Career Objective/Job Objective

A career or job objective is an optional part of your resume. It should include a very clear statement of what you hope to achieve in the job for which you are applying or your career in that field and what you intend to contribute.

Career experts differ about whether to include a career or job objective in a resume. Katharine Hansen in "Should You Use a Career Objective on Your Resume?" states this:

Many employers say that lack of a career objective paragraph at the beginning of a resume gives them a sense of an applicant who doesn't have a firm plan. On the other hand, according to Hansen, the vagueness of these statements on most resumes (where they are most often used) gives much the same impression.

A good job or career objective statement should be very specific. Hansen provides this example of one that is specific but not limiting:

"To manage people, interface with customers, and work with highly technical software or hardware applications."

The statement should reflect the employer's perspective -- not the job seeker's. In Hansen's words, "An objective should demonstrate the value the candidate will add to the organization." The objective should also be concise.

Providing a job or career objective offers another advantage. It can focus your resume. That's especially valuable if your experience is diverse.

You may, however, prefer to put your job or career objective in your cover letter instead so you can focus your resume on concrete examples of your skills or qualifications through statements of results you achieved in previous jobs or volunteer work.

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