02/10 - How Specific Should My Resume Be?

QUESTION

How specific should the objective on my resume be?

ANSWER R.J. Davis randy.davis@tamucc.edu Career Counselor

Putting an objective on a resume has become a common practice.  A good objective tells an employer or recruiter why they are looking at your resume in as few words as possible.  The best objective is position specific (i.e. sales representative) and company specific (i.e. Wal-Mart).  For this example the objective may read, "To obtain a position as a Sales Representative with Wal-Mart".  However, you may not always be able to be so specific such as when you are attending a career fair and meeting multiple employers.  In this case, your objective can be broad but should still indicate your career field or goal.  For this example, the objective may read, "To obtain a position in sales with a large retail chain".  Remember, good objectives are clear and to the point!