By: George Rogers
So, you think you understand this whole resume writing business--it's simple, after all: you just jot down your work history and a couple of experiences, and save the last bit for a bold "Career Objective" section that details what you want. That's it. Employers will be so impressed.
If this statement sounds accurate, keep reading. If not, congratulations, you're realistic.
A resume is not simply relaying where you worked and for how long; it's about showcasing your abilities and experiences in hopes that business owners will see you as the perfect person for the job. The objective of a resume is not to simply say, "Here's some of what I do. Now, let's talk salary." A résumé's objective is to pique the interest of employers and to display your talents. A good resume will warrant a call back; a great one will get you hired.
In the first paragraph, we mentioned the "Career Objective" section. Many confuse this for the actual objective of a resume. They're two very different things. The objective of a resume is to get you in the door; the "Career Objective" section is an out-dated space waster. Often, we're taught to place it at the end of our resume, a paragraph explaining what we hope to get out of the job and what we feel we can offer.
Skip this.
Potential employers already know what the job entails; they don't need you to remind them what you hope to get. They already know what you're going to get. As for what you can offer, the rest of your resume should already outline this. They don't need a recap of your greatness as it should speak for itself.
Instead of wasting precious space (you only have a limited amount of lines before resume turns into biography) with ideas that have already been presented, use this last bit of room to add more details that make you a better candidate. You could add more job history, educational background, etc. The "Career Objective" is not the objective of the resume; in fact, it goes against the whole purpose.
The résumé's objective is simple: spin your life into a positive list of experiences. This does not mean, of course, to lie or exaggerate. Never do that. Instead, highlight the good. That is the objective. Not a section at the end, retelling what has been already explained. The objective is to create an informative and well-executed resume, one that will make employers happy to have you in their company.
This is what you want. Now, go make it happen.
