| In theory, a resume should list the | | | | the cover letter they receive in their |
| experience without an objective and each | | | | entirely because many cover letters are |
| cover letter would specify which position is | | | | poorly written. In short, they do not hold |
| being targeted. That is a nice idea, but it | | | | the reader's interest. When the reader is the |
| is not practical. | | | | hiring manager it can be a real problem. The |
| | | | same concept applies to the resume. It must |
| In today's competitive, fast-paced job | | | | be compelling and hold the reader's interest. |
| market, a company has very little time to | | | | |
| figure out what a job seeker is looking to do | | | | Even if a hiring manager did read the cover |
| for them. When they are flipping through the | | | | letter as a general rule, what would happen |
| many resumes that have come in by email and | | | | if the cover letter were to get lost on their |
| fax in response to an advertised job vacancy | | | | desk? How would they know that you were |
| announcement, they are looking to pick the | | | | seeking to work for them as a pharmaceutical |
| best candidate from the pile - the one that | | | | sales representative when your resume |
| has the experience to do the job. | | | | indicates that you worked as a pharmaceutical |
| | | | sales representative two jobs ago and your |
| In addition to the resume being neat, | | | | most recent job was as a parts procurement |
| attractive, and typo-free, is should | | | | manager for an automotive dealership? |
| communicate the specific experience and | | | | |
| qualifications in line with the requirements | | | | Yes, your cover letter would explain how you |
| of the position of interest. Moreover, it | | | | tried another industry for whatever reason, |
| should clearly state what position is being | | | | and now want to return to selling |
| sought. | | | | pharmaceuticals because you realized sales is |
| | | | your true passion. But, with the cover letter |
| Let's pretend for a moment that the job is | | | | missing and without the objective on the |
| for a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative. | | | | resume, they may assume you are interested in |
| The following illustrates a case scenario | | | | the purchasing position they also have open! |
| between you and a competitor. If a | | | | In this case, your resume would most |
| competitor's resume included a title | | | | certainly get tossed in the trash. |
| statement at the top that read: | | | | |
| | | | When you think about it, does it really make |
| "PHARMACEUTICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE," or a | | | | sense to try to leave your options open? Do |
| traditional objective that read: | | | | you really think the company is going to call |
| | | | you to tell you they have a pharmaceutical |
| "Top-producing pharmaceutical sales | | | | sales position and a purchasing agent |
| representative seeking a position in which a | | | | position open and was wondering which one you |
| degree in biology and five years of | | | | are interested in? They are not. |
| accomplished experience selling branded and | | | | |
| generic pharmaceuticals will be of value," | | | | A hiring company does not have the time or |
| versus your resume that read: | | | | resources to make individual calls. Yes, |
| | | | there are exceptions to the rule. If your |
| "Currently seeking a sales position that will | | | | resume was the best one from the bunch and |
| utilize my experience and education," or | | | | they were desperate, they might call you. Or, |
| worse, nothing at all, which resume do you | | | | if the company was a small firm, they might |
| think they are going to pull from the pile - | | | | call you to ask you to come in for an |
| your competitor's resume or your resume? | | | | interview. But, those are big if's. |
| | | | |
| If you guessed either one of the competitor | | | | It may be a pain in the neck, but it is to |
| resumes, you are correct. I think the reason | | | | your advantage to include an objective or |
| is obvious now that the comparison has been | | | | title statement on your resume and then |
| made. | | | | modify it accordingly to match a specific |
| | | | position that you are targeting. |
| Speaking of guessing, it is anyone's guess | | | | |
| how many companies actually read cover | | | | A small effort will go a long way in your job |
| letters. Some companies do not read most of | | | | search. |