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Substituting a professional title for the Job Objective statement
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Less is more! You need to say everything as concisely as possible, starting with your Job Objective statement. Putting your Job Objective statement near the top of your resume is the clearest way to tell the reader what you want for your immediate future. Some resumes have flowery opening statements with job objectives buried deep inside them. They use phrases like "challenging position," "room for advancement," and "opportunity to grow." Give the reader of your resume a break--cut out all the fluff because it doesn't say much anyway. Stick to what's important:
- The job title you'd like next, if you know it (for example, Manager or Sales Representative).
- The area of work you want to be in (for example, Marketing or Sales). On rare occasions, this might include an area of spe-cialization (for example, "with an emphasis on new business development" or "focusing on graphic design").
Take a look at the following examples:
Not so good: A challenging position that will utilize my skills and experience as Director of Marketing.
Yawn! Everyone wants to be challenged, and of course you'll be using your skills and experience.
Much better: Director of Marketing
Not so good: An administrative position in a growth oriented company where I can use my background in finance to promote the firm.
This statement sounds like you're judging the company's ability to provide for your future.
Much better: Administrative position with a focus on finance
Not so good: A position as Associate Field Producer in TV Programming that offers room for advancement and high rewards.
Bad idea! It sounds like you want the job of the person reading the resume!
Much better: Associate Field Producer, TV Programming
Job-Hunt Hint
If you're a professional consult ant with a Web site about your ser vices, be sure to include your site's URL in your resume heading.
Career Casualty
A resume without a Job Objective effectively says, "This is what I've done. Could you figure out what I should do next?" That's a weak approach! A Job Objective gives your resume focus and strength and makes a powerful first move toward title and salary negotiations.
Straight as an Arrow
Jack Kraus knew exactly what position he was going after at the university, so he listed the precise title that was in the job posting he was responding to in his Job Objective. His concise statement had no frills--it went straight to the point and didn't waste the reader's time.
If you know the exact title of the job you're applying for, by all means use that as your Job Objective. Doing this leaves no doubt as to what position you want. If you later apply for a job with a slightly different job title, you can always change your Job Objective to match.
Spreading Your Umbrella
Like an umbrella, David Goldstein's Job Objective covered a number of things: his prospective job title and his three areas of expertise. By creating a column with eye-catching bullet points, he suggested to the employer several ways he could fit into the organization. Smart guy! The Job Objective approach that David used is a good one for professionals such as
- Consultants who offer several services.
- Generalists who want to show off their special skills.
Bonus Check
Challenge yourself to write your Job Objective in 10 words or less. (Of course, the employer won't count, so it's OK to exceed 10 words if you have to.) Give yourself a bonus check if you can narrow it down to just a few words.
Job-Hunt Hint
Keep your objective statement simple and, if necessary, use graphic goodies such as indents, bold, bullets, dashes, and columns to make it readable in just a few seconds.
Career Casualty
Don't include "entry-level" in your Job Objective statement. Why tell the reader you want the lowest job? Leave it out, and you may be given a position that's a little higher up the food chain.
Breaking the Rules
Now that you've learned the rule of having a Job Objective state-ment, I'm going to tell you about a technique that breaks, or atleast bends, that rule. If you're continuing in a profession in which you have substantial experience, consider putting your professional title next to your name or near the top of your resume. This can be a stronger approach than using a Job Objective statement. A title effectively says, "This is what my profession is." A Job Objective statement says, "This is what I want to be." If you have enough experience to give yourself a title, it can be a more forceful introduction. Using your professional title instead of a Job Objective statement can do the following:
- Give you an edge on your competition by presenting you as an established professional in your field.
- Set a strong foundation for title and salary negotiations.
- Administrators who need to say they can wear several hats.
- Technical folks who have expertise in a number of areas.