Are you re-writing your resume for a new job application? If you feel that your resume objective statement lacks pizzazz, why not try looking through a variety of resume samples for inspiration?

You'll be in good company! Many job hunters use example resumes to find ideas for the best format and content for their own profile -- and for a good reason. For many of us, the skill of writing about our strengths and attributes doesn't come easily. It's a technique that has to be learned. Sample resumes can help you overcome your instinctive reluctance by showing you easy ways to market your strongest skills on paper.

Resume samples can show you:

• ways to capture the attention of your reader with a concise and closely targeted statement of your career intention.
• how to persuade the employer that the company would benefit from hiring you.

You also have a bonus when you look at resume sample collections: you get a glimpse of what it's like to be an employer receiving large numbers of applications for a vacancy.

Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. When busy recruiters are faced with hundreds or even thousands of resumes to read, they will need to quickly scan each one to identify those that match the most important criteria. The hiring company may also use software processing to help them deal efficiently with this paperwork.

That's why it's so important to make a powerful impression in the objective statement. Its position at the head of the main body of the resume is uniquely placed to draw the reader's eye.

So next time you're looking at example resumes, pay close attention to the objective. Here are five ways you can use your resume objective to make your reader sit up and take notice!

1. Show an awareness of your reader's needs. Avoid drafting your objective in a vacuum. Make sure you know what problems your prospective employer wants to solve before you write your statement.

2. Refer to the specific job you want to do. Don't give the impression that your career goals are vague. Emphasize that your aims match exactly what the employer is looking for.

3. Point out those attributes that best suit you for the position. Don't expect employers to draw their own conclusions about whether you possess the ability to perform well in this role. Highlight relevant skills that you will demonstrate later in your resume.

4. Emphasize the benefits that your skills will bring to the company. Don't leave it to the reader to decide what contribution you will make to the business . Base your resume on a focussed statement that justifies hiring you.

5. Use industry-specific keywords that show your familiarity with the most important functions, tasks or issues involved in your desired job. Use terms that will not only impress a human reader but also trigger a match in resume scanning software.

Your objective statement is a prime piece of resume 'real estate' -- so make the most of resume samples to learn the best way you can use your objective to impress recruiters and win an interview.