Most professionals initially write their resume without a specific opportunity in mind. It essentially allows them to frame out their skills and experience, giving them a record of what they have accomplished. When you create this foundational resume, it’s common to believe that your work is done in that regard. However, that is rarely the case.
Even if your initial resume is well-crafted, you shouldn’t view it as being set in stone. Instead, you need to be open to tweaking your resume each time you apply for a new role. By targeting the content to the position, you are increasing your odds of standing out from the sea of other applicants.
The primary reason you should always target your resume is each role is unique. This is true even for positions with similar job titles and requirements, as every company is going to have a set of priorities that others may not share. Additionally, they may use terminology that differs slightly from other employers, and that can be surprisingly important if you want to land a new job.
Before you submit your resume, you need to adjust it based on what the company is trying to find. Review the must-have skills and make sure that they are all addressed in your resume. For those at the top of the list, consider rewriting your professional summary to speak to those points, ensuring they are center stage.
Also, look for keywords in those requirements and adjust your phrasing to match what is listed in the job add. Many applicant tracking systems (ATSs) are programmed to screen resumes based on those keywords, so you need an exact match if you want to survive this part of the process.
Take a few minutes to remove any content that isn’t relevant to the role, too. Hiring managers only spend a few seconds skimming a resume, so you want to make sure every point you list provides them with immediate value.
When you apply to a job opening, you might assume that you don’t have to take the company’s culture into account. However, if you can speak directly to the organization’s mission and values, you are more likely to stand out as a candidate.
As a result, you need to tweak your resume to reflect what the company values. Head online and look for the organization’s mission and values statements. Then, see if you can work in points that align with their perspective. If you do, the hiring manager may view you are a stronger match to the company’s culture, and that can make a significant amount of difference.
Ultimately, tweaking your resume to target a job is critical if you are searching for a new role. If you’d like to learn more, the team at TRC Staffing Services can help. Contact us to discuss your questions with one of our staff members today and see how our resume writing expertise can benefit you.