Objective for Entry Level

[curious george]

Any suggestions for a Reusme Objective for an entry level applicant.

Fundamentally speaking, I am thinking:


OBJECTIVE: To obtain an entry-level actuarial position at an insurance company




Any ideas would be great

[The Matrix]

To me, the career objective is your vision and/or mission statement. It's about where you're going and what things might look like when you get there. It shouldn't be specific, but it should capture what inspires you. Additionally, it's your opportunity to demonstrate that you can communicate something complex using powerful, concise language.

I yawn when I see a career objective like the one above on a resume. To me, it screams "I'm a simple linear thinker" and "I lack vision and imagination". It also says, "I don't see the big picture". A resume is your sales brochure. Submitting your resume for consideration carries an implicit objective statement: I want a job. Why are you going to hit me over the head by making this implicit objective explicit on your resume?

Yet, I see this all the time. It won't disqualify your resume from consideration; but it just doesn't excite me. And, if you feel the need to ask for my consideration, do it gracefully.

A quick example (yours will be shorter):

To be a leader in reinsurance pricing negotiations and an authority on pricing models. To be recognized by the Whatever Society as a Fellow and known as a specialist. To contribute to the firms intellectual capital and be a valued team member. To be active in making my community a better place to live, and to having a rich and rewarding family life.

Quiz: Where did I ask for the job?

[paranoid]

For entry level, maybe something like:

To gain experience in the actuarial field (more specific is better - but if you are unsure of details, be general) that allows me to use my :blah:, :blah: skills while working towards FSA(FCAS). Become important part of company team while learning more about industry.

I'm a fan of no objective for entry level, though I like a good cover letter. A potential problem is that many times interviewers besides the initial contact never see the cover letter.

[GefilteFish144]

OBJECTIVE: To obtain an entry-level actuarial position at an insurance company


Don't just limit yourself to insurance. There are lots of great jobs out there in consulting. If you need resume help, talk to a recruiter -- they are trained in these matters.

[annabel lee]

Personally, I hate "objectives" on resumes. The cover letter is the place to state your objectives. To me, any objective on the resume screams "I'm padding my resume because I don't have enough real stuff to fill the page." Don't know if I'm in the minority...

[The Matrix]

Personally, I hate "objectives" on resumes. The cover letter is the place to state your objectives. To me, any objective on the resume screams "I'm padding my resume because I don't have enough real stuff to fill the page." Don't know if I'm in the minority...

I also realize that entry level candidates frequently include career objectives for exactly the reason you mention. Since most young people haven't developed a relevant work history by the time they finish university, I don't think it's a sin to include objectives, even if they are just "padding". In fact, I like to see objectives because they give ME a lot of information about entry-level students (good or bad), which are often the candidates that are the most difficult to assess/compare.

Company contacts have told me that my objectives were so compelling that "we just had to talk to you". If you have objectives like "To obtain an entry-level actuarial position at an insurance company", move forward without them.

[Ailing Factuary]

I use an objective for the mere fact that companies seem to prefer that I have an objective on there. They honestly seem to not understand that I am specifically looking for an entry level actuarial student position without it there, hell, sometimes they still aren't sure what I want with it there. I also say that's what I want in the subject of the e-mail, and I explain my interest for the actuarial profession in my cover letter. I hope companies do not think I am trying to pad my resume, because I really couldn't care less how long it is.

[GefilteFish144]

If I were reading a resume, I wouldn't care what objective a candidate puts on an entry-level job. We all know that an entry-level applicant is looking for a job so they can pay rent and eat. The fact that an objective is even there is an insult to our intelligence. Why this person is crazy enough to choose the actuarial profession is another story, and that's something that will come out in the job interview.

[Maine-iac]

I wouldn't take points off for including one, since I know it is standard format to put one in a resume, but I tend to pretty much ignore them and skip to the relevant experience, unless they tell me something specific. (Such as, despite your pension background, your objective is to find a P&C position.) Most of the time I find they are just feel-good stuff ("seeking a challenging opportunity in a growth environment") or stating the obvious (resume from new grad seeking "entry level postion in insurance industry").

Again, they don't bother me, but I give them very little attention.

[The Waiting Hurts]

The problem I have with the objective is that your resume must first go through HR - sometimes they do not always understand the objective of your objective. I always try to use words in the objective to trigger what HR thinks the position details. (Unless, I have an in and can send my resume directly to the hiring manager, then I change it to suit.) Sometimes HR has the generic job description and doesn't always have an understanding of the job details, so they're just looking for triggers.
If I have the job description available, I always try to pull out, from it, the reason that I'm applying for this specific position and work it into my objective, aside from the obvious to make money to live. (I think I'll use that on my next resume, and see where it gets me)

IMO, your objective should be tailored to the position which you are applying for.

Oh yeah, btw, objectives are BS. Focus on the cover letter and job experience details.


This was my first piece of career advice. How'd I do?

[I_actuate™]

If I were reading a resume, I wouldn't care what objective a candidate puts on an entry-level job.

I thought that this was true for ALL positions? I don't even have an objective on my resume...my objective is to perform all the job duties and requirements of the position to which I'm applying.

Aren't objective lines outdated...?

[Wigmeister General]

Objective: To get hired

[BleedOrangeAndBlue]

I thought that this was true for ALL positions? I don't even have an objective on my resume...my objective is to perform all the job duties and requirements of the position to which I'm applying.

Aren't objective lines outdated...?

I've heard that too. It seems that the new thing to do is to put a "career summary" in its place that highlights your strong points.