20+ Graduate School Resume Objective Examples List

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What Is Graduate School Resume Objective?

20+ graduate school resume objectives list, tips for writing resume objectives for graduate school students.

Here are some graduate school resume objective examples tailored for graduate students as inspiration. Look out for this page for more resume objective examples added every week.

Also see: resume career objective examples for entry level and fresher job seekers

A graduate school resume objective is a concise statement at the beginning of your resume that highlights your career goals and aspirations related to the specific graduate program.

It serves as a snapshot of your purpose, giving admissions committees a quick understanding of what you hope to achieve through the program.

Below are the list of resume objective templates for various graduate school students to look into. You can use these resume objective templates as an inspiration and develop yours accordingly.

Writing a graduate school resume objective involves emphasising your academic achievements, research experience, and career goals. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to craft an effective resume objective for graduate school…

Start with a Concise Statement/Clear Goal

Begin your resume objective with a clear statement about your academic background and the specific graduate program you are applying for.

Example: “Dedicated graduate student with a strong academic background in [your field], seeking admission to [specific graduate program] to further enhance knowledge and contribute to groundbreaking research.”

Highlight Academic Achievements

Emphasize your academic achievements, such as your GPA, relevant coursework, and any honors or awards you’ve received during your undergraduate studies.

Example: “Graduated with honors in [Your Major] and maintained a GPA of [Your GPA]. Completed advanced coursework in [Specific Subjects], demonstrating a strong foundation in [Your Field].”

Showcase Research Experience

If applicable, highlight any research experience, projects, or publications you’ve been involved in the school. This demonstrates your engagement with your field and your ability to contribute to scholarly work.

Example: “Actively participated in [Research Project] focused on [Specific Topic], contributing to [Research Outcome]. Published research findings in [Reputable Journal], showcasing a commitment to academic excellence.”

Emphasize Skills and Expertise:

Highlight specific skills and expertise relevant to your field of study. This can include laboratory techniques, software proficiency, language skills, or any other competencies that set you apart.

Example: “Proficient in [Relevant Software or Techniques], with a strong command of [Languages]. Possesses excellent analytical and critical thinking skills developed through rigorous academic coursework.”

Express Career Goals

Clearly articulate your short-term and long-term career goals. This helps admissions committees understand how the graduate program aligns with your aspirations.

Example: “Seeking admission to [Graduate Program] to pursue a career in [Your Career Field]. Aspire to contribute to [Specific Industry/Research Area] by applying advanced knowledge and skills acquired through the program.”

Tailor to the Program

Customize your resume objective for each graduate program you apply to. Mention specific aspects of the program, faculty members, or research opportunities that attract you.

Example: “Inspired by the cutting-edge research conducted by Professor [Faculty Member], I am eager to join [Graduate Program] to work under their mentorship and contribute to advancements in [Your Field].”

Include Relevant Certifications or Training in your career objective

If you have relevant certifications or additional training that complements your academic background, briefly mention them in your graduate school resume objective.

Example: “Certified in [Relevant Certification] with additional training in [Specialized Area], enhancing my ability to contribute to innovative research and academic pursuits.”

Maintain Professional Tone In Resume Objective Statement

Keep a professional and formal tone throughout your graduate school resume objective. Avoid using overly casual language, and ensure that your statement reflects your commitment to academic and professional excellence.

Example: “Aspiring graduate student committed to academic excellence and eager to contribute to the vibrant intellectual community at [University]. Seeking admission to the [Graduate Program] to further my knowledge and pursue a career in [Your Field].”

I Hope above list of graduate school resume objective examples and tips might helped you to get an inspiration on writing a compelling career objective.

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graduate school resume objective statement examples

Once a staple of the resume template, the resume objective has fallen out of style for most job applications. But do you still need a resume objective for a graduate school resume?  What are the cases where a graduate school resume objective helps rather than harms you?

In this guide, I explain what objectives are, when you should use them, and how to craft a perfect one for your grad school resume.

What’s a Resume Objective?

A resume objective is a one to two sentence formal statement, placed at the beginning of your resume, about how your skills match up with the description of the specific position you’re applying for.

Resume objectives are most often used to pull together your disparate experiences into a coherent package that the person reviewing the resume can easily digest.

Do You Need a Resume Objective for Graduate School?

For the most part, no, you don’t need an objective for your graduate school resume .

Objectives on resumes for grad school make even less sense than regular resume objectives. Most grad programs require some sort of personal statement, which is where you’ll get the best opportunity to tell the school why your experiences and interests make you the best candidate for the program.

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If you’re applying to grad school during or right after college, your personal statement is where you should show that you have clear goals in applying to that specific graduate program.

Your resume, on the other hand, is where you’ll showcase your work and research experience, publications and presentations, and any organizations or affiliations that are relevant to the program you’re applying to.

A graduate school resume objective only makes sense if your past positions don’t seem to directly relate to the program you’re applying for and you need a way to emphasize how the narrative of your resume supports your application.

Writing a Graduate School Resume Objective

If you’re applying to programs that do not directly relate to the field you’ve been working or studying in, a resume objective can be helpful in framing how the person reviewing your application will see your resume .

For instance, let’s say that you graduated with a BA in Psychology, did Teach for America and taught elementary school for eight years, getting your Masters in Education along the way, but now want to apply to med school.

Your statement of purpose will be where you put the bulk of your explanation for why you now want to pursue a career in medicine. Adding in a clear statement of your objective at the beginning of your resume, however, can enhance your application, if done skillfully.

Next, we’ll look at three examples of bad objectives for a grad school resume, followed by one well-written objective. For each objective, I’ve continued to use the med school applicant I described a couple of paragraphs ago.

Bad Resume Objective: Inaccurate or Misleading

Recent college grad with a BA in Psychology looking to achieve her career goals of becoming an adolescent psychiatrist by attending ABC School of Medicine.

Yes, it’s true that you have a BA in Psychology, but at eight years out, you’re hardly a recent college grad. Plus, your eight years of teaching experience are right there on your resume. If you don’t mention your most recent job experience as having been at all valuable in your resume objective, that’s going to raise a red flag.

Bad Resume Objective: Too General

Passionate, ambitious, and experienced educator looking to take the next step in her career by attending ABC School of Medicine.

This objective barely mentions the pertinent detai l that makes you stand out from everyone else (your teaching experience) and instead wastes space on adjectives that aren’t backed up by any evidence.

Bad Resume Objective: Too Informal

Teacher for 8 years in the trenches of an urban public school, with a Masters of Education along the way. Looking to take advantage of my love of learning and talent for keeping it real with teens by attending ABC Med School and becoming an adolescent psychiatrist.

This resume objective provides some useful information about your background and experience, but the tone is too informal for a resume objective for graduate school.

Good Resume Objective: Specific and Tailored to You

Innovative and passionate educator with eight years of teaching expertise, parent-student conflict mediation skills, and experience working for a national nonprofit organization looking to gain the necessary education and training at ABC School of Medicine to begin a career as an adolescent psychiatrist.

This resume objective mentions both your specific expertise and what you’re hoping to get out of med school . When the admissions officers reviewing your resume continue reading through, they’ll be able to fit your various experiences into the story you’ve started for them with your resume objective.

body_thinkingaboutgradschool

What’s Next?

Struggling with the resume part of your grad school application? Learn how to write a grad school resume or CV , take a look at some great resume samples , or jump right into using our grad school resume templates .

The best place to explain why you want to go to grad school is in your personal statement. We go over what you must include in your statement of purpose for grad schools in this article .

How should you choose what grad schools to apply to, and when do you need to apply by? Read more about grad school rankings , requirements , and application deadlines .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

graduate school resume objective statement examples

Author: Laura Staffaroni

Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel and fulfill their college and grad school dreams. View all posts by Laura Staffaroni

graduate school resume objective statement examples

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  • Resume and Cover Letter
  • Resume Objective Examples: A...

Resume Objective Examples: A Career Objective Guide

20 min read · Updated on March 27, 2024

Ken Chase

The formula and some good examples for creating a resume objective to get you noticed

You're searching for a new (or perhaps your first) job, and you know your objective. However, do you know how to communicate it effectively on your resume? A resume objective is a great way to let employers see a snapshot of your skills and experiences and ensure that you stand out from other candidates. However, as our great resume objective examples will demonstrate, your objective matters less than the employer's needs.

In this post, we'll explain the resume objective and how it has evolved. We'll also offer insight into the differences between an objective statement and a summary statement - and how to know which one to use. Then we'll offer some tips to help you craft an objective for your resume and look at 27 great resume objective statement examples that you can customize for your own resume.

What is a resume objective?

The resume objective used to be the gold standard of resume introductions. This brief, three or four-sentence paragraph had long been used to capture employers' attention by focusing on a job seeker's skills, experiences, and achievements while also highlighting the candidate's career goals. These days, it's less common to find professional resume objective examples since most job seekers rely on a resume summary instead.

The basic components of a good resume objective statement

A good resume objective provides three kinds of information to employers:

Who you are, which is generally a statement of your current job title as well as any skills, education , or certifications relevant to the job you're after

What you will bring that's of value to that company, such as your years of experience or specific training

 How you will use your talents to help the company reach its goals

This isn't a hard and fast structure, but knowing these components can help you to create an effective career objective for your resume. This is the structure you'll see in many of the resume job objective examples included later in this post.

Resume objective vs summary statement

It's important to understand how these two career statements differ from one another. On the surface, they would seem to have much in common. After all, they're both designed to serve as introductions that summarize your main qualifications for the job. Moreover, each is intended to capture the reader's attention and inspire them to continue reading the resume .

