Your Resume Objective for Remote Jobs is Holding You Back — Here’s How to Fix It

A resume objective for remote jobs might seem like a great way to show employers what you’re looking for — but it’s actually working against you. Employers don’t care as much about what you want. They care about what you bring to the table. That’s where a professional summary comes in. A well-crafted summary highlights your most valuable skills, remote work experience, and key accomplishments right off the bat. Instead of wasting valuable space telling employers you’re “seeking a challenging remote position,” use that prime real estate to grab their attention and make them want to keep reading. Ready to ditch the outdated objective and give your resume the upgrade it deserves? Let’s get started!

The Importance of an Introduction

One important change to resumes is how you introduce yourself. While you were once encouraged to add a remote job resume objective at the beginning of your resume, now you need to include a professional summary instead. Why the change? Here are a few reasons:

1. Change your perspective: A professional summary focuses on the benefits you bring to an employer, whereas the remote job resume objective centers on what you want to get out of a job.
2. Highlight what’s important: Professional summaries illustrate that you have the required skills and experience for a position at the beginning of your resume without the need for a potential employer to read through the entire document.
3. Add supporting details: Resume objectives tend to be vague and use meaningless phrases like “fast learner” or “hard worker.” With a professional summary you can add more details, framed in a way that highlights your strengths.
4. Demonstrate progress: By focusing on your entire career, a professional summary can show career progression over time.

Why a Professional Summary Is Essential for Remote Jobs

If you’re applying for remote jobs, standing out from the crowd is key. Hiring managers spend just a few seconds scanning each resume. If your resume doesn’t quickly highlight your relevant skills and remote work experience, it may be tossed aside. That’s where a professional summary makes a huge difference. A well-written summary offers:

A Quick Snapshot of Your Skills and Value: Hiring managers don’t want to dig through your work history. A summary gives them a quick overview of your qualifications.
Remote-Specific Expertise: Employers want to know if you can thrive in a remote work environment. Mentioning your proficiency with remote tools and communication platforms helps them see you as a strong candidate.
A Way to Pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Many companies use ATS to screen resumes before they even reach a human. A professional summary filled with relevant keywords boosts your chances of passing through the system.

By leading with a compelling summary, you show employers that you’re not just looking for any remote job — you’re illustrating what you will bring to their specific role and company and are ready to excel.

Resume Objective vs. Professional Summary: What’s the Difference?

It’s easy to confuse a resume objective with a professional summary, but they serve very different purposes.

Resume Objective:
A resume objective focuses on what you want. It usually includes statements like:

“Seeking a remote position where I can grow my skills.”
“Looking for an opportunity to work in a fast-paced virtual environment.”

The problem? These statements don’t tell employers anything about what you can do for them. They focus solely on your goals — not the company’s needs.

Professional Summary:
A professional summary, on the other hand, highlights what you bring to the table. It’s a concise statement that showcases your skills, experience, and remote work expertise. Instead of telling hiring managers what you want, it tells them why they should want you. For example:

“Experienced digital marketer with 5+ years of remote work experience. Skilled in SEO, content creation, and project management, with a proven track record of increasing website traffic by 30%.”

A professional summary positions you as a solution to the employer’s problem — and that’s exactly what they’re looking for.

Your Step-by-Step Process for Writing a Professional Summary That Makes You Stand Out

Writing a professional summary that grabs attention takes a little strategy. But once you know the formula, it’s easy to create one that sets you apart from the competition. Here’s how to do it.

1. Before you start, study job ads.

Gather a collection of job ads that most closely match the position you want to secure. Identify the minimum skill and education requirements as well as the duties and responsibilities that match your background. Identify commonly used keywords. (Your preferred GenAI tool can help you do this if you copy and paste the job descriptions and prompt the tool to identify them for you.)

2. Start with Your Job Title and Years of Experience

Begin your summary with a sentence that provides an overview of your experience. Include information such as soft skills, years of relevant experience, recent education (if applicable), and the current or desired job title. Open with a powerful statement that highlights your current role and years of experience. Mention your industry and relevant skills.

