What is a resume objective?

A resume objective statement is the introductory statement that simply states the objective of the job seeker. For example:

“To obtain a search engine marketing position in the advertising industry.”

It’s a short, targeted section near the top of your resume that tells recruiters your background and career goals.

When is the best time to include an objective for resume?

You should include a resume objective when you are:

• Joining the workforce for the first time.

• Looking for an internship.

• Switching careers or industries.

• Moving to a new geographic location.

• Returning to the job market after a long absence.

• Applying for a new role within the same company.

How to write an objective for a resume

With only 7 seconds to grab a recruiter’s attention, how do you exactly craft a resume objective that hooks their interest and proves you’re a good fit?

“What makes a resume stand out? Having clear measurable accomplishments and metrics in your summary and bullet points,” says Irina Scarborough, a former Fortune 500 recruiter and current Job Search Strategist/Career Coach with Resumeology. “Most people have just a job description and their day–to–day responsibilities. This provides no context to the future employer.” It’s much more powerful to explain.”

Here is a simple formula you can use when writing a strong and compelling resume objective statement.

You could also use Jobscan’s incredibly helpful resume summary generator tool. When you build your resume in the resume builder tool, you can click on the magic wand to “Generate Summary.”

Adding information from your work experience, skills, education, and certifications, the tool will write a personalized summary made exactly for you. You can even tailor your summary to include the most relevant keywords and skills for the job you’re applying to, increasing your chances of getting an interview.