Are you getting ready to apply for an entry-level job? If you have just graduated from high school or college, you are unlikely to have a lot of work experience. This can be an issue when it comes to creating the work experience section of your resume.
Fortunately, your resume objective can help you make a strong first impression. This resume tactic is perfect for people who have strong skills but lack work experience.
So, let’s take a look at some top entry-level resume objective examples as well as tips on writing a resume objective of your own.
Contents
- What is an Entry-Level Resume Objective?
- How to Write an Entry-Level Resume Objective
- Tips for Writing Entry-Level Resume Objectives
- Choosing the Right Personal Traits
- Choosing the Right Skills
- Top Entry-Level Resume Objective Examples
- Want Help Applying for a Job?
- Top Entry-Level Resume Objective Examples – Conclusion
What is an Entry-Level Resume Objective?
A resume objective goes at the top of your resume underneath your contact details. It is a way of introducing yourself to a hiring manager and showing them you are suitable for the job. Likewise, it is a good way of presenting your most desirable skills and personal attributes.
It should take just a few seconds for the hiring manager to read your resume objective. If you have done a good job, they will then be inspired to read the rest of your resume. A strong resume objective can also help you to secure an interview with the hiring manager.
How to Write an Entry-Level Resume Objective
Because your objective appears at the top of your resume, it is important to make it as impactful as possible. You need to take the time to review and polish your objective, taking care to ensure that every word counts. Here are the steps you should take when creating an attractive resume objective.
Read Job Descriptions Carefully
Take the time to read job descriptions all the way through several times. You need to make sure you have a good understanding of what the job involves, including the daily duties. Applying for jobs that you are not interested in wastes both your time and that of the hiring managers.
Highlight job description keywords
Once you have found a suitable job description, scan it carefully for keywords you can add to your resume objective. These include words that describe the attributes and skills of the ideal employee. You can then add a few of these words to your resume objective in a natural way.
Use action verbs
Select strong action verbs to show the impact you have had on different environments. This helps to make your resume objective as strong and dynamic as possible. Words like “led,” “encouraged,” and “contributed” show that you would be a valuable asset to the company.
Promote yourself
While your instinct may be to be humble, this is likely to cause your resume to be overlooked. If you have strong personal traits and skills, make sure the hiring manager knows about them.
Choosing adjectives such as “reliable” and “adaptable” when presenting your skills helps to highlight them naturally.
Tips for Writing Entry-Level Resume Objectives
Before you start writing your resume objective, there are a few other points to bear in mind. You only have one chance to make a first impression, and it is important to polish your resume objective. Here are some tips on how to make a resume objective stand out from the crowd.
Focus on your personality
When choosing candidates for entry-level roles, hiring managers often focus on their personalities. They need to choose candidates that will fit well with the office environment and company culture.
Therefore, it is important to make sure that your resume objective portrays a strong sense of your personality.
Keep it concise
Your resume objective should typically consist of just two or three sentences. This is a very small space to pack a lot of information into. Therefore, you need to carefully edit your resume objective and remove any unnecessary words and phrases.
Make it goal-oriented
The main objective of your resume is securing an interview with the hiring manager. Everything you include in this professional document should be focused on that goal. Only include elements in the resume objective that perfectly meet this goal.
Choosing the Right Personal Traits
Your resume objective should give the hiring manager a strong sense of your personality and approach to work. You should choose one or two personal traits that are directly related to the job and your working style.
Here are some examples of strong personal traits you can include in your resume objective.
Honesty
This is a very valuable personal trait that is actively sought by hiring managers. This trait implies that you are committed to following the company rules and acting with integrity at all times. If you can act with honesty in the workplace, you are more likely to be trusted with important projects.
Accountability
Many people have trouble owning up to their mistakes, which can cause a lot of problems in the workplace. Highlighting accountability means that you hold yourself responsible for your actions and take steps to resolve them.
Furthermore, highlighting this personal trait shows maturity and is sure to be appreciated by hiring managers.
Detail-oriented
The tiniest details can make a big difference when you are working on certain projects. Highlighting this personal trait shows hiring managers that you understand the importance of this.
However, you will have to take extra care when writing your resume and cover letter to make sure they are error-free.
Punctual
Every year, companies lose millions of dollars from employees arriving at work late. Highlighting this personal trait shows that you are mature, responsible, and conscientious. Of course, you will have to make sure you embrace this personal trait by arriving at the job interview early.
Creative
There are numerous different types of creativity, and this is a good personal trait to highlight. This is especially important if you are applying for a job that involves some type of creativity.
This personal trait implies that you are imaginative and innovative, which are two other traits that hiring managers appreciate.
Choosing the Right Skills
In top entry-level resume objective examples, skills are normally highlighted. It is a good way to make up for lack of experience. Again, the skills you choose need to be directly related to the job you are applying for.
Here are some great skills to include on a resume objective and what they imply to the hiring manager.
