Edit

Edited by Maluniu, Zandra28, Nicolette Talmadge, BR and 8 others

Do you feel like you're constantly sending your resume into a black hole? When you write resume objectives that are powerful and compelling, you have a much better shot at making your resume rise to the top of the stack. Follow these rules to write resume objectives that will set you apart from the crowd.

Edit Steps

Sample Resume Objectives

Sample Resume Objectives

Sample Objective for Design Job

Sample Objective for Construction Job


Writing Your Own Objective

  1. 1
    Look through the ad posted by the company for the job. Alternatively, you can look at the job description if you are unsure whether the company has an opening.
  2. 2
    Choose keywords from the job ad or job description to use when writing your objectives.
    • Always write down the exact name of the position.
    • Look for phrases that describe the skills relevant to the job. Jot down the phrases that you genuinely count among your strengths.
  3. 3
    Research the organization and your industry as a whole. Learn about the direction of the target company and about how it's trying to position itself in the global marketplace. Utilize keywords in your resume objective that demonstrate an understanding of the company's needs.
  4. 4
    Write the word "OBJECTIVE:" in bold font, all caps, beneath your name and contact information at the top of the resume. The objective should align at the left margin.
  5. 5
    Avoid starting your objective with "I want," "I hope to" or "I'm seeking." Start with a direct statement about the job, even if you compose a sentence fragment for your objective.
  6. 6
    Compose 1 to 3 concise statements utilizing your keywords. Write with action verbs, and avoid using the passive voice. Use punctuation at the end of your objective statements.
  7. 7
    Avoid cramming all of your qualifications in the resume objective. Choose the most relevant elements that you can offer to the company according to its requirements for the position.
  8. 8
    Double-space after the objective to keep your resume easy to read.
  9. 9
    Check your objectives for both spelling and grammatical errors.

Edit Video

Edit Tips

  • Because of the volume of resumes submitted for job openings, many companies utilize software to scan through resumes. The software selects resumes containing job-related keywords and then discards resumes without relevant keywords. For this reason, you cannot afford to skip the step of researching position keywords for your resume objective.
  • Resume objectives are not always necessary. For instance, if you are qualified for multiple positions in a company or are taking your resume to a job fair, you can skip the objectives.

Edit Warnings

  • Do not use just one generic objective statement when applying to multiple positions. If you don't match your objective to fit each position, employers will think that you did not take the time to consider what they expect in the particular position being offered.

Edit Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • Resume paper (if submitting a physical copy)

Edit Related wikiHows

Edit Sources and Citations

Article Info

Categories: Resume Preparation

Recent edits by: Alfredo Prieto, Caleigh, Corpplacements

Share this Article:

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 26,144 times.

Was this article accurate?

Yes No


x

Thank Our Volunteer Authors.

Give wikiHow a +1.