To achieve consistency in securing interviews, one cannot overstate the value of resume targeting to bettering your results. The purpose of the exercise is not to “generate a document, it is to ensure employers easily see where your value matches their needs. Your resume should adhere to the same philosophy your clothing does:
“Dress the resume for the jobs you want, not the jobs you’ve had.”
Below are some tips in targeting your resume that can quickly improve that interview response rate.
Focus Your Executive Profile on Why You Can Step Up to the Next Level
This is usually missed opportunity by most when it comes to proper resume targeting. This is because most job seekers don’t treat it as seriously as they should. Forget all the self-congratulatory fluff that doesn’t really say anything substantive. This is where you can communicate why you are ready for the next move. But fluff-n-fold content won’t get it. You want targeted resume content here that paints a picture of “why you and not them”. Be sure to gauge the qualities the employer values the most. Does the position seek a quality leader? Perhaps a task master? How about a master networking specialist or relationship builder. Seek to understand what the employer values most, and give it to them!
Shape Your Job Description Based on Established Hot Buttons
It may be true that you have worn many hats at the last job, but you can best believe that employer doesn’t care. There are certain experiences they will value over others. It is these duties and highlights on which you need to focus. Don’t overdo it when it comes to the day-to-day stuff. Keep it relevant and keep it compact. Where you differentiate yourself is with your highlights and contributions. After all, the employer wants to hire someone who makes a difference. But even when it comes to highlights, if you have a ton you can include, keep it to those that will justify your transition into the new role.
Use The Roadmap: Posted Job Description
While they all may may be written with extensive detail, employer job descriptions more or less tell you exactly where the resume’s focus should be. Think of it as getting into a car for a road trip. You have a better chance of getting to the destination if you know where you are going and the route. Most job descriptions will detail the position’s duties, followed by the employer’s qualifications requirements. This is a goldmine for guiding you on isolating the concepts for inclusion. It also does not hurt to research additional job descriptions similar to the position or positions to which you are applying. No one job description gives you every single qualification or duty expected. This is a good strategy for getting additional resume targeting content that is not included in the job posting of the targeted employer.
Overall, proper resume targeting it is a bit of an art form. But when done properly, you can be sure that your resume will strike a chord with its recipient. They will have a better chance of seeing their ideal employee in you. And isn’t that the ultimate goal?
