
EXPERT ANSWER
Nov 15, 2019 - 10:17 AM
Gone are the days of putting an objective on your resume, and resumes that contain objective statements quickly define the candidate as out of touch. A professional statement, or resume summary section, is the way to go. The professional statement or summary comes at the top of the resume, right under your name and contact information.
Instead of a statement about what YOU are looking for in a job, the professional statement gives a brief overview of what you OFFER an employer.
For example, instead of this: "Senior Operations professional looking for the next great opportunity in the manufacturing industry," try something like this: "Seasoned operations leader with extensive record of achievement developing and executing standardized processes and procedures to establish strong foundation for scalable growth. Design and deliver strategic projects and change initiatives via automation to achieve significant cost savings."
The key to a successful summary or professional statement is to make it answer the employer's question, which is "What can you do for me, and why are you the right one for this job?" Do not waste the premium real estate that is the top portion of your resume with information that is irrelevant to a hiring manager. As with most things related to job hunting, it’s about them, not you.
Instead of a statement about what YOU are looking for in a job, the professional statement gives a brief overview of what you OFFER an employer.
For example, instead of this: "Senior Operations professional looking for the next great opportunity in the manufacturing industry," try something like this: "Seasoned operations leader with extensive record of achievement developing and executing standardized processes and procedures to establish strong foundation for scalable growth. Design and deliver strategic projects and change initiatives via automation to achieve significant cost savings."
The key to a successful summary or professional statement is to make it answer the employer's question, which is "What can you do for me, and why are you the right one for this job?" Do not waste the premium real estate that is the top portion of your resume with information that is irrelevant to a hiring manager. As with most things related to job hunting, it’s about them, not you.