You’re scrolling down your LinkedIn, mindlessly browsing through countless irrelevant job ads, when you come across something unexpected.
There it is, the Perfect Job!
You’ve been looking for it for ages.
This job will not only help you with your student loans and crippling debt but it will also help you figure out the meaning of life and even get your crush to notice you.
There’s a small problem, though. You don’t exactly have the right experience for the job.
If only there was a way to convince the hiring manager that you’re a good fit for the job, despite this drawback.
Well, here’s some good news - there is! You can win over the HR manager with a well-written resume objective. You can show them that you make up for your lack of relevant experience with passion and enthusiasm.
In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about resume objectives, including:
- What is a resume objective? (and why is it important?)
- When to use a resume objective
- How to write a convincing resume objective [w/ 5 pro tips]
Looking for inspiration? We’ll also offer 40+ practical examples for all sorts of career fields. Skip ahead if you’re interested in any of the specific sections:
- Business & Management - marketing manager, project manager, human resources, business analyst
- Marketing - junior SEO specialist, social media marketing manager, content creator, PPC specialist
- Food & Service Industry - waiter/waitress, bartender, line cook, restaurant manager
- Education - teacher, tutor
- Sales & Customer Support - sales associate, store manager, account manager, CSR specialist, technical support specialist, cashier
- Finance & Accounting - accountant, financial analyst, bank teller, data-entry
- Technical resume - computer scientist, IT specialist, data analyst, engineer, data scientist
- Medical Resume - nurse, medical assistant, dental assistant
- Other - warehouse worker, housekeeper
This guide is part of our larger series on resumes. Want to learn everything there is to know on how to make a resume? Start with our comprehensive guide.
What is a Resume Objective? (And Why Is It Important?)
A resume objective is an eye-catching statement of your career intent that’s placed on top of your resume.
The resume objective provides a 2-3 sentence snapshot of your professional experience, skills, and achievements, and explains why they make you the right candidate for the job.
When to Use a Resume Objective
Over the past few years, a resume objective has, in most cases, become optional. If you’re an experienced professional, you’re much better off sticking to a Resume Summary, as it helps describe your top skills and experiences much better.
- You’re searching for your first job - Maybe you’re a high school graduate looking for your very first job. Or maybe, you’re a student signing up for your first internship. A resume objective will show the hiring manager that you have the desire to develop your skill-set and grow within the company.
- You’re making a career change - Let’s say you have worked as an engineer in an app development company for the past three years and are now applying for a marketing job in a start-up. Your resume objective will highlight how your current skills are relevant to the position.
How to Write a Convincing Resume Objective [w/ 5 Pro Tips]
Resume objectives get a bad rep because they’re hard to write and even harder to write well. At their worst, they’re overly generic and say nothing new about the applicant. When done right, though, they can really help your resume stand out.
The resume objective is structured in three main parts: (1) Who you are (2) What you offer to the company (3) How you’ll help the company accomplish its goals.
Doesn’t sound too hard now, does it? To make this even easier, you can just follow our tried-and-tested resume objective template:
(1) [SKILL/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION RELEVANT TO THE JOB WITH JOB TITLE]. Looking to apply my (2) [years/months of EXPERIENCE RELEVANT TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION] at [COMPANY YOU ARE APPLYING TO], to help (3) [TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES YOU WILL HELP OUT WITH SUCCESSFULLY].
In practice, it looks something like this:
“CPA-certified forensic accountant with demonstrated experience in financial record examination. Looking to apply my 3 years of experience at Deloitte, to help the team of XYZ improve their activity-based accounting techniques in the role of a managerial accountant.”
If you follow the formatting, you’re already 90% ready with your resume objective. Now, all you have to do is ensure that your resume objective is in sync with the following 5 pro tips, and we’re done!
TIP 1: Make sure to tailor your resume objective to the specific position or organization you are applying to. After all, a vague “Engineer looking for an Engineering job” doesn’t impress anyone.
TIP 2: You should include skills, knowledge, and abilities that you know will help the company achieve its goals. The resume objective isn’t about yourself or your own career - it’s about how you’re going to help the company.