The differences, however, can be stark. For example:

Resume summaries focus primarily on the candidate's past record of achievements; objective statements emphasize future goals

Resume summaries provide quantifiable results, using real numbers to demonstrate value; objective statements rarely do that since it is difficult to quantify goals

Resume summaries are designed to align achievements with the company's needs; objective statements have traditionally focused more on the candidate's priorities and needs

Resume summaries are great for people who have experience and achievements; objective statements can be useful for those who lack that experience

Which one should you use?

If you've been following our resume guidance in recent years, you're probably aware of the fact that we recommend the resume summary for most job seekers. And make no mistake: if you're an experienced professional who is still moving ahead in the same field and industry, the resume summary is almost certainly your best option. However, there are two situations in which you might find that a resume objective statement will serve your interests better.

If you're new to the workforce. Recent graduates will rarely have the type of real-world experience needed for an effective summary statement. In most instances, a newcomer to the working world will likely need to rely on a resume objective to highlight skills and demonstrate how their goals align with the company's vision.

When you're interested in switching careers . In most cases, you'll have the transferable skills needed to do the job, but may struggle to align your quantifiable achievements with the company's needs. If that's the case, a resume objective can help you to showcase your skills in a way that demonstrates how they can positively benefit the company.

Tips for writing your own resume objective

Because resume objectives have lost some of their luster in recent years, many job seekers may not be familiar with the best way to craft them. To assist you in that process, we've compiled some simple tips you can use to make sure that your objective statement achieves your goals.

State how you'll help the company, not just how qualified you are. While you may not have the experiences or achievements needed to directly convey that value, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't still focus on what the company needs rather than your own desires and goals.

Use specific facts, numbers, and details whenever possible, without bragging or generalizing.

Keep it simple. Don't use flowery or expansive words, as they can sometimes make you appear arrogant. Make it as easy as possible for a recruiter to quickly see you as a qualified candidate.

Review the job posting to ensure that you have the information you need to make your resume objective specific to the job and company.

Tailor your objective to the specific job, career, and industry you're applying for. This means that you should create a separate, customized resume for each application.

Expert tip: Don't make the mistake of creating an outdated resume objective centered on your own goals. Instead, incorporate the best elements of a resume summary into your objective statement by taking the time to tie your goals to the company's needs.

Great resume objective statements you can use for your resume

With all this in mind, here are some good resume  objective examples to help you create a great career objective of your own. If your job isn't listed, don't panic. While these examples don't cover every job out there, they should help you to build a strong, targeted objective for your specific needs. As we said, each objective should be tailored to a specific role - that's why you won't find any resume objective examples for multiple job types. 

1.     Resume objective examples for a new jobseeker

You might not have a ton of experience, but creating a good resume objective will absolutely help to differentiate you from other applicants in a recruiter's eyes. The trick here is to emphasize your strongest personal skills and characteristics, as well as any educational successes, since you can't provide specific work experience or accomplishments.

Here are two general resume objective examples for new jobseekers:

“Organized, fast-learning, and hard-working employee looking to join [company name] as an Administrator. Looking to take advantage of skills in Microsoft Word and QuickBooks to help [company name] meet their objectives through organization and team support.”

“Recent graduate with a B.A. in Accounting, looking to start a career in finance at [company name]. Experienced in creating annual reports and analyzing financial statements for several university activities. Seeking to combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience to help [company name] continue their strong market presence.”

2.     Resume objective examples for those looking for a career change

Your goal here is to clearly show how your skills and experience from your previous career can be effective in your next job. Do this by mentioning your talents and knowledge that are relevant to the new job and stating how your previous career background will help you to succeed and excel in the role.

“Customer Service Associate with over four years of experience in accounting technical support, looking to leverage Excel skills and Great Plains knowledge as a Staff Accountant with [company name]. Proven customer satisfaction record solving complicated technical and accounting issues while in a remote role.”

3.Resume objective examples for finance roles

“Experienced individual with solid analytical and quantitative skills and 5 years of experience seeks the job of Financial Analyst with [company name], to leverage outstanding knowledge of financial analysis and modeling to provide accurate and sound financial decision-making at all levels.”

“Experienced Junior Financial Analyst seeking role of Senior Financial Specialist with [company name]. Skills include making targeted and time-sensitive financial decisions by merging solid analytical, accounting, and quantitative skills with a strong passion for the finance industry.”

4.     Resume objective examples for Accountant roles

“Detail-oriented graduate with an AS degree, problem-solving abilities, and analytical skills seeking the role of Accounting Associate with [company name], to effectively apply exceptional knowledge of tax and accounting software for accurate budgeting and forecasting.”

“Current CPA looking to fill the role of Accounts Manager at [company name]. As well as being disciplined and self-motivated, I have extensive experience with financial reporting and modeling along with a proven knowledge of various accounting software models, all of which contribute to effective financial operations.”

5.     Resume objective examples for banking roles

“Highly talented Head Teller with 8 years of experience in the banking sector, seeking a position as a Relationship Manager with [bank name] to increase revenue by combining a banking background with excellent interpersonal and communication skills to bring in new clients, maintain relationships with existing clients, and develop effective media campaigns.”

“Seasoned banking professional seeking a Bank Manager position with [name of bank], where I can use my business and banking experience along with strong communication skills to provide effective problem-solving, customer service, and employee retention and interact with bank customers in a positive, beneficial manner.”

“Self-motivated, reliable, number-loving individual looking for a position as a Bank Teller with [bank name] to apply exceptional math and customer service skills for customers. Key traits include trustworthiness, efficiency, and willingness to learn new tasks.”

6.     Resume objective example for Computer Engineer roles

“Highly motivated individual with 7 years of solid computer engineering experience and proven leadership skills seeking the position of SharePoint Administrator at [company name] where I hope to use demonstrated SharePoint expertise, knowledge of SharePoint solutions architecture, and advanced knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server to ensure exceptional technical performance.”

7.     Resume objective example for a Network Administrator

“Experienced IT professional with BA in Computer Science and proven technical, management, and communication skills seeking the position of Network Engineer at [company name] to use proven experience in systems management and configuration to benefit both internal staff and external customers.”

8.     Resume objective example for IT professionals

“Talented Information Technology Specialist in search of a Senior IT Manager position at [company name], where proven technical and team management skills can help to improve existing processes for handling IT requests and efficiently delivering various technical projects.”

9.     Resume objective example for a Programmer

“Technical and database professional seeks the role of SQL Programmer within [company name] where I will use my excellent programming and organizational skills to enhance company market presence while also gaining a deeper understanding of the newest IT trends.”

10.  Resume objective examples for customer service roles

“Smart and creative Customer Service Representative desires similar position with [company name]. Brings strong communication abilities, proven organizational skills, and a supportive, patient personality to help the company retain and grow its customer base in both existing and new markets.”

“Experienced customer service professional seeking a position at [company name] as a Customer Support Analyst, where I can apply excellent communication and organizational skills to provide customers with effective and efficient support which ensures ongoing retention.”

“Credentialed and experienced Sales Administrator seeks the post of a Contact Center Agent at [company name] where I can provide exceptional verbal, listening, and analytical abilities to ensure clients reach their desired objectives by correctly using [company name]'s products.”

“Diligent Customer Service Agent with 5+ years of experience at a high-volume call center seeks a career move to a similar role at a company such as [company name]. I thrive in a fast-paced work environment and am committed to delivering the top-rated customer service you provide. My organization and support skills can help to meet current and future customer demand.”

11.  Resume objective examples for Engineers

“Graduate of [school name] with a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and two years of work experience at ABC Company seeks a Mechanical Engineer role with [company name]. Possess excellent skills in research, data analysis, and time management. Hold patents for several innovative mechanical devices.”

“Experienced individual with 7+ years of experience managing engineering operations seeks a Civil Engineer role at [company name]. Proven ability to handle simultaneous projects with minimal supervision and bring a committed focus on health, safety, and the environment to the position.”

12.  Resume objective example for human resources positions 

“Human resource management professional looking for the opportunity to augment the overall strategic plan and market direction of [company name] as VP of Human Resources. Over nine years of experience in managing staff, handling employee relations, and deliveirng projects. Strong skills in HRIS.”

“Established, successful HR recruiter seeks a Human Resources Coordinator position with [company name] where I can use my experience and in-depth knowledge of hiring processes, negotiation, conflict resolution, and policy development for payroll and benefits.”

“Experienced and approachable Human Resources Coordinator with four years of experience seeks position as Human Resources Manager with [company name], where I can use my industry knowledge and HR experience to implement employee satisfaction policies and improvements, develop hiring protocols, and create an environment where employees feel valued and satisfied.”

“Results-driven graduate with a degree in psychology (GPA: 3.8) and a minor in business operations looking for a role as a Junior HR Recruitment Agent at [company name]. Prior experience in interviewing and providing feedback as part of college projects in business classes. I will bring well-honed soft skills and strong knowledge of workplace psychology to assist overall HR operations, while fine-tuning my skills in the recruitment process.”

13. Resume objective examples for internships

“Hard-working student (3.5/4.0 GPA) majoring in [specific area] seeks the Intern role with [company name]. Abilities include proven leadership and organizational skills and strong attention to detail. Dedicated team player who can be relied upon to help [company name] achieve its goals as I learn more about your market space.”

“Energetic, talented college student at [school name] working toward a Marketing Degree, seeks to fill the Marketing Intern role at [company name]. General experience and knowledge of PR, advertising, consumer research, and product development strategies to help build customer base in emerging markets.”

14.  Resume objective example for legal roles

“Accomplished Corporate Attorney with 8 years of direct experience, seeking a top-level Lawyer role at [name of legal firm]. Brings skills including legal drafting, arbitration, corporate affairs, and labor laws to assist clients both inside and outside the courtroom.”

