Comments on: Q: Objective Statements – Necessary or Unnecessary? http://www.lisjobs.com/CareerQA_blog/?p=4 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 02:26:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: mba personal statement http://www.lisjobs.com/CareerQA_blog/?p=4&cpage=1#comment-319 mba personal statement Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:54:20 +0000 http://www.lisjobs.com/CareerQA_blog/?p=4#comment-319 <strong>mba personal statement...</strong> Career Q... mba personal statement…

Career Q…

]]> By: tadpolebeer http://www.lisjobs.com/CareerQA_blog/?p=4&cpage=1#comment-3 tadpolebeer Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:04:56 +0000 http://www.lisjobs.com/CareerQA_blog/?p=4#comment-3 You make a good point against objective statements, but I don't think they are unneccessary, for two reasons. One, recent or soon-to-be library school graduates don't necessary have the experience that makes the qualification summary or summary statement effective. I agree that if one uses an objective statement it should be well-crafted and eye-catching. That leads me to my second reason for liking objective statements: they break up otherwise vanilla resumes. Having sat on many academic librarian search committees requiring me to look over 30-40 resumes each time, I admit that it's appealing to the eyes and mind to read something else about a candidate than just their education, work experience, skills, and associations. Most, if not all, resumes will have those categories or something simliar, so why not add something that will standout a bit? As a potential colleague to the person applying for the position, I care more about their purpose for applying for the position no matter how trivial than how many years they've been a member of ALA or ACRL. Granted, a good cover letter will address the reason a person is applying for the job, and I think having a good objective statement will reinforce that reason. I've never encountered an objective statement that reduced a candidate's chances for an interview. If anything, it's usually a poorly written cover letter that sends up the red flags. You make a good point against objective statements, but I don’t think they are unneccessary, for two reasons. One, recent or soon-to-be library school graduates don’t necessary have the experience that makes the qualification summary or summary statement effective. I agree that if one uses an objective statement it should be well-crafted and eye-catching.

That leads me to my second reason for liking objective statements: they break up otherwise vanilla resumes. Having sat on many academic librarian search committees requiring me to look over 30-40 resumes each time, I admit that it’s appealing to the eyes and mind to read something else about a candidate than just their education, work experience, skills, and associations. Most, if not all, resumes will have those categories or something simliar, so why not add something that will standout a bit? As a potential colleague to the person applying for the position, I care more about their purpose for applying for the position no matter how trivial than how many years they’ve been a member of ALA or ACRL. Granted, a good cover letter will address the reason a person is applying for the job, and I think having a good objective statement will reinforce that reason.

I’ve never encountered an objective statement that reduced a candidate’s chances for an interview. If anything, it’s usually a poorly written cover letter that sends up the red flags.

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