A "smart" resume is therefore not only focused but also TARGETS the recruiter's requirements as stated in job advertisements.  Vague and "general" resumes are "dumb" and don't work.  The worst resume to use in 2010, is an all-purpose resume for all jobs.   To land job interviews, resumes need to be FOCUSED and TARGETED.  In short, they need to be "smart"!

Sadly, many job seekers continue to write a single unfocused or "general" resume with a vague job objective that asks the employer to "utilize" ... whatever.  Nowadays that employer might be looking for someone with specific "I.T. skills" or "negotiating skills" or "strategic planning skills" or "customer interfacing skills".  Employers are specific; YOU CANNOT BE VAGUE.

The more FOCUSED you and your resume can be in the Recession of 2010, the more successful your job search will be. The hardest job to find –not the easiest– is what anxious job seekers refer to as "any job."  No employer has such a poorly defined position available.  Neither will you see "any job" advertised in any newspaper.

Target specific employers with a tailor-made resume.

State a JOB OBJECTIVE that says two things –what you are looking for and what job-related experience, accomplishments and skills you are offering.  This will tell an employer that you are addressing his or her specific needs and also indicates that you know what you want to do.  It expresses your FOCUS and, above all, presents your value –what you are bringing to the table.  All harried recruiters will be impressed by that in the Recession of 2010.

By the act of TAILORING your Job Objective, you will actually be helping employers to hire you.  You can later change that Objective as often as you need to.  Use your keyboard to focus or refocus your resume.  Simply adjust a few words or lines each time –mainly in the Job Objective and SUMMARY sections of your resume.

Nowadays, it is silly to leave out a good Objective and be vague.  Recruiters don't like to play guessing games.  Why should the reader bother to figure out the level and type of work that you are interested in?

Focusing or targeting or tailoring your resume is NOT easy and you may need to consult with a professional resume writer.  He or she will have the expertise to present your value in the best way, especially how you have made a difference for others and are able to do so again for a new employer.

[Note: As a rule, employment agencies and headhunters DON'T care too much for Objectives.  Why?  Because they need to place you in any job, whether suitable or not.  Always remember that such agents are SALESPERSONS.  They work for their commission and your job satisfaction is only a secondary consideration.]

What industry or type of company or firm do you want to work for?

What industry do you wish to work in?
Decide on the size of the company or firm you want to be employed by.  Is it small, medium, or large?
Would you prefer working in a fast-paced environment or in a large, bureaucratic type of company where your duties will be more rigidly defined (and your initiative and creativity curtailed)?
Would you be happier working in a small to medium-sized firm?
Are you seeking tuition reimbursement or medical insurance coverage for your family?
Would you consider working in a non-profit type of environment?