Joy Montgomery ⋅ Pleasanton, CA ReBoot Camp ⋅ 30 years experience

I recommend a single Master File. It could be 100 pages long, depending on your experience. When you need a resume for a specific opportunity, you make a copy of the Master File and delete everything that does not fit that opportunity. If you want feedback, you can send your Word doc to my website which has a roadmap that you can use. www,ReBootCamp.US

Steven Sachs ⋅ Washougal, WA Los Angeles Community College District ⋅ 37 years experience

Every one of the answers above is great. But you might get even more useful information if you posted your resume for us to look at it immediately. You can remove particulars if you want privacy.

. . . Dr. Sachs

Karen Cavazos ⋅ Wittmann, AZ Wells Fargo ⋅ 19 years experience

Hi David,

I have seen military resumes where the candidate will sometimes use a grid to outline the desired or preferred qualifications in one column and in another column indicate their experience as it relates to the qualification. Really helps recruiting see the transferrable skill set.

Jose Roman ⋅ Norfolk, VA Military Resource Center Regent university ⋅ 8 years experience

David,

You tailor your resume to the job description of the organization you are applying for. With 20+ years of experience you can have several master resumes but they never should be submitted to a particular job application, without being reviewed and tailored to the individual position. Without a resume that's related and addresses the job description and shows those requirements you're not getting past the gatekeeper.

If you need help with this let me know. Find me on Linkedin or email me at Jroman@regent.edu

Best,
Jose R

Karen Blum ⋅ Woodland Hills, CA Centene ⋅ 36 years experience

I agree that you should tailor your cover letter, not your resume. Sometimes if you are too specific the recruiter could overlook other roles that may be a great fit for you, thinking you are only interested in one specific job.

Look at your resume from the eyes of the people who will be reviewing it. Is the language general enough for everyone to understand? Are you describing a position that doesn't transfer well to the new company.

Knowing your audience is as important as what you want to tell them. Use Boolean searches, LinkedIn, local networking groups, etc., to find people in the organization to find out more about the culture of the company you are applying to.

What type of positions are you looking for?

A. Lollie Ramirez-Bennett ⋅ Spring, TX AT&T ⋅ 35 years experience

I agreed with the guidance that Linda & Jeff offered. What I have found with military resumes is that at times, it is like a different language. Take a look at the resume with a "non-military" view. Would someone understand the resume. Perhaps putting it in more layman's terms - something that makes it easy for the viewer to understand what you bring to the table.

Gail Baccetti ⋅ Lake Geneva, WI Retired ⋅ 42 years experience

David, I agree with Jeff about using LinkedIn to find people at the company. The best scenario will be if someone you know is connected to someone at the company, so you can get a written, email, or personal introduction.

Your resume can be somewhat generic. You should use a cover letter, not your resume, to show how your skills match their requirements.

I'd be happy to take a look at what you have, or talk with you further. If interested, send a Word Document of your resume to gbaccetti@hotmail.com.

Linda Vazquez, SHRM-CP ⋅ Palm Harbor, FL Access Cruise Inc. ⋅ 15 years experience

Hi David. Thank you for your service.

I agree with suggestion to use LinkedIn to connect with those working for a company you're targeting. It's a great networking tool. It's hard to assess what if anything on your resume needs to be tailored without seeing it but I'd be happy to help.

Jeff Martin ⋅ Ashburn, VA The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ⋅ 25 years experience

It might not be your resume that needs more work. It might be that you need to do more networking at your target companies in order to get past the gatekeepers. Try using LinkedIn to find people at your target company and ask them if they would help you with the application process and maybe even submit you as a referral. A referral from a current employee gets much more attention and that employee might even get a small bonus if you get hired. It could be a win-win for both of you but it takes some effort on your part. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Olivia Friedman ⋅ Huntsville, AL Media Executive | Forbes Councils Member | Expert Marketer & Media Ad Executive ⋅ 25 years experience

Good Day Shipmate:

Feel free to message me if still desiring assistance with your resume. Designated Career and Resume Advice Expert on LinkedIn. Glad to help! https://www.linkedin.com/in/boardofadvisors/

Sincerely,

Olivia

Eric Hamel ⋅ Salem, NH AIG ⋅ 15 years experience

Hi David,

One thing I always try to do to tailor my resume when I'm applying for a position, is use the job posting itself as the guide for listing my experience on the resume. A job posting will typically have bullet points or some similar list of what skills they want to see in an applicant. In your resume, when you're listing your own experience, try to address the skill set they're looking for. For example if the posting says they need someone that can work in a fast paced environment, your resume might say something like "Successfully performed all duties in high stress, time sensitive situations." If they're looking for someone with good communication skills, your resume might say "Effectively managed communications with superiors and unit members to ensure all parties had information necessary for decision making." I'm not sure what kind of work you may have done while serving, but try to match it up as best you can with what they need. I definitely wouldn't just copy and paste the requirements into your resume, but make sure its close enough that they see that you're a good fit. And if you get an interview, they'll be asking you about these, so just have an example to discuss when you go in.