Consider a New Version of Your Resume for Every Application

With competition for jobs as tough as it is in today's market, it's no longer an appropriate idea to have one resume for every job you apply for. Recruiters can tell when you make your resume a generic one, and it won't get much attention. A tailored resume will make it seem like you're passionate about the position and excited to work for the company. It will also help you land an interview.

When you make your resume, insert a resume headline at the top. The resume headline is a one-line concise phrase that briefly tells a potential employer what your value is as a candidate. Your headline will describe you and can change depending on the job you apply for, especially if you have extensive experience in a variety of occupations. If you're applying for a restaurant job, a sample headline might say, "Cook with Extensive Experience in Fast Food." Change your headline each time you begin writing a resume. It will take minimum effort, but it can help highlight the attributes that make you a strong candidate.

When you make your resume, another way to tailor it to a job application is by updating your resume profile. The profile is different from the headline because it provides a brief summary of your qualifications. A resume profile provides a paragraph or a bullet list that's placed near the top of the page under the headline. Read over the job description of the position you're applying for. Each item in your bullet list should pertain to the type of employee the company is looking for. It also helps to use exact phrases. For example, if the company states it needs someone who can manage databases, that exact phrase should be listed in your profile when you make your resume.

Another section to customize when you make your resume is your objectives. This section will tell a potential employer what your goals are for the future, so it's important that your goals match the job you're applying for. The more specific you are when you make your resume while looking for a job, the better the chances are that you will get the attention of the recruiter or human resource manager.

Writing a resume requires time and effort, but when you make your resume focus on what you will bring to a company, you will stand out among other candidates. Your main goal for creating a resume is to get the attention of a recruiter so that you can get an interview, and when you customize your resume for each job, it shows that your focus is on that particular company.

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