Why Objective Statements hurt your resume

Why Objective Statements hurt your resume Objective Statements Show confidence in your resume Objective Statements I don’t care for Objective Statements in resume’s, and try to steer people away from them. I realize they are wildly popular, but I think they set the wrong tone for a resume. When I have a pile full of resumes, Objective Statements stand out like a child raising their hand saying “ooohh, ohhh, pick me, pick me”. I can only imagine that when they are being written that the writers mentality is one of hope and luck vs. confidence.  Fingers crossed vs. Bring it on Biatch! We know that all resumes have a section between the contact info and the experience. Before we dive right in and fill this space with adjective filled gibberish, lets think about what an Objective Statement is for just a minute. The definition of the word “objective” is as follows: Objective: something  that  ones  efforts  or  actions  are  intended  to  obtain  or  accomplish With an “objective statement” we just set the tone for the rest of the document. That subconscious mental state that you just put me into is that you as a candidate are “striving” to attain or accomplish a skill set. The word “Objective” implies that you have not yet reached your intended goal or that you have not accomplished your target. This is why I don’t like Objective Statements on resumes and I especially don’t like them when the resume has a section titled “Objective”. They subconsciously tell the reader that this candidate has not attained the skills needed. You just, said “I am not qualified.” I really dont like it when a resume literally titles the top section Objective Statement. I know what it is.  I look at 50 resumes a day. I can almost see where they are needed if you are right out of school or with very little experience, but for the most part, I think they set the wrong tone in the document. Personally, I think someone with little or no experience can avoid these statements. Below are a few examples of Objective Statement formats:   I am an ambitious / hardworking / driven / responsible / blah blah blah, looking for a (your adjective here) company / position where I can leverage my (your skill set here) and help move a company forward. I bring (more over used skill sets here) and (yes, more skill sets) and a positive attitude. Objective: I am looking for a challenging position in the marketing field where I can use customer service skills and “blah blah blah”. Objective: A position with Acme Publishing as a marketing analyst where I can combine my customer service skills with my technology experience in the printing industry. None of the statements actually tell the reader what skill sets you have. The above explains  what you want to do, but it doesnt say that you are actually qualified.  The above objective statements sound just like the top portion of every other candidates resume.     These adjectives are overused and a dime a dozen. They drone on and on. Usually folks are trying to fit in way too much, trying to cover way too many bases with these statements. These statements ONLY means something to the individual and their personal experience, that I will never be able to extrapolate.  When I ask someone about their Objective Statement I usually hear some obscure example or trait that they are trying to describe without using an example. I am not a mind reader.  These don’t stand out from one resume to another, from one position to another, and for the most part, from one industry to another. Think about that. If you can put your objective into a resume that is applying for another job, or another industry, it is too generic and I have read some version of it 100 times in the past week. Im just saying. So many people think that all of these adjectives separate them from everyone else because in their mind, they can relate these adjectives to their specific experience. Sorry, all I see is adjectives. Objective statements put the reader into a frame of mind where you are “begging” for a job or “peddling your wares”. On the other hand, executive resumes do not state “looking for”. Executive resumes list their skill set in a way that says “this is me, hear me roar.  BOOM!!!  These are Branding documents.   I have a good friend Ari who created the Mona Lisa of resumes is an executive assistant to C level execs and here is the top ¼ of the first page used with their permission. I think that this section sets the tone for the entire document. The objective statement isnt an objective statement at all but takes the space below the name and above the experience.   QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY Skilled and dedicated Professional Executive Assistant with more than 6 years experience supporting senior level executives: coordinating, planning, and supporting daily operational and administrative functions.   Excellent calendar management skills Liaison between all departments to ensure proper lines of communication and reporting practices Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Visio, PowerPoint,   and Excel My work as an Executive Assistant has given me exposure to many different business sectors including Human Resources, Online Marketing, Sales, Information Technology, Mobile and Legal. I am a constant professional and exhibit a high-level of ethics, character, and leadership. I always have a strong, positive, attitude towards life, people, and career. The above “objective” says what the candidates is looking for without saying “I need a job, please pick me”.  It tells the reader that they have the skills set, can do the job and are qualified  for most EA positions.   What the reader is presented with is a solid picture of this candidates skill set.   The last paragraph says very strongly “My work as an . . . .” and “I am a constant. . .” and lastly “I always have a strong, positive attitude towards life, people, and career”.  It exudes confidence and lets me know she has done this job not just once, but multiple times.  She is not striving for the skill set, she has arrived.   Yes, it has a few adjectives in the last sentence, but the way they are presented it is more like the colored sprinkles on the ice cream Sundae. Not just a bowl of ice milk. It is a brand. I am able to scan this in less than 2 seconds, see what I needed to see and was inspired to read on. That is what the top ¼ of the page should do.   Inspire me to stay engaged. Yes, I just heard a lioness roar. As a guy who reads a lot of resumes every week, I am telling you, this one gets the job done and called to me. This to me just oozes a professional confidence. Good Luck, HRNasty https://www.hrnasty.com/resume-cover-letter-template/ https://www.hrnasty.com/resume-layout/ See you at the after party, HRNasty nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone who is good at something. “He has a nasty forkball. If you felt this post was valuable please subscribe here. I promise no spam,