Reflect on your resume – have you ever had it critiqued and the reader asked, “What do you want to do?” If so, this article can help you write an objective that will answer that question.
It’s actually not necessary to write out the word “Objective” because employers know that your objective can be found at the top of the resume, usually after the heading. Since employers initially prefer a one-page resume, eliminating that word gives you one extra line for more useful information.
Job title
The objective can be as simple as the job title from the job description. Include the company name and location if the company has openings in multiple cities or facilities. If the job lead contains a number, include that as well. Take a look at the objective that’s after the heading below:
Name
Address
City, ST, ZIP
Phone #
Professional email address
LinkedIn page or online portfolio
Mechanical Engineer Job ID# 739 for ABC Company in Houston, TX
Notice the absence of the word “Objective”.
One sentence
Maybe you’d like to work for a particular company and on its website it states something like, “We’re hiring! Send us your resume.” However, specific job descriptions are not listed. For this, consider writing your objective as a sentence.
When writing this sentence, focus on how you can support the company’s mission statement, contribute to a project, or assist in a department:
“To promote your mission on sustainability by providing web design services.”
“To contribute to your 123 Project by providing public relations and technical services.”
“To provide creative art and outdoor activities at your Child Development Center.”
Keep your objective simple. Ask yourself the following questions to help guide you:
• What do I want to do for the company?
• What job title do I want to apply for?
• How can I help achieve their mission statement or project?
• Which department could use my experience and skills?
Josie Toth is a Regional Facilitator for Workforce Solutions. She facilitates job search skills and career exploration classes in the 13-county Houston-Galveston area. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and enjoys encouraging others in their pursuit of meaningful work.
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