To write a quality resume and find a job, objectives must not be forgotten. A sort of summary of your career , they will highlight your professional experience, your personality and attract the attention of recruiters. This is what will give the first impression to your applications.
Do you want to enhance the hook sentence of your CV by adding a career objective , but you don't know how to do it? Don't worry, we have prepared our tips and advice to help you create an effective CV...
- Understanding the usefulness of putting your objectives on a CV
- How to write your professional goals
- Examples of professional objectives according to profile
Why put your objectives on a CV?
What is the use of a CV without a professional objective? When we talk about an objective on a CV, we want to know your professional aspirations.
It allows three things:
- Bring out your personality with your strengths
- Create a relevant CV that is well positioned for the position sought
- Stand out from the crowd and stand out with a CV hook
Ambition is a human quality often sought by the recruiter. By specifying the position sought, you also show your interest in the company. In the context of a spontaneous application, it is a good way to highlight your motivations developed in the famous cover letter that accompanies your CV (Curriculum Vitae).
Be careful, however, to differentiate between professional and personal objectives. One is precise and can be measured over time. The other is vague. It is an ideal that cannot be quantified.
The objective of a CV must always correspond to the SMART criteria , for Specific, Measurable, Accessible, Realistic, and defined in Time. In this way, the recruiter understands which path you are heading towards, and when you will be able to achieve your objective. It is a bit like your business card.
An example of a personal goal
Your personal goal is a bit like your wish. As its name suggests, it only concerns you. This goal has no value in the eyes of the company that will seek to recruit you.
Here is the type of standard sentence to avoid for the objective on the CV:I am applying to work at your media library because later, I would like to take the state librarian exam.
The words “later” and “eventually” are not quantifiable. The goal is not defined in time. The recruiter is not certain that you will fulfill it. He will turn to another candidate with a very specific professional goal, who knows where he is going and why.
Here is a good example of a professional objective
The professional objective gives more precision on the means that you will put in place. It reflects your career ambition with a deadline to achieve this objective.
This is a good example of a professional goal that contains measurable and time-bound information.
I would like to join your team. This experience will allow me to acquire know-how in the processing of books and to maximize my chances of success for the state librarian competition. I am already revising the theory in preparation for its passage next April.
The objective to put on a CV is useful when you want to:
- Define the position targeted in the long term
- Announce the projects planned for the company
This is an effective way to be called for a job interview for a young graduate, experienced or career retraining beginner profile. You still need to write your objective well. This is what we are going to see.
How to write your professional objectives?
As we have seen, the objective on a CV allows you to structure your academic and professional background and to assess your level of involvement in the company. Thus, you answer the famous question of the recruiter “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” even before the interview.
In the same way as your Linkedin profile, the professional objective is integrated into the introduction of your CV. This is the “About” section, which you can also rename “My professional objectives”. It is an important element of the hook sentence.
To write it well, you must first position it well. Here is a chronological order suggestion for your hook sentence:
- Your role: “I am a digital project manager…”
- Your professional experiences: “... with 5 years of experience…”
- Your personal qualities: “Autonomous, organized and very rigorous…
- Your professional objective: “I would like to improve my sales experience to become a Consulting Director within your agency”
- Your project for the company: “I have the will and the skills to help you win many pitches”
Professional objectives should appear at the top of the resume. Ideally, this paragraph is placed under your professional title. This gives more coherence to the header. You should orient the content of this presentation paragraph according to the context of your job search.
If this is a first job , you can present your career plan in the company. This is an alternative to the professional objective. It allows you to show the recruiter that you are a stable person. The employer can trust you and invest time in training you. The career plan is also useful for moving from temporary to permanent employee.
To create a career change CV , you need to combine the position you are applying for, the sector of activity and the skills you developed in your previous job. Avoid using the word “reconversion” in the opening sentence. Consider your future job as a transition in your career path.
For career advancement , you must emphasize your years of involvement and announce your plans for the company, in the context of obtaining the expected higher position.
🛑 Pro tip
To write an excellent summary of your professional goals, use the framework given below and integrate action verbs. Don't say too much either, keep it short and readable in two paragraphs maximum to bring out your ability to summarize. As a bonus, integrate your portfolio or examples of documents you have worked on.
A bad objective on your resume can cause you to miss out on a great opportunity. Here are some mistakes to avoid:
- Lack of honesty: When writing your career objective, you should be as honest as possible. Don't mention a position for which you don't have the skills or a project in which you won't invest yourself. This can be detrimental to your future professional life.
