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What's the right way to modify a resume to different job vacancies?

Veteran

Samuel Lynon Enterprise, AL

I'm seeking more information regarding resume development, the job search and realistic job applications.

17 July 2018 10 replies Resumes & Cover Letters

Answers

Veteran

Linda Dyas Farmington, MN

I had too many bullets for each position that I held. Traditionally 2-3 bullets per year at that job are acceptable. I kept a separate word file for each job/position that I held and kept all of the bullets in those files. I kept the job titles the same on each resume. Changed the title of the resume to match the job requisition title and swapped out bullets to make sure I had the most relevant information in the resume. If there were exact requirements for a job I would use exactly the words in the job requisition if I had those qualifications.
If you slightly reword a bullet then save that as a separate bullet in your word file.
You will start to see a pattern and start to see talents that you have that keep getting used and are the most relevant.
Don't dismiss the smaller tasks that you have completed in a position, that may be the one thing they really want.
Good Luck!

Advisor

Carol Teasley Spring Lake, NJ

Sam - first, thank you for your service. I would be happy to help you with your resume and how to set it up so that you can modify for different jobs. I have many years of hiring and interviewing experience in the technology and transportation logistics industries as senior management. Feel free to contact me at cbteasley58@gmail.com.

Advisor

Jim Schreier Milwaukee, WI

I've scanned the answers here and there's some good advice. I'll emphasize this: focus on your accomplishments -- not necessarily your "experience," or "skills," or "talents." Those are expressed in your "most significant accomplishments." Plus those can be focused to connect to possible positions. I've published some articles on this site that focus on this idea.

Advisor

Henry ("Dr. Hank") Stevens Fort Lauderdale, FL

Good Morning Samuel! I like all the answers given but I have a little different spin on the subject. That is, I am a proponent of focusing on the TALENTS necessary to do the job. Sure, hiring managers will first look at the EXPERIENCE you may have, but at the end of the day, if you have the TALENT, the experiences are really incidental as you can learn them. A good manager will know that.

Here is the link to Carl Jung's assessment (MBTI). it will help you identify YOUR talents. It is FREE. If you wish, share the letter and percentage associated with each, by sending your results to the e-mail address below - also free. There is also a kind of vocational interpretation on the site that is worth looking at and exploring. Having been an H-R guy for decades and now doing vocational counseling, I have my own.

http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality

Whatever you may do, best of luck to you and please know that I am honored to reach back and help a fellow vet!

Hank Stevens (hlstevens42@gmail.com)

Advisor

Dan Eddinger Morrisville, NC

Alternative answer here but from the perspective that you might be wanting to cover ground rapidly... Build a functional resume that clearly connects you to the general field you're seeking, make a cover letter that allows you to change a few key words for each different company and just start submitting ~ spray and pray approach to turn a phrase. There are very few things you actually can control when working through an ATS so putting effort into powering through more opportunities might be a different approach.

If you're after a particular company your effort is best spent working on networking to get in front of the team vice polishing the resume cannon ball. Again, an alternative view, but just providing.

Veteran

Adam Olshefsky Pittsburgh, PA

Samuel,

You should be able to skim through your resume (job titles and the first few words of each line) in less than 30 seconds and know that you've met the basic requirements in the job description. To get your resume to that point, you'll likely have to modify it for each position. For example, a job description might mention following processes, operating in a regulatory environment, etc. Those aren't the processes or regulations you've followed before, but you know their importance and how operating in that environment affects your day-to-day activities. You'd mention this for that job, but not for one with a job description that mentions operating on your feet in an unstructured environment (which you've also done and can include in a resume for that job).

Your cover letter is your chance to quickly show your interest in the company and position and the skills and experience you bring to that position. Be sure to look at the company's website and press releases. That will give you an idea of what is important to the company versus the job description, which shows what is important to the hiring manager.

All the best.

Adam

Advisor

Gail Baccetti Lake Geneva, WI

Hi, Samuel,

If you need help developing your resume, I'd be happy to work with you. Please send me your current resume in a Word document to gbaccetti@hotmail.com.

Your resume itself can be fairly standard, although you might want a few different versions, depending on what you want to emphasize. You should use your cover letter to highlight how your skills match each specific job opening.

Looking forward to working with you,

Gail

Advisor

Rex Conger Gilbert, SC

My suggestion is for you to adjust your resume and your cover letter for each position you are applying for. You need to use your resume and cover letter as the way to show the potential employer that you have the experience, and potential to be the best candidate they have ever looked at!

Best Wishes on your search!

Advisor

Susana Moraga Hayward, CA

Samuel,

Thank you for your service.
In addition to what Rob posted, check out the advisors, find those in the field or organizations that you are interested in and conduct an informational interview with them.
This will give you the insights you need for a successful job search.
The more you understand your field and how your transferable skills relate the easier it is for an employer to see you as part of their team.
Best,

Advisor

Rob Gasperetti Locust Valley, NY

Good morning Samuel,

Everybody will tell you about adding keywords to your resume. Resume scanners seek them out as well as human eyes. Finding them is easy. Just look at the job posting. They are all in there. Look for words in your resume that are synonyms top those and swap them out. It shows that you have the right lingo for the position, will make it through the software at the gate, and impress the person that wrote the posting.

Good luck Sergeant, and thanks for all you've done for me and my family!
Rob

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