An objective statement lets your potential employer know what you’re looking for in a job, as well as what you can offer the company. Goals have gotten a bit controversial in recent years, as employers have started looking for what you have to offer, rather than what you want. While some people argue that objectives should be omitted entirely, others have simple ways to write a more meaningful resume objective statement.

1. Avoid generic/nonsensical statements

There are a wide variety of generic statements used in goals and employers see them every day. Avoid statements like “a challenging and rewarding position” or “opportunity for advancement.” First, employers assume that you are looking for a position that is rewarding and challenging. Second, since so many people use these phrases, employers are likely to assume you’re just like everyone else, and no one wants to hire someone who doesn’t stand out from the crowd.

2. Don’t limit yourself to other opportunities

While resume objective statements shouldn’t be generic, they shouldn’t be limited to other opportunities within the company either. One of the easiest ways to limit yourself is to state that you are looking for “an entry-level position.” If the position you applied for is already filled, there is little chance that you will be considered for a more advanced position. Also, try not to use the exact job title in the statement, for the same reason.

3. Don’t forget your audience

It is always important to remember who is reading your resume. His potential employer already assumes that he wants the position he is applying for, otherwise he would not apply. With this in mind, it is important to use the objective so that the employer knows what she can do for him. Think of the goal as a headline. You need to grab the attention of readers and make them want to read more.

4. Short and Sweet

Remember, an objective statement is just that; a declaration. It’s important to choose your words wisely so that your statement is brief, but moving. If an objective statement becomes too long, it will lose its emphasis and readers’ attention. You have your entire resume to impress your prospective employer, don’t try to do it all in your opening statement.

5. Be consistent

If you mention a certain skill quality in your mission statement, it better be included on the resume. It’s amazing how many people mention a positive trait in the mission statement, but it’s nowhere to be found on the resume. One way to solve this problem is to always write your mission statement last. This is especially important when applying to multiple openings simultaneously, because if you’re tailoring your resume to each position (which you should be), then the objective statement won’t match the resume if it’s not changed.

While objective statements are not recommended by everyone, a meaningful and well-written objective will only benefit you. As long as you know what to do, it’s easy to write a meaningful summary goal.