Is Your Resume Hindering Your Job Search?
Although there are no hard and fast rules that apply to every individual resume or job seeker, one piece of advice rings true in modern resumes: the more targeted your resume is, the better. You are unlikely to receive a phone call if you submit a resume detailing your experience as an electrician for a customer service position.
Even if you have a wealth of experience, portraying yourself as a jack-of-all-trades on your resume will come across as broad and vague and make it harder for your reader to envision you performing in any given role. Here’s how to make sure your resume is expediting your job search rather than hindering it:
Have a clear target position in mind. Don’t apply for every online posting you see, as tempting as it may be. Doing so is a poor use of time and can quickly lead to job search burnout. Instead, narrow your options down by picking a specific type of position. If you want to narrow it down further, identify and focus on employers you are interested in working for and industries you are interested in joining.
Identify and use employer jargon and keywords. Different employers will use different terminology to refer to the same things. Use language from the job posting wherever possible. For example, some organizations may have a recruitment department; others may have a talent acquisition team. Use whichever terminology they use in the job posting in your resume.
Strategically design your resume to be editable. Luckily, targeting your resume to a specific position doesn’t mean you need to rewrite every line and bullet for every job opening. Use sections such as Professional Summary, Core Competencies, and Career Highlights to make it easier to adapt to different job descriptions.
Highlight your transferrable skills. Transferrable skills follow you from job to job and employer to employer. You can do these skills anytime and anywhere; they are particularly important if you are changing industries or just entering the workforce.
Consider having multiple versions of your resume for different types or levels of positions. For example, a safety professional with relevant experience may have one resume targeted towards safety training opportunities and another targeted towards safety operations management.
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