Remote customer service specialist with 4+ years of experience delivering exceptional support in fast-paced environments.

3. Highlight Your Key Skills and Accomplishments

After your overview, include a brief sentence or two that backs up the qualifications stated in the first sentence. Include metrics if possible and be sure to use language and terminology similar to the job ads. Identify keywords that employers may be looking for and use where appropriate. Showcase your most valuable skills, especially those related to remote work. Use measurable results to demonstrate your impact.

Expert in managing high-volume ticketing systems, reducing response time by 20%, and maintaining a 98% customer satisfaction rating.

4. Emphasize Remote Work Expertise

Employers want to know you can thrive in a virtual setting. Mention your experience with remote communication tools and highlight your ability to work independently.

Proficient in Slack, Zoom, and Trello, with a proven ability to manage deadlines and collaborate effectively across time zones.

5. Tailor It to the Job Description

Customize your summary for each position by incorporating keywords from the job posting. This ensures your resume aligns with the employer’s needs. Take note of the skills, tools, and qualifications the employer emphasizes, and reflect those in your language. A tailored summary can help you pass applicant tracking systems (ATS) and grab the hiring manager’s attention faster.

Tips to Optimize Your Professional Summary for Remote Jobs

A well-crafted professional summary can be the key to landing an interview, but there are a few tricks to make it even stronger. These tips will help your summary stand out:

Use Keywords Strategically: This tip bears repeating. Identify relevant keywords in the job description and incorporate them naturally into your summary. This helps pass ATS filters and catches the hiring manager’s eye.
Quantify Your Achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers and data to showcase your impact. Statements like “boosted social media engagement by 35%” or “managed a remote team of 10” give employers a clearer picture of your capabilities.
Keep It Concise: Aim for 3–4 sentences that highlight your most important qualifications. Hiring managers don’t have time to read lengthy paragraphs.
Align with the Employer’s Needs: Think about what the company is looking for and tailor your summary to match. Use language from the job description to show that you’re the right fit.

Examples of Professional Summaries for Different Levels of Remote Jobs

To make it easier, here are some examples of professional summaries tailored for various roles and experience levels:

Entry-Level Example:

Detail-oriented virtual assistant with strong communication skills and a passion for providing top-notch administrative support. Proficient in managing calendars, email correspondence, and data entry using Google Workspace. Eager to contribute to a fast-paced remote environment.

Mid-Level Example:

Results-driven content marketer with 4+ years of experience creating SEO-optimized content for remote audiences. Skilled in managing editorial calendars, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and increasing organic traffic by 30%. Proficient in WordPress, Ahrefs, and Google Analytics.

Senior-Level Example:

Seasoned HR manager with 8+ years of experience overseeing remote talent acquisition, onboarding, and performance management. Expertise in developing virtual training programs and fostering positive remote work cultures. Proven success in reducing employee turnover by 15%.

Executive-Level Example:

Strategic operations executive with 10+ years of experience leading distributed teams and driving business growth. Expertise in scaling remote operations, implementing process improvements, and enhancing team productivity by 25%. Adept at aligning business goals with scalable, remote-friendly solutions.

Ditch the Objective and Upgrade Your Resume

If you’re still using a resume objective for remote jobs, it’s time to make a change. A professional summary highlights your skills, remote work experience, and the value you bring to the table — all in just a few sentences. By shifting the focus from what you want to what you offer, you position yourself as a top candidate who’s ready to thrive in a remote role. Take the time to craft a compelling, customized summary for each job application. It’s a small change that can lead to big results.

Need Help Crafting a Winning Professional Summary?

Ready to replace your resume objective for remote jobs but not sure where to start? Our certified resume writers specialize in helping remote jobseekers create powerful, results-driven professional summaries that highlight their skills and remote work expertise. Whether you’re applying for entry-level or executive positions, we’ll help you craft a summary that grabs attention and sets you apart. Get expert assistance today and take your remote job search to the next level!

Have you ditched the remote job resume objective in favor of a professional summary? Have you had more success in your job search as a result? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and tips. We’d love to hear from you!

Original August 2021 article written by Skye Rodgers.