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Resume: What's The Difference Between A Career Summary & Career Objective?

Updated: Sep 29, 2021

If you are continuously sending in a number of job applications but are wondering why you are not getting any invitations for interviews, it’s not you; it’s your resume. No amount of whining may help you solve your problem because the problem is with your resume.

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The idea of sending job applications is to let employers know about you, your capabilities and the type of work you can do. But what should you do to make prospective employers invite you for interviews? The answer to this question is you must include a Career Summary on your resume.

You may think that just because you are sending a cover letter, there is no need to add a Career Summary at the top of your resume. But a cover letter may be longer and recruiters may not have either the time or the patience to go through it.

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Competition in the business world is so fierce that companies have to keep skimming through resumes at a fast pace in order to keep business running smoothly. So, recruiters have to make optimum use of the time available to them. That is the reason a Career Summary has to be brief and to the point and capture most of your main skills and abilities. Therefore, by adding a well-written and powerful Career Summary, you will grab the attention of the recruiters.

What’s the difference between a Career Summary and a Career Objective?

It is imperative that you must know the difference between a career objective and a career summary. In fact, you cannot afford not to be aware of this difference because you may be committing a giant mistake if you do not know it.

Understand that recruiters are doing nerve-shredding work because a number of people may be applying for the position for which you are also sending in your application. So, recruiters are forced to be merciless while screening resumes. Thanks to deadlines, they have to spread their time very thin and act in a business-like fashion. If you waste their time, they are certain to get annoyed and throw out your resume. That's why hiring a professional resume writing company is becoming so in-demand.

A Career Summary and a Career Objective are not the same.

What’s a Career Summary on a Resume?

A well written career summary:

  • Should be in a paragraph form.

  • Should not exceed seven sentences.

  • Should be located at the very top of your resume.

  • Will be a good introduction to your resume.

  • Will provide a focused and summarized overview of your work history.

  • Will help recruiters know what your specialty is.

  • Should let the employers know what the company will gain by hiring you and how you will add value to the organization.

  • Should be employer-focused. Self-focusing will distract the recruiters. So, crop such stuff out from your summary.

What’s a Career Objective on a Resume?

  • One-two sentences in length.

  • Located at the very top of your resume, underneath your name and contact information.

  • Describes what industry, title, or company you wish to work for.

  • Informs the employer what main two or three skills you possess and why you’re a great fit for the position.

Should Resumes Have A Career Objective?

  • No. Experts are against adding a Career Objective to your resume because generic and vague objectives may repel recruiters.

Why Shouldn’t Resumes Have A Career Objective?

  • Career Objectives don’t allow you to display all of your skill, abilities, and core competencies to the employer.

  • Career Objectives are short and straight to the point.

  • Career Objectives limits what jobs or positions you are capable of filling for the company.

  • Career Objectives have to be changed on your resume each and every time you apply for a new job, company, or industry.

In summary, a Career Summary allows you to showcase more of your career and educational background to the hiring managers and recruiters. A Career Summary allows you to describe, in five – seven sentences what you bring to the table and what skills you have. A Career Objective doesn’t allow you to explain, in detail, what hands-on experience you are able to offer the employer. When in doubt, make sure you consult with a well-established and well-known credible resume writing service in your area.

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