Hi! Welcome to my Blog. I like to use my experience as both a Certified Résumé Writer and administrator in charge of the candidate selection and interview process for my department to share helpful tips that I have picked up along the way. This blog will be updated frequently. I hope you enjoy it! Positive Testimonials and remembering to “Like” my Facebook page are GREATLY appreciated.
5 Reasons You Should Customize Your Résumé
I hear the question all the time: “Can’t I just use one résumé for all job openings?” After all, your experiences and education don’t magically change simply because it’s a different job opportunity. I get why people think that way, but the fact is that it’s just not accurate thinking. Even if multiple openings are within the same field, each job listing comes with its own unique responsibilities and requirements. Furthermore, each employer is looking for something slightly different than the next. To further my point, I will use this blog entry to explain my top 5 reasons why you should customize your résumé.
- You need to STAND out! A recent study found that the average job posting receives roughly 200 responses within a week of posting. Consider the following two résumés – Which résumé would you be more confident in getting a call back?
1) A generic résumé that doesn’t make any attempt to address the needs of an employer. OR
2) One that highlights your value to that specific company.
It’s worth the time to put in the work if it will help you stand out.
- Show that you are actually qualified. One frustration that I routinely encounter while selecting candidates to interview is the large number of unqualified candidates that apply. This can happen for two reasons:
1) They really aren’t qualified. OR
2) They are qualified but didn’t do a good job communicating that in the precious few seconds résumés are looked at before gauging interest.
It is imperative that employers can easily see that you are qualified. Don’t let reason #2 happen to you. It might mean you missed out on a great opportunity.
- Helps to demonstrate genuine interest in the position. Another thing I notice when scanning résumés is that many give the impression that the candidate applies to any and all jobs he/she can find. Employers like to feel that you are truly interested in their specific opening. Whether that is true or not, it should always seem that way.
- Makes it easier to include keywords. With employers receiving sometimes hundreds of résumés for each opening, they very often use software to filter out unqualified candidates. One way this is done is through the use of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that looks for specific keywords in a résumé. Scanning that specific job posting can help to determine keywords for the position. (This is something that Certified Résumé Writers are VERY good at)
- Focuses on relevant strengths and successes. By customizing your résumé, you are able to expand on specific responsibilities that may have been listed in the job posting. While they might have been on your résumé anyway, it helps to move them up and/or elaborate when possible. This will help employers visualize how you fit into their plan.
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Greg Ryan Resume Writing 