- Making spelling mistakes: This may be obvious, but it can never be said enough. Any spelling mistake on a CV can be disqualifying. This section is also a good way to prove to recruiters that you have mastered spelling.
- Overloading the text: the ability to summarize is a soft skill that is often expected on a CV in all sectors of activity. To illustrate it well, you have to get straight to the point. Overloaded text unbalances the layout and makes the information less impactful.
- Write an impersonal objective: A recruiter prefers a candidate whose skills are in line with the job description. So avoid information that can work with any company.
- Listing keywords: This is an easy solution that doesn't make you look good. Many candidates do it, but you don't.
Bonus mistake: in your resume objective, do not mention the desired salary. This can put the recruiter off, especially if your salary expectation is higher than the company's budget. However, you can give clues about your minimum salary by emphasizing your years of expertise or the grade of your profile.
Here are now some CV templates and section layouts to help you write your CV…
A short fill-in-the-blank text that you can complete with the right keywords
Job name with XX years of experience , I have a perfect command of List of key skills. List of your personal qualities , I would like Example of a project proposed for the company . At the end of this experience, I would like to have the essential skills for the position of Job name .
Example of a professional objective for a receptionist:
Receptionist with 7 years of experience, I have perfect command of appointment management, physical and telephone reception. Available, with an impeccable sense of hospitality, I wish to use my skills to better manage the flow of your visitors. At the end of this experience, I wish to acquire the know-how necessary for the position of Executive Assistant.
Examples of professional objectives according to profile
We offer you several examples of professional objectives to help you write a good introductory sentence. We have chosen different types of profiles. You just have to choose the one that suits you best.
An example of a resume objective for an executive
With years of experience as a manager or team leader, you have the opportunity to evolve in your sector. To do this, you will need to highlight the skills expected for the position defined by your career objective.
An example of a manager's CV objective:
Manager for 5 years in cosmetics at Lush, I master all the procedures for reducing the company's environmental impacts. Passionate and endowed with good leadership, I contributed to the implementation of an environmental management system, with the aim of acquiring the know-how necessary for the position of environmental manager.
You don't know how to highlight your strengths for a position of responsibility? Discover our manager CV template to download (microsoft word and powerpoint).
An example of an internship objective or for a student job
When looking for an internship or for a first CV, it is important to include your professional project. Your application will be more readable in the longer term and the recruiter will be reassured about your commitment.
An example of an objective for a first-year student CV (BTS or other):
As a first-year student at IRTS, I would like to do my first internship as a special needs educator in your home. I am familiar with the issues facing people with disabilities. Dynamic and proactive, I plan to run a cooking workshop to work on your audience's autonomy and concentration skills.
You have no experience and you want to present a creative and sober CV for your first job? Trust the layout of our student CV example which presents a very relevant CV hook example.
A beginner's CV objective for a first job
To accompany your cover letter, you must present your strengths and discuss the skills you wish to develop. For the first job objective, you can present your career plan.
An example of a career plan for a first job in sales:
A graduate of fine arts, I am very familiar with painting and drawing materials. With excellent interpersonal skills, I will be able to advise your customers and pay particular attention to showcasing the Art department. I would like to develop know-how in stock management, and eventually become a sales manager.
Do you want to benefit from an original layout to start looking for your first job? You can enhance your professional ambitions with our CV template without experience (Microsoft Office compatible).
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The objective of the consultant CV
To achieve your career goal, this section must reflect your knowledge of the field. By indicating an area of specialization in accordance with the position sought, you will demonstrate your good understanding of the recruiter's expectations.
A free example of a professional project for your consulting CV:
A graduate of a business school, I specialize in industrial management. I will share with you my analytical and synthesis skills. I will be able to use the skills acquired in project management and personality management to open my consulting firm.
Are you looking for a good layout that highlights your qualifications and your many personal qualities? Take inspiration from this beautiful graphic CV for consultant (CV Word template to download, Open-Office compatible).
Another example of a resume objective for a nursing position
The purpose of a CV in the medical field is to show your involvement in the field. Have you worked with several different audiences? In addition to your technical skills in care, you can indicate your willingness to specialize with a particular audience.
An example of a professional objective for a nursing home nurse CV :
Home nurse for 10 years, I have taken care of patients of all ages and all pathologies. Responsive and with good interpersonal skills, I have provided psychological support in addition to my care to aging people. Wishing to specialize in this public, I will put my skills into practice for your EHPAD.
To highlight both your technical skills and your human qualities, you can take inspiration from our CV template to fill out . 
