Writing a resume is hard enough. But writing a resume for every job you apply to can seem downright overwhelming.
The good news is that you don’t need to completely revamp your resume every time you want to submit it for a job opening; however, as a leading staffing agency, Peoplelink can tell you that you do need to tailor it so it can make the biggest impact.
Here are some tips to help you create a custom resume for each job opening you apply to:
Learn All You Can About the Company
The first place to start when tailoring your resume is to learn everything you can about the company. The more you know about who they are, what they do, and their challenges and opportunities, the better you can align your background with their needs.
So check out the company website, Google their name and read any news articles about them, and look to LinkedIn to see if you know any of the company’s employees and can get the inside scoop on getting hired.
When you’re doing your research, look for any keywords, phrases, or information that can help you more effectively market yourself to them. For instance, if the company places a heavy emphasis on community involvement, then it’s smart to highlight all your volunteer work on your resume.
Include a Custom List of Qualifications
Rather than including an objective, use a qualifications summary at the top of your resume. This should be a bullet point list of your top qualifications for the job and it should be customized for every job opening you apply for.
When creating your list, look to the job posting first and take note of the skills and requirements that are most important. Then think about how your background can meet those needs.
For instance, does the job require someone with experience leading a team? Then one of the bullets in your list of qualifications should be something like: “5 years of experience leading a team of 15 employees.”
Be sure to order your qualifications summary so the most important ones are first.
Tweak Your Work History
Explain your work history in a way that highlights the skills and accomplishments that are most relevant to the position you’re applying to. This may mean editing some of the details, including different achievements, or simply reordering the list so the most important and relevant information is first.
Need More Help With Your Resume?
Let Peoplelink know. As a leading staffing agency, we can help you craft a resume that gets results, prep for interviews, and connect you with job opportunities that are a great match for your skills and experience.
