Sometimes the client is not even sure what those targets will be but wants a document that will work for any position he or she decides to apply for.
This is a huge mistake! It makes no sense to pay for a professional resume unless your job target is clear.
Why? Hiring managers and potential employers are not psychic.
You cannot expect them to take the time to read through a generic resume and find a fit for you.
They have neither the time nor the desire to do this.
In a quick Google search for resumes, I found a number of examples of the generic, one-size-fits-all type of objective or summary statement.
Here are a few of them:
- Seeking a challenging position that will take full advantage of my background as well as offer me the opportunity for increasing levels of responsibility and professional growth.
- To secure a position with a well-established organization with a stable environment that will lead to a lasting relationship.
- To obtain a position that will enable me to use my strong organizational skills, educational background, and ability to work well with people.
- A challenging and rewarding position at your company.
Here are a few more that are getting closer but definitely lack power:
- A challenging and rewarding position as a real estate sales manager or broker.
- To obtain a position that would allow me to utilize impressive management and leadership credentials with room for continued development.
- Seeking position with construction management.
- Talented pharmaceutical sales professional with award-winning experience.
- Business development executive with 15+ years of experience excelling in highly competitive B2B environments.
- Commercial insurance account executive with eight years of experience and expertise with sophisticated statistical analysis.
- CFO/finance director/corporate controller who builds the accounting infrastructure and reporting necessary to make sound corporate and financial decisions that move companies forward.
- Proactive, dependable claims adjuster who maintains one of the lowest inventories in the department.
- Top performer with 15 years of progressive sales success in highly competitive, constantly changing business markets.
- Senior executive who created and executed the strategy that grew a startup to $2 billion in annual sales within three years.
- Top-performing pharmaceutical sales representative with over seven years of progressive experience in hospital and specialty pharmaceutical markets.
Writing a targeted resume may take more time, but it is the only way to go; it is much more likely to be read than one that is not targeted because it is customized to highlight the experience and qualifications that are relevant to the job target.
I suggest to clients that they search for several ads that describe the type of position they are seeking before the resume is developed; that way we can be sure to address the required qualifications and highlight them throughout the resume.