Should I include a career objective statement in my Australian CV?

In Australia, there are two schools of thought about whether to include career objective statements in résumés.

Some employers like to see objective statements. They feel that including objective statements demonstrates that you will fit in well with the employing organisation, and also indicates that you are serious about your career. Where there are many applicants for a job, objective statements can also be of benefit in assisting employers decide which résumés to continue reading and which to reject.

But others are not interested in your career objectives. Their interest is focused on how your skills, training, accomplishments and experience can be of use to them right now.  And many employers don’t take career objectives seriously, as they know that it’s easy to tailor your objective to the requirements of the job you’re applying for.

So, in Australia, including career objectives in your résumé is a personal choice.  If you do wish to include one, here are 8 tips to keep in mind while writing it:

1. Keep your career objective statement short – three lines at the most.
2. Include specific advice about what you can offer the employer, e.g. “to use my strong communication and marketing skills to…..”
3. Avoid using vague statements such as “to use my skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to corporate goals”.
4. Avoid objective statements that are so specific it makes you look suited only to a very small number of jobs.
5. Remember that stating you have ambitions well beyond the position you’re applying for could work against you, giving the employer you will not stay in the advertised job for long.
6. Carefully consider the job description, the keywords contained in the job advertisement, and your research into the employing organisation and ensure that your career objective is reflective of their overall direction.
7. Make sure that there is a clear connection between the content of your résumé and your career objective.
8. Be strategic about the degree of disclosure you provide in your career objective statement.  After all, you wouldn't want to give your prospective manager the impression that you want their job.

While there’s no conclusive answer to the question about whether to include career objectives statements on Australian résumés, if you do prefer to use them, write for your audience, remember to keep your statement focused, brief, tailored and strategic and you won’t go far wrong!

Do you need help with your Australian jobsearch? Visit Australian Career Suitefor high-impact résumés, CVs, application letters and industry research services for Australian visa holders, visa applicants and international job candidates.

And if you have a question about working in Australia, post it in the Embrace Australia forum and I'll answer it in a future post.