Why You Should Never Include an Objective Statement on a Resume

Why You Should Never Include an Objective Statement on a Resume Spread the loveA common question job seekers have is whether to include an objective statement on a resume. An objective statement was standard on resumes for years but has been discouraged lately, and for good reason. We’ll show you why you should never use an objective statement on a resume and what to put in its place.Do I Need an Objective on my Resume?No, you should never include an objective statement on a resume. A resume objective is outdated, boring and fails to tell the hiring manager anything of importance.  Here are some reasons you shouldnt put an objective statement on a resume:It Provides Little ValueA resume objective provides very little value as it basically tells the employer what your career goals are. The issue is that most hiring managers could care less, they’re interested in what benefits the company.Here is an example of an objective statement:I want a highly rewarding career where I can use my skills and knowledge to help the company and my coworkers be successful.Honestly, who cares? Everybody wants a rewarding career and you need to tell the hiring manager how youll benefit the company based on your previous accomplishments, education and skills.Its BoringAn objective statement is just too stale and boring to really capture the attention of a hiring manager. The beginning of your resume is super important and you need to capture their attention early which an objective statement fails to do.Starting your resume off with an objective statement will be a turn-off to most hiring managers.Its  OutdatedThe use of an objective statement was once considered standard on resumes because people would stick to one career/position for decades. The hiring manager wanted to see that you would stick around with the company for the long term. That is no longer the case as people are changing jobs faster than ever before.Want to land more interviews with a professional resume? Check out our post on the best resume services:Best  Resume Writing Se rvices  There is a Better OptionOkay, now that you know why you shouldn’t include an objective statement â€" What should you include?You need to include a powerful summary that captures the attention of a hiring manager. Here is an example of one from our post on how to write an awesome resume summary:Marketing director with six years’ experience leading teams in market research and innovative campaign design. Graduate of Number One Marketing University, 2002. In 2013, I led the team that created the You Can’t Say That campaign that won the Bravo Marketing Excellence in Messaging award. I was featured on the cover of Go, Marketing in September, 2014, for my work in launching the Crafty Marketers online forum earlier that year. I am a results-oriented and team-driven leader committed to mentoring new marketers and expanding the boundaries of marketing science and practical application.You can see for yourself that this summary would be a lot more captivating and effective than: Looking to obtain a marketing position where I can use my vast experience and skills to really benefit the company.Closing ThoughtsThe objective statement is dull, boring and seen as uninspired by many hiring managers. When there are hundreds of applicants competing for a single position, you need to stand out. An objective statement fails to do that and could actually be a big reason why you’re not getting interviews.Use a powerful summary that tells the employer a bit about who you are and why youre qualified. The summary also allows you to take a more friendly and conversational tone where an objective doesnt. Use quantifiable achievements and captivating language to  convince the employer that youre the perfect candidate for the position.Good luck with your job search! Why You Should Never Include an Objective Statement on a Resume Spread the loveA common question job seekers have is whether to include an objective statement on a resume. An objective statement was standard on resumes for years but has been discouraged lately, and for good reason. We’ll show you why you should never use an objective statement on a resume and what to put in its place.Do I Need an Objective on my Resume?No, you should never include an objective statement on a resume. A resume objective is outdated, boring and fails to tell the hiring manager anything of importance.  Here are some reasons you shouldnt put an objective statement on a resume:It Provides Little ValueA resume objective provides very little value as it basically tells the employer what your career goals are. The issue is that most hiring managers could care less, they’re interested in what benefits the company.Here is an example of an objective statement:I want a highly rewarding career where I can use my skills and knowledge to help the company and my coworkers be successful.Honestly, who cares? Everybody wants a rewarding career and you need to tell the hiring manager how youll benefit the company based on your previous accomplishments, education and skills.Its BoringAn objective statement is just too stale and boring to really capture the attention of a hiring manager. The beginning of your resume is super important and you need to capture their attention early which an objective statement fails to do.Starting your resume off with an objective statement will be a turn-off to most hiring managers.Its  OutdatedThe use of an objective statement was once considered standard on resumes because people would stick to one career/position for decades. The hiring manager wanted to see that you would stick around with the company for the long term. That is no longer the case as people