Dear Advisor:

I am an accounting major who is about to enter the job market. Should I include an objective on my résumé? I have been told by some people that I should, and by others that I should not, as it is irrelevant. What do you recommend?

Yours truly, Kimesha D

Dear Kimesha:

You have raised a question that has formed a long-standing debate among career services and human resource professionals. Let’s briefly explore the arguments for and against, and then I will make a recommendation based on current trends.

Opponents to the inclusion of the objective say it is outdated and is often about what the job seeker wants, rather than what the employer wants. They feel you should instead highlight your education, experience, skills and accomplishments. Since the average employer will spend only a few seconds scanning your résumé to see if you meet the basic requirements, generic and irrelevant objective statements will not aid your chance of being shortlisted. If your objective sounds anything like the one below, then by all means leave it off!

“Seeking to secure an entry-level accounting position with a well-established company which will aid in advancing my career goal of becoming a chartered accountant.”

An objective that focuses on your career goals and on what you want to achieve is, indeed, a waste of valuable résumé space.

Typically, the résumé of an undergraduate leads with ‘education’ as, at this point, this is usually the applicant’s strongest asset. You will admit that simply stating your degree and specialisation will not, at a glance, differentiate you from the hundreds of other applicants. That now takes us to examining the potential benefits of including an objective statement in your résumé.

I often say that the term ‘objective’ on the résumé is a misnomer, and it would be better dubbed a ‘branding statement’. Your branding statement can either be expressed as an ‘objective’ (that word again) or as a ‘profile’.

The ‘branding objective’ is a statement that allows you to do three things, vis.

• Identify your unique selling point(s);

• Indicate the area of service you are offering;

• Let the employer know how you perceive you will add value to the organisation (optional).

The ‘branding profile’ gives you the latitude to use bullet points to highlight:

• Three or four specific skills that are relevant to the potential job and that are likely to be a good match for the employer’s needs;

• The competencies or experience that would positively differentiate you from other candidates.

A well written, concise branding statement (objective or profile) is a significant seller on a résumé. It:

• grabs attention;

• allows the reader to, at a glance, see what competencies the applicant is likely to bring to the position;

• sets the tone for what comes later in your document;

• will raise the interest of the reader who will now want to take a closer look at your supporting evidence given under the captions of ‘education or training’, and ‘experience’;

• strengthens your résumé;

• is useful when applying for jobs that are not discipline specific, or for those outside of your area of specialisation.

Based on the foregoing, the weight of evidence appears to favour the inclusion of a carefully crafted branding statement on your résumé. Regionally, employers look for it, and its inclusion is supported by career professionals internationally, such as the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Therefore, by all means, consider including one on your résumé.

Sincerely,

Career Advisor

Carolyn Marie Smith is assistant vice-president, Student Services at Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Manchester. Submit questions to her at careeradvisor@ncu.edu.jm