How to Write a Resume Objective Statement With 10 Examples
Most resumes look the same, at least in terms of their layout and formatting. When a hiring manager reviews dozens of resumes in a row, it’s understandable that candidates can sometimes blur together without distinguishing one applicant from the next.
A resume objective statement can help you stand out, clarifying your professional aspirations and potential value to prospective employers. We’ll explain how to write an objective statement that gets noticed.
What is a resume objective statement?
A resume objective statement is a short blurb of text at the top of your resume that summarizes your career goals, primary skills, and relevant experience. It helps a recruiter or hiring manager quickly understand how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
What is the purpose of a resume objective statement?
As a job seeker, a resume objective statement helps you…
Explain your intentions
It tells a hiring manager what kind of job you’re looking for, the value you can bring to an organization, and your broader career goals. This information is useful when discerning whether a candidate’s aspirations align with what the position can offer.
Highlight your biggest qualifications
An objective statement is like a cheat sheet of your most noteworthy skills and prior experiences. Rather than scanning your entire resume to find the most important information, an objective statement puts it right there at the top for a recruiter or hiring manager to see first.
Show your personality
It’s hard to tell what a candidate is like as a person from a resume alone. Your objective statement is a chance to speak to the reader in your own words and let some of your personal characteristics shine through.
Provide useful context
A resume doesn’t always tell the full story about a candidate’s history. For example, what looks like an employment gap might actually be time off to care for a sick relative or pursue an intense technical credential. Your objective statement adds helpful context for out-of-the-ordinary situations like switching fields or returning to the workforce after some time away.
Distinguish yourself from other candidates
If you have rare experience or unique credentials relevant to the job, your objective statement is a great place to highlight them. Some examples would be serving in the military, being fluent in more than one language, or holding a niche technical certification.
Is an objective statement required on a resume?
No, including an objective statement on your resume is not an absolute requirement. Many candidates choose to let their experience speak for itself. However, when you have limited experience, are switching careers, or want to provide additional background on your job search, an objective statement can proactively address questions a hiring manager is likely to ask.
Tips for a good objective statement
Tailor it to the job
You shouldn’t use the same objective statement for every job you’re applying to. Like your resume itself, the statement should be customized based on the requirements and duties of a particular position.
Keep it short
An objective statement should be limited to two to three sentences. Remember, the goal is to convey information to a potential employer quickly; any longer than a couple of sentences, and you’re only making them do more work to find the relevant details.
Make it personal
Resumes are pretty bland as far as style goes. Your objective statement is a chance to add some flourish and sound different from all the other candidates with similar on-paper qualifications. Speak from the heart and use language that feels natural to you.
Avoid cliches
Cliches are words and phrases used so frequently that they have lost their intended meaning. “Passionate” and “proven track record” are two frequent offenders on resumes. Rather than repeating these trite words, describe your qualifications in specifics. Instead of saying “proven track record,” for example, state that you’ve maintained a 90% customer satisfaction rate or that you have three years of experience with a particular skill.
Enlist a proofreader
Ensure your objective statement flows smoothly and reads clearly by enlisting a trusted friend or mentor to review it before finalizing your resume. It’s also good to run it through an online spelling and grammar checker, which can catch any errors human eyes have missed.
Related: Proofreading Techniques to Ensure an Error-Free Resume
Update it frequently
In addition to customizing your objective statement for every job, you should update it whenever you gain a new skill or achievement. Updating your objective statement frequently not only ensures you’re putting forth your most current qualifications; it’s a good personal reminder of your growth.
How to write a resume objective statement
1. Describe yourself
Most resume objective statements begin with a couple words that describe the candidate. Use adjectives pertaining to your work ethic, level of accomplishment, or area of specialty. Here’s a good formula for starting off your statement:
[Adjective] + [title] with [experience]
Here’s how that might look:
Motivated college graduate with two years of retail experience
Organized bookkeeper for small businesses
Certified SEO strategist with three years of digital marketing experience
Related: Good Resume Buzzwords to Use
2. State your goal
After your description, say what you’re looking for. This could be the job title you want, the company you want to work for, the field you desire to move into, the type of work arrangement you’re seeking, or the impact you wish to make.
Here are some examples building upon the descriptions we just created:
Motivated college graduate with two years of retail experience seeking assistant store manager position.
Organized bookkeeper for small businesses looking to help organizations maintain accurate financial records.
Certified SEO strategist with three years of digital marketing experience aiming to help companies grow organic web traffic and improve sales.
Great! Your first sentence is done. Now it’s time to dive a little deeper into your qualifications.
3. Highlight your most relevant skills
Cite two to three skills you possess that make the strongest case for your ability to perform the job. This is where you’ll want to be sure to customize for the position. Use the job posting as a guide for what to focus on (you can find helpful tips for customizing your resume based on the job in this post). If you’re changing careers, be sure to highlight the transferable skills you have that will serve you in this role.
Here are some example phrases to set up your skills:
Proficient in…
Skilled with…
Adept at…
Experienced with…
Knowledge of…
Comfortable with…
Able to…
4. Note key achievements
A good objective statement communicates your skills. A great one gives specific examples of your accomplishments. Numbers, stats, awards, and credentials work well here. Don’t have much professional experience? That doesn’t mean you don’t have achievements! If you’re a new grad, you can cite academic accomplishments like a high GPA or achievements in volunteer groups and extracurricular activities.
Resume objective statement examples
New grad
Early career
Career change
Taking the time to craft a strong, tailored objective statement will help you catch the attention of hiring managers and convince them to take a closer look at you as a strong contender for their opening.
