Forum - Ask the Hiring Manager

QUESTION:

I type resumes for a local community college and one of the problems I have is typing resumes for students who are looking for ANY type of job while they are in school. I usually make their job objective very general--A position in which my experience and skills will be an asset to my employer. I know a more specific objective would be best, but since they are looking for any type of job right now, I make it general. What do you recommend? Some books that I have read say to just leave out a job objective? However, I feel that there needs to be a job objective even if it is general?

Thank you for any help or assistance that you can give me.

From: Terri Sanchez


ANSWER FROM BRIAN KRUEGER:

Hi Terri -

Excellent question. The solution is to use multiple objectives for multiple jobs. Even for someone that is looking a job while still in school, they should be targeted and focused enough to narrow their objective to either a job type (such as "Position in Accounting or Finance") or industry (such as "Position in Retail").

If they are not able to narrow the resume to even the general level, then the argument could be made that they type of jobs they will be applying for won't require a resume (like McD's). Every resume should have a focus. The objective is that focus. It should then drive the content for the rest of the resume, which should be all of the supporting material for the objective.

Thanks for the note!

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