, queue management and consistent reporting functions. Proactively work to identify problems and related solutions that may hinder employee performance. Maintain accurate and complete time keeping and employee records. Partner and handle department specific projects to improve workflow and enhance existing processes. Handle and facilitate individual development of direct reports, as well as, HR and performance related disciplinary actions in a timely manner, when appropriate. Conduct meetings and presentations on various topics, including training, policies and procedures. Support the hiring and training process by conducting interviews and making recommendations for hire. Responsible for resolving escalations and working directly with members, as necessary, to meet the overall team objectives.

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You can see from both the requirements some of the critical elements this employer is looking for are:

Employee coaching Work volume/queue management

Most of what the employer has asked for falls into these categories. So your resume objective should highlight these key elements! Do NOT forget that even though most companies try to emphasize the "soft skills" for management/supervisor positions you need to remember that it is also about the bottom line (i.e. increasing productivity and/or generating revenue)

A resume objective for the above position might read something like:

Objective - To use my 5+ years of exemplary supervisor experience and performance motivating and coaching a team of employees to increase productivity and maintain 100% work volume.

The key to writing a good resume objective is knowing what needs to be in the resume objective and what can been demonstrated in the resume itself.