Does a Resume Need an Objective?

You do not need an “Objective” section on your resume in today’s job market. A resume objective is seen as outdated by many employers and takes up valuable space near the top of your resume that could be better used for other sections like a career summary statement.

In this article, I’ll show you exactly why a resume does NOT need an objective and more importantly – what to put instead. 

Why You Do Not Need an Objective on a Resume

If you applied for an employer’s job, then they know your objective is to obtain an interview and potentially earn a job offer. Rather than including a resume objective, utilize the space below your header and contact info to write one or two brief paragraphs about your career accomplishments and who you are as a professional.

You can find 10 examples of this HERE. 

Many modern employers will also view a resume objective as being outdated and old-fashioned, which could actually hurt your chances of getting hired.

If you do put a resume objective, a hiring manager will likely skip it anyway and look for information that’s more helpful as they decide whether to interview you – for example, your employment history section.

If you insist on standing out and expressing your unique interest in a certain position, that’s what a cover letter is for.

What Should You Put on Your Resume?

Now that we’ve answered the question of, “Do you need an objective on a resume?”, let’s look at some helpful tips and resources when deciding what should go on your resume.

I mentioned earlier that it’s better to put a brief career summary paragraph. Here’s an example of how that might look:

Manufacturing Engineering with 10 years of bio-pharmaceutical experience, proficient in injection molding, medical device design, research & development, and product commercialization.

This is showing employers the value you bring to their company, rather than wasting space talking about an objective. 

This small intro paragraph is also a great way to include more keywords in your resume so you can pass any automated systems an employer is using before a human sees your resume!

A career summary like the example above is a much better choice to begin your resume because it has no meaningless filler content, unlike most of the career objectives that appear on resumes.

You could also skip the intro paragraph entirely and begin with a Skills section, an Education section if you just graduated, or your Employment History. 

Those are all better options than putting an objective on your resume in today’s job market.

If you want more help with all the sections that should go on your resume and how to decide the order, read this article. 

Other Outdated Sections to Leave Off Your Resume

Hopefully, I’ve now convinced you that you don’t need an objective section on your resume. So while we’re here, there are a couple of other things you should leave off your resume.

First, don’t put references directly on your resume. Make employers ask you for references, and ideally – wait until you’ve spoken with them and know they’re interested. Offering up references before even talking to an employer signals to them that you’re either desperate to find a job or very old-fashioned/outdated. Or both.

Next, leave off hobbies and interests unrelated to your work, as well as personal information like height, weight, etc.

None of these will help you land the interview.

And unless you’re in the EU, don’t put a photo on your resume, either. I know this is customary in many countries in the EU, but if you’re a job seeker in North America, your resume shouldn’t have a photo of you. Let hiring managers go to your LinkedIn profile if they want to see a photo.

If you follow the advice above and stop putting an objective on your resume, you’ll get more interviews and have a more modern-looking resume.