TIP 3: Do not brag or use subjective language in your resume objective. Use as many facts and numbers as possible to back up your experience. It’s one thing to say “Expert at Advertising” and another to say “Facebook Marketer, experienced in managing 5-figure advertising spend.”
TIP 4: If you want to reach a career goal (usually when you have very little experience or are just starting out), make sure that it’s something related to the company you’re applying to.
If you’re applying for a job as a Customer Support Representative, for example, you shouldn’t go on and on about your ambitions to eventually become a Professor.
TIP 5: Do not use complicated language on purpose. Don’t try to sound smart. It almost always makes a bad impression and makes you come off a bit arrogant.
Instead of “contemplate” for example, opt for “think”, or use “do” instead of “undertake”. They both mean the same thing anyway, and you want your achievements to speak more than your fancy word choices.
Job Description:
XYZ Inc. is looking for a sales representative manager for its German branch. Minimum of 3 years of working experience in management. Daily duties: planning, directing, and overseeing the sales representative team.
“I am looking to appertain my exceptional skills in management by being part of a groundbreaking and innovative company for a few years, then eventually switching to a job in AI.”
Why it’s bad:
- “Exceptional” is subjective. Be ready to be put to test for that claim.
- Why use “appertain” when you can use “apply”?
- Almost every company in the world looks at themselves as “groundbreaking” or innovative, you’re not saying anything real about them.
- It sounds like this is more about you than them, and yet, at the same time, there’s no real information mentioned about the writer.
- You have just informed them you’ll be switching careers again in a few years. That’s a no-no.
“Sales manager trained in Berlin. Looking to apply my 5+ years of management experience in XYZ Inc. by making sure the sales representative team is staffed and follows quality standards, helping XYZ increase revenue and market share in the process.”
Why it’s good:
- You sum up your work experience factually.
- You mention abilities that make you stand out, like being educated and trained in Europe.
- You understand the role and responsibilities the position requires and describe how you’ll do them successfully.
- You include the skills and experience relevant to the management position.
- Your language is simple, down-to-earth, and objective. You show that you genuinely care about the overall goals of the company.
Resume Objective Examples [3 Most Common Cases]
Now that you know how to write a resume objective, you’re ready to write your own. Before you get started, though, you might need some inspiration.
In this section, we’re going to cover 40+ resume objective examples for every field, as well as examples for the top 3 most common cases.
Career Change Resume Objective Example
The most common situation you’d use a resume objective for is during a career change.
A resume objective helps the reader understand how your skillset from a previous field helps translate into the job you’re applying for.
In such a case, you can mention:
- Your relevant skills / work experience
- How you think your background would help you excel at the job
And here’s how this works in practice:
“Customer support rep. with 3+ years of experience in over-the-phone technical support looking to leverage communication skills as a Sales Rep. at XYZ inc. Excellent track record in delivering quality support service, having maintained a 4.6+ star “Helpful” rating over the past 1.5 years.”
No Experience / Education Resume Objective
Even if you don’t have any work experience or education, you can still use a resume objective to stand out from the rest of the applicants.
In this case, you’d want to focus on your best personal traits and skills (instead of work experience / achievements / education)
So, for example:
“Organized & hard-working employee looking to join XYZ Inc. as a marketing assistant. Looking to take advantage of my skills in Photoshop and Copywriting to help XYZ inc. with their marketing efforts.”
Internship Resume Objective Example
Looking for your first professional job? Writing a good resume objective is a good way to stand out from the rest and land that internship.
In this case, you want to focus on:
- Your educational achievements
- Top skills and personal traits
- Any relevant experience (university / personal projects, volunteering experience, industry-related competitions, etc.)
And here’s a practical example:
“Recent Graduate with a B.A. in business administration looking to start their career in Finance with an internship at XYZ Inc. Experienced in analyzing financial statements & annual reports for several university projects. Seeking to further develop my theoretical know-how with strong mentorship at XYZ Inc.”
