How to Write a Powerful Resume Objective (10+Resume Examples)

The resume objective is a statement of your career goals. It sits at the top of your resume and, in its one to two sentences, it can persuade your future employer in that you're the one for the job.

Or, at the very least, make them read the rest of your resume.

This brief summary tells your future employer where you're heading and can enhance your resume in an instant. The more specific you are, the better chances you have.

So what does a good resume objective look like? Here's an excellent example:

A well-crafted resume objective statement relates your skills and abilities to your vision. Indeed, it can boost your chances of scoring a job and convince recruiters you know what you want to do.

Resume objectives are also useful for ambitious job-hoppers and career changers. It helps them better describe their motivation and explain why they're qualified for the job despite lacking industry-relevant experience.

Four basic ingredients

How to create a resume objective that gets you hired? These are the details you need to include to make your resume objective work:

1. Specific job title

First, you need to make it easy for the ATS to process your application. Include the job title you're applying for at a given company.

If this feels a bit too short, feel free to expand it. You can also emphasize your commitment and long-term vision.

2. Years of experience

Numbers speak volumes. Having 15+ or 20+ years of hands-on experience shows you're a seasoned professional that can easily shoot for a senior position. But even 5+ years spent in the industry can make a difference and show that you've got something to offer.

3. Your skills

Use specific keywords from the job listing to emphasize how your qualifications align with the job listing. This will also increase the probability that your resume gets past the company’s applicant tracking system.

4. Your career objective

Start off by highlighting some of your success stories. Then move on to the kinds of accomplishments you hope to achieve in the future.

However, always keep the job you are applying for in mind. Talk only about career goals and personal growth that are feasible within the company.

Avoid the common mistake of focusing too much on your own career. You always need to balance it out and say how your skills will be beneficial to the company.

Here are 5 resume objective samples that do just that. They connect job seeker's career objectives to company goals without compromising either of them:

Similar sections — different purpose

It's important to know that there are several alternatives to a resume objective. They may all look alike but serve a different purpose:

• Summary
• Profile
• Resume Summary Statement
• Statement of Qualifications

All four of them represent a brief summary of your skills and experience that are relevant to a specific job opening. Unlike a resume objective that focuses on your career goals, these sections are less egocentric. They focus on what's your added value and how you can be beneficial to the company.

Here's an example of a standout profile summary:

Yin and yang

Undoubtedly, the very first section is the most lucrative spot on your resume. Putting confusing section names aside, you can basically choose to focus on two things — on yourself or your prospective employer.

The first approach is egocentric and elevates your experience, skills, achievements and career goals. The second one is more altruistic. It describes how your values align with the company's and how you will use your skills to contribute to its future endeavours.

Nonetheless, both of these perspectives seem equally important. 

Without knowing your value and listing everything that sets you apart on the top of your resume, you'll never make those 6 seconds count. But the absence of a broader vision can make you look like a career opportunist that lacks basic sensitivity to company goals.

Now that you're well-versed in writing a compelling resume objective, it's time to put those skills into practice! Check out our meticulously assembled resume samples to fuel your inspiration.