Monday, October 15, 2012

Monday Mission: Consider a Profile or Objective Section on your Résumé?

Photo from:  http://www.morguefile.com/creative/carygrant
I often get questions about what to include in a Profile or Objective section on a résumé.  Instead, the questions should most often be should I use a Profile or Objective section on a résumé.  Or more correctly:  When should I use a Profile or Objective section on a résumé.

The differences are subtle, perhaps.  But, important!

Use an Objective section on a résumé when you are looking for something specific and you are certain that you want to limit your opportunity(ies) to a list of conditions  to which you are committed.

Use a Profile section on a résumé when you want a job and you have skills, abilities, and qualities to highlight for specific employers and/or positions.

THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG HERE
In fact, I would venture to say this is one of the most argued about topics among career and vocational experts!  How then can you decide which is right for you?

Personally, I think the Profile is safer.  To me, the Objective seems more limiting and one runs the risk of having an employer glance at this section and immediately decide that the employer goals do not match the applicant’s goals.

A Profile section feels a bit safer to me because it leaves a little room for the employer to infer that the applicant’s goal may be similar because they have at least some of the desired qualities.

Management by objective works - if you know the objectives. 
Ninety percent of the time you don't.  Peter Drucker 


HOW DO YOU WRITE AN OBJECTIVE OR PROFILE SECTION ON A RÉSUMÉ

You can write an objective statement by thinking about and presenting information about what is important to you in a position or from an employer.  Start by:

1.      Mapping out your ideal work day
2.    Listing tasks you would like to spend your day performing
3.    Noting where you would like to perform the job
4.    Defining what you want from an employer
5.     Alluding to the benefit to hiring you

After you are able to clearly communicate the above, put them together into a brief paragraph in a way that will convince an employer to continue reviewing your résumé.

You can write a Profile statement by thinking about your skills and abilities and qualities and presenting these in a way that will convince the employer to continue reviewing your résumé.  Start by:

1.      Reviewing the job requirements
2.    Noting your skills, abilities or qualities that most speak to the requirements
3.    Researching the employer’s culture
4.    Include qualities you have that make it clear you are a good fit for the company
5.     Alluding to the benefit to hiring you

After you are able to clearly communicate the above, put them together into a brief paragraph in a way that will convince an employer to continue reviewing your résumé.

Write both and think about which “feels” better to you.  If in doubt, I still recommend going with a Profile statement.

What type of section will best sell your unique skills and abilities?


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1 comment:

  1. Objective should match to the job description, to which you are applying. It should be short, clear and concise.

     http://www.sampleresumeobjectives.org/law-enforcement.html

    ReplyDelete

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