The Importance of Resume Tailoring

There is no arguing that resumes are the absolute most important thing to focus on to reach that first step toward your dream the job. Most might think the resume is something you work hard on for about an hour or two and then send it out to as many job requisitions as possible – and most would be wrong. Creating a general resume template is a great idea but before you submit anything, you should take the time to curate it to the needs of the company and the job description.

It is estimated that hiring managers, on average, spend about 6 seconds scanning your resume. When applying to a larger company that uses the automated scanning features of an applicant tracking system, the time is even less.  The best way to get past the initial screening and be invited to interview is to tailor your resume to each job/program description.

What does that look like? Start by learning about the company you are applying to. Don’t just go to their website to check out their benefits.  What is this company’s mission?  What business is it in?  Who is on the leadership team? What is the ownership structure?  Is it a cultural fit with you?  Is it financially sound?  Most importantly, do you want to work there?  This can help you to emphasize projects and responsibilities in prior roles that are of greatest interest to the prospective employer.   

Then do a little bit more digging into the role. Pull out any keywords or skills listed within the job description and carefully mold that into your “resume template”. You don’t want to be too obvious, but you do want to show that you have the skills they are looking for. Make sure that your summary at the top of your resume is relevant and compelling, emphasizing your ability to contribute to the company’s success.  If you are applying for a data analytics role where you are cranking out numbers all day barely interacting with a soul, it doesn’t really make sense to type out a resume chocked full of people-based skills. You obviously want to orient it toward your technical skills, organization, and analytical capabilities. Not to say that people-based skills are irrelevant – you just want to come across as the right person for the job so highlight the skills that are the best fit for the role you are aiming to get.

Additionally, consider common interests.  If you are interviewing for a Human Resources role and the Head of HR is a huge advocate for volunteer work with veterans. If you have related experience, call it out in your resume or cover letter to help separate you from the competition. Having a connection to speak about in the interview is huge and if you have something that resonates, chances are you are headed in the right direction moving forward.

This is just one of the many things you can do to better prepare yourself for your resume. Click here to see more resume tips from nextSource.