The Importance of a Resume Objective

A great objective gives your resume the perfect start. Since it appears just after the personal details, it is the first significant section to be read by the recruiters. The impression that the objective makes sets the tune for how the rest of the resume would be perceived. A bland and dull objective may deter the reader from reading any further or taking much interest in what appears later. A vibrant objective on the other hand, gives a strong reason to delve deeper into the resume and to take the candidate more seriously.

The ideal objective

The ideal objective succeeds in encapsulating in 2-3 crisp sentences, how the expertise and ambition of the employee are in perfect harmony with the goal of the organization where employment is being sought. A well framed objective can answer that all important question that is asked to every employee during the interview session, “What are the reasons why we should hire you?” Therefore, knowing the vision of the organization and anticipating the expectations of the employers is the key to a winning objective.

Some important tips

Many people make the incorrect assumption that objectives are a way to express personal aspirations and values. Nothing could be farther away from the fact. Your objective must give the employers what they want to read. It is more about them than about your intentions and ambitions. If you are sending a resume to multiple companies, then it would be wise to write a unique objective for each of them which is in sync with the goals of that company.

Also, if you are making a career change, mentioning it in the objective is a great way to let the employers know about it. You would need to emphasize how the skills you have acquired would suit the new position you seek.

What to remember while framing an objective

• Refrain from making it too long and risk sounding confusing, unreadable or just plain boring
• Mention the job title or designation that you seek clearly in the objective so that there is no scope for any misinterpretation. If you have applied for different job titles, frame specific objectives for each of them
• Avoid using the first person pronoun “I” as it sounds full of self importance. Keep the focus on the job profile and the expectations of the organization

Thus we may summarize saying that an outstanding objective begins by mentioning the job title you are interested in, the relevant expertise you would bring along with you and how you would blend perfectly with the goals of the company and contribute towards its success.

  

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The Format of a Smart Resume

Now that so much has been written about the fine nuances of effective resume writing it is time to turn to its practical aspects – the actual components that build a resume. A traditional resume includes 7-8 elements which together create an accurate profile of you, your skills and aptitudes, your qualifications and achievements. Based on the manner in which you construct each of these elements, the reader is going to slowly piece together an impression of the candidate. Therefore you have to ensure that you pack in as much positivity as possible in as smart and crisp a language as you can.

A resume consists of the following 7-8 elements:

1. Personal Information: This comprises of your name address and contact numbers and should appear on top of the page where it can be easily found by your recruiters. Please remember that you do not have to include any titles like Mr/Mrs/Ms and only write your full name
2. Objective: In this section, you need to mention in a sentence or two the post that you seek, your expertise and goals and how you would contribute to the vision of the company. A well worded objective can immediately raise the recruiter’s interest in your candidature. As far as possible, be careful not to use the first person “I”
3. Summary: Here you have to write a brief overview of your experience, skills and achievements to attract the attention of your employers and retain their interest in reading your resume further. As it comes in the beginning of the resume, it is your best chance to get noticed
4. Skills: This is an important section which has to be tailor made to suit the position sought. You could also make use of this section to place the important keywords that would help the online software to select your resume. Be sure to add the relevant skills and also include any rare and special attributes that you may have developed or acquired through experience or training
5. Work Experience: Here you have to list your professional experience in reverse order, along with the dates, starting from the latest and going backwards to the earlier ones. However in order to avoid making it look like a mundane account of your previous work history, you should add measurable proof of your accomplishments. This lends credibility to your claims and gives a huge boost to your resume
6. Education: This is the easiest section where you have to add details about your educational qualifications like degree, name of institution, grade and date. Here too you start with the most recent or the highest qualification and proceed to the lower ones. If you have any special certifications to your credit or have undertaken additional training, remember to include that as well
7. Awards/Achievements: Any recognition or merit does wonders to your image and boosts your chances of turning the dice in your favor. It is important to keep in mind that you should only include those accomplishments that are relevant to the post you are applying for
8. Affiliations (optional): Here you could add the names of any official club or organization that you might be an active member of. Although not mandatory, this could show that you are a person with broad interests and are a productive contributor to society

Being familiar with the accurate format of a professional resume makes your task of writing one that much easier. So go ahead and build an outstanding resume that flaunts your potential as best as possible!

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