Blog Post: Do You Really Need a Personal Objective on Your Résumé?

After reviewing hundreds of résumés, I usually come across a personal objective at the very top of the résumé. A personal objective is a statement telling an employer what the job seeker is looking for in the way of an employment position. Here is a typical example:

Professional looking to for a challenging position which effectively utilizes my skills and allows me to progress. 

Employers and recruiters are not interested in a job seeker’s personal objective, because it focuses on the requirements of the job seeker rather than the needs of the employer. Your personal objective may be an honest statement and may help you gain clarity about your career goals, but it is irrelevant to the employer. Rather than a personal objective statement, start your résumé with a summary profile (your positioning statement). A summary profile clearly and concisely describes your value to a company. Here is an example:

 Hard working and results-oriented senior manager with successful experience handling multiple projects in fast-paced environments. 

This example of a summary profile gives an employer a clear picture of you and what value you add. Remember when being considered for employment by a hiring manager, it is all about what value you can bring to the organization, how you can help that hiring manager meet goals, reduce costs or expand the business.  The next time you revise your resume, you might conside including your summary profile!