“Current Public Legal Advocate seeks position as Senior Legal Researcher for [name of court district/city/legal firm]. I have two years of experience working in district and session courts in the areas of home development, land development, and commercial property development, that will allow me to take on more challenging research projects to meet client needs in these areas.”

15.  Resume objective examples for marketing positions

“Technically oriented graduate with a B.A. in Internet Marketing seeking a Junior SEO Specialist position at [company name]. Possesses a working knowledge of SEO, as well as some hands-on experience with Google Analytics. Looking to further develop online marketing skills as part of the [company name] team.”

“Certified Digital Marketer with strong content writing skills, SEO experience, and 5 years of proven online marketing experience seeking the role of Digital Marketer with [company name] to help expand customer base into new markets.”

“Enthusiastic Marketer skilled in copywriting and graphic design looking for a Social Media Marketing position at [company name]. Personally started and grew an Instagram page to 5,000+ followers and a Facebook page to 8,000+ likes. I believe my skills will help [company name]'s clients improve sales via social media marketing through a strong online presence.”

16.  Resume objective example for Physical Therapist roles

“Licensed, experienced Physical Therapist seeking similar role at [hospital or clinic name]. With 6+ years of experience in treating children and adults with physical disabilities, injuries, and illnesses, I can contribute to the healing of each person's physical challenges and help them learn to navigate them successfully.”

17.  Resume objective example for nursing roles

“Registered Nurse seeking a new career as a Neonatal Nurse Specialist at [hospital name]. Ten years of general nursing combined with a certification in neonatal nursing will allow me to provide outstanding care for both infants and their families, educating them about different health conditions and how to handle them. Working nights and weekends is not a problem.”

“Experienced Home Health Aide seeks to obtain a position as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at [name of home health agency] applying my course knowledge and proven healthcare skills to support and care for home-bound patients with various health needs.”

18.  Resume objective example for pharmacy role

“Licensed Pharmacy Technician with 8 years of experience, in search of a similar position at [pharmacy or hospital name]. Assists patients by successfully applying extensive experience and knowledge of pharmacy operations, technology, and drug distribution.”

19. Resume objective examples for office and administrative roles

“Former Nurse seeking a part-time job as a Receptionist at [company name]. Experience in working directly with people in nursing and for the last five years as an Avon Representative. Organized, with strong computer skills and professional presence.”

“Business-savvy office employee looking to work at [company name] as an Administrative Assistant. Experience as an Executive Assistant (1 year) and as a Department Secretary (3 years). Supported several key projects through strong organizational skills, timeliness, and solid computer abilities.”

“Freelance VA (Virtual Assistant) looking to transition to an on-site role as an Executive Assistant. Worked with 10+ online businesses, helping with everything from creating training documents to customer service and management support. Excellent organizational abilities and strong attention to detail. Proficient in Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud. Strong copywriting skills.”

20.  Resume objective example for an Office Manager position

“Experienced Office Manager seeking a leadership role to help [company name] provide outstanding customer satisfaction. Experienced in managing teams of 15+ at [current or former company names], handling responsibilities from hiring new staff to managing data input groups.”

21.  Resume objective examples for operations roles

“Experienced MBA graduate with outstanding time and project management skills and 10+ years of experience seeks the position as Director of Operations with [company name]. Can ensure the company's ongoing success through exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills and the ability to lead large multi-departmental operations.”

“Dynamic individual with exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills looking to fill the role of Manager of Clinical Operations at [company name]. I bring experience and expertise in overseeing clinical operations and managing technical and professional staff, as well 8+ years of clinical research and supervisory experience in the medical field.”

22.  Resume objective example for Project Manager positions

“Deadline-focused professional with proven experience in project administration, searching for a project management position where I can use my knowledge and skills in the areas of leadership, problem solving, team management, and budget control to help [company name] exceed targets.”

23.  Resume objective examples for real estate roles

“Real Estate Broker with a passion for organization and excellence seeks a similar role with [company name], using experience with the sale and lease of commercial and residential properties in [location]. Recurrent sales and leasing of properties to large corporations in the last 5 years allowed me to increase revenue to 12% on a year-over-year basis, significantly contributing to the growth of the company.”

“Successful Salesperson seeks high-level position as Real Estate Broker at [company name]. Recent experience handling a customer base of over 150 clients at another reputable real estate firm [or name the company]. Skill set includes creating daily and monthly sales reports and assisting the implementation of customer retention strategies for senior management.”

24.  Resume objective examples for service industry roles

“Excellent communicator and multi-tasker with experience in massage and esthetic services, interested in the position of Front Desk Wellness Sales Executive with [company name]. I bring various strengths including a professional phone manner, bookkeeping knowledge, and customer service skills that will help your front desk to run smoothly.”

“Hardworking, organized, and reliable Housekeeper looking for a janitorial position at [company name] to clean interior spaces. Possesses knowledge of efficient and safe cleaning practices, the use of cleaning equipment, and environmentally sound cleaning agents, as well as excellent customer service.”

25.  Resume objective examples for food service positions

“Entrepreneurial and highly experienced Caterer with 7+ years in the foodservice sector seeking the position of Catering Manager at [company name]. Brings proven management experience, culinary expertise, interpersonal skills, and a strong customer service approach to the role.”

“Friendly, upbeat, and detail-oriented individual looking for an entry-level, fast-paced Line Cook position at [restaurant name], where I can use my outstanding food preparation skills safely and efficiently.”

26.  Resume objective examples for education workers

“Talented Preschool Teacher with 3 years of experience seeking the role of Kindergarten Teacher at [school name]. I have excellent skills and connections with special needs students and collaborated with my Superintendent to create and implement effective teaching practices for these children that can be used throughout the district.”

“Experienced elementary school English Teacher looking to fill the role of Reading Specialist at [school name.] This position in a progressive institution like [school name] would allow me to use my sound teaching skills to assist students in reaching their full potential by helping them to become strong readers.”

“Passionate, enthusiastic and experienced Teaching Assistant seeking the position of Para-Educator at [school name]. Brings interpersonal skills and classroom experience to aid in the development of each student by interacting with them, providing support and resources, and directly supporting the Teacher's lessons in the classroom.”

27.  Resume objective examples for Writers and Editors

“Articulate recent graduate with a B.A. degree in Media and Mass Communication desires a Content Creator Role at [company name]. Hoping to use writing skills and experience in writing articles for local newspapers and online magazines to improve [company name]'s blog, expanding current industry presence.”

“Editor with extensive writing and management experience looking to fill the position of Senior Editor with [company name], using time-management skills to ensure all projects meet deadlines and supervisory experience to effectively manage a team of Writers and Editors.”

Key things to remember

As you can see from the resume objective examples that we've included throughout this post, there's a right way to create this type of professional summary. As you craft your own objective, keep these keen insights in mind:

Try to include some measurable achievements in your statement, to show how you can add value to the employer's bottom line. If you're new to the workplace, however, focus instead on highlighting the benefits that your skills can provide to that employer.

Keep it short, focused on relevant details, and packed with keywords from the job description. 

Make sure that everything you write in your objective statement is supported by the information included in your skills and work experience sections .

Always put yourself in the employer's shoes and try to imagine what kind of information they might be looking for as they review your resume.

Try to only rely on an objective statement if you have little or no real-world experience in the industry you're trying to join. If you do have experience, you'll probably be better served by a summary statement.

Wrapping it up

Once again, this is by no means a complete list of resume objective examples, but it should help you to understand the formula for creating a specific resume objective for whatever job you're after.

Take the time to do this right. Create a tailored objective for each position you want and you'll be easily found by both recruiters and applicant tracking systems searching for the keywords that are right there at the top of your resume.

The result? You'll be starting your new job well ahead of the crowd!

Still not sure about your resume objective or other aspects of your resume? Make sure that it's submission-ready with a free resume review or professional rewrite .

This article was originally written by Lisa Tynan and has been updated by Marsha Hebert and Ken Chase.

Recommended reading:

How to Tailor Your Resume to a Specific Job Description

How to Use Action Verbs in a Resume

How to Write a Resume Headline (With Examples)

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

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  • Graduate School

The Best Graduate School Resume Example

Graduate School Resume Example

If the next step in your academic journey is graduate school, you’ll want to review this graduate school resume example! Understanding what specific documents must be submitted with your application, including your graduate school cover letter and statement of intent is crucial. Along with these, your graduate school resume is of vital importance. Read on to learn more about what to include, and how to organize this important application component.

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Article Contents 11 min read

If you’re thinking of taking the next step in your academic career and applying to graduate school, congratulations! In addition to your transcript, as well as any grad school letters of recommendation and your statement of intent, you'll need a resume to include with your application. You may have a resume on-hand that you’ve used for jobs in the past, but it’s important to note that graduate school resumes are– while equally as professional– a bit different than regular resumes.

So, how do you prepare a great resume for graduate school? Keep reading to discover what a graduate school resume is, view a graduate school resume example, and understand what you should include, and how you should format your resume in a way that makes it stand out to the admissions team!

What is a Graduate School Resume, and How is it Different from a CV?

A graduate school resume is a brief summary of your education and experience that will be submitted with your other application documents when you formally apply to graduate school. It is a professional document that contains your personal information, experiential details, and credentials relevant to the program to which you’re applying. Information on your resume will be concise and organized as bullet points. Any extensive details and narrative-style writing should be reserved for your graduate school cover letter or graduate school statement of purpose.

