3 Reasons to Ditch That Resume Objective (and what to replace it with)

I remember when I used to think having “to obtain a position that utilizes my education and previous work experience while providing opportunities for growth and advancement …” on my resume was cool.  Not just cool but what I was supposed to put on my resume.  That was ten years ago … at least … so if you’re still using this outdated statement or something similar, let me provide you with three good reason to stop now.

1. It’s outdated.  Enough said.  If it wasn’t working ten years ago, then it sure isn’t going to work in this job market.
2. It’s generic.  If everyone else can use it too, then you sure aren’t going to stand out from the crowd, are you?
3. It’s boring.  Your resume needs to grab the hiring manager’s attention from the beginning, and all this statement will do is bore him to death.

Okay, so now that you know why you shouldn’t have a resume objective, what do you replace it with?  Here are three key elements to include on your resume instead of that dated objective statement.

1.  A job target/title.  Put this at the very top and use the title of job you want or are applying for.  It shows exactly what you’re applying for and presumably that you’re qualified (you shouldn’t be applying for it if you’re not, but that’s a whole other article).
2.  A personal branding statement.  A great one-liner that will go underneath your job target title and speaks quickly and succinctly to who you are and what you bring to the table.
3.  A very specific and accomplishment-focused career summary.  Create a 3- to 5-sentence paragraph at the top of your resume that is specific but summarizes your most noteworthy achievements as relevant to the position for which you are applying.  Don’t use blanket statements.  As a general rule of thumb, if it can be said about a lot of people, it’s not specific enough to you.

Keep these pointers in mind when pulling together your next resume.  Also, remember to customize each resume as you apply for different positions.

Stuck trying to figure out the right words for your resume? No problem, I’ve got you covered with this FREE PDF that includes 178 action verbs and high-impact phrases you can use to improve your resume.

For additional job search and resume-related advice, connect with me on LinkedIn here.