"The mission and vision of this position highlights my passion and desire to do all that I can to bring hope, resolution, freedom and speech into the world". Despite people2people being known for recruiting a diverse range of positions, we have never posted an ad calling for all Miss Universe hopefuls. Objective statements are difficult, how generic or specific does one make it? It’s usually the first thing listed on a resume, and often the first thing a recruiter or employer might see. Too often however, we see overarching statements that aren’t relevant, don’t make sense, or describe a skills set that may not be ideal for the position e.g. “To aggressively prospect…and squash the competition” or “I work well in pressurised environments…” Personally, I don’t think they’re relevant. Recruiters are interested in your skills and experience, and how you present yourself at phone screen and interview will be the biggest influence for us to submit your details to a hiring manager. These statements are more relevant when applying for specific roles with organisations, where you have a greater understanding of the expectations of the role and the values and ethos a company stands by. The most useful tips I can provide are:
- Check your spelling and grammar;
- Read the statement aloud, if it doesn’t roll off the tongue easily, you need to change it;
- Don’t go ‘synonym crazy’ and have it sound like a presidential acceptance speech;
- Make it truthful. State what you believe in and the values you like to work by. Talk about what skills you have and how you’d like to apply and develop them in your next position.
If you’re not sure about what to write, don’t include anything. Your resume is the first opportunity to sell yourself, so try not to trip before the starter gun has gone off! "My main aim is…to be an asset to a company rather than a liability."
