Career objectives in information technology (IT) are typically a customized statement on a resume that informs potential employers of a person’s career goals. A novice job candidate’s career objective can be as simple as a one-sentence objective. A seasoned professional, on the other hand, might have one to three sentences in his resume’s career objectives. Different IT career objectives may focus on different aspects of the technology field, such as content and career level, in either case.
The purpose of a career objective on a resume is to provide a focused statement. Employers can get a summary of what a candidate wants to accomplish in a job by reading the objective. The resume’s remaining details usually back up the career objective statement.
There are two types of IT career goals that you can pursue. The first category is content description, which frequently focuses on the person’s skill level. This description also informs the employer about the job applicant’s ability to help the company achieve its objectives.
The content description usually includes an explanation of the job applicant’s interest in an IT position. This section usually relates a person’s knowledge to a job function. For example, the individual might be familiar with database systems, which is a common requirement for database administrators.
On some resumes with IT career objectives, the second category is career stage. One of three stages can be used to explain the job applicant’s work experience and motivation for applying. Most job applicants fall into one of three career stages: entry-level, mid-career, or executive.
The entry level career goal is usually for recent college graduates. The statement could serve as an introduction to the IT industry for this type of career objective. Most entry-level job applicants include a specific job title, such as desktop support technician, in their career objective.
A mid-career goal in IT might highlight previous work experience that is transferable to a lateral position. Some mid-career goals also emphasize how skills from a previous job can be transferred to a new position. For example, a job candidate might want to use his or her strategic planning skills to land a lead project management position.
Whereas an entry-level candidate seeks the opportunity to hone his or her individual skills, an executive seeks the opportunity to advance the company’s goals. The executive level goal could indicate a desire to assist a company in reducing inefficiencies. Typically, the goal emphasizes newly acquired skills and abilities that are relevant to adding value or resolving problems.
IT career objectives can often be used to pinpoint a specific career path. This is useful for someone who is just starting out in IT and wants to express long-term career goals. This type of goal could also be used to describe a person’s skill set as they transition from another field to the IT industry.