Resume Objective Examples: Career Statement for All Jobs

A resume objective ensures your document stands out, provides value to the reader, and meets the target job’s requirements. Strong resume objectives ensure proper keywords are identified by the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and recruiters. This article includes proven resume objective examples with targeted keywords.

What Is a Resume Objective?

• A resume objective alerts the ATS or recruiter to your intent for a job and your specific area of expertise. It also informs the reader about your goal for seeking a specific position.

• Keep it succinct, targeted, and focused. The resume objective is easy to read and directly tied to the target job. A resume summary is different. It describes and details the overview of your areas of expertise related to the resume objective.

Why Resume Objectives Are Important

• It sets the tone for the rest of the resume. If the resume objective is about software development, the resume needs to be focused on software development and information technology.
• The objective captures the employer’s attention, describing the candidate as a direct fit for the target position posted on a vacancy announcement. It should offer the potential employer value and not be self-serving.
• A powerful resume objective is direct and easy to understand. It is very effective for university graduates seeking a first job, moms or dads returning to work after a long break to raise children, and career changers, such as a retiring military member who recently obtained a teaching credential seeking a new career.

How To Write a Compelling Resume Objective

To craft a captivating resume objective, use these steps:

1. Tailor the objective to the job

Customize the resume objective for each job application. If you have two areas of expertise, e.g., software development and security management, and are applying for software development, the resume should not focus on security management. This will confuse the reader and an ATS. If you have two areas of expertise – develop two resumes with separate resume objectives. 

2. Use keywords and phrases

Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description. Remember to back up keywords and phrases with an application, e.g., describe how you apply your expertise to the job. Detail your experience, scope, and breadth of knowledge rather than making a string list of keywords. If you are detail-oriented, explain how. 

3. Highlight skills and measurable accomplishments

Showcase key abilities and notable achievements. Explain your scope of knowledge directly related to the target job’s qualification requirements. Suppose the job announcement states that you must have at least one year of experience and manage over 100 computers as a cybersecurity specialist. 

In that case, your objective will be to leverage these skills and expertise: Cybersecurity specialist with 18 months of experience managing over 500 computers. Currently learning vulnerability assessments to best support help desk operations, end-users, and the enterprise.

General Resume Objective Examples

Entry-level resume objective examples

For recent graduates or those with little experience – you may benefit from using the job title directly in the resume objective with an explanation of why you are targeting the position. Resume objectives are well-suited for entry-level applicants. For example:

Career change resume objective examples

For job seekers making a career transition – there is a benefit of combining previous experience and transferable skill sets that match with the current position and any new skills, education, or credentials that may match with the current job. For example:

Industry-specific resume objective examples

Below are industry-specific resume objective examples. Review the target job and use the keywords from the announcement to customize your objective and resume.

Common mistakes to avoid in resume objectives

• Vague language or clichés will not score well with ATS or recruiters. Strings of keywords without value or impact to the reader or company are unnecessary. For example, if recruiters see a list of keywords without application – they can see right past the “fluff.” 

• Resume objectives that read like, “I am an independent, detail-oriented, people-oriented, successful, hardworking, team player,” mean nothing to the recruiter. They most likely received many other resumes with similar keywords. Instead, justify the keywords with the application. Your resume will stand out in that case:

• Generic resume objectives or those not specific to the job will likely not score with a recruiter or an ATS. If a recruiter is sourcing for a nurse and the objective says, “Seeking a position with a company focused on health care,” they will not know that the person is applying for a nurse position. Be specific:

• Resume objectives should be concise and make a valuable impact. Recruiters typically only review resumes for a few moments, looking for specific information to match the job vacancy and the resume quickly. They receive scores of resumes for every posted job, so their time is valuable. Objectives need to stand out and make a statement.

Top Tips for Different Career Stages

Entry-level:

As a recent college graduate, use any projects, capstone papers, and internships as experience gained to your advantage to develop the resume objective. Don’t forget to claim classwork and course titles. Describe your professional goals. The University of Baltimore Career and Internship Center uses a six-step guide to build a resume including an objective statement.

Mid-career professionals:

As a direct correction to the job announcement, tie your mid-career experience, skills, and credentials to the resume objective.

Senior-level executives:

As an executive with many years of high-level experience, incorporate numbers that have a high-value impact on the prospective employer.