Personal brand is the new objective
Writing an objective on top of your resume is outdated. A strong personal brand statement is what will get your resume on the “interview” pile.
Writing a resume can be hard. You might have heard about the 6 seconds that a recruiter gives you when reading your resume. You also might have heard that an objective on top of your resume is what will convince a recruiter to put your resume on the “interview” pile, because it is to-the-point and an important piece of information.
This post explains why an objective is not what ticks with a recruiter. After reading, you will understand why you should drop that objective and know what to put instead.
Personal brand is the new objective
Things I wish people would stop doing:
Listing an objective at the top of the resume — Dude, seriously? This isn’t 1992.
The objective is outdated. Your personal elevator pitch — your personal brand — is what will get your resume on the “interview” pile.
Why the personal brand is outdated
The majority of objectives are meaningless. There are some common expectations about being a future employee. Of course you want to contribute. Thanks to your contributions, the company can grow. You want challenges, because that is what keeps you motivated. You want to learn a thing or two while on the job.
Recruiters get this, there is no need to add it on top of your resume. Save that space for more important matters.
Too many job seekers continue to write Objectives and Summaries that focus on what they want their next jobs to do for them.
It’s all about the employer: What can you do for them? Use your empathy here and crawl in the mind of the recruiter. They are solving a problem: reinforce a team, so that this team can perform better and faster. What they want to know about you is if you can solve their problem. Not what you want to get out of it.
Add a personal brand to your resume instead
In 6 seconds, the recruiter will know very little about you, so it is a good idea to make it easy for them. Having a synthesis on top of your resume, near your name, is still a good idea. A personal brand statement is stronger than an objective and is exactly what you want the recruiter to remember about you. Your personal brand clearly translates your unique value. This way, the recruiter knows what they gain by hiring you.
A personal brand statement answers the question “What makes you unique to solve the problems the team has?” It is
- your value proposition
- compared to your competition (the other jobseekers)
- in the context of the team and the challenges they face
Your personal brand convinces the recruiter that you are a worthy candidate. The remainder of your resume supports this statement and provides proof and more detailed information.
Go for it!
A strong synthesis on top of your resume can drastically increase your chances for a job interview. However, the traditional objective just doesn’t cut it anymore. A personal brand statement will help the recruiter understand the unique value you will bring to the team. Take some time to get it right.
Good luck!
This article originally appeared on goodresumeguide.com, a service that helps you get hired.