40+ Resume Objective Examples for All Fields
Office / Administrative Jobs Resume Objective Examples
Office Manager Resume Objective
“Experienced office manager seeking to help XYZ Inc. provide a stellar customer experience & take the Portsmouth branch to the next level. Experienced in managing teams of 15+ in several different restaurants, such as Restaurant A and Restaurant B. Handled every aspect of the business, from hiring new staff to managing marketing initiatives.”
Click here for a complete office manager resume example.
Executive Assistant Resume Objective
“Freelance VA (virtual assistant) looking to transition to the position of an Executive Assistant. Worked with 5+ online businesses, helping with everything from data entry to customer support. Excellent attention to detail & organizational skills. Proficient in Excel, Photoshop. Intermediate copywriting skills.”
Click here for a complete executive assistant resume example.
Receptionist Resume Objective
“3rd-year Medical Student looking for a summer job as a receptionist at XYZ Inc. Experience in working face-to-face with customers, having worked part-time jobs as cashier and waitress. Social, positive, and hard-working.”
Click here for a complete receptionist resume example.
Secretary Resume Objective
“Recent Communications graduate looking to apply for the role of a Secretary at XYZ inc. Extremely organized with good writing and multitasking skills. Practical experience in management gained through several university projects, which involves coordinating tasks between different team members and ensuring that everyone was in sync with the latest information.”
Administrative Assistant Resume Objective
“Organized & hardworking employee looking to work at XYZ Inc. as an Administrative Assistant. Previous experience in several related fields, such as working as a Secretary for 3 years, in addition to being an Executive Assistant for 1 year. Strong organizational skills, as well as a keen eye for detail.”
Click here for a complete administrative assistant resume example.
Business & Management Resume Objective Examples
Marketing Manager Resume Objective
“Recent graduate with a B.A. in Marketing looking to start my career in Advertising at XYZ Inc. Strong skills in copywriting and graphic design, coupled with a creative mind. Practical experience in creating social media ads (Facebook, Instagram) as a marketing intern.”
Click here for a complete marketing manager resume example.
Project Manager Resume Objective
“Detail-oriented software engineer with 5+ years of experience in Node.js and React looking to transition into the role of an IT-focused project manager. Practical experience conducting daily scrum meetings and following agile project management methodologies.”
Click here for a complete project manager resume example.
Human Resources Resume Objective
“Psychology graduate looking for a position in recruitment at XYZ Inc. Completed an HR internship at Recruitment Agency X. Solid entry-level experience doing recruitment work, which included pre-selecting qualified candidates and filtering them based on client needs. Looking to further develop my experience in the HR field and help XYZ Inc. go above and beyond their hiring needs.”
Business Analyst Resume Objective
“Business Student at University X seeking a summer internship as a Business Analyst at XYZ Inc. Strong business know-how, with a focus on analyzing and interpreting data. Completed 10+ real-life business consulting case studies as university projects. Skilled in financial and managerial accounting.”
Click here for a complete business analyst resume example.
Marketing Resume Objective Examples
Junior SEO Specialist
“Detail-oriented graduate with a B.A. in Business Administration looking to apply for a Junior SEO Specialist position at Digital XYZ Inc. Theoretical knowledge of SEO, including some practical experience in using Google Analytics. Seeking to further develop my online marketing skills as part of the Digital XYZ team.”
Social Media Marketing Manager
“Enthusiastic Marketing graduate with a passion for all things digital seeking an entry-level Social Media Marketing position at Digital XYZ Inc. Skilled in copywriting & basic graphic design. Personally started and grew a Facebook page to 5,000+ likes, and an Instagram page to 8,000+ followers. Looking to help Digital XYZ’s clients improve their social media marketing and establish an online presence.”
Content Creator
“Articulate graduate with a B.A. in Media and Mass Communication seeking a content creator position at XYZ Startup. Experienced in writing articles for local newspapers and online magazines. Hoping to apply my journalistic writing abilities to improve XYZ Startup’s blog on ABC Industry/Category.”
PPC Specialist
“Result-driven SEO specialist with 3+ years of experience designing and implementing SEO campaigns for e-commerce companies. Looking for a PPC specialist position at XYZ Agency to leverage strong knack for web analytics and SEM to drive traffic and increase sales.”
