Many candidates struggle with how to start their resume. This is especially difficult when some recruiters say they the objectives they see don’t help the candidate’s cause. Here are general rules to help you make your decision.
SUMMARY
Candidates with experience can use a summary to pull information, accomplishments and credentials from different parts of the resume and combine them in an introduction.
OBJECTIVE
Candidates starting their careers or making a significant career transition can use an objective statement to redirect their resume. Naming the function shows an employer that you are purposefully targeting their job. Listing the relevant skills, experience and education help an employer connect seemingly unrelated pieces of information together. Citing the benefits to the employer shows how you can make a difference and what problems you can solve.
NOTHING AT ALL
If the resume’s experience and education obviously target the job function and it is a concise one-page document, the candidate does not need to include an objective or summary. The job target and benefits to the employer are obvious based on earlier work and accomplishments.
For additional advice or writing your resume, visit the Virtual Career Center, www.uiaa.org/careers/careermgmt.html.
