Resume Objective or Resume Summary Statement?

As a resume writing professional and career blogger one of the most common questions I am asked is about the need for an objective statement. Let me be very clear, you do not and should not have an objective statement on your resume. The header of your resume is the first place the reader's eye goes and this should be the place where you include the most valuable information. The objective statement provides zero value to the recruiter or hiring manger. The employer does not really care about what your objective is. They have a need they are trying to fill and the only thing they want to know is what you can do for them. At the top of your resume you must clearly explain how your experience and skills could help fill their need. If you fail to do this the reader will not even continue to look at the rest of your resume. Here is an example of an effective way to begin your resume:

"Accomplished sales representative with a proven ability to drive growth in a highly competitive environment. A results driven team player with 8 years of outside sales experience, 5 of which in pharmaceuticals. Persuasive and articulate communicator, skilled in negotiations and influencing key decision makers. Consistently recognized for exceeding sales goals. Creative problem solver with the ability to identify barriers and find solutions. Proficient in speaking and writing Spanish."

You can see how that statement would be more effective than this:

"Seeking to obtain a sales position that leverages my 5 years of pharmaceutical sales experience."

Using a summary statement instead of an objective will go a long way in presenting yourself as a top notch candidate.