Should You Include an Objective In Your Resume?

There are two camps when it comes to including an “Objectives” or “Professional Objectives” seciton in your resume.

The first camp feels that it is important to include a clear, concise, and relevant section in each resume, so that the employer can immediately understand what you are looking for, and whether the job opening they are hiring for is appropriate for you. If you do choose to include an objectives section in your resume, make sure to rewrite it or edit it for EACH job you apply for!

The second camp strongly argues that objectives sections should NOT be used in most resumes. This camp specifically believes that objectives sections should only be used if you are applying for a specific job opening (not a general cattle call type interview). Recruiters in this camp say you should only state your objective if you are applying for a specific job. This camp feels that it is best to state your interests in your cover letter, tailoring it to the position and organization to which you are applying.