Your graduate school resume should also include specific details about your personal and academic accomplishments, such as extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, qualifications and interests relevant to your program and intended career path. The purpose of a graduate school resume is to briefly highlight your most valuable qualities and experiences that directly relate to your graduate school program, and demonstrate why you would be the perfect fit for your chosen school.

Because your graduate school resume will be sent to admissions teams, it is important that you tailor it to demonstrate your academic experience, and mention relevant work experiences outside of academia in the latter portion of the resume. This makes your graduate school resume different from a traditional, professional resume you’d prepare when seeking employment because traditional resumes are tailored to focus on employment history and skills, whereas graduate school resumes are intended to detail academic experience extensively and only briefly touch on employment experience. In addition to listing your academic experience and accomplishments as the highlight of your graduate school resume, you’ll also want to ensure your objective is clear, and that the employment experiences you do choose to list align with the rest of your resume and academic path. For example, your summer job as a barista may have been a lot of fun and a great experience for you, but if you’re applying for a graduate program in Psychology, this might not be a pertinent job to detail, especially if you’ve had a number of more recent and/or relevant experiences.

Figuring out how to get into grad school requires a lot of preparation and documents. When submitting your application materials through an online portal or by mail at the institution’s admissions office, you’ll want to ensure you’ve covered all bases and submitted all required documents. If you’re hoping to apply to graduate school, you’ll probably need a strong, professional graduate school resume. While it may not always be a required document, it’s a good idea to have a professional academic resume prepared, in case you want to apply to research positions or teaching assistant positions while you are a student.

Your graduate school resume is a professional document. There are several resume templates available online that can be used to guide your layout. Whatever you choose, template or not, your graduate school resume should be legible and easy to follow.

Be careful when selecting templates, and where you gather inspiration! It\u2019s best to keep it simple, so, avoid using extravagant fonts, too many colors, or images. Focus on the structure and flow. ","label":"Tip","title":"Tip"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Before you begin drafting your graduate school resume, look at the description of the program to which you’re applying, and do a bit of research on the academic institution itself. What do they value in their students? Additionally, you should understand what the focus of your desired program is; for example, if it’s research, you should focus on highlighting research experience you’ve had, whereas if it is publications or social work, you’d be best for detail experiences related to written publications and field experience.

You must only include relevant experiences, and keep your details to a minimum. If you have one or two great experiences you’d like to expand on, make sure they’re listed on your graduate school resume, and take time to describe them in greater detail on your separated graduate school cover letter, research interest statement, or the grad school career goals statement !

Always list your academic and employment experiences in reverse chronological order on your graduate school resume! This means that your most recent experiences should be listed first. ","label":"Tip","title":"Tip"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Your graduate school resume must include the following information, and follow this structure: 

Your header should include your full name, address, phone number, and email address in the top of your page. If you use a template, the position of your header may be different,but regardless, your personal information must be clearly listed at the top of your graduate school resume.

Objective Statement

This brief statement will appear under your header information and above your academic experience section.

It should be no more than two or three sentences long as its purpose is to capture the attention of the admissions team by briefly describing why you’re qualified for their program, and what you’re hoping to achieve in it.

You’ll want to list your academic experience immediately after your objective statement. This should include the institution you currently attend, as well as any other relevant schooling/experiences. For example, if you’ve studied abroad, attended college, or completed any internships or practicum placements , you can list them and provide brief details here.

You could also mention your GPA, or any awards you’ve received at your current institution. Be mindful that if your GPA is not great, you may not want to list it here. While there is always ways to get into grad school with a low GPA , you do not want to draw attention to it.

Publications (optional)

Publications are considered to be a huge accomplishment and can definitely be an asset on your graduate school resume. If you’ve had any publications, it is advised that you include this section and list each of your publications accordingly in order to stand out to admissions teams!

Your publications must be properly cited using Chicago style, MLA, APA, or any other style that is required by the discipline that correlates with your program.

Employment Experiences

You’ll want to list relevant employment experiences here. Whether you’ve worked a full-time position, or several part times ones, include the most recent experiences first.

It’s important to remember that if you’ve had several jobs, you don’t have to list every experience. Think of your most recent and relevant experiences that have taught you valuable and transferable skills, and include them on your graduate school resume.

Volunteer and Extracurricular

While it isn’t mandatory to include this information, any volunteer work you’ve done in your community recently, or at your academic institution, is worth noting, as long as it’s relevant.

As for extracurriculars, try to include activities that you have committed to for prolonger periods of time. You do not want to include your one trip to a soup kitchen over Christmas. Your volunteering and extracurriculars must demonstrate dedication and development. You can include items like: 

\u201cVolunteer annually at [your town or city\u2019s] animal shelter holiday food drive 20XX- Current\u201d "}]" code="timeline1">

These types of extracurriculars show ongoing commitment and interest to activities outside of your required academic and employment schedule.

With both volunteer and extracurricular activities, you’ll want to ensure you only include relevant and recent information. Even if you loved a volunteer experience you had as a young child, or, you were briefly a proud member of a school team many years ago, experiences that don’t speak to who you are right now as a graduate school applicant are irrelevant.

Additional Skills, Qualifications, and Certifications

Here, you can detail any additional skills you have, and certifications you’ve earned. For example, you may be certified to teach First Aid, or have obtained a certification to work in a mental health setting, and that could be applicable to your program. You may also have extensive knowledge about a subject or topic related to your field of study, and may even opt to detail any special recognition you’ve received.

Additionally, you can make note of general skills you’ve obtained from past experiences in this section, such as, “Advanced knowledge of assistive devices and technology”, or “Fluent in English, Spanish, and ASL”. 

References are not always required on a graduate school resume, as this is more common for employment purposes. However, it does not hurt to include the names and contact information of a few people–usually two or three– who can speak to your skills and abilities as a student or professional. These should not be close friends or immediate family members, but rather, professors, teaching assistants, colleagues, employers, co-workers, or even volunteer supervisors. You may opt to include somebody who wrote/will write your letter of recommendation as a reference on your graduate school resume, too.

As always, read what your program’s application requirements are if you’re unsure what to include. And, ensure that your chosen references are aware that you’re giving their information; always ask for permission first, and advise them that they may be contacted by a program!

In addition to, or instead of references, some graduate school applicants may opt to provide their LinkedIn profile, or another web address for a relevant portfolio. This depends on the applicant, as well as the program requirements.

Still working on your statement of purpose? Check this out:

Graduate School Resume Example One

123 Anywhere Street

Newtown, USA

(123)-456-7891

[email protected]

A fourth-year honors undergraduate psychology student at ABC University, passionate about developmental psychology, and aspiring to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at your celebrated institution and work toward a future career in youth counselling and psychotherapy. 

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, ABC University, 2018-2022

  • GPA: 3.8/4.0
  • Honors: I am projected to graduate from my program with honors in June, 2022
  • Awards: Glen. R. Anyman Scholarship Recipient 2019, 2021

Autism and Behavioral Sciences, Newtown Community College, 2016-2018

  • GPA: 3.2/4.0
  • Awards: Dean’s List, 2017
  • Practicum: Completed 4 month in-field placement

Publications

“Music Therapy and its Effect on Neurodivergent Stimming.” ABC Journal of Psychology. Doe, Jane. Smith, John. West, Mark et al . April 2021.

Employment Experience

JR. ABA Therapist, Development Minds Centre, Newtown, 2019- Current

  • Scheduled for part time and full time (during summer months) shifts
  • Attend team training and development courses each quarter
  • Assist recurring and new students with learning and skill building exercises 
  • Instruct using ABA techniques and knowledge acquired from ABS certification 
  • Conduct myself as a professional and role model for all students

Student Key Holder, ABC University Bookstore, 2018-2019

  • Responsible for stocking books and organizing academic materials
  • Oversaw and revised retail training procedures
  • POS operation and training
  • Assisted in planning team building events for staff members
  • Read plan-o-grams and changed marketing materials and store layout seasonally

Part Time Sales Associate, Walmart, Newtown, 2015-2018

  • Organized sales floor accordingly
  • Operated POS system
  • Supervised staff in-training
  • Responsible for opening and closing procedures
  • Assisted with loss prevention protocol
  • Demonstrated advanced customer service skills

Newtown Arts Dance Academy

  • Jazz and Lyrical dance student (2013-2010)
  • Volunteer instructor and fundraising events coordinator (2019-2022)

ABC University Running Club

  • Club member (2020)
  • Co-captain (2021-2022)

Additional Qualifications

  • Advanced knowledge of assistive technology and devices, including closed-captioning software and speech-to-text (Dragon)
  • Certified ABA instructor, certified in de-escalation approaches for youth with ASD
  • Fluent in American Sign Language and spoken French

John Doe [email protected]

201-18 Anywhere St. (647)-292-9999

Southtown, ON.

I am a curious and driven History and English major with a minor in Anthropology and experience instructing, researching, writing and archiving. I am eager to attend your M.A in History program and pursue thesis courses with an emphasis on Europe’s development during the Middle Ages, with the intent of eventually becoming a dedicated History instructor myself.

Bachelor of Arts, Honors X University 2018-2022

  • Major focus in History and English, with a passion for renaissance literature and the history of the middle ages
  • Minor focus in Anthropology

Awards and Publications

  • “Literature: How It Developed, Then Shifted, National Patriotism during Britain’s Industrial Revolution.” , X University Journal. Doe, John. May 2022
  • Kate. L. Anyperson History Excellency Award recipient, 2019
  • X University English Program Scholarship recipient, 2019

Employment 

PT Writer and Editor, Editorial National Post, 2020-Current                         

Following my internship in 2020, my manager hired me to write on a part time basis for the National Post. I complete 1-5 tasks a week, these can include editing submissions for publish as well as curating original content

Teaching and Internships X University, 2020-2022

  • Teaching Assistant, “Shakespeare’s Comedies and Tragedies, ENG 204”, 2022
  • Teaching Assistant, “Russia during WWI, HIS 103.”, 2021
  • Internship, credited, completed at National Post (editorial writing), 2020

FT Summer Camp Counsellor XYZ Camps

As a camp counsellor, I was responsible for scheduling and directing activities, monitoring campers between the ages of 7 and 10 on a daily basis, for 6 weeks each summer. This role taught me invaluable organizational leadership skills.

