Many times, as I start the intake process of a new client, I have found that various books and past advisors have drilled into people that having an "objective" is very important to a résumé. My take on this is that this is a 'redundant redundancy' to the point when someone writes, "My objective is to find a dynamic position in a challenging company that uses all of my skills" (or something to that effect) - the hiring manager who is reading this statement perceives this as a "Duh- no kidding" statement- that's why this person is applying for the job in the first place!
Instead, coming up with a personal brand that is reflective of one's skills and level is much more effective. Think of it as a 'headline' that quickly and effectively communicates who you are and identifies your level. As an example, if you are in sales and are at a higher level, you could create a personal brand of "Senior Sales Manager" or "Director of Sales" - which already has let the reader know specifically what you are all about. Then, pulling together a paragraph below this brand that outlines in 4-5 sentences your background in this particular field is a great way to back up your headline.
Considering hiring managers are not only using software to scan résumés but also having to go through oftentimes several hundred documents to fill a single position, anything you can do to increase your chances of quickly capturing their attention and making the interview cut is critical. A personal brand is an effective tool on a résumé to make yourself stand out!
1 comment:
I agree about the silliness of objective statements. Sometimes I want to write "To pay my bills and put food on the table. What do you THINK?" So I like the idea of a "headline" with some key statements that follow. However, if you write as much as 4-5 sentences here about yourself doesn't that take away from what you write in your cover letter? Or are cover letters a thing of the past? (I haven't been in the job search market for some time.)
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