The Teaching Box

While in years past most resumes did not include something called an “objective statement.” However, the modern version of the resume will start with this important one-to-two sentence statement, no matter if you are applying for a job in special education or another field. Besides your name and contact information, the objective statement is your introduction to a recruiter or interviewer, so you want it to be clear, concise and compelling. While you will be writing just a few sentences, hitting these three goals can be more challenging than they might at first appear.

Because today’s resumes are often scanned for keywords by a computer program before they are handled by a human being, the objective statement has become more important in recent years. Even for qualified candidates who already have credentials from online teacher certification programs, without a proper resume and objective statement, you might never even get to interview for your desired job. Learn how to win over employers with an all-encompassing statement, so you can get the job that you want in special education.

What is an “Objective Statement?”

In short, an objective statement is a one or two sentences that tell the recruiter or interviewer what kind of job you want and why you are a perfect fit for the position. As such, it is easy to imagine that you might have to tweak your statement for each position you apply for. As well, the statement offers you an opportunity to “speak the recruiter’s language” by packing it full of attention-worthy keywords that employers are eager to see. When you read the description for the job you are applying for, if you see words and phrases like “highly motivated,” “great communicator,” “certified teacher” and so on, you will want to make sure those are included in your resume, in strategic points.

The trick with an objective statement is to make sure it is congruent with the information in your resume, as well as the position you are interviewing for. It is not just blatant self-promotion, nor just overt flattery and certainly not a desperate plea for a job; the statement may just be the finest short sentence you have written by the time it’s finished.

The Elements of a Great Objective Statement

Thus, here is how to write a great objective statement. First, notice the top keywords from the job description that you think the employer will be looking for.  You now know that these words must fit into your objective statement somehow. Next, understand your own reason in writing an objective statement. It is helpful to think of the statement like your answer to the questions, “So what kind of work do you want to do?” and “So why do you want to work for our company in this particular job?” If you can answer these two questions in your statement and include the relevant keywords, that is the interview equivalent of hitting a home run. You want to begin with your career goal and end with why you are a perfect fit for the position you are interviewing for, including keywords in every possible (and natural) place.  

Example of The Objective Statement

An example for a candidate with a special education degree might be this:  “To secure a rewarding position in the field of special education, bringing my skills in communication, creative teaching methods and working as a team player to the field by working as a special education teacher.” “Communication,” “creative teaching methods” and “team player” are all keywords from the job description in this example.

You will need to review your statement for accuracy for every application you submit, because different employers may have different keywords, even if the jobs they are posting are similar. Tweaking your statement for each application might feel like more work on the front end, but it can pay off big-time by getting your resume past the computer scanner and into the hands of a live interviewer.

Image provided by the CV Inn from Flickr’s Creative Commons

About the Author:  Marcus Grant is a guest blogger and undergraduate earning his special education degree. Now, on the cusp of graduation, he has had two successful student teaching experiences and is currently applying for jobs across the country in his field.