In this article, I discuss the traditional types of Opening Statements before diving into my take on how to compose the best Opening Statement for each job application.
With the average amount of time spent by potential employers on reviewing each Resume being a mere six seconds, it goes without saying that the Opening Statement is one of the most important sections (this is the very first section that kicks your Resume off, and should follow immediately after your Name and Contact Information). Even if the hiring manager or HR personnel scanning your Resume is in a pinch for time, they would at the very least catch a glimpse of your Opening Statement; that in itself should present a strong case for why you should always have an Opening Statement section on your Resume, and one that is strategically targeted towards each employer.
The Resume Writing industry has historically stuck to two general types of Opening Statements: the Career Objective and the Career Summary.
THE CAREER OBJECTIVE OPENING STATEMENT
A Career Objective statement communicates one’s specific intentions to work in a particular field or role, and should be used by the job applicant to convince the prospective employer that he/she is committed to performing the tasks and accepting the responsibilities associated with the job posting in question. Therefore, this type of Opening Statement may be utilized by an experienced professional in the field who is attempting to demonstrate to the potential employer why he/she would be the perfect candidate for the position in question.
A Career Objective statement could also be utilized by a student or individual who is in the early stages of his/her career and therefore does not possess a wealth of relevant experience. They would use the Career Objective statement to communicate to the prospective employer, their career goals and intention to learn and commit to the industry/trade/business.
Here is an example of a Career Objective Statement for an experienced professional: “To obtain a senior position in the commercial banking industry with a reputable financial institution where I can further advance my leadership aptitude and experience in client relationship management.”
THE CAREER SUMMARY OPENING STATEMENT
A Career Summary statement highlights the job applicant’s most relevant skills and qualifications, a pure reflection of his/her unique professional background that should not read like traits from a job posting. This type of Opening Statement features about 2-3 sentences that revolve around the job applicant’s career/professional highlights and should strategically tie in with the job posting’s tasks and responsibilities.
With that being said, details that may explain different components of one’s professional background should not be included in the Career Summary and should instead be dealt with in the Cover Letter. For instance, a gap or a change in the candidate’s direct experience in the industry should not be addressed in the Career Summary.
This brings us to a general formula that can be applied to the composition of a Career Summary statement:
· The statement should touch on key skills and strengths that the candidate possesses. Every single one of these qualities should be directly or indirectly related to the job posting that the candidate is applying to.
· The statement should also reference current and prior experiences that relate to these skills and strengths. Where possible, include the number of years of experience that the candidate possesses in each of these functions.
· The statement should also reference prior or projected accomplishments that may be applied to the prospective role.
The Career Summary statement is often utilized by mid-career professionals and could read something like this: “Proactive Human Resources Consultant with 12 years of experience in the Retail and Hospitality industries. Proven track record in fostering long-term business partnerships with a variety of clients and building trust with managers and employees to create positive work environments. Driven leader who is committed to building the organization’s brand and reputation.”
THE HYBRID OPENING STATEMENT
Notwithstanding the traditional types of Opening Statements mentioned above, I personally opt for what I call a “Hybrid Opening Statement” that combines elements from both Career Summary and Career Objective statements. While this is not always possible, based on my personal opinion and experiences with clients, such a formula may be applied to almost any candidate, from students applying for internship opportunities to highly experienced professionals. The secret ingredients to putting the final touches on a “Hybrid Opening Statement” are strategic links back to the qualities outlined in the job posting, and a genuine tone/writing style through which the reader would sense the candidate’s passion for the prospective role.
Here is an example of a “Hybrid Opening Statement”: “Dependable Life Insurance professional with 7 years of progressive Underwriting experience. Transformational leader with proven understanding of the principles of project management, risk analysis, and associated Actuarial concepts. Seeking a mutually beneficial working relationship as an Underwriting Manager with an innovative organization that is highly reputable for their state-of-the-art medical database.”
If you need help writing an effective Opening Statement, send me your Resume, along with the job posting that you are looking to apply to, and I will point you in the right direction.
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