Volunteer and Extracurricular Experience

  • Member of X city Library’s Historical Society, 2011-current
  • Founding member of X University Anthropological Archives Club, 2020-current
  • Volunteer ‘Big Brother’ with Big Brothers Big Sisters, 2015-2018
  • Skilled in computer and software development, advanced technology skills
  • Well adept at archiving, organizing, and understanding historical materials and artifacts
  • Fluent in (written) Latin

For Reference

Ms. R. Smith

Supervising Professor (for teaching assistant roles), 2021-2022

905-999-1234, ext. 4441

Mr. M. Young

Department Manager, National Post, 2020-current

416-777-4321

Mrs. L. White

M.A, Librarian, X City Library

Historical Society Supervisor and friend, 2011-current

647-000-9999, ext.1234

Personal LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/john-doe-1998

A graduate school resume is an organized, formal document that briefly details your academic experience, qualifications, skills, and employment experiences that are relevant to the graduate school program that you’re applying for.

Yes. Your graduate school resume is meant to showcase your academic accomplishments and abilities first in order to catch the attention of admissions officers. Typically, for employment resumes, you’d mention your education toward the end of the resume and focus on your employment-related experiences and skills; you’ll do the opposite in your graduate school resume. In your graduate school resume, your academic achievements must come first.

Yes. Think of your graduate school resume as a ‘list’, or a collection of concise information about what you have accomplished- academics, jobs, extracurriculars, and additional qualifications. Your graduate school resume is a brief summary that shows the admissions team what you’ve done, and when you’ve done it, it gives an overview of who you are as a candidate.

Your graduate school CV, or curriculum vitae, is a longer document that is similar to the style of a graduate school resume, however, it provides more extensive details about your academic accomplishments. In your CV, you will provide information about each of your teaching experiences, research experiences, publications, awards, academic extracurriculars, GPA, and even courses you’ve taken. It goes much more in-depth, especially academically, than a graduate school resume.

Your graduate school resume can be a bit longer than a ‘typical’ resume, but you should still try to keep it to one page.

In workplaces, people tend to think a resume that is longer than a page is taboo. That is not the case with graduate school resumes. But, you must still keep it brief and omit any unnecessary details. Remember, you only want to include relevant information and experiences on your resume. Even if you loved your summer job from five years ago, or your volunteer experience in high school, if you’ve had more valuable, relevant experiences since, you shouldn’t include them!

If your resume is two pages in length, that is okay! If your resume extends to a third page, try to condense it as much as possible, as three pages is an absolute maximum!

It is best to use a professional, legible font (such as size 11 or 12 Times New Roman or Arial). Your resume should flow nicely, with necessary spacing between your sections.

Oftentimes, graduate school applicants utilize free templates for resume’s, or use the appropriate H2 and H3 headers to ensure their sections are clearly defined.

Your resume will stand out if you have a simplistic, easy-to-read and follow format, as well as relevant, concise information.

The admissions team is looking for the best candidates for their program, so make sure you highlight your academic history and achievements well, and consider looking for keywords or key qualities in their program description and place them strategically (but naturally) throughout your resume, where applicable.

Your graduate school resume is a list of your accomplishments, along with your academic and employment history.

Even if you don’t feel you’ve accomplished anything remarkable, you must have some academic experience to apply to graduate school! You can list your program name, any publications you’ve had, and your GPA.

If you haven’t had any publications, internships, teaching experience, and/or awards, that is okay. Although they might look impressive, graduate schools focus on a variety of factors when considering applicants for admission. Instead, focus on highlighting your other skills, volunteer history, extracurriculars and employment experience!

This can depend on your program requirements, so, always double check how and when your application and supporting documents (such as your graduate school resume) must be supported.

Often, it is through an online portal. Unless otherwise specified, always upload your graduate school resume as a PDF document. This will be easiest for the admissions committee, and is generally the most professional way to submit a formal document.

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graduate school resume objective statement examples

How To Write A Resume Objective Statement (Examples Included)

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

objective for resume

By Mike Simpson

UPDATED 5/18/2022

Resumes. We all know what they are. We all know how important having a good one is…and how much a bad one can hurt your ability to get your dream job. That’s why reviewing different resume objective examples is essential, ensuring you can create well-crafted, carefully targeted resumes for hiring managers.

So, how do you make sure your resume objective – and entire application – stands out? We’ll tell you. Come with us as we explore some resume objective statement examples, as well as tips on how to ensure yours shines.

What is a Resume Objective?

graduate school resume objective statement examples

“My objective? Well, that’s easy. My objective is to get the job.”

Absolutely, we couldn’t agree more. But an objective on your resume is so much more than just writing, “Hey, hire me. I’m super awesome.”

So, what is an objective for a resume?

Well, according to the Marquette University College of Business Administration , “an objective statement is a concise, position-centered statement describing the value you can add and the needs you can fulfill.”

Our friends over at Indeed.com take it a step further, saying: “A well-written resume objective statement can be customized for the job you’re applying for and add value to your resume that sets it apart from other applicants.”

Essentially, a resume objective is a targeted snippet that clearly outlines your career direction while simultaneously positioning you as someone who fits what the employer is looking for exactly.

Sounds pretty ingenious, right? So why don’t more people have them on their resumes?

Resume objectives can be a bit controversial. Some people think they can make you look amateurish…which, if you don’t do it correctly, is absolutely true. But that can be said for any section of your resume.

Other schools of thought think that the objectives should be taken out entirely and replaced with the more popular “ resume summary statement .”

You may be wondering, “What if I use a resume objective and the hiring manager looks at it and laughs? Are they going to throw out my resume…or worse, put it on the wall of shame?”

Now, nobody is going to laugh at your resume objective as long as you use the right approach. Additionally, if your career is moving in certain directions, using a resume objective makes more sense than the alternatives.

When Should You Use a Resume Objective?

Are you relatively new to the job search market or lack work experience?

Are you changing industries?

Are you targeting a specific job or position?

If you answered “YES” to any of these above questions, then the resume objective is potentially perfect. If you answered “NO” to all of the above questions, you might be better off with a “Resume Summary Statement.”

For those of you in the middle of a career change or who might just be starting out, a resume objective statement allows you to define your goal to a potential employer…something that your work history might not otherwise be able to do for you.

Imagine how confused a hiring manager would be if they were looking for candidates to fill an office coordinator position and you sent in a resume with ten years of experience in marketing. Without an objective statement, the hiring manager might just assume your resume has been accidentally sent to them and simply discard it.

With an objective statement, you can not only let the hiring manager know that your resume IS in the right spot but also explain that you’re making the switch and show that your skill set does align with this new career path.

If you’re targeting a specific job or position, a resume objective statement can help reinforce that idea that you know EXACTLY what you’re after. That can work in your favor, too.

Overall, and most importantly, the biggest reason to put an objective on your resume is…it’s better than having nothing. Remember, your goal is to catch the hiring manager’s eye and stand out from the rest of the paper in that pile.

Common Mistakes

There are several common mistakes job seekers can make when writing their statement with the number one being using the same objective for every job application.

1) Using the Same Objective For Every Job Application

To obtain a job within my chosen field that will challenge me and allow me to use my education, skills and past experiences in a way that is mutually beneficial to both myself and my employer and allow for future growth and advancement.

Your goal is to be the ideal candidate and that means making sure you’re exactly what the hiring manager is looking for…and unless you’re applying to a cookie cutter factory in a cookie cutter job town where every job every employer is listing is exactly the same then I guarantee you 100% that your statement will NOT be a “one size fits all” statement.

2) Making It All About You

This is a trap that many job seekers fall into, as they can’t resist to use the objective to list off all of the things that they want to get out of the position.

Hi, I’m Joe Jobseeker and I really want a job in a company where I make a ton of money doing as little as possible. Oh, and a corner office. A company car would be nice too. While we’re at it, let’s talk benefits, retirement…and the company vacation policy.

Yes, we’re being over the top with this one, but we need you to look at this and laugh…because even a slightly toned down one where you list only what YOU want is going to come off just as ridiculous to the hiring manager as the one we’ve blown out of proportion.

3) Being Too Vague

Mistake number three is being vague. Like we said, this isn’t a one size fits all so by being ambiguous in the hopes of somewhat fitting what they’re looking for is going to get your resume sent directly to the circular file. (In case you don’t know, the circular file is the trash can. It just sounds fancier but the end result is the same…no job.)

Looking for a long term full time job where I can apply my extensive skills and knowledge to the position for which I am hired.

Blah. Who is this person? All we know by reading this statement is that they have skills and knowledge…but other than that, not much else. What skills do they have? Do they really apply to the job? And what knowledge can they draw from that will benefit the company? See what we mean? It’s so generic you could literally fit anything into those blanks…it’s like Resume Mad Libs!

4) Going On… And On… And On… And On… and zzzzzzzzzzzzz….

Mistake number four is being too long. This isn’t a novel. It’s a quick little blurb to catch their attention so they can bring you in for an interview…then you can get into more detail!

