Objective & Resume Summary
An effective resume isn't just a nice thing to have -- it's essential to your career progression, and sometimes it can make the difference between getting the job or being unemployed. So it pays to be aware of what employers regard as a best practice in resumes, and how a well written resume can sell you most effectively.
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Objective
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An objective, usually stated at the top of your resume, just below your title and contact information, is a statement of what you are aiming to achieve at this point in your career. Usually it is no more than one to two sentences. Resume objectives were very much in vogue in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when many people thought it showed a commendable self-awareness and focus in the job applicant.
Why use an objective?
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Objective statements are becoming much less common on resumes, as candidates seek to emphasize that they are focused on the employer and its needs, rather than their own career goals. Certain circumstances might propel you to use an objective statement. If you are a recent graduate seeking your first job, the use of an objective is understandable and can be useful. Also, if you are changing careers, and most of your resume consists of experience relevant to your old employment, an objective might make your intentions clearer to the hiring employer.
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Summary
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A summary, sometimes called a profile, is an at-a-glance statement of you and your value to the employer. It's focused on the specific hiring company to which you're sending your resume, and seeks to demonstrate in just a couple of sentences what your qualifications and experience can do for the company. It should pull up the most relevant highlights of your resume for that particular position and company.
Why use a summary?
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It's often said that a hiring manager will look at each resume on her desk for no more than 15 seconds before deciding to place it in the "possible" pile or the "reject" pile. With just those few seconds making the difference between success and failure, it pays to have the most effective sentences on your resume right at the top, in your summary. It is, in effect, an invitation to the hiring manager to read on--a hook to get her interested in the rest of what your resume has to say. Summaries are most useful for workers in mid or later career who may have a lot of detail in their resumes, and who need to quickly highlight the most relevant experience.
Writing a summary or objective
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Whichever you choose, an objective or a summary, it has to be well written. It should never just appear to be taking up space on your resume, but should feel like it is performing an essential function in explaining you succinctly to the employer. It is crucial that you rewrite this part of your resume for every job you apply for. It must be specific to that employer and that job; otherwise, it will appear to be what it is, generic and meaningless. The objective and the summary should both be fact-based, and never waffle about unverifiable qualities or characteristics.
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References
- Photo Credit resume image by Danil Vachegin from Fotolia.com
