Your skills may be impressive, but you need a well-written resume to really get an employer's attention. A complete, professional resume requires not only a list of experience but also statements of your skills and objectives. Stating your objectives effectively and in ways that avoid cliché helps define who you are and where you see your career going.

Define Your Goals
Resume objectives can be seen as backing up the goals of your cover letter -- they let prospective employers know why you're contacting them in the first place. Keep these statements simple and focus on linking your skills to the specific position you seek. For example, say: "Seeking a position in sales where I can make use of my five years worth of experience and contacts" or "Financial planner position that will benefit from my educational background."

Don't Limit Yourself
Compare the statements: "To obtain a position in your company that builds my skills as a Web designer" and "To obtain a position in your company that utilizes my Web design abilities to improve your products." The former focuses on you and what the job can do for you, whereas your job search goals should always focus on selling the skills and traits you can bring to an employer, just like the latter statement.

A Balanced Approach
While the pitfall of focusing on "me" statements too much often causes job seekers to completely omit objective statements, they are still useful tools. If you have space in your resume, it may be a good idea to provide both a specific statement related to the position and a more general one that defines your overall career path. You can speak more broadly about your goals in your field and still make a good impression with a statement like this.

General Statement Examples
These kinds of general statements are particularly useful for entry-level students defining their intended career path, or experienced employees who want jobs with room for future advancement. Sample statements of this kind might include: "To obtain a staff writer position with opportunities to take on editorial responsibilities" or "A customer service role with opportunities for growth in the department." Focus on a third-person tone to keep these types of statements from sounding too self-serving.