Explanation of the importance of a profile and objective on a resume

The profile and objective on the resume are important because they provide a snapshot of who you are as a professional and what you hope to achieve in your career. The profile section is usually located at the top of the resume or header and is a brief summary of your qualifications and experience. It is an opportunity to highlight your most relevant skills and experience, and to show how you can contribute to the company you are applying to.

This header usually includes contact information – name, address, e-mail address, and phone (where messages can be left) at the top of your resume. How the information is presented is your preference! Present your name and contact information with some pride and style. Your name is the most important item on your resume and should be the biggest thing on the page while still remaining a reasonable size. Selection of the font, layout, and style for your name and contact information permits you to individualize your resume in an expressive style of your professional taste and consistency within professional standards in your field.

The objective section, on the other hand, is a statement that explains your career goals and how your skills and experience align with the position you are applying for. It helps to catch the attention of the employer and make your resume stand out among the others. It also demonstrates your understanding of the job and the company, which can show that you are a good fit for the position.

The profile and objective on the resume should be tailored to the job you are applying for and be concise, clear, and to the point. They are the first things that the employer will read and they should make a strong impression, to make them want to keep reading your resume.

You can focus on two ways,

  1. In the case that you have enough work experience in similar professions to the job offer, you are interested in a brief description of your professional profile.
  2. If you have much experience in the position you are applying for or do not have much experience in the professional field you are looking for, whether due to lack of experience, being a recent graduate, or having work experience but looking to change careers, you are interested in using a brief description of your professional goals in combination with your professional profile or academic training.

How to describe your professional profile?

A profile or “about me” section on a resume is a brief summary of an individual’s qualifications and experience, typically located at the top of the resume. It is an opportunity for the job seeker to highlight their most relevant skills and experience, and to show how they can contribute to the company they are applying to. This section is usually written in the first (or third) person, and it typically includes a brief overview of the candidate’s work experience, education, and key skills or qualifications. It’s a summary of what you bring to the table as a professional and why you are the best fit for the job.

You can follow the following structure:

  1. Introduction: start with the level you held in your previous job (executive, manager, specialist) or with the name of your profession based on your professional studies (technical, engineer, doctor). For example,
    1. Technical
    2. Doctor
    3. Engineer
    4. Manager
    5. Specialist
    6. Responsible for…
  2. Development: the body of the summary. Here you will have many possibilities depending on your needs and your strengths:
    1. Most relevant experiences.
    2. A number of years of experience.
    3. Academic education.
    4. Professional industry.
    5. Specialization.
    6. Most important tasks and responsibilities.
    7. Skills and abilities developed.
    8. Companies you’ve worked for.

Tips for writing a strong profile on the resume

  1. Keep it concise and to the point, using strong action verbs and quantifiable achievements to showcase your skills and experience.
  2. Tailor your profile to the specific job or industry you are applying to, highlighting relevant experience and qualifications.
  3. Use keywords and phrases that are relevant to the job or industry to make it easy for recruiters to find you.
  4. Showcase your unique selling points and what sets you apart from other candidates.
  5. Avoid using overly formal or generic language, and instead, use a tone that is confident and engaging.
  6. Make sure your profile is well-written and free of grammatical errors or typos.

Examples of effective profile statements

  • Sales professional with 15 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, specializing in customer service excellence and managing a portfolio of large accounts. I am motivated by working towards goals and continuing to develop my social skills and negotiation abilities.
  • A computer programmer with 5 years of experience. Specialized in programming with Javascript, I have worked on over 25 projects, both national and international, working with scrum teams of up to 6 people, both in Spanish and English. A firm believer in telecommuting.
  • The administrative officer in multinational companies with 7 years of experience. Specialized in strategic planning of technological resources, increasing productivity processes by 15% in the last 2 years. Graduated in Business Administration and currently finishing a Master’s in Corporate Finance.
  • Flexible and experienced insurance administrator with excellent time management skills. I am a good communicator with strong interpersonal skills and am accustomed to working in teams and taking initiative. I am skilled at problem-solving and negotiating to achieve mutually beneficial agreements. I am excited to learn and take on new challenges.
  • I am an experienced joiner with well-developed skills and experience in groundwork, concrete finishing, and steel fixing, and have worked in the construction industry since 1982. I am also a skilled laborer who has supported many different trades over the years. I have a full clean UK driving license with the entitlement of up to 7.5 tonnes. I am keen to return to work after a period of training and personal development which has broadened my skills and experiences.
  • I am a flexible and experienced insurance administrator with excellent time management skills. I am a good communicator with proven interpersonal skills and am used to working in a team whilst also being capable of using my own initiative. I am skilled In dealing with problems in a resourceful manner and negotiating to achieve beneficial agreements. I am always enthusiastic to learn and undertake new challenges.

How to describe the professional profile and objective on the resume?

Remember, if you have much experience in the position you are applying for or do not have much experience in the professional field you are looking for, whether due to lack of experience, being a recent graduate, or having work experience but looking to change careers, you are interested in using a brief description of your professional goals in combination with your professional profile or academic training. To achieve this, you can use the 1st or 3rd person to refer to yourself but don’t mix them as it will look strange and inconsistent. You can follow this structure:

  1. Introduce yourself: The first thing the recruiter needs to know is who you are. Start with something that might interest them. If you don’t have experience within the profession you are looking for, start with your level in your previous job (executive, manager, etc.) or your profession based on your professional studies (technician in…, engineer in…, doctor in…).
  2. Describe your most relevant professional skills and values: If you don’t have experience in the position, think about other more general (soft) skills that you have developed in your previous job or at some point in your studies that may be related to the job offer.
  3. What you want to do: Explain your professional goals within the company. Specifically, what you want to improve about yourself, what you want to help improve in the company or how you will do it, and why you have chosen them.
    • I aspire to develop my skills in…
    • To contribute to a reputable company such as…
    • I aim to expand my expertise in the area of…
    • My goal is to advance my career in…
    • With the intention of honing my abilities in…
    • By bringing my knowledge and experience, the company will increase its…
    • I see my future in a reputable company that…
    • I seek to be a turning point for the company in…

Tips for writing a clear and specific objective on the resume

  1. Be specific about the position you are applying for: Tailor your objective to the specific job or industry you are applying for.
  2. Keep it short and sweet: A clear, concise objective is more likely to grab the attention of the hiring manager.
  3. Be realistic: Be realistic about what you can offer and what you hope to gain from the position.
  4. Use keywords: Use keywords relevant to the position to increase your chances of being picked up by applicant tracking systems.
  5. Show your enthusiasm: Show your enthusiasm for the position and the company you are applying to.

Examples of an effective profile and objective statements on the resume

  • Native French speaker, with studies completed in Lyon, with a great passion for working with young people, and extensive experience in communication and teaching in my previous job. My professional objective is to put into practice what I have learned and I believe HiFrance School can help me develop my communicative skills with large groups of students, while also bringing my training skills to improve the results of the school.
  • Graduated in finance and accounting, with customer service skills and solid knowledge in the cross-selling process, increasing sales by 16% in my previous job. Values linked to ethics and commitment. I am looking to take my first steps in a prestigious bank like yours, helping to improve customer experience and increasing the sale of financial products.
  • An experienced professional hairstylist with a great ability to manage work and time, serving an average of 50 clients per week. Education, proactivity, and commitment to the customer and the company as fundamental values in my career. I aspire to be part of one of the most prestigious hairstyling salons in Chicago, bringing my communicative and organizational skills.

In summary, the profile and objective on the resume are important because they provide a snapshot of your professional qualifications, skills, and goals, and they help to make a strong first impression on the employer.

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