You may have heard that it is best to tailor your resume to the position you are applying for. Submitting the same resume to all positions may not be beneficial to you. Do you want to apply to all job openings at once after you've created the perfect resume? It would make your job easier, but it might not be the best idea.
Why?
The logic is straightforward. Because no two job openings are the same, using the same resume for both will not work. Each hiring company has its own set of requirements for candidates in terms of skills, experience, and education. Recruiters seek specialized skills, accomplishments, and work histories that are relevant to the current vacancy in their organization. As a result, it is critical for candidates to highlight these in the best way possible.
As a result, even if your resume highlights a variety of work responsibilities that would ideally make you a preferred candidate across domains, it may fly under the recruiter's radar because the recruiter is looking for specialization in one or two areas, not ten.
Your resume must capture the recruiter's attention, which you can do by addressing three key points in EVERY job application you submit –
(a) Your interest in the particular vacancy,
(b) Fit for the role, and
(c) The role's alignment with your career goals.
Here's how to tailor a resume to meet the needs of a recruiter:
- Carefully read the job description provided by the recruiter.
- Determine which aspects of your resume should be revised (skills, relevant experience, objective statement/career goals, and achievements). Rearrange the information in each category so that the most relevant information is at the top.
- Match job requirements to your profile - A recruiter does not want to know everything you did at your previous job; instead, list job responsibilities that correspond to their desired candidate profile.
Next, consider the various situations that necessitate creating multiple versions of a resume, as well as how to best incorporate the aforementioned points into the all-important document - your resume.
When you need to create multiple versions of your resume:
- Different jobs in the same industry -
When applying to a slightly different role than your current one in the same industry, you must address one basic question that the recruiter will have in mind: "Are you ready to take on a different role?" In your resume, highlight your skills and abilities in current and previous roles. As an IT engineer seeking a managerial position in the same industry, for example, list individual accomplishments, team achievements, and new initiatives.
- A comparable position in a different industry -
Highlight your strengths and transferable skills that can be used in a similar role across industries. For example, if you want to leave your current FMCG sales job to join the sales division of an insurance company, list your current employment details but emphasize your networking skills, a strong sense of gauging client requirements, and ability to sell in difficult market conditions. Also, when transitioning from a core management role with one company to offering independent consultancy services to companies with diverse portfolios, concentrate on a broad skill set rather than individual job responsibilities.
- Various positions, various industries -
In the event of a career change, a detailed chronological resume will be of little use. Create a functional resume that highlights key skills and experience that will be useful in changing industries and accepting a new role. Highlight any past accomplishments in your current industry that will be valuable in the future. Furthermore, failing to clearly state your career goals will leave the hiring manager wondering why you applied for the position in the first place.
It may take some extra time to create a resume tailored to each company and job requirement, but once completed, it has a better chance of standing out among hundreds of generic resumes and landing an interview slot.