In such a tight job market, candidates are finding that they need to do more now to be considered for a role than they would have even a year ago. Beyond a strong LinkedIn profile and large professional network, your resume is another key factor in helping you land an interview. Customizing your resume for each job you’re applying for is one way to help you stand out in a sea of candidates. Doing so will show that your skills align with the open position, that you are invested enough to have done the work and tailored your resume to be relevant, and help you get past the automated resume screening software that many companies utilize. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Customize the Main Sections
Most resumes are broken up into different categories including: Title, Summary, Education/Certifications, Skills, and Experience. When customizing your resume, go over the job description thoroughly and under the experience section of your resume frame your relevant skills and experience to show that you would be an asset to the team and company. In an article on Monster, they give the example stating, “Once you’ve researched the employer’s requirements, use the resume career summary section to match these requirements with your qualifications, thereby proving you are the perfect candidate for the position. Modify the Qualifications Summary in your duplicate resume as follows: Omit statements that aren’t important for the position’s specific goals, reorder the summary so statements relevant to the position are listed first and add information about your credentials that’s uniquely applicable to the position and employer.”
Link Your Resume To The Job Description
Think about what transferable skills you have and use the keywords and phrases listed on the job description on your resume. In an article on Dice, they write, “Note the keywords and phrases used to describe the position. Pay particular attention to the employer’s desired skills, especially the ones you know. You’ll want to insert those into your resume—and place them in a prime position in your skills section. (Also: Many companies use automated resume screening software that will reject resumes that don’t mention at least some of the skills in the original job description.)”
Include Measurable Data
For many companies, listing numbers or data is a helpful measure for them to see your past successes. Under your experience section on your resume, take the time to evaluate each bullet point and provide data to show your impact on past companies and what you bring to the table. In an article on Indeed, they write, “To further prove yourself as a qualified candidate, use quantifiable data in your experience section. If you do not already have numbers in your bulleted list, determine where you can add them to demonstrate your impact at previous companies. Hiring managers will be impressed by such achievements because they present the value you provide.”