Do you always read the same job description? No.
Do you apply for jobs using the same résumé each time? Of course they aren’t.
Given the differences in these job descriptions, why would you submit the same resume?
As though every job was the same and every employer was looking for the same set of skills and attributes, people send out the same generic resumes every day. Like the broken watch that is right twice a day, the results they receive are far too often hit-or-miss successes.
They include their aim, educational background, work history, dates of employment, and contact information, including name, address, phone number, and email address. The resume lists a few successes or accomplishments. This is their resume.
In the days before computers, when updating a resume required entering new versions, this made sense. With computers making it so simple to edit, proofread, and check documents for grammar and spelling these days, you are wasting money and missing out on opportunities by not tailoring your resume to each position you are interested in.
Here are some steps you may take to improve your resume and get better results.
1. Different companies will be interested in different parts of your experience. A clue is often found in the items they list in their job posting. Emphasise your experiences that relate to the skills they are seeking and the tasks you will be carrying out in the role they have given you. If you are seeking a staff position, emphasise your staff experience more than your management experience. If you are being hired as a leader, write about your most recent leadership experience.
2. Employers value recent work more than work done many years ago. Prioritise your most recent experiences on your resume over your job prior to George W. Bush’s election as president.
3. Provide a detailed account of your achievements, including setting a goal that is exact, measurable, and reachable in a specific amount of time. While cutting costs is an excellent place to start, it would have a greater impact to suggest that operational costs be reduced by 2% globally. Departmental sales increased by 27%, which resulted in… You get it. Action verbs should be used wherever possible. See my post on “Preparing an Effective Resume” at www.newyorkmetrotechnologyjobs.com for further details.
4. Have a reliable person proofread your work. Too often, people believe they can manage everything on their own. Ask a colleague in your profession to evaluate your work to ensure you’re on the correct path and not falling short.
When you order at a restaurant, you expect your food to be prepared to your liking and to look well on the platter. Writing a good CV requires you to be the chef and prepare a visually stunning and delectable dinner!