Objectives
The problem that most of my students are having is putting together a resume with a unique objective. The suggestion I make is to scope out the company and find what it is that they are looking for in an employee, cross reference it to their list that they made about themselves and see if there are any similarities. If so, incorporate those qualities in their objective. I have my students make a general resume most times unless there is a specific place they want employment. I have a page or two on creative words/skills that the students can pick through but I like to wait and see what they come up with. I heard that there are programs out there that practically create the resume for you including objective. I don't know how unique that would be. Any thoughts?
We also agree. For an entry-level employee the best strategy is to prepare a short and to-the-point resume. It should include skills and knowledge learned and if there was an externship then skills practiced in a job environment. We think that some hobbies or community service should be included to further demonstrate the drive and interests of the candidate. Thanks, Susan
I think the same that objectives are useless
but a summary detail of all students skill is more effective. They are applying for a position and skills and abilities is what employer wants to hear.
Interesting point, Maureen. What you have indicated is that it is important to know the long-term goals of each grad. Particularly in your industry where people can work for companies or free lance or on their own. Sometimes students can't articulate this clearly and may need help. Or they don't know all their options. Thanks, Susan
Many of our grads are placed in small advertising studios or agency, where the owner is onsite working and running the operation. If the grad is interested in starting his own firm they may hire him at entry level - however if the grad is interested in moving up the ranks in a company many of these place don't have any latter for the employee to climb, so they would want to stay on too long. So it that case it would not be a good fit for the grad to start his career there.
Can you explain in what way employers are interseted in the goals of grads? Are you referring to resumes? We think resumes are best when they simply include education and work experience. Many times people really don't know what their short and long-term goals are. Of course asking grads and having them think and write about their goals is a great exercise. It's useful when people are interviewing and that question is asked. Thanks, Susan
Also we have found sometimes employers are interested in the graduates short term object/goals and long term objective/goals.
Hi Maureen, Your comments made us think that a student's resume is going to look different compared to someone who has some work history. While we are all instructed to have objectives and summaries on our resumes, maybe not needed for new grads. It's a great class exercise as it helps students understand what direction they are going in and their own goals. But people who hire and review resumes just want to see what the student has done or what they have learned. The student can use the objective and summary exercise as talking points during the interview. Thanks, Susan
I just starting using this suggestion myself, the students also find that a summary comes more naturally to them then the objective, because like you said isn't the objective employment.
We like bullets and short and to the point resumes also, Mindi. We agree that some resumes get too wordy and full of fluff. Employers simply want to see if you have the skills. We think that employers spend about 30 seconds on a resume looking for exactly the experience and skills they want to see. So we also recommend resumes that are short and to the point. We also believe that about transmittal letters. Too much explanation may say that that the applicant doesn't have enough experience. Thanks, Susan
I have my students create a short to the point objective about what they can do for the facility and not what they expect to gain. I also have them bullet their skills, so that the employer can see them plainly.
HI Lois, I agree that most employers don't want to see Objectives or even Summary statements. They want to see what the job seeker knows, the skills, and knowledge, and if they ever used these on the job. So if the students are new to the work place it takes a bit more work to show what they can do as learned in the class, lab, or on an externship. Thanks, Susan
I find most objective statements useless and somewhat dangerous. The most common and offensive element is the mention of "potential for increasing income" or some similar reference to salary. Less offensive, of course, is a reference to potential for increasing responsibility.
I tell students that employers do not care what the employee wants, they care about what the employee can do for them. For this reason, I ask them to use an objective statement only if they can phrase it in terms of their contribution to the company. For example, "...use my electronic troubleshooting skills on behalf of a customer-oriented repair station..." If that doesn't work, then a skill summary is preferred.
Crafting resumes for those with limited experience is always a challenge. Helping grads gain confidence to have a successful interview knowing their limitations is an art.
I agree with focusing on the experience and education especially when it comes to specialized training.
HI Rhona and Jere, We find that the more basic the resume, the more effective for grads with little experience. Sometimes even a summary might pigeon hole a student. The experience and education needs to speak for itself. That's our opinion anyway. Thanks, Susan
Hi Jere,
I agree with you as well. Sometimes it's best to leave the objective out and just encourage a summary. My students find it difficult to create an objective but have no problem with a summary of their qualifications.
Hi Jere, I encourage the summary as well; it helps to give the resume a focus and pinpoints skills, right in the beginning, that an employer may wish to know.
Career objectives such as "Seeking a profesisonal position with a progressive company..." or "Seeking a future-oriented position that will allow me to use my skills..." are basically worthless.
Thanks,
Jay Hollowell
MaxKnowledge
Good point, Jere. We also generally find the Job Objective section kind of useless. You are right that an effective summary can give a good snap shot of the candidate regardless of experience. And the exercise for the student to write the summary is an excellent task. It helps the student think about him/herself and what makes each person unique. Thanks, Susan
Instead of an Objective, I usually have the students to right a Summary. Everyone already knows the objective, which is to get the job. A summary can pin-point the students skills and abilities.
