Résumé Objectives

Resumes — Determine Your Objectives

Your professional objective sets the tone for your resume, elevator speech and other communications, i.e., business cards. Your job search direction is predicated by the professional objective you develop.

Develop a phrase or sentence, which clearly conveys the type of work you are seeking. (Optional to include on the resume). Keep in mind you may need several objectives depending on the positions for which you apply.

Create a focused professional objective – not too narrow and not too broad.

Objective statements are some what controversial. Because of the tight job market employers have a large applicant pool from which to choose. Many employers would rather hear what you have to offer them rather than hearing what you want.

Action Items

• Take a look at the responses in your skills list and work values worksheet

• Use those responses to determine your work interests and suitable environment

• What would your ideal job(s) look like?

• Review your response; does your professional objective seem attainable?

Sample Professional Objectives

[These statements are considered optional since your cover letter typically states who you are and what you are looking for in a job]

• Recent graduate seeking to obtain a reference librarian position in an academic library that values innovation.

• To obtain a position utilizing my experience and skills in program planning, development and operations in an urban library setting

• Experienced information professional in process improvement seeks to join a corporation facing the challenges of the global marketplace.

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Posted 4/14/11. Originally written for the American Library Association's Get A Job site, 2009.

This page is maintained by the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR).