In today’s job market, it has become increasingly important to personalize your resume. If you don’t find a way to customize it, your resume can disappear from the job boards.
Why?
Many employers use a software called the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter resumes based on the requirements of the role. If you want to scale through this initial electronic screen, your resume must be adjusted to the specific position.
That is why today we present you with the advantages of doing it.
Additionally, several recent studies have indicated that the person reviewing your resume, assuming they go past ATS, will spend six seconds looking at your resume before deciding whether or not you are qualified for the opportunity.
What am I talking about? good job recruiting platforms like Linkedin and it’s likes Or those that have the companies themselves can drop words, for example, I am looking for a General Accountant, and they will get more than 1000 job applications, but when they put in keywords like taxes, costs, the number of applications begins to be limited, because many write stories in their CV that are far from the given keywords or they don’t have all the words I am looking for.
Advantages of Customizing your resume
When done correctly, customizing your resume should enhance your job applications in two important ways:
Firstly, your resume would pass the ATS filter.
As I already mentioned, ATS software is designed to take applicants’ resumes based on keywords, layout, and format. Customizing your resume for your industry and position requirements will send a signal to ATS robots that you are a good fit, helping you pass this initial test and bring your application closer to the recruiter’s inbox.
Secondly, your resume would impress the recruiter.
This can be the biggest challenge in the entire job application process. Once your resume goes through the ATS and is being reviewed by a human being, it must show, within six seconds, that you are qualified for the job and deserve further consideration.
As you can see, adapting your resume can only benefit your job search. A word of caution, however: customizing your resume does not and should not mean a complete rewrite of your resume for every opportunity. In fact, it will dilute your personal brand if you use very different versions of your resume for each job application. However, these small adjustments will require a little more time and effort than just clicking the “Apply and Submit” button.
Steps to make your resume stand out
So, this is what you should do, in five steps:
Step 1. Analyze the job description
Read the job posting carefully. Pay attention to the job title used in the description, duties and responsibilities, job requirements, and position location. Which phrases and keywords are repeated throughout the job description? Make a list of all these terms and put a checkmark, bold, etc. Along with all the words that describe a skill you have or a responsibility you have had in the past.
Step 2. Match the title of the target job on your resume with the job list.
If the job description uses the same job title as the one already at the top of your resume, then you’re all set. However, if you use a unique version of the job title, match it. I always advise using an objective job title, also called a professional title, at the top of your resume, just beneath your name and contact information so that your job objectives are clear. It is not the name of your professional career, it is the position you are looking for.
SEE ALSO: What you need to know before applying for a job
For example, if you are applying for a job with the title of “Administrative Assistant”, put that exact title at the top of your resume as your target job title, so there is no confusion about your current job goals.
The customization also reveals that you have taken the time and effort to tailor your resume for this specific opportunity.
Step 3. Tailor your skills to meet the major terms in the job description
It is not enough to meet all the requirements of the job; You must incorporate specific keywords associated with those qualifications into your resume to safely pass through the ATS. For example, if you continue with the administrative assistant, you will find, for example, the following requirement in the job description:
Advanced Microsoft knowledge (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Let’s say your resume currently describes your Microsoft Office skills like this:
solid background in Microsoft Suite.
This version is missing some important keywords: Office, applications, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, which could prevent your resume from escaping from the ATS, it will never be seen by a human being. Instead, modify your resume to replicate the description:
Updated Resume – Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
This version more closely matches the language used in the description and should help your resume rank higher on the ATS.
Continue to incorporate key terms and phrases from the job description into your resume, as long as you describe the skills you currently possess. However, if you don’t have that skill, don’t lie on your resume and remove it.
Step 4. Highlight your skills in the top third of the resume
While it’s important to customize your resume with the right keywords to beat ATS, you also need to design your resume with the recruiter and hiring manager in mind. Focus on the first third of the first page of your resume, because this is the small part that needs to be noticed.
Clearly align your qualifications with the job description requirements and place them in a section at the top of your resume, just below your contact information and target job title. Resume writers refer to this aspect by lots of names: “Career Goal”, “Career Summary”, etc., but they all serve the same purpose on your resume.
In just 3-5 lines or bullets, summarize your experiences and accomplishments that best match the most important requirements in the job description. In other words, show the reader why you are a great fit for the position by highlighting your most impressive and relevant qualifications.
Step 5. Confirm your location
This is where things get a bit tricky. Employers tend to favor local applicants over non-residents because they are less expensive to hire (think travel costs, travel expenses during the interview process, etc.) and are less likely to adapt and leave the ship.
So if you’re looking for a job nearby, make sure employers know you’re a local candidate by including your location in the contact information at the top of your resume. Do not publish the addresses of your home or work on your resume, only if necessary, put the location, put the city and the state.
If you plan to move to a location close to the job you are applying for, be sure to notify your potential employer. They will generally be more sensitive to your situation and will not quickly discard your resume due to location issues.
Now is the time to submit it and hit the “Apply” button with pride!
Do you need a resume format to help you in this process?
download one by clicking here.
