Dumping the Resume Objective Statement

The question keeps coming up. “What should I write in my resume’s objective statement?”

We get this question from people at all levels. The fact that perfectly smart people don’t know what to do about this traditional section of the resume tells me that as an element of your marketing document (aka resume), it doesn’t work and is a waste of space.

If you have read this blog, I have ranted on more than one occasion about your resume’s purpose. It is, hands down, a marketing document, and should be designed to get you the meeting, whether that be a formal interview or a key conversation.

The space on your resume, whether it be 1, 2 or 3 pages, is valuable real estate. The objective statement in most cases is akin to building a cinder block wall on the shore of a waterfront property. Not only a waste of space, but something that blocks the best view.

You need to make a strong impression from the get go, and with the objective statement, it is hard to do that.

So, delete that objective statement. Dump it. You can address your objective, if it is relevant and interesting, in a well-written cover letter, or the email accompanying your resume, or perhaps in some form of summary section at the top of the resume.

I will address ways to powerfully introduce your resume in another post. For now, hit that delete key.

Career Boosting Tip #4: Do more than "dust off" the resume

Update your resume. Yes, I know, so obvious. But, I am suggesting more…

First, your resume should be relatively up-to-date. What does that mean? I recommend that anyone who has been in a job for more than 6 months should update their resume to include their current role. You never know who is going to call. Or what internal or external opportunities might come around. (Or, what negative surprise might you one Monday AM.)

More importantly, the process of capturing what you have done and what you are currently working on is an important, ongoing career management imperative.

To do more than dust off your resume, consider…

• Focusing on outcomes, the difference you have made rather than solely on duties and responsibilities
• Capturing your true professional strengths and putting them on the resume. Don’t be shy.
• Developing a summary pitch about what you offer and where you fit. You can’t and shouldn’t be all things to all employers, so don’t try. Figure out what you do and do very well, and capture that.

 Of course, we would be delighted to assist you with BoldCareer’s resume writing services. However, you can do it yourself as well. It takes an investment of your time, but one that will pay off. Make it part of your to-do list to boost your career this year.

Looking for a New Job or Career Change? Are you Market Ready?

Are you thinking about a new job?

Do you have the itch and want to make a move?

Is a change in career, company or even a promotion going to be part of your New Year’s resolutions?

Hold on…I have an important question for you. Before you rush into job search mode, think about this…

Are You Market Ready?

What I mean is, are you truly prepared to go out into the job market or into conversations about what you want next and why?

• Do you know what you are looking for?
• Are you thinking already about what you have to settle for vs. what you really want?
• Are you clear about what to avoid?
• Have you prepared a compelling case for why you are an amazing candidate for your target position?
• Are you ready to interview and prove that you are the right candidate?

I will tell you more later about why getting prepared is so important.

For now, a quick heads-up.

For the first time, I am going to be offering a program designed to get you ready for a smart, focused and powerful career transition. The program will be offered at two levels and will start later in January. I am looking forward to telling you more about it next week.

But first, perhaps you should test your own market readiness.

Watch for an upcoming post with a link to an online quiz - The Are You Market Ready Challenge. The quiz will give you a fairly accurate measurement of how ready you are to make a move.

Watch for it.

Diagnosing Zero Results on Resume Database

Someone posted their resume on a job board database, was getting a lot of views, but no results and had a question about what to do about it. Putting aside the obvious recommendation, which is to ensure that you should be pursuing other avenues than just resume databases, here is some more specific feedback:

There may be other factors at work of course, but the reality is that an effective resume is a focused, results-oriented, easily scannable and readable resume. If you are not getting results, then consider these questions:

Is Your Target Clear?

Make sure your resume is laser-focused on your target job. There is simply too much internet noise for your average recruiter to decipher who you are professionally. If it isn't obvious, you will likely get overlooked.

What to Exclude?

That means, you can't and shouldn't put everything in your resume. From your target should flow priorities about to what to include and what to exclude, what to emphasize and what to deemphasize.

Think about what the job requires. Then think about what you have to offer relative to the job requirements. What specific examples can you give to prove that you have the skills, and the relevant experience and the track record of performance that makes you a perfect candidate?

Is the Resume Results-Oriented?

Consider your resume. The focus should not be on duties and responsibilities, but on what you accomplished. How you met the challenges you were assigned. How you generated results. A resume that focuses on reciting the job description of past jobs is not an effective resume.

Have You Included Sufficient White Space?

One of the things we resume writers get paid for is design. Like it or not, the words on your resume are only a part of the battle. Design counts. If your resume is too dense, it will likely not get read. The font and styles you use play an important role in effectiveness.

Is Your Resume a Suitable Length?

The question of resume length is tricky. While there is no one rule as to exactly how long every resume should be, experienced hiring managers and recruiters know a too-long resume when they see one. In my experience, most too-long resumes are a result of a lack of focus.

Have You Double Checked Grammar & Spelling?

Interviewers might be flexible on spoken English, or in the case of Quebec, French, in an interview context (unless the job absolutely requires perfect mastery). However, the resume and cover letter are different. As written documents, they require perfect spelling and near perfect grammar. If English or French is not your first language, I strongly recommend that you have a native speaker edit your documents.

There is, of course, a lot more to writing an effective resume. However, these pointers cover some of the most common culprits.

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Resumes for I.T. professionals

For information technology professionals, here is a good article on resume writing. StlRecruiting: Writing a Resume that Works for You