are changing jobs faster than ever before.Want to land more interviews with a professional resume? Check out our post on the best resume services:Best  Resume Writing Se rvices  There is a Better OptionOkay, now that you know why you shouldn’t include an objective statement â€" What should you include?You need to include a powerful summary that captures the attention of a hiring manager. Here is an example of one from our post on how to write an awesome resume summary:Marketing director with six years’ experience leading teams in market research and innovative campaign design. Graduate of Number One Marketing University, 2002. In 2013, I led the team that created the You Can’t Say That campaign that won the Bravo Marketing Excellence in Messaging award. I was featured on the cover of Go, Marketing in September, 2014, for my work in launching the Crafty Marketers online forum earlier that year. I am a results-oriented and team-driven leader committed to mentoring new marketers and expanding the boundaries of marketing science and practical application.You can see for yourself that this summary would be a lot more captivating and effective than: Looking to obtain a marketing position where I can use my vast experience and skills to really benefit the company.Closing ThoughtsThe objective statement is dull, boring and seen as uninspired by many hiring managers. When there are hundreds of applicants competing for a single position, you need to stand out. An objective statement fails to do that and could actually be a big reason why you’re not getting interviews.Use a powerful summary that tells the employer a bit about who you are and why youre qualified. The summary also allows you to take a more friendly and conversational tone where an objective doesnt. Use quantifiable achievements and captivating language to  convince the employer that youre the perfect candidate for the position.Good luck with your job search! Why You Should Never Include an Objective Statement on a Resume Spread the loveA common question job seekers have is whether to include an objective statement on a resume. An objective statement was standard on resumes for years but has been discouraged lately, and for good reason. We’ll show you why you should never use an objective statement on a resume and what to put in its place.Do I Need an Objective on my Resume?No, you should never include an objective statement on a resume. A resume objective is outdated, boring and fails to tell the hiring manager anything of importance.  Here are some reasons you shouldnt put an objective statement on a resume:It Provides Little ValueA resume objective provides very little value as it basically tells the employer what your career goals are. The issue is that most hiring managers could care less, they’re interested in what benefits the company.Here is an example of an objective statement:I want a highly rewarding career where I can use my skills and knowledge to help the company and my coworkers be successful.Honestly, who cares? Everybody wants a rewarding career and you need to tell the hiring manager how youll benefit the company based on your previous accomplishments, education and skills.Its BoringAn objective statement is just too stale and boring to really capture the attention of a hiring manager. The beginning of your resume is super important and you need to capture their attention early which an objective statement fails to do.Starting your resume off with an objective statement will be a turn-off to most hiring managers.Its  OutdatedThe use of an objective statement was once considered standard on resumes because people would stick to one career/position for decades. The hiring manager wanted to see that you would stick around with the company for the long term. That is no longer the case as people are changing jobs faster than ever before.Want to land more interviews with a professional resume? Check out our post on the best resume services:Best  Resume Writing Se rvices  There is a Better OptionOkay, now that you know why you shouldn’t include an objective statement â€" What should you include?You need to include a powerful summary that captures the attention of a hiring manager. Here is an example of one from our post on how to write an awesome resume summary:Marketing director with six years’ experience leading teams in market research and innovative campaign design. Graduate of Number One Marketing University, 2002. In 2013, I led the team that created the You Can’t Say That campaign that won the Bravo Marketing Excellence in Messaging award. I was featured on the cover of Go, Marketing in September, 2014, for my work in launching the Crafty Marketers online forum earlier that year. I am a results-oriented and team-driven leader committed to mentoring new marketers and expanding the boundaries of marketing science and practical application.You can see for yourself that this summary would be a lot more captivating and effective than: Looking to obtain a marketing position where I can use my vast experience and skills to really benefit the company.Closing ThoughtsThe objective statement is dull, boring and seen as uninspired by many hiring managers. When there are hundreds of applicants competing for a single position, you need to stand out. An objective statement fails to do that and could actually be a big reason why you’re not getting interviews.Use a powerful summary that tells the employer a bit about who you are and why youre qualified. The summary also allows you to take a more friendly and conversational tone where an objective doesnt. Use quantifiable achievements and captivating language to  convince the employer that youre the perfect candidate for the position.Good luck with your job search!