Not going to put one here. Why? Because the example we were going to do was going to be so long and ridiculous that you and everyone else reading this post would just get bored and move onto another article. Just remember, it’s all about short and sweet. Anything over a sentence or two is TOO LONG. Remember that.

5) Adding Absolutely No Value

Mistake number five is probably the worst…and the easiest to fall into (outside of mistake number two, the “all about me” statement.) Mistake number five is writing a statement that basically fills space but doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything about the value you bring to the table. This can also be confused with the too vague statement…

To obtain a position within my chosen field where I can utilize my skills as a hard-working, well-educated employee in exchange for a steady market-fair paycheck.

Congratulations. You’re educated and you’re hard working and you want to make money. So what? So are 90% of the people you’re going up against. Why are YOU the ideal candidate? What makes the hiring manager want to bring YOU in over everyone else? See what we mean?

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:

How are you going to fulfill the needs of the company?

When writing your resume objective, you should always have the intention of answering this question.

How To Write An Effective Resume Objective

So how do you write a GOOD resume objective?

One thing every one of these bad examples has in common is the fact that not a single one of them is tailored to the position you’re looking for. Any hiring manager who looks at a resume with objectives like those is going to immediately move on to the next candidate.

Because whoever those potential hires are, they’re not ideal candidates. You need to not only catch the hiring manager’s eye; you must make sure that they look at your statement and say, “Here’s the perfect fit!”

So, how do you make it happen? Well, a really good place to start is by looking at the job description. According to Indeed.com , “…when you include an objective that’s specific to the job role, the recruiter is more likely to dig deeper and learn more details about your professional experience.”

After that, make sure it’s tailored to not only the position but the company as well. By incorporating a few tidbits that speak to the company’s mission and values, you can take that quick statement up a notch.

Nice, right?

Additionally, focus on how you’re a benefit to the company, not how the company can benefit you. Showcase value, ensuring you point out what you bring to the table.

Keep it short and sweet, too. Skip overblown adjectives in favor of action verbs, which will help “raise the energy levels” of your objective and ensure that it is more dynamic and interesting.

If you’re someone who is changing careers, demonstrate how your past experiences relate to your future tasks. The same goes for those who are just starting out or who are relatively inexperienced.

Resume Objective Examples

In some cases, nothing makes the points above clearer quite like a few resume objective examples. Here are a handful of samples, each targeting different situations.

New to Workforce, No High School Diploma

“Diligent, dedicated individual looking to apply communication and collaboration skills in a fast-paced customer service role. A self-motivated team player with an outgoing personality who’s ready to learn the ins and outs of a new industry and provide ample value to a retail employer.”

New to Workforce, No College

“Well-organized high school honor graduate with exceptional problem-solving and collaboration skills seeking opportunities in the office administration field where strong communication, time management, and research skills can provide excellent value to an employer.”

College Student, Aspiring Intern

“Current accounting student with an emphasis on accounts payable and accounts receivable seeking developmental opportunities with a local firm. Diligent, focused, and tech-savvy, looking to provide value to a skilled team.”

Recent College Graduate

“Hard-working business administration graduate with proven leadership and organizational skills. Looking to leverage knowledge or operational processes, emerging commercial trends, and supply machine management to increase efficiency and support broader productivity goals.”

Recent College Graduate with Internship Experience

“Honor graduate with a Bachelor’s in Human Resources and one year of experience at a leading staffing firm looking to leverage a deep understanding of leading ATS solutions, modern interview techniques, and conflict resolution strategies to support the goals of an enterprise-level HR department.”

Career Change

“Ambitious professional looking to leverage 5+ years of customer service experience and exceptional communication skills in the fast-paced field of real estate. Proven ability to build lasting, long-term relationships, understand client needs, and find solutions designed to ensure customer satisfaction.”

Career Change with New Education

“Experienced accounting professional and recent college graduate with a Bachelor’s in IT looking to leverage mathematical and analytical capabilities in a data analyst role with an enterprise-level employer. Impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills, as well as strong desire to learn and grow on the job.”

Targeting Specific Role

“Skilled software developer with 7+ years of experience with Java, Python, and C++ seeking out opportunities in team-oriented environments that prioritize Agile methodologies, Lean strategies, and DevOps principles to accelerate timelines and achieve challenging goals.”

Speaking of specific roles, we thought that it might be prudent to dig deeper into a couple careers that we get the most questions about (in terms of resume objectives). Here are our deep-dive articles into Teacher Resume Objectives , Customer Service Resume Objectives and Nursing Resume Objectives . Enjoy!

Putting It All Together

So, there you have it. We’ve covered what a resume objective statement is, who should use one, and how to properly execute it. Plus, there are some handy resume objective examples that can serve as inspiration.

While some people might claim that the objective statement for a resume is outdated, if done properly, it can make a difference. Use all of the information above to your advantage. That way, you’ll be one step closer to your dream job.

FREE : Resume Objective PDF Cheat Sheet

Ok the next thing you should do is get our handy Resume Objective Cheat Sheet PDF .

In it you'll get word-for-word sample resume objectives covering a variety of scenarios you can use right away .

CLICK HERE TO GET THE RESUME OBJECTIVE CHEAT SHEET

graduate school resume objective statement examples

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

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Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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graduate school resume objective statement examples

How to Write a Nursing Resume Objective for a New Graduate with Examples

A well-written resume objective can expand and improve your job prospects as a recent nursing graduate. Reviewing your accomplishments to discover what you can contribute to a work environment can better prepare you to write your resume objective and other application materials. This article will define nursing resume objectives and provide numerous objective examples to give you a clear idea of what a good objective looks like for a new graduate.

What is a resume objective?

A resume objective is a short explanation of your skills and career goals as they relate to the job you’re applying for. You usually add a resume objective right below your contact information so it’s one of the first things an employer sees. This statement is your chance to impress an employer and provide an overview of what qualifies you to join their nursing staff. 

A good resume objective should concisely outline the following: 

  • Your professional goals
  • The nursing skills and abilities you bring to the position 
  • Your degrees and professional certifications

This statement should be no more than three sentences. It should make an impact so the hiring manager is compelled to read the rest of your resume. 

Resume objective examples for nursing graduates 

Here are some examples of nursing resume objectives for new graduates:

‘Enthusiastic and dedicated nursing graduate with a calm disposition, crisis management skills and extensive clinical hours in an urgent care setting. Empathetic patient advocate who increased patient adherence to therapy protocols by 25% over a three-month period. Seeking an entry-level position as a staff nurse at Boulder Hospital to assist with increasing quality of care.’

This objective is effective because it includes information relevant to the specific position, including accomplishments and skills that align with the profession. This objective also includes relevant keywords in order to be recognized by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

‘Patient-focused, empathic Registered Nurse pursuing a role as part of a growing medical practice. Bringing expertise and thorough knowledge of treatment to help change patients’ lives.’

This objective includes necessary elements such as the specific job title, certification and desired role.

‘Hard-working, compassionate recent nursing school graduate seeking a role as a rural nurse. Experience working in high-stress situations in emergency rooms and other clinical settings.’

The mention of a specific job title, specific goal and situational experience make this objective concise and easy to read.

‘Attentive, compassionate Registered Nurse with a comprehensive education seeking opportunity to work with children with special needs. Substantial administrative skills and thorough sense of detail perfect for a nursing management position.’

This objective shows the range of skills possessed by the individual and specific job goals which will make it stand out to employers.

‘Recently graduated Nurse pursuing a position on the staff of a medical clinic dedicated to public access to healthcare. Detail-oriented and caring, with a desire to encourage a positive atmosphere for patients of all ages and needs.’

This objective is direct in the position desired and demonstrates a goal to create a positive work environment.

‘Recent nursing graduate seeking an opportunity to mentor nursing students while offering quality healthcare in a large teaching hospital. Skills include a high level of professionalism in stressful situations and a comforting bedside manner.’

This graduate creates a two-sentence objective by delivering a concise statement that includes the job characteristics desired, skills offered and type of facility sought. 

‘Nursing graduate and licensed RN seeking a role in which acquired and innate caregiving skills can be used to improve the health and lives of medically-vulnerable individuals seeking treatment in a clinical setting.’

Immediately presenting obtained licensure and a straightforward statement make this objective easy to skim and sets the tone for a more in-depth resume.

‘Attentive ACLS-certified nursing graduate with a positive disposition, seeking a role as a Registered Nurse in a large inner-city hospital setting. Skills include flexibility, attention to detail and a genuine desire to nurture patients and assist doctors in their care.’

Leading with certifications, clearly stating the role sought and stating top skills make this concise objective informative and easy to read quickly.

‘Motivated recent nursing graduate interested in an entry-level nursing position at a medium-sized hospital. Offers special skills in surgical assistance and post-operative patient care as well as experience in pharmaceutical oncology. Top skills include efficiency, attentiveness and an analytical approach to health problems.’

This objective is especially detailed but still easy to read.

‘Nursing graduate seeking an entry-level role at a local healthcare center. Specialized training includes cardiac care, intravenous infusion and dialysis, and skills include building rapport and trust with patients and a willingness to continue learning.’

This graduate concisely explains what level of employment they’re looking for, where they want to work and what they’re specially trained in, which includes important keywords that make the statement stand out to ATS.

‘Dedicated nursing graduate seeking a role as a Registered Nurse for a state hospital. Special knowledge and expertise include critical care, oncology and emergency room care.’

This objective offers special training, specified role and desired workplace, all of which will allow the resume to be recognized by ATS and easily read by hiring managers.

‘Motivated nursing graduate seeking an opportunity to leverage skills in compassionate patient care, critical thinking and continuous learning in an entry-level nursing role at a clinic serving low-income community members.’

