1. Job Objectives vs. Career
Summaries
Which to Use?
Martha Schwer,
Madison Area Technical College
2. Standard Parts of a Résumé
Heading (name and contact info)
Career Objective or Qualifications
Summary
Education
Employment or Experience
Related Skills and Abilities
Honors and Activities
References
3. Definitions
A Career Objective frames the résumé for a
specific job and helps your reader understand
your goal.
Headings like “Objective,” “Employment
Objective”
A Qualifications Summary focuses more on
what you bring from prior experiences to a
specific job opening.
Headings like “Summary Statement,” or “Career
Summary.”
4. How to Write a Solid Objective
No more than 3 lines long.
Include 3 parts: the type of job you are
looking for, the context you want to work in,
and what you can do for the company:
Example: “A full-time computer-science
position aimed at solving engineering
problems and contributing to a management
team.”
5. How to Write A Solid Summary
3-5 lines long
Include who, what, and major achievements.
Example: “Astute senior analyst and corporate
financial planner with 11 years of experience
and proven success enhancing P&L
scenarios by millions of dollars.
Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking
and sound strategic/economic analysis to
multi-dimensional business issues.”
