When applying for a job, it is important to tailor your resume for the position. Why? You want to make sure your resume is chosen from among the many applications the company likely receives. You have a better chance of being chosen if you focus on what the company is looking for, making it clear from your resume you have the skills and strengths they are seeking.
Here are some tips for how to tailor your resume for a specific job.
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Read the Job Posting Carefully
You need to know what the company is focusing on in hiring for the position. To do that, you need to read the job posting carefully. Job postings are the key to what the company is looking for.
Sit down with the job posting in front of you and go through it. If you have focused mainly on titles in the past, note how many individual strengths and skills are mentioned. Not all job postings are alike.
Highlight the strengths, skills and qualifications the company mentions in the job posting.
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Rework Your Resume
Now you are ready to start reworking your resume to match the job posting. Are there any strengths, skills or qualifications they want that you have, but are not mentioned or a focus of your resume? Time to change that!
Do they mention a warehouse supply software you have used in the past, for example? If you do not currently mention it in your resume, put it in. In fact, you might want to include a brief summary statement at the top in which you mention your experience with it.
Similarly, if they mention punctuality as a key strength, and you once won a company award for always being on time, be sure to mention it in your resume.
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Review Your Resume
Note that tailoring a resume does not include taking away jobs or duties a job posting does not mention. A resume still needs to give an honest itemization of all the companies you have worked for and positions held.
Tailoring just means you highlight points that are specifically relevant to the job you are responding to, and de-emphasize those less relevant. A core list itemizing all your jobs and the dates you have held them still remains.
Work for a Company That Will Grow Your Skills
If you are looking for a job, you want to land in a company that will let you grow your skills. Nesco Resource can help you find employment with such a company. Contact us today.
