A brief statement declaring your career goals and what you hope to achieve in a role. Generally considered outdated in favor of professional summaries.
Objective Statement Explained
An objective statement is a 1-2 sentence declaration of your career goals placed at the top of your resume. It focuses on what you want from the employer rather than what you offer. For example: "Seeking a challenging position in software development where I can utilize my skills."
Objective statements have largely fallen out of favor because they focus on the candidate rather than the value they bring. However, they can still be useful for entry-level candidates, career changers, or anyone whose resume might not clearly communicate their target role.
If you use an objective statement, make it specific to the role and company, and include what you bring to the table — not just what you want.
Example
"Recent computer science graduate seeking an entry-level software engineering position where I can apply my Python and machine learning expertise to solve real-world problems while growing into a full-stack development role."
How This Relates to Your Resume
If you have more than 2 years of professional experience, use a professional summary instead. Only use an objective statement if you are a new graduate, changing careers, or have a non-obvious reason for applying.
Build Your Resume Now
Apply what you've learned with Magic Resume's free AI-powered editor. No sign-up required.
Create Your Resume Free