Your résumé is a paper plane, one amongst many flying in the same direction, all aimed at a single opportunity, each carrying the aspirations and message of its maker.
But some have been prepared with greater care and attention to detail than others. Bold and arresting, their flight path is more dynamic, their presentation bolder, brighter. The best ones carry a cargo that few can match when written well: a career objective.
A career objective statement is perhaps the most important element of your entire curriculum vitae, since it sets the stage for the material that follows. Its function is to offer a rationale for the submission of your CV to the target recipient, clearly defining the job you wish to secure while
also highlighting the key qualities that make you ideal to attain it.
If your curriculum vitae fails to start with a career objective, the reader may well infer that you either:
a. do not know what work you want; or
b. lack the initiative and/or articulateness to get your objective across.
Just as in the case of cover letters, there is no quick fix solution to creating a compelling career objective. But the following hints and tips should help you soar far beyond the competition, preventing your metaphorical paper plane from being grounded in the waste paper basket. Let's compare two sample career objective statements to see what we can learn from them.
We've established that a career objective, as it pertains to your curriculum vitae, is a statement of purpose which pinpoints a specific job within a particular industry. If you require some sample objectives, then you've come to the right place; there are several such statements in this guide. Here is the first of them, formulated by naming, in a single sentence, the profession that is being actively sought by the candidate:
'To work in the field of human resources.'
As a first draft, this career objective is merely partly successful. While it states the industry sector the author is interested in, it omits the specific position being sought. Worse still, it offers no clue as to why the candidate might be suitable to work in human resources. A second draft is definitely in order:
'To apply over seven years' experience in human resource management, and a masters degree in business administration, to a HR position in the financial services sector.'
Much better. This latter draft embeds six core data point in just a single sentence.
If a crash course in career objectives is all you really wanted, then congratulations: you have graduated. But if higher learning is more your style, and you'd like a master class in crafting a strikingly effective, interview-winning career objective statement for your curriculum vitae or résumé, then scroll down for lesson one, a step-by-step walkthrough of everything you'll need to write a evocative opening statement.
CAREER OBJECTIVE TOP TIP #1
Be specific, but not exclusionist. Stating that you want to work as a computer programmer is fine; stating that you want to work as a computer programmer specialising in relational databases coded in XML is restrictive in the extreme, and may prevent you being considered for any other computer programming position.
Evocative? As in emotional? Absolutely. But later: First you need to select a target role.
Scan the employment sections of as many newspapers, trade magazines, and career websites as possible. Ask yourself, 'What vacancies are available to me? Which of them fit best with my overall career plan? Which of them best satisfy my technical, creative and social requirements?'
Next, evaluate the skills you have developed and tasks you've completed in previous jobs. Which of these unique ingredients assist your career objective to the maximal extent? How will they help your next employer to achieve their organisational aims?
Once you possess the answers to these core questions, you are ready to prepare the first draft of your career objective statement.
Here is what you need to include:
—The job (e.g. CFO, marketing manager);
—The industry (e.g. customer retention);
—Key assets (e.g. experience, projects).
Keep it simple: one sentence spread across a two lines is sufficient. Convey emotion and humanity with a sparing utilization of strong verbs and adjectives indicative of intelligence.
CAREER OBJECTIVE TOP TIP #2
Don't use the 'I' word when the 'My' word will do. 'I want a role in network rollouts' reads as egotistic and confrontational; 'To harness my deployment and infrastructure management experience in a position as network rollout lead' is considerably more measured and quietly persuasive.
A poorly-constructed objective statement is often worse than none at all, especially when it places the author's requirements above those of the reader, as seen here:
CAREER OBJECTIVE EXAMPLE #1
'I would prefer a job in sales management that will give me the opportunity to further my already-extensive understanding with regards to the creation and monitoring of global product promotions with a view to later advancement to a more senior role.'
CAREER OBJECTIVE EXAMPLE #2
'A sales management position that demands rigorous proficiency in the creation and close monitoring of global product promotions.'
What is the key difference between these two career objective statements? The answer is straightforward: focus. In the first objective, the writer's focus is turned inward—notice the use of 'I' and 'me', the off-putting referral to their 'already-extensive understanding', and the fact that they are thinking about
moving on from the job before being offered an interview. In the second version, the job hunter's focus is squarely on the employer, enhanced by strong, evocative language that suggest their dedication and professionalism.
Short as it is, a career objective statement is often the most challenging résumé element to write. Don't be too disheartened by this—the final rewards will far outweigh the initial problems you encounter. By beginning your pitch with a clear, concise, dynamic objective, you will ensure your application flies high.
SUMMARY: A well-crafted career objective statement sets the stage for your CV and ensures it is received as you intend, instantly highlighting you as an applicant whose singular capabilities support the goals of the performing organization.