Food & Service Industry Resume Objective Examples
Waiter / Waitress Resume Objective
“Experienced service industry worker seeking to apply for the position of a waiter at XYZ Restaurant. Past experience includes working as a bartender, busser, and line cook. Thrives in fast-paced, high-stress environment.”
Click here for a complete server resume example.
Line Cook Resume Objective
“Recent graduate from Houston Culinary Arts School seeking a position as a line cook at Fancy Restaurant XYZ. Looking to further develop cooking skills learned at school. Previous experience working in a high-stress environment as a part-time Sandwich Maker at Fast Food Place X.”
Restaurant Manager Resume Objective
“Seasoned Server with 10+ years of hospitality industry experience looking to help Restaurant XYZ take its business to the next level. During my time as a server, helped 3+ restaurants with hiring and training new staff, as well as coming up with promotional strategies for specific foods and drinks.”
Click here for a complete bar manager resume example.
Education Resume Objective Examples
Teacher Resume Objective
“B.S. in Education from University XYZ with a concentration in Chemistry seeking to start my career as a teacher at XYZ High School. Passionate about teaching, both in and out of the classroom.”
Click here for a complete teacher resume example.
Tutor Resume Objective
“Skilled Mathematics graduate looking to apply for the position of a Math tutor at XYZ School. Worked as a part-time Linear Algebra tutor during my time at University X. Strong knowledge of Advanced Linear Algebra, Calculus I-IV, Mathematical Statistics, and Trigonometry.”
Sales and Customer Support Resume Objective Examples
Sales Associate Resume Objective
“Charismatic, communicative employee seeking an entry-level sales job at XYX Inc. Tech-savvy, with the ability to pick up product knowledge fast. Previous experience as a sales clerk at Random Retail Store X.”
Click here for a complete sales associate resume example.
Store Manager Resume Objective
“Experienced employee looking for a job as a Store Manager at XYZ Inc. Skilled in inventory management, having worked as a warehouse manager in two separate organizations. Dependable math skills from working as a cashier at Company X.”
Account Manager Resume Objective
“Diligent graduate with a B.A. in Business Management at University Y seeking to provide excellent client service at XYZ Inc. as an account manager. Strong communication skills from my job as a Sales Manager at Company X. Outstanding project management skills, having worked on over a dozen business projects in university.”
Customer Service Specialist Resume Objective
“Multi-lingual employee looking to help XYZ Inc. provide stellar customer experience. Strong communication skills. Fluent in English, French, and Russian. Basic knowledge of CRM systems.”
Click here for a complete customer service specialist resume example.
Technical Support Specialist Resume Objective
“Information Technology student seeking a part-time role as a Technical Support Specialist at XYZ Inc. Experienced in using help desk & CRM systems. Skilled in written communication with an intermediate knowledge in the IT-sphere.”
Cashier Resume Objective
“Enthusiastic, courteous waiter seeking the role of a Cashier at XYZ Inc. Currently working part-time at Restaurant ABC, looking to fill up the rest of my time. Strong communication skills, and a genuine love for working with people. Good at carrying out mathematical calculations.”
Click here for a complete cashier resume example.
Finance & Accounting Resume Objective Examples
Accountant Resume Objective
“Graduate with an M.A. in Accounting and Finance seeking the position of a Junior Accountant at XYZ Inc. Highest grades in relevant courses, including Intermediate Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Advanced Finance, and more.”
Click here for a complete accountant resume example.
Financial Analyst Resume Objective
“Finance student with 3.92 GPA seeking an entry-level Financial Analyst position at XYZ Inc. Skilled in financial data analysis, reading financial sheets, with excellent knowledge of accounting and tax legislation.”
Click here for a complete financial analyst resume example.
Bank Teller Resume Objective
“Customer Support Representative with 2+ years working client-facing roles seeking a job as a Bank Teller at XYZ Inc. Experienced in working with customers over the phone, as well as by email. Excellent math skills, having graduated high school with a specialization in Mathematics.”
Click here for a complete bank teller resume example.
