Often, job applicants assume you can create one resume and use it to apply to a variety of different jobs. In fact, some job seekers take it a step further and use the "spray and pray" method, where they create one resume and apply to hundreds of different jobs online.
Unfortunately, often they hear nothing back from any of the jobs. This leads to frustration and even a feeling of being inadequate. "Why don't any of the hundreds of jobs I applied to think I am qualified?"
The answer?
You haven't showed you are qualified for any of the roles because you submitted a generic resume instead of a tailored resume.
Hiring managers spend time creating a job posting that specifies what they are looking for. You need to spend time modifying your resume to show you are a qualified candidate for the opening. This is what will get you noticed when your resume is reviewed along with hundreds of others.
How do you tailor your resume? Here are the steps we suggest:
Step 1: Spend Time Reading the Job Posting
When Carrie and Laura are working on a resume for a client, we print out the job posting and highlight key skills and qualifications. If keywords are used repeatedly throughout the job posting, we make sure they are recorded for use within the resume.
We suggest you follow a similar process. Hiring managers indicate they feel that the majority of job applicants don't bother to actually read the full job posting. We suggest you take the time to look closely so you can modify your resume to show you are the right person for the job.
Step 2: Modify Certain Sections of Your Resume
You don't need to revamp the entire document. In fact, tailoring your resume shouldn't take hours and hours. Instead look at the easiest sections to modify:
Start with your personal headline. Can you align it with the job title?
Read through your executive summary. Do you capture the keywords that are repeated throughout the job posting? If not, try to weave them in.
If your resume has a skills section, this is a easy place to stick skills that are listed in the job posting, but not elsewhere in your resume. Do they specify a certain type of software you have experience with? Be sure to add it.
Take a quick read through your bullets in your work experience section. Could you re-order them so the ones most relevant to the job posting are at the top of the list?
Step 3: Consider your Cover Letter Too!
Again, submitting a generic cover letter will not get you noticed. Now that you have closely read the job posting, re-evaluate your cover letter. Do you highlight the qualifications they are seeking? Have you shown you are aligned with the company values? If not, re-work the cover letter a bit as well.
Tailoring your resume is crucial in today's competitive job market. By customizing your resume for each job application, you increase your chances of catching the employer's attention. Trust us, taking an hour to understand the job requirements and align your resume appropriately will help you stand out compared to other applicants!
Need help? Revision Resume is here to support job seekers! We can provide you with a resume creation that is aligned to the type of job you are seeking. Or, we can critique a resume in comparison to a job posting. Contact us today to set up a free 15-minute consultation so we can learn about your job search and help determine which of our services would best aid you.
