Should You Include an Objective Statement on your Resume? Work In Sports Podcast - a podcast by Brian Clapp - Work in Sports

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Hope everyone had a nice weekend -- We’re going to do a two-parter today. Two questions I really like, but neither should take me super long to explain… so let’s turn two!First one comes via our Private Facebook group.Katrina Hunt from the Work in Sports podcast group - (reminder on podcast group):Looking for some resume advice and I have looked through previous posts as well as listened to podcasts and wanted to confirm some information! Is it necessary to have a summary at the beginning of the resume? Should you list relevant skills in bullet points and if so where at in the resume?Thank you in advance for any and all help!  Katrina -- the summary and the bullet points. Look I won’t deny that I had versions of my resume with summaries and bullet points, but I learned over time these are not the right way to go. The fact you are asking these questions early in your career and I didn’t figure it out until my 30s means you are way ahead of me, so congrats on that!Let’s explain why. The summary. The mission statement. The objective. Whatever you want to call it, it is the paragraph of wasted space, filler, that sites right below you contact information on a resume99% of the time it says something like: “Accomplished, diligent, recent graduate interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry”Or“Motivated student who demonstrates a strong work ethic and creative ability. Seeking to apply my marketing and sales skills as an intern this summer at your organization.”These are a waste of space. And they are telling me things I should already know about you.I know you want to work in the sports industry...or else you wouldn’t be applying for my job in the sports industry. I know you want an internship this summer or you wouldn’t be applying.I know you think you are creative and diligent or you wouldn’t be applying for a job that requires you to be creative and diligent.I need you to show me these things -- not tell me.Objective statements are a waste of space. Gimme a minute and I’ll tell you what you should do instead… but first.Now, if you are going to do one, and I really suggest you don’t, but if you are going to do one, do it right. Some of you are listening and thinking...my professor told me I have to have one! Fine. if you are going to do it despite my advice … listen up so you can do something to attract the right attention, not the wrong first impression.Listen up...are you ready… make it customized to that position you are applying for, AND make it about what the company needs. Not whaat you want and need, what they need.My friend Carl Manteau, Senior Director of Group Sales for the Milwaukee Bucks gave a great example he said:For example, if you are applying for a sales position with the Milwaukee Bucks, then your objective should be "To become the top revenue generator for the Milwaukee Bucks sales department. To help the sales team reach its' goals and to help the entire organization fulfill its mission of being the most successful and respected sports and entertainment company in the world."Now that required some work on your part -- you had to research the mission of the company you are applying with and cater your response to their mission. This shows you have done your homework and makes a great first impression.Anything less than this style, and you need to just forget the objective/summary section.Now, what do you do instead? Rather than you telling me, you are diligent, figure out how to incorporate that into the body of your cover letter and your resume.Rather than telling me you want a job in the sports industry, spend more time detailing your experience in the sports industry.The body of your resume is what counts. What have you done! What change agent metrics can you include? How have you impacted former businesses?

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