• “Seeking a challenging position as a Certified Public Accountant, where I can utilize my skills”
• “Looking for a rewarding career in the sales industry with opportunities for growth as I learn more and improve my performance”

What do you notice about these statements? It’s all I want this, I want that. There’s nothing there that might interest the employer.

When a recruiter or hiring manager reads a resume, they’re not going to go out of their way to find out what you want in life! The question they want answered is, “Who are you and what can you do for me?”

So while it looks impressive or formal to add a career objective, it’s a waste of prime real estate in your resume.

A career objective doesn’t set you apart from the competition. Who doesn’t want a challenging and rewarding career? Who doesn’t want career advancement opportunities? Everyone wants those things.

Instead, create a compelling profile section that showcases your unique value. This section is your value proposition statement. Grab the recruiter’s attention right off the bat. Develop a hook to convince them to continue reading. Keep in mind that a recruiter will most likely start at the top of the document and therefore, the top third of the page is crucial. Make it easy on your reader. Create a header that defines who you are and follow that with a hard-hitting paragraph that gets the reader excited and wanting to know more.

Have a question for me? Send it to me at michelle@riklanresources.com.

Do you know anyone who needs help in their job search? Pass this along so they can submit their questions to me.