Customer Service
Good customer service skills are valued by a large number of different industries. This skill involves going above and beyond the call of duty to put the needs of the customer first. You may have developed this skill while working in a seasonal job or completing work experience.
The ability to learn quickly
Companies spend a lot of time and money training new employees to do their job. Hiring managers are sure to value people who can pick up new skills quickly. This is a great skill to highlight if you lack concrete work experience, as it shows a willingness to learn.
Communication
Excellent communication skills help you express your opinions and deliver messages clearly. Hiring managers actively seek candidates with strong written and communication skills. If you have written essays for colleges, taken part in debates, or delivered speeches, you can highlight this skill.
Technological Competence
Most companies use technology in a wide range of ways, and new employees often have to be trained to use it. Being literate in certain computer systems and technology could put you ahead of the competition.
Take the time to research the types of technology you are likely to use in the role and highlight it.
Organizational Skills
Most roles involve a certain amount of multitasking, and it is important to be organized to do this effectively. Being organized allows you to manage your work in the best way and can save a lot of time. This translates into higher productivity, which is very valuable for employers.
Teamwork
It is important to be able to work well with others and collaborate on different projects. Even if you have no work experience, you may have collaborated on projects at college or high school. If you can provide strong examples in the interview, go ahead and highlight teamwork in your resume objective.
Office skills
Think about typical office skills you may have developed while at high school or college. These include typing quickly and accurately, sending emails, using a printer, and answering phone calls. You don’t necessarily have to work in an office to develop these skills.
Adaptability
Employers value candidates who are willing to rise to any challenge and handle it with grace. Highlighting this skill shows hiring managers that you are willing to put the needs of the job first.
Persuasion
This is a good skill to highlight if you are applying for a sales role. This skill can help you sell products and services to different customers. Prepare an example or two of the times you have used your persuasion in the past in case it comes up.
Problem-solving
Being able to resolve issues quickly and smoothly is a valuable skill in a range of different industries. Having strong problem-solving skills can go a long way to replacing concrete work experience.
Highlighting this skill shows employers that you have a logical mind and can perform well under pressure.
Top Entry-Level Resume Objective Examples
The contents of an entry-level resume objective will largely depend on the job post. It is important to connect your resume objective to the specific post as much as possible. Let’s check out some ways to start your resume objective in different circumstances.
Highlighting your qualifications
Even though you don’t have a lot of work experience, you may have a special degree or certification. In this case, it is best to lead with this to make sure it stands out. Here are some strong and natural ways to lead with your qualifications.
- Recent chemical engineering graduate looking to launch my career.
- Dedicated professional with a master’s degree in economics.
- Physiotherapy degree and advanced certification holder with in-depth knowledge of patient care.
- Driven individual with a Human Resource Management degree and advanced skills.
Highlighting your connected skills
When you first graduate from college, you may be unable to find your dream job straight away. You may have been working in another industry to gain work experience and specialist skills. Here are some ways to show the hiring manager that you have what it takes to do the job.
- Business communications graduate with two years of experience in a human resource department.
- Creative and organized individual with advanced interpersonal and multitasking skills.
- Searching for a position where I can use my advanced business and IT skills.
- Organization and motivated professional with strong knowledge of statistics and economics.
Highlighting strong personal traits
If you don’t have impressive qualifications or skills yet, there is no need to despair. You can still make your resume objective stand out by highlighting strong and valuable personal traits. Here are some ways to do this so that they appeal to hiring managers and make them want to meet you.
- Hard-working individual with a passion for customer service and marketing.
- Organized and punctual individual knowledgeable in business principles and practices.
- Resourceful individual with a high school diploma and excellent communication skills.
- Self-motivated individual with excellent organizational and communication skills.
Want Help Applying for a Job?
That’s why we are here. Check out our handy articles on the Best Opening Statement Examples for Resumes, the Best Resume Introduction Examples, the Best Free Resume Builders, the Best Resume Format Guide, and How to List References on a Resume for more useful information.
If you need more help with your resume, take a look at How to Write the Perfect Resume, Modernize Your Resume, The Resume Handbook, Resumes For Dummies, and Your Guide To A Stand Out Modern Resume for helpful books you can buy in 2023.
Trouble finding the right entry-level job? Some books that might help you find the right job are #Entry Level Boss, College Grad Job Hunter, The Complete List of American Jobs, Dream Job Discovery, and The 2-Hour Job Search, all of which are currently available online.
Top Entry-Level Resume Objective Examples – Conclusion
Even if you lack work experience and skills, you can still create a strong resume and attract attention. The best way to do this is through your resume objective. It is important to take the time to craft it perfectly and carefully edit this introductory statement.
Of course, you also need to be realistic when choosing jobs to apply for. There is no point in applying for jobs that state you need to have a certain amount of experience. However, you can still use your resume objective to show the related skills and experience you have gained.
Until next time, work smarter, not just harder.