Common Mistakes in a Resume' - The Objective!

I keep going through Resume's and I find mistakes in most of them. Mistakes so common that they never strike people as mistakes at all!

With so many thousands eyeing each job and with every opportunity being sought after by eager competitors, it becomes increasingly important to craft Resume's with as less flaws as possible.

It so happens that the "Objective" part is one that is the most prominent part of a Resume' and yet, one that is so alarmigly standardised and given the least importance towards. Let's see what an "Objective" is supposed to do, in this piece.

A couple of sample "Objectives" that are very commonly used in a majority of CV's are reproduced here:

"To be part of a growing organisation and a global work force that provides opportunities in a world-class environment"

"To excel in my areas of strength and grow with the organisation so that I make my organisation proud and contribute to continuing and constant growth . . . ."

Caution: Never use these in your Resume's! These objectives almost always put the recruiter off.

What would you want to convey to your recruiter through your Resume'? How much scope do you have to convince the anonymous recruiter whom you have never seen? How many candidates do you compete with for the very same opportunity? Why would you want to waste a chance that could be your only one?

Rule 1: Be to the point.

Rule 2: Use minimum words.

Rule 3: Convey just what you want to convey.

Rule 4: Realise that your "Objective" can decide your fate regarding the job you are applying for!

An Objective is a Tool that can convey a message and convince your recruiter to take the next step - to go through the Resume' in detail. In the next post, we'll see how you can use it to your advantage.