Because employers receive hundreds and sometimes thousands of resumes each month, the profile and objective sections of your resume are sometimes the only parts that they review. Therefore, the profile and objective must quickly and concisely convince a buyer (the company) that the product (you) is worth the purchase price. To move your application to the next level---the interview---your objective and profile have to do the heavy lifting of selling you.
Research
The objective and profile sections of your resume should be tailored to the company or organization to which you are applying. That means you will write slightly different objective and profile statements depending on the job available and the organization. You need to do some basic research about the company, beyond the content of the classified or professional ad to which you are responding.
Find the company's website and see how they describe themselves, usually in a section called "About Us." Look for a mission statement that tells you what the company believes in, which may offer a few keywords to work into your objective and profile. Run a general search about the company to understand better its status and plans. If you know someone that works at the company, ask for their insight on what matters in selecting new employees.
Writing an Objective
Your resume objective is not about what you want; it is about how you can give the company what it wants. Your research should help you understand what skills and attitudes a desirable employee should possess. The resume objective is one sentence describing the primary job activity followed by one or two characteristics of the ideal candidate, e.g., "I am seeking a direct sales position (job title or primary activity) with an organization that values initiative and someone with a proven track record of closing deals."
Profile
The profile section of your resume is a summary of what you have accomplished that qualifies you for the position. The section usually includes an initial statement of professional recognition followed by two to three sentences that show a depth and breadth of experience in tasks related to the job description. If you have professional licensure or a relevant academic degree, include that information here.
Select two or three of your major career achievements related to the posted position and include a sentence on each in the profile. Add one achievement that may not be directly related to the posted job, but which shows character or performance attributes that the organization may find valuable. For example, you might mention that you organized a fundraiser for your university that netted $2.5 million for the business school library. Close the profile section with a long-term career goal that is in line with the mission of the organization.
Tips
Use action words, not passive voice, in writing your profile and objective. Try to avoid using prepositional phrases. Focus on achievements not duties or responsibilities. Use short sentences and paragraphs. Add bullet lists. Do not include personal information not related to the job.
Expert Insight
Monster.com is a significant player in the business of helping employers advertise for employees and finding opportunities for employment seekers. Kim Isaacs, resume expert with Monster, recommends having multiple resumes with unique objectives and profiles to fit several job types. Keep your resume to one page, if possible. Follow up your resume submission with a call or letter, especially if the interaction was the result of meeting a prospective employer at a job fair.
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