An objective should declare the position sought and the type of organization for which you want to work. This should be a brief statement, at the beginning of your résumé, of your short-term goals, although long-term ones can be included. While this section is optional, its inclusion demonstrates a certain degree of career planning.

Many students are undecided about their career goals. Bear in mind that a vague objective can be worse than no objective at all. You can eliminate the objective, or have multiple versions of your résumé with different objectives. Regardless of whether the objective is explicitly stated, your résumé should be organized to imply and support an objective. If you decide to omit the objective, make sure you state it in the first or second paragraph of your cover letter.

Investigate the market you are targeting, the types of fields and positions available, as well as the skills necessary to be successful in those fields. This research will enhance the content of your résumé and will also pay off during the interview process. You will be identified as a candidate who is interested in making a contribution, and who is excited about the field and its possibilities.