There are many formulas for formatting your resume, but there are key elements that you should always include.  One of those elements many people think is important is an objective statement.

This is meant to be a brief synopsis of the position you are seeking and the main skills you have to offer.  Invariably folks find this to be the most difficult part of drafting a resume.  And unfortunately, many resumes fall flat right when they should be catching the attention of a recruiter or future employer.  Outside of your cover letter, an objective statement is meant to be your introduction to your first impression; the resume. 

My traditional stance on objective statements is to forego them altogether.  This is largely based on the experience of viewing thousands of resumes and rarely seeing an objective worth its space on the page.  I still feel this way and would recommend that you instead use this area for what I like to call a “professional statement” (AKA career summary, career statement, professional summary, skills summary etc).

A professional statement is similar to an objective statement, but it focuses more on what you have to offer a potential employer versus what you are looking for in a position.  You also have a chance to highlight key skills upfront that would be attractive to future employers.

A couple of things you can do to make your professional summary stand out:

• Expand beyond one sentence - Most folks think that an introduction should only be one sentence long.  I say buck the system and beef up this part of your resume.  Go for 2-4 sentences that use action words and describe the key characteristics you have to offer a company/division/position. 
  
• Discuss your “soft skills” – More and more employers are looking for software engineers that can do more then just sit in an office and bang out code.  You have to be able to show what other skills you have such as teamwork, leadership, interpersonal and critical thinking skills. Use this portion of your resume to point out those attributes you have to offer outside of your technical prowess.
  
• Customize - If you plan on posting your resume online (your website, blog, job board) create a general professional summary that will be attractive to many employers.  If you are targeting your search to a particular employer or position, create a customized summary that addresses specifically what you have to offer that matches what they are looking for in an employee.

Here’s an example of a strong professional summary (disclaimer – this is completely fictitious):

• Recognized pioneer in the development of social networking software based on .NET platform technologies.
• Accomplished technical presenter and communicator with demonstrated experience winning over tough audiences.
• Established technology manager with experience leading organizations of 100 or more employees.

So nex time instead of limiting yourself to vague and often times ignored objective statements, make your resume stand out and a give your future employer a richer experience by using a professional summary.

Cheers,
zoë