Since college I've been told that a resume ought to have an "objective statement" at the top. Maybe you've been told the same.

I'm here to tell you somebody's been lying to you!

Well,

not necessarily, but maybe. Every resume has an objective, but not

every resume has to have an objective statement. So before you get the

urge to search online for sample resume objectives, keep reading.

Every resume has an objective. How you TALK about that objective in the resume is a different matter entirely.

An

objective statement simply states your objective. I got a four-year

degree so I could make brilliant statements like that. But it's true,

and most of the sample resume objectives you'll find online are

statements of what the job seeker wants.

That's a mistake. A bad mistake.

A

good resume objective statement should tell the reader what the

candidate will do for him. Specifically, it ought to tell him what

profit the candidate will add.

No, I'm not kidding. Here's an example of what I mean:

"A

highly experienced sales and marketing professional with comprehensive

strategic planning and implementation skills, and $27 million in total

profit improvement added in 8 years, seeking a position as a Sales

Manager where these skills will add similar or greater value."

Wow!

That objective statement screams, "Keep reading!" Do YOU know any

hiring manager or executive who would turn his nose up at $27 million

in 8 years? I don't. It's at least worth talking to you about, which

means you'll get an interview. What if it was only $1 million, or

$100,000? Whatever the number, it's money, and that counts.

And

that, folks, is the magic. Everything in the job search process should

have a focused purpose, and be done on purpose. The purpose of your

resume and cover letter is to compel an interview. A strong objective

statement like that can help.

Feel free to start with a sample or three. Just be sure to modify any sample you use. Keep the good and scrap the bad.

But is that the best you can do? Hardly.

I

have nothing against objective statements, and you can find some solid

sample resume objectives online. My only gripe is that using a solid

objective statement is settling for good when there's a (typically)

better alternative.

That alternative is the resume summary. Some

might call it a "Profile," or a "Summary of Qualifications," or even

just "Qualifications." Whatever the name, it's a grab-'em-by-the-throat

killer. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

"Savvy,

results-oriented leader with proven success in managing

multimillion-dollar software product rollouts to disparate sales

channels. Background includes launching a high-productivity expert

development team, increasing revenue by $2.5 million and achieving unit

profitability within nine months (six months ahead of plan), at

Widgets, Inc., with leading technology and feature-rich product

releases to meet known demand. Critical thinker and adept negotiator

who can apply extensive industry knowledge to profitable vendor

partnerships and revenue-enhancing co-branding opportunities. Expertly

directs development, technology integration, and customer demand

discovery. Published author, and frequent keynote speaker at industry

conferences."

Good grief! If the example resume objective a few paragraphs ago was solid, that summary will leave a reader gasping for air.

Put

a summary like that in a resume (with your own qualifications in it, of

course), and you'll almost certainly get a phone call for a job

interview.

I can hear you saying that whoever has the summary you

just read can walk on water. What about lowly old you? Here's what I

used on my last resume, and I wasn't a high-powered executive either:

"Results-oreinted

software developer and consulting project manager with six years'

experience at Big 5 firm. Experienced OO developer with particular

expertise in Java and Extreme Programming (XP). Over seven years'

experience developing software and managing projects in challenging,

fast-paced consulting environments. Demonstrated ability to acquire

technical knowledge and skills rapidly. Innovative problem solver, able

to see the business and technical sides of a problem. Proven

leadership, negotiation and problem resolution abilities. Exceptional

communication skills, both oral and written. Published author and

conference speaker."

See? That summary needs some improvement, but it shows mere mortals can do it too. That means you can.

A

powerfully stated objective statement makes your resume pop. A

powerfully stated summary makes it a thermonuclear explosion. Most

others in the resume pile (and there's always a pile) have objectives

that translate into "get a job." Then you come along with a Sherman

tank summary. They're dead meat.

Make no mistake, job search is war. Powerful summaries give you an advantage.