The Objective Statement

Building Your Interview Package Part 2
‘The Objective Statement’

My last article (Building Your Resume) illustrated how to identify and organize your nine - ten competencies into a document that shows your strengths and is your springboard into a great resume.
The resume is a critical part of your overall interview package that will help you respond properly to questions you will get from an interviewer.
Thorough knowledge of your resume will help you stay focused on your best attributes and skills as well as help the interviewer better see how you will fit in the position. Were you every asked in an interview to talk about yourself or how you handled an issue? How long did it take you to answer? Interviewers may perceive hesitation negatively as if you are making it up on the spot. Did you have a good example of a situation that you handled well? It can be tough remembering things you have not thought about for some time. After the interview, when you thought about your answers, did you ask yourself ‘what on earth was I thinking’?
You will avoid these problems by spending as much time as needed focusing on your competencies and practicing how to articulate them in an interview. Your resume is a great study guide to practice interviewing.

That is why you must methodically analyze, organize and input your work history, skills and accomplishments into a resume. Be sure to determine what type of job you want and highlight your skills that best fit the position.
After putting your competencies list together highlighting those that best fit the job you seek, the next step is creating an “Objective Statement.” This statement consists of putting that information into a well-constructed attention-grabbing paragraph assuring any potential employer’s further interest in you.
Adding an objective statement will tell the potential employer you have a clear understanding of what position you want as well as what skills you will bring to the company. It also provides the employer a first glimpse into your traits. A short paragraph of three or four sentences with meaningful descriptive words that project your image strongly will be very effective.
Your objective statement will be the bases for your response to many of the interviewer’s questions. It is important to personalize your objective and tailor it to the position you are seeking.
Here is an example of what a completed competencies list might look like.
Leadership Time management
Organization Problem solving
Follow up motivating
Teamwork Training
Listening Analytical
This applicant is applying for a management position with a retail company and has several years experience in this type of position. After deciding which of these competencies, best fit the position the applicant is applying for the following is an example of how the objective statement may look.
The Completed Objective Statement
‘Dynamic Operations Manager, focused on motivating and coaching others. Looking to use my vast retail experience for a progressive company with a strong interpersonal and team building philosophy’.

Here is the way the objective breaks down:
Dynamic Operations Manager (that is who you are)
Focused on motivating and coaching others (this illustrates what you do and your leadership skills)
Looking to use my vast retail experience (this is what you bring to the position) for a progressive company with a strong interpersonal and team building philosophy. (This is the type of company where you are interested in working)
Again, this is why you need to spend as much time as possible on putting your competencies list together. Your objective statement comes directly from that list. Your task is to turn that list into a brief highly descriptive bio about you.
The reader of your objective statement should understand the position you are interested in, the skills you have and how you may apply them to help the organization.
It is a good idea to have several objective statements on file and ready to insert into your resume. However, do not invent skills for any jobs. Honesty is the best policy. Rather, you should tailor your word choices, skills, and experiences to highlight how you fit the title and job description of each position you are seeking. Here is an example of using the same objective statement from above for a different position.

Objective Statement:
Dynamic Sales Team Manager focused on motivating and coaching others. Looking to use my vast leadership experience for a progressive company with a strong interpersonal and team building philosophy.

These subtle changes will help the potential employer to visualize you in the position they are looking to fill.
After a potential employer reviews your resume, most of the questions they will ask you will relate to something they read in the resume. For example, they may say, “tell me how you motivate and coach your team”. In this case, they are asking you to talk about some of the competencies mentioned in the objective statement, where it said, “Focused on motivating and coaching others”. Your answer will be right at hand because of the work and thought you put into building your competencies list.
It is very important that you practice communicating those skills effortlessly when answering any questions about yourself. They will be the major talking points of any interview.

Take your time constructing you objective statement. Once you have it completed, ask family or friends to review it and give opinions. Be open to constructive criticism as their perspective could mirror potential employers.
Follow this link to review the last article on how to document your competencies; http://arkofsuccess.blogspot.com
Good luck, I know you will put together a winning objective statement.
Look for my next article that will cover the body of your resume.
“The Experience/Employment History Section”