Skillhub Tip: Customize Your Resume For Each Job Application

To craft a winning resume, you don’t have to be an exceptional writer. Besides, with a number of free templates and engines available, you don’t even have to think of a structure.

And yet, there’s something you can do; you can make an effort and tailor a resume to your job.

A custom resume means a lot: it can lead you to an interview, or it can get you on the “Refusals” list. We all know that feeling when you keep sending applications without a positive outcome.

Do you want to finally change that?

Extra Effort To Impress Hiring Manager

Before you submit an application, walk yourself through a job description first. Never use the same resume for multiple jobs! Even if it’s the same position, you can tailor the resume to a specific company, and it won’t go unnoticed by the recruiter.

If you don’t know where to start, don’t hesitate to hire a resume service now; the professional writer will help to highlight the important details and focus on your expertise.

Why does the customized resume matter so much? Because it shows your excitement about joining this particular team! Plus, it helps you to stand out among many other applicants out there.

Some companies receive up to 250 applications for a position; they only grant an interview to 4-5 candidates. So if your resume is flooded with copy-pasted text, it won’t pass an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). On the other hand, if it aligns with your field of occupation, you’ll be pursued as a candidate with great potential.

Summary Of Qualifications

First, use a correct job title (the one the recruiter put in the job description). Thus, you will show you’re familiar with the requirements and prepare an application for this specific role.

The experts call it a career objective and recommend to place on top of the resume. Here, you must provide an overview of your professional accomplishments and match them to the job requirements.

For example, if you’re a digital marketing specialist, include the information on your best projects; in case you’re a front-end developer, mention the applications or websites you’ve built. It shouldn’t be too long, but it’s very critical.

How to make a great resume objective?

• Read a job posting and pay attention to the keywords employer used (that’s what you have to focus on when describing accomplishments)
  
• Remove the irrelevant skills (especially if they are not mentioned in the job requirements)
• Choose the best and most inspirational projects (the other ones will take a stage later)

Remember to choose a simple format (without graphics or tables), because that’s what ATS bots like and approve.

If you have some of the following accomplishments, include them as well; if not in the summary, then as an additional block:

• Volunteering
• Publications
• Awards
• Research
• Languages you speak
• Additional certifications

Don’t Sound Like A Robot

You can be caught up in formality when you’ve started using keywords. Of course, it’s an essential part of resume writing, but here, at Skill hub, we highly suggest you still sound like a human.

The recruiter doesn’t want to hire a machine; they want to hire a real person who’d become a contributor to a team. A customized resume helps the employer to see a valuable worker, who did extensive research and made a smart solution to join a company.

Here’s what else you can do to sound natural:

• Focus on the skills
• Remove experience that’s not relevant
• Be specific about your professional ambitions
  

People aiming to make a career move should also explore how they can use their skills across different industries. You don’t have to learn a programming language to enter IT, and knowledge of technical processes doesn’t guarantee you can be a project manager.

Research What Employer Wants

Look at the company’s website: how they describe themselves, what mission and values they have. Then, check out their LinkedIn page, and ask for feedback from former employees.

Later, you can use this information to tailor your resume for a specific position. Besides, it’s always nice to know more about an employer. A hiring manager wants to see a candidate interested in the company just as much as the company is interested in them.

Pick the relevant achievements to include in a “Work Experience” section. Make sure you include real numbers to showcase your expertise. Highlight the important details to focus on the benefits you brought when working on a project.

Proofread And Adjust Where Needed

After all, don’t let grammar mistakes spoil your job application. Let yourself rest, and read the resume in an hour with fresh eyes. Look at misspelled letters, avoid tautology by using synonyms, etc.

If your resume is more than two pages long, remove unrelated information to adjust the documents. The recruiters spend around 6-8 seconds on every resume, so use this time to your advantage. Mention relevant experience only, and use keywords (preferably, the ones from a job description).

One more tip: ask a colleague or friend to proofread your resume. You’ll get an unbiased opinion about the parts that need to be changed. Then, give it to two-three friends to ensure your job application is well-customized and easy to read.

Key Takeaways

A resume is the main document that can take you to new career heights. But, unfortunately, it’s also a pitfall: by submitting a poor-quality resume, even a great specialist can get rejected.

To pose as a talented candidate, customize your resume for every position. Then, research a company, ask for employees’ feedback, and go through a job description. Once you understand who the recruiter wants to see, you’ll know whether you can be a good fit.

If you feel uncertain about your writing skills, or you don’t know how to highlight your strong sides, check out the Skill hub section with resume writers. We’ll take care of your resume, making it 100% unique and appealing to recruiters.