How to Land a Job with a Targeted Resume

Customizing the Resume for a Specific Job Opening

May 6, 2009 Daniel Gansle

Job seekers can increase their chances for landing a new job using a resume that is specifically targeted to the employer's job opening. Here's how.

The very worst thing a job seeker can do is to use only one generic resume when applying for jobs. While customizing the summary of qualifications for each job opening can seem time consuming and arduous, the job seeker may be wasting even more time in sending the employer list of skills that simply doesn’t match the job skills highlighted in the job description. This is where the targeted resume comes into play.

What is a Targeted Resume?

A targeted resume is specifically customized for the job opening to which the job seeker is applying. The idea behind this summary of qualifications is to highlight the job title, objective, skills, and work history to match the employer’s job opening. The targeted resume can be written in any common format including functional or reverse chronological and should include

  • contact information
  • objective (or qualifications summary)
  • skills and accomplishments
  • work experience
  • education

Why is a Targeted Summary of Qualifications Important?

The targeted resume is important because it tells the employer the candidate is a perfect match for the job. Consider a summary of qualifications that is not targeted to the job but rather is generic. The job description is for a web graphic designer, but the resume title is Desktop Publisher. Furthermore, the candidate’s qualification summary does not highlight web graphic design work, but rather print publications such as brochures and posters.

When employers scan the document, they will likely dismiss it because they do not see how the candidate’s skills and work history match the open position. But if the candidate were to have highlighted his or her web graphic design experience using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator inside a targeted summary, the employer would have been more inclined to consider bringing the person in for an interview.

How to Write a Targeted Resume

It is recommended that the job seeker modify his or her resume to match the requirements of each job opening to which he or she is applying. In essence, this is precisely the idea behind developing a targeted summary of qualifications. Other tips include

  • match the resume title with the title of the job opening
  • highlight job skills and accomplishments to match the employer’s job description
  • eliminate job skills that are inconsequential or otherwise do not match the employer’s job description
  • decide upon the resume type that best suits the candidate’s employment situation (e.g., functional vs. reverse chronological)
  • follow the basic five-part structure: contact info, objective, work history, skills, education
  • write the summary of qualifications in a concise, professional, and highly focused manner
  • provide a clear objective statement (or qualifications summary) that is targeted and not cliché
  • use copious action verbs (e.g., developed, managed, coordinated)
  • enthusiastically sell job skills, but come across objectively rather than overly confident

Bottom Line on Writing a Targeted Resume

The targeted resume customizes the job application for each job opening to which the candidate applies. Though it may seem time consuming to rewrite the summary of qualifications for every job, the cost of not doing so may mean a dearth of phone calls and emails from interested employers. But once the job seeker learns how to write a targeted resume, the chances for an interview become all the greater.

The copyright of the article How to Land a Job with a Targeted Resume in Career Advice is owned by Daniel Gansle. Permission to republish How to Land a Job with a Targeted Resume in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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