The skills in this objective are clear and relevant, and the role and place of work desired are concisely stated. Paired with relevant keywords, this objective will help this resume get attention from employers. 

‘Recent nursing school graduate seeking a full-time position on a busy hospital nursing staff where I can offer my compassionate care and varied clinical skills to help the hospital maintain and increase quality and efficiency levels of patient care.’

This objective manages to concisely state how hiring this person will not only fulfill the applicant’s needs but also how they’ll add value to the facility using their specific skills.

‘New nursing graduate seeking to offer compassionate care, communication and technical skills in a healthcare facility serving the elderly. Experience includes the successful completion of a one-year internship at a hospice care facility and multiple job-shadowing opportunities with established nurses and other medical professionals.’  

Since technology is constantly evolving, mentioning the skills related to technological advancements as well as compassion are likely to get an employer’s interest.

graduate school resume objective statement examples

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20 College Student Resumes That Landed Jobs in 2024

Stephen Greet

  • College Student Resumes
  • College Student Resumes by Role
  • College Student Resumes for Academics

Writing Your College Student Resume

Companies sometimes require that entry-level candidates have experience, but how do you get experience when even entry-level jobs make it difficult to apply?

Getting that first job or internship can be the most challenging part of your career. Fortunately, as a college student, you’re in a great position to get that first break you need. Once you get your degree, you’ll have the experience employers are seeking, but until then, how can you build an effective resume or write a cover letter as a college student?

After reviewing countless  resume samples , we’ve determined what types employers want to see from college students. Furthermore, we used that knowledge to create  20 college student resume examples to help inspire your resume in 2024 .

College Student Resume Example

or download as PDF

College student resume example

Why this resume works

  • This lets employers know when you can work full-time. Whatever you do, be honest. Stretching the truth won’t get you any points with employers. It’s better to be upfront and willing to learn a skill rather than try to succeed by the skin of your teeth.
  • The golden rule on your college student resume is to lead with your strengths. If you’ve got a relevant internship, add it. If you’ve done any related class projects, list them. No matter what you include, make sure to highlight transferable skills.

Undergraduate Student Resume

Undergraduate student resume example with project experience

  • To impress the recruiter, demonstrate the dedication you have had in your previous posts despite minimal experience.

University Student Resume

University student resume example with internship experience

  • In that case, your university student resume can capitalize on your analytical skills, which helped identify cost-saving opportunities and cut overall expenses by six percent.

College Student No Experience Resume

College student no experience resume example

  • Luckily, there are a host of  resume templates  you can use to format your experience well, so long as you adjust based on your qualifications.
  • For example, you can add or remove sections based on the amount of work history you have (or don’t have).
  • For example, being on the club basketball team may feel irrelevant to business analysis. But by focusing on how you’ve organized practices and led a local volunteer effort, your  college student no experience resume  can point to qualities that might appeal to a thoughtful employer.

Current College Student Resume

Current college student resume example

  • A reverse-chronological format is still the most accepted, but if you want to highlight your skills, try using a functional format instead.
  • Adding relevant metrics shows that you know what matters to your employer and you’ve positively impacted your previous workplace.

College Student for Internship Resume

College student for internship resume example with 8 years of experience

  • That’s okay—you can weave in other things, like projects and part-time jobs. Of course, if you do have internship or job experience, put that at the top.
  • It’s as easy as checking the  job description . Then just list your relevant abilities according to what matches the keywords listed by the employer.

College Student Assistant Medical Laboratory Technician Resume Example

College student assistant medical laboratory technician resume example with 8 years of experience

  • Do you have a unique interest related to science? Are you involved in a sport? Do you volunteer? All of these hobbies are great additions to your resume.
  • If you’ve just graduated, you can bulk up your education section.
  • Feel free to add any college awards you won and your GPA (if it’s higher than 3.5).

College Student HR Executive Assistant Resume

College student hr executive assistant resume example

  • As a rule of thumb, we recommend including one if you’re light on experience or are going through a substantial career change. Otherwise, leave it out in favor of work experience. 
  • Good skills to include on an HR executive assistant resume are “talent acquisition,” “conflict resolution,” “legal compliance,” and “compensation/benefits.”
  • An even more effective way to breathe life into your skills is to weave them into your work history or project bullet points.

College Student Case Assistant Resume

College student case assistant resume example

  • Show off your personality using contrasting colors, classic fonts, and well-organized layouts. Our ready-to-build  resume templates  or handy  Google Docs interactive resumes  can help you keep your resume both tasteful and personable.
  • If you don’t have certification, then now’s the best time to get it. Better late than never!

College Student Resident Assistant Resume

College student resident assistant resume example with 3 years of experience

  • Though an objective isn’t required, it can help employers see your skills and experience straight away.
  • Just make sure to tailor it for every job you apply for by including the name of the employer, the position you’re seeking, and some matching keyword skills (that are true about you) gleaned from the  job description . 
  • You also shouldn’t feel limited by your work experience. If you’ve done any relevant projects or have volunteered, include them! Employers love to see transferrable skills like collaboration, a good work ethic, and organization.

College Student Warehouse Worker Resume

College student warehouse worker resume example

  • If you’re struggling to get going, consider using a  resume outline  to help you structure your experience—just don’t forget to fill out all the sections thoroughly!
  • While it’s not impossible to land an excellent job without internships or experience, having some kind of work history, even in the form of projects, will allow you to be more picky and skim from the top of warehouse positions.

College Student Teacher Assistant Resume

College student teacher assistant resume example with 2 years of experience

  • Adjusting formatting details, like the layout and header colors, can make your resume pop and reveal a bit about yourself. (Red and pink are bold, daring colors, while blue and green are calming.)
  • Adding a  hobbies and interests section to your resume  can also help catch the eye of employers, provided you list hobbies that are relevant to the desired job, such as creative pursuits, volunteering, or research.
  • Even if you’ve never had experience as a teacher assistant, you can instill confidence by demonstrating the impact of your communication skills. Did you effectively resolve an issue using negotiation? Write something that added helpful clarity? Show how you used communication to affect others positively!

College Student Biology Lab Technician Resume

College student biology lab technician resume example

  • Don’t get too carried away here; after all, it’s still a resume and not a flier for a Wednesday Night Disco. But, one to two colors can be appropriate for all but the most conservative working environments. 
  • Numbers can be frustrating to calculate and add to your resume, but trust us when we tell you that they make a world of difference. Hiring managers are consistently more willing to interview people with metrics on their resumes, as they convey job competence and confidence.

College Student English Tutor Resume

College student english tutor resume example

  • Breaking up each work experience into bullet points can make your resume both easier to read (with fewer blocks of dense text) and easier to write.
  • Instead of writing one big chunk of cohesive text, you can focus on pulling out as many highlights about your work history at each job as possible. 
  • A project can be anything. Seriously, your final group project from that writing seminar counts, or you could highlight a blog you’ve been working on in your free time.
  • Hint: Projects also make great stories to discuss on your college student cover letter .

College Application Resume

College application resume example with community service experience

  • Suppose you’re applying for a Bachelor of Arts in education. Express your passion for teaching and eagerness to advance your knowledge of education theories and practices. Even better, emphasize your long-term ambition to shape future generations through innovative education methods.

College Admission Resume

College admission resume example with project experience

  • Take a leaf from how Brian narrates his stints as a restaurant server, project presenter, and volunteer. Well-described, such experiences paint a picture of a well-rounded character who can take on varied challenges of an engineering program, enhancing their appeal in the eyes of the college admissions committee.

College Freshman Resume

College Freshman resume example with soccer playing experience

  • Use past projects to advantage here even if they’re only a year long. Clearly state how you used skills such as Canva and Microsoft Teams to make specific impacts during this time. Another great addition to your college freshman resume is any work experience under your belt.

College Student Academic Highlights Resume

College student academic highlights resume example

  • Say you have some work experience, but it’s not relevant to the job. That’s okay—instead of trying in vain to match the  job description , focus on transferable skills like customer service, organization, event planning, public speaking, and computer literacy.
  • If you lack much work history, adding projects, coursework, or volunteer experience is the next best way to showcase your potential. You can also list your involvement in clubs, organizations, or peer mentorship.
  • Write them like you’d write work experience by using active verbs and incorporating metrics (numbers).

First Year College Student Resume

First year college student resume example with project experience

  • Your time contributing to a project is tangible evidence of your skills and experiences. Depending on what you include, it could showcase your communication and organizational skills or more technical abilities, like your proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Freshman College Student Resume

Freshman college student resume example with project experience

  • Do you love gardening or nature photography? Awesome, it shows you’re inherently passionate about biology. Do you spend your time baking as well? It’s a sign that you know how to follow instructions and observe changes over time—skills that will come in handy as a lab assistant.

Related resume guides

  • College Graduate
  • Grad School
  • Entry level

Job seeker in purple shirt reviews past accomplishments and statistics to include in job materials

Before we dive into the difference between a  resume objective  vs. a  resume summary , let’s get some definitions out of the way:

  • Resume objective : A statement of your qualifications, interests, and skills that make you a good fit for the role to which you’re applying.
  • Resume summary : A summary of your past experience detailing your high-level accomplishments and projects.

When you’re applying for a job or internship as a college student, you likely won’t have extensive work experience. So, we’d recommend including a resume objective instead of a resume summary.

The goal of your resume objective is to set the stage for your resume. It should highlight your skills applicable to the job at hand, and it should be specific for each job to which you’re applying.

Most resume objectives are boring and generic. By taking the time to craft a customized and effective resume objective, you give yourself an edge over other applicants and increase your chances of getting an interview.

Before we dive into the rules for creating a strong resume objective, let’s look at some examples.

