Objective or Summary Statement - Which is Correct?

Hiring managers toss many resumes a daily basis. For this reason alone, it’s important that your resume is one grabs their attention long enough to read it. To do that, review the first section of your resume. Is it an objective or a summary statement? If you’re still using an objective, don’t be surprised if you don’t get a call for an interview.

Employers already know that your objective for sending them a resume is to get a job. This makes this section redundant and unnecessary. One-page resumes are always best, so don’t take up valuable space with "Looking to use my restaurant management skills in a new venture." Instead, use a summary statement to grab the hiring manager’s attention and keep it. Use the statement to build excitement and hook the reader, effectively provoking him to continue reading.

Construct your summary statement as you would a short bio. Begin by listing your strengths, and then move on to your projects and various positions you have held. Don’t list the company names in this paragraph; those are listed in the employment section.

The key to a great summary statement is to sell yourself without asking for the job. Aa great summary statement offers you the ability to grab the hiring manager’s attention, and you can use this as your bio on your social media sites as well.

A summary grabs the right attention over an objective statement, and applicant tracking software picks up on keywords used in the summary and moves your resume to the top of the list. Keep this in mind when constructing your summary. Mention specific skills, positions by name and other details that scanning software can detect.

Even though specifics hook the hiring manager into reading more, you can say too much in this section. Keep your sentences concise; you don't need to put everything in this paragraph. Think of it as a teaser, a paragraph used to entice the human resources department to call you for an interview.

Include any transferable skills you have. Mention what those skills are and how they help in the specific position you're applying for. The hiring manager notices these things, and he notices that you know that your skills are transferable. This trick is especially helpful if you're applying for a job for which you lack experience. For example, think about how your communication skills or problem-solving skills can help in the open position, and communicate that in the summary.

An objective statement tells the employer that you want a job, but a summary tells the employer so much more. Apply for positions by developing an eye-catching and intriguing summary statement in a way that works for all companies.

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