Data Entry Resume Objective
“Meticulous graduate with a B.A. in business administration looking for a data entry clerk position at company XYZ Inc. Skilful typer with an average typing speed of 85 WPM. Possessing 2+ years of experience using typing tools such as Ms Word and Ms Excel for task tracking and automation.”
Click here for a complete data entry clerk resume example.
Technical Resume Objective Examples
Computer Scientist Resume Objective
“Graduate with an M.Sc. in Computer Science and Information Systems seeking a position as a Research Assistant in the computer science department of XYZ University. 2+ years of experience in designing and implementing deep convolutional neural networks with TensorFlow and Scala. Enthusiastic about furthering research conducted on the study of artificial intelligence.”
Click here for a complete computer scientist resume example.
IT Specialist Resume Objective
“Competent Support Specialist with 3+ years of experience in AWS storage cloud services. Maintained constant customer satisfaction rate at 98% while working at XYZ Agency. Currently looking for a position as an IT Specialist with a focus on cloud services at ABC Inc.”
Click here for a complete IT specialist resume example.
Data Analyst Resume Objective
“Enthusiastic recent graduate with a B.A. in Business Administration and Mathematics seeking a Data Analyst position at Data Analysis Co.. Competent in mathematical statistics and possessing a certification in business analysis from ABC Institute. Hoping to apply my extensive knowledge of SQL databases and SQL as a querying language to help Data Analysis Co. fulfil its goals.”
Click here for a complete data analyst resume example.
Software Engineer Resume Objective
“Result-oriented QA Engineer with 5+ years of experience in the banking and finance sector looking for a Junior Software Engineer job at XYZ Bank. Strong understanding of software engineering paradigms and testing frameworks for C++, Java, .NET (C#).”
Click here for a complete software engineer resume example.
Data Scientist Resume Objective
“Diligent Computer Science and Mathematics student with a 3.98 GPA looking for an internship at XYZ Inc. as a Junior Data Scientist. Specialized in statistical analysis and experienced with packages such as R, SQL, STATA, and Python.”
Click here for a complete data scientist resume example.
Medical Resume Objective Examples
Nurse Resume Objective
“Recent RN graduate seeking to help Hospital XYZ provide an excellent level of patient care. Experienced in working in high-stress environments. An excellent team-player who thrives under pressure. Passionate about helping people and making an impact.
Click here for a complete nurse resume example.
Medical Assistant Resume Objective
“Certified, energetic medical assistant with volunteering experience for XYZ Hospital looking for a position as a Medical Assistant at ABC Clinic. Dedicated team player with the ability to work both day and night shifts.”
Click here for a complete medical assistant resume example.
Dental Assistant Resume Objective
“Licensed and enthusiastic dental practitioner with 1+ years of experience working at a private Dental Practice ABC seeking a Dental Assistant position at XYZ Dental Inc. Highly meticulous at carrying out dental procedures and assisting during surgeries.”
Other Resume Objective Examples
Warehouse Worker Resume Objective
“Retail worker seeking the position of a warehouse worker at XYZ Supermarket. Previous experience doing several retail jobs, including working as a stocker for produce and groceries at XYZ Family Market. Skilled in stocking, inventory replenishment / tracking, processing relevant paperwork and utilizing electrical pallet stackers / pallet jacks.”
Click here for a complete warehouse worker resume example.
Housekeeper Resume Objective
“Seasonal worker seeking a Housekeeping job at XYZ Hotel. Diligent and organized, having spent the past 3 summers working in Nantucket. Previous roles include bussing at Restaurant Y and prep cooking at Local Restaurant X.”
Key Takeaways
So, let’s go through everything we’ve learned...
- A resume objective is a 2-3 sentence career intent summary placed at the top of your resume. You should only use a resume objective if you don’t have enough work experience in the field you are applying for or if you are switching careers.
- When writing a resume objective, try to avoid cliches or generalizations. Don’t make it about you, tailor it to the specific organization you are applying to. Don’t use subjective or pompous language, and mention a career goal you can reach within the same organization.
- The objective should also be backed up by the information you list in the other resume sections, such as work experience or education.
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