Sample college student resume objectives

  • “Recent college graduate with a degree in marketing looking for a full-time role where I can utilize my experience in social media and paid advertising to help an up-and-coming brand like Club Z! Inc. spread awareness and acquire more users.”
  • “Diligent college student at the University of Pittsburgh who is equally committed to academic excellence (3.8 GPA) and service (student leader at the local food shelter) looking for an opportunity at Unidos as a part-time employee to utilize these talents to improve customer satisfaction.”
  • “Recent graduate with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) seeking an opportunity within an established management organization to utilize my organizational and quantitative abilities. Epic seems to have a culture of empowering employees to have ownership over their problems, and that culture fits my work style perfectly.”

You can see that all of these resume objectives specifically mention the company that the student is applying to. Tailoring is the golden rule of resume objectives.

Here are some other rules to make your objective the best it can be:

  • Again, take the time to  customize your resume objective for each company to which you’re applying .
  • Don’t be afraid to inject your personality. Making an impression will help you stand out among the hundreds of other applicants.
  • Keep it to two to three sentences.
  • Mention any relevant skills or certifications you have for the role to which you’re applying.

College Student Resume Formats

Job seeker reviews qualifications and accomplishments to build job application for next role

One of the hardest parts of  building your resume  as a college student is the blank page. The “getting started” part is overwhelming—you’re unsure what your resume should look like, let alone what should be in it!

When it comes to formatting your resume, the best advice is to keep it  simple . You need to convincingly make the case that you deserve an interview for the role to which you’re applying.

In short, your resume should likely contain the following sections:

  • Header: This is your name and job title. Have your job title match the job title to which you’re applying.
  • Resume objective: We talked about this above, a quick summary of your skills and what you’re seeking.
  • Education: As a college student, this should include your anticipated graduation date, the field of study, and relevant classes.
  • Skills: List six to ten technical skills relevant to your career.
  • Work experience: If you have any relevant internships or part-time jobs, mention them here.
  • Projects: Did you do any side projects that demonstrate your competency? Include them!

Not all of these sections need to be included in your resume.  Your resume should focus on your strengths.

If you don’t have much relevant work experience, you can omit that section in favor of discussing your projects or classwork.

However, no matter what format you choose, there are a few writing guidelines you should adhere to throughout your resume.

Formatting guidelines for your resume

  • Keep your resume to one page! Your resume should only extend to a second page when you have 10+ years of experience.
  • Avoid any spelling or grammar errors by double-checking your text and having a friend review your resume. Don’t let typos be the reason why you don’t get an interview.
  • Break up your work experience into small, consumable bullet points. Nothing is harder to read than a big wall of text.
  • Use reverse-chronological order to keep your most recent experience/projects at the top.
  • Don’t include fancy images or graphics. It’s highly likely a computer will read your resume before a human ever does, and images are hard for computers to scan.
  • Don’t list more than ten skills on your resume. (We’ll expand on this below.)

Skills to pay the bills

When building your skills section, it can be tempting to list any and every skill you know. You’ll have to resist this temptation.

Before a human reviews your resume, an automated system called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) will score your resume based on whether or not it includes the “right” keywords. These filters are largely screening for specific skills.

Doesn’t this mean that you should include as many skills as possible to beat the ATS? Unfortunately, you need to make your resume appealing to both the ATS and a human, and nothing is a bigger red flag to a hiring manager than a candidate with a laundry list of skills!

You’re much better off focusing on  six to ten skills you’re an expert in  than including more that you kind of know. Generally, if you wouldn’t be comfortable being interviewed on a given skill, don’t include it on your resume. 

Work Experience and Projects

Portfolio of past work experience proving impact on the job with statistics, graphs, and examples

In any resume, no matter the career stage, your work experience and projects should take up at least 70 percent of the overall space. These will decide whether you get an interview or not.

Once you have a few years of experience, then the size of your projects section will decrease as the size of your work experience section expands.

If you have an internship relevant to the job you’re applying for, this should be listed in your “work experience” section. As a college student, your work experience can also contain any part-time jobs you had while in school, even if they don’t seem relevant to the position to which you’re applying.

It’s not easy to balance work and school, so having a part-time job demonstrates responsibility and drive.

When talking about your work experience, there are a few key tips you should follow:

  • Mention the skills you demonstrated on the job.
  • Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible.
  • Talk specifically about your role; avoid being too general.
  • Use action verbs like “owned” or “led” to highlight your leadership abilities.

Numbers truly speak louder than words, especially on your resume. By providing numerical context around your work, you show your ability to contribute meaningfully to your workplace.

Compare these two descriptions of an internship. Which do you think would be more compelling to a hiring manager?

WRONG – general work experience descriptions

Marketing Science Associates April 2020 – Current, New York NY Digital Marketing Intern

  • Created testing plan for Facebook ad copy
  • Built key reports for the executive team around KPIs
  • Oversaw the creation of the blog for SEO purposes
  • Worked closely with clients to understand their product positioning to incorporate into ad copy

RIGHT – specific, quantified descriptions

  • Created A/B testing plan for Facebook ad copy, improving ROI by 15%
  • Built key reports for the executive team around KPIs such as marketing spend, new leads, revenue generated, and ROI
  • Oversaw the creation of the blog for SEO purposes which grew from 1,000 to 5,000 monthly organic visitors
  • Worked closely with clients to understand their product positioning to incorporate into ad copy, leading to client satisfaction of 99%

Projects can be anything

If you don’t have much (or any) relevant work experience for your resume, don’t fret. You can still  create a highly effective resume  by showcasing your projects.

As a college student, you’ve likely done a lot of class projects that are relevant to the job or internship you’re looking to get. This is the perfect place to talk about those projects. You can even mention projects you completed outside of class. Talk about your goals, the methods/skills you used, and the project’s outcome.

The key is to include anything that will convince the hiring manager you have the drive, skills, and ability to translate your academic knowledge to the real world and contribute to the roles for which you’re applying.

Here are some potential projects you can work on for different majors:

Project ideas for college students

  • Are you a business student? Detail a case study that you analyzed and presented in a class.
  • If you’re a marketing student, you can write a short blog post about how you’d improve the paid marketing strategy for a company you admire.
  • As a graphic designer, this is a great opportunity to talk about some of the projects in your portfolio.
  • If you’re looking for a data analyst role, talk about how you analyzed stock data to determine areas of opportunity.
  • As a human resources major, you’ve likely created processes for companies as part of a class, so talk about that.
  • Software engineering students complete meaningful coding assignments all the time. Discuss one of those or talk about your side project.
  • If you’re looking to break into product management, discuss a hackathon you were part of or create a case study for a feature your favorite product is missing.

Basically, the projects you include on your resume can be just about anything. They simply have to demonstrate you know what is required of the kind of role you’re applying to, and that you can meet those requirements.

Your Education Section

Two hands rearranging sections on job application materials

As a college student, it should go without saying that you need to include an education section on your resume.

Here’s what you need to include in your education section no matter what:

  • The school you’re currently attending (or recently graduated from). You do not need to include your high school.
  • Your graduation date (or expected graduation date). You can give just the month and year.
  • The kind of degree you’re working toward (bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, master’s, etc.).
  • Your field of study.

Once you include all that, there’s more flexibility. If you have a strong GPA (greater than 3.5), you should include it, too.

If you don’t have much experience yet, then you can add relevant courses or awards to your education section, provided they’re relevant to the job for which you’re applying.

For example, if you’re applying for a role as a data scientist, then it makes sense to include any math, economics, or programming classes you completed.

Here’s an example of an effective education section for a college student looking for a marketing role:

College student resume - education section example

If you received any awards or honors during your time in college, list them here. These can include getting on the Dean’s List, any department-specific awards relevant to your major, or formal recognition for your work or volunteer efforts.

Resume Builder for College Students

Yellow and purple computer screens depict career document builders on BeamJobs

There you have it—we’ve discussed the building blocks to help you land a job or internship as a college student!

In summary, here are the keys to making an effective resume as a college student:

  • Inject your personality into your resume objective and customize it for each company to which you apply.
  • Your resume format should include a header, resume objective, skills section, education, and work/ project experience.
  • Include any relevant internships or part-time jobs you’ve had during college and quantify the impact of your work.
  • If you don’t have much working experience, include relevant projects you’ve completed either in the classroom or on your own time.
  • Your education section is your chance to highlight classes you’ve completed that will convince the hiring manager you have the right tools for the job.

Finding a job or internship as a college student can be incredibly stressful.  Building your resume  is a huge first step, so pat yourself on the back. After you’re done with the writing, you can  check your resume  against our AI-powered tips to see how your resume matches up.

Just remember, it does get easier after you get some experience first. We can’t wait to see where you’ll go!

Create my free resume now

• We’ll show you how, step-by-step • Real, practical tips and tools • 100% free

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  18. How To Write A Resume Objective Statement (Examples Included)

    2) Making It All About You. This is a trap that many job seekers fall into, as they can't resist to use the objective to list off all of the things that they want to get out of the position. EXAMPLE: Hi, I'm Joe Jobseeker and I really want a job in a company where I make a ton of money doing as little as possible.

  19. Resume Objectives for Nursing Graduates

    A good resume objective should concisely outline the following: Your professional goals. The nursing skills and abilities you bring to the position. Your degrees and professional certifications. This statement should be no more than three sentences. It should make an impact so the hiring manager is compelled to read the rest of your resume.

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    Sample college student resume objectives. "Recent college graduate with a degree in marketing looking for a full-time role where I can utilize my experience in social media and paid advertising to help an up-and-coming brand like Club Z! Inc. spread awareness and acquire more users.".