Thursday, September 24, 2009

Parts of a Resume/Cover Letter/Personal Statement: Objective/Summary

The objective is typically a short sentence which describes the position an applicant is interested in obtaining. This section optional in a resume, but is typical of a cover letter. This section should include:

  • the job title of the position of interest
  • (or) a description of the positions the applicant may be interested in
  • (or) goals the applicant would like to achieve in future employment

In a personal statement, the objective is a short statement which describes the reason the potential student is interested in the school/scholarship of their choice (or particular program within a school). This section should include:

  • a knowledge of the department or particular program of interest
  • a knowledge of the school's mission and/or accomplishments
  • (or) a knowledge of the scholarship of interest
  • (and) a knowledge of the history of that scholarship and those funding it

The objective will follow the contact information on the resume, cover letter or personal statement, and may replace a profile in the resume. Sample objectives can be found on About.com at: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/sampleresumes/a/sampleobjective.htm

In addition to the objective, the applicant may choose to add a summary, which provides a brief list (often using bullets) of skills and achievements applicable for the position of interest. This section should not be included in a personal statement, but in a cover letter or resume, it could include:

  • professional skills transferable to any position in the applicant's field
  • skills related to the position being applied to
  • key achievements or skills that demonstrate abilities beyond other applicants

The summary will follow the objective on the resume or cover letter, and will replace a profile in the resume. Often such a list is shorter on a cover letter, as it can slow the reading process.

The following video by the Employment Network offers some additional thoughts on the importance of objectives and summaries:

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