Tailor your resume each time, to each job. Image: Mariia Korneeva/Shutterstock.com
By: Nancy SegalThere are a lot of things that go into a successful job hunt; having a good resume is an essential part of your search. If you’re using a resume that you “started” 20 years ago, and have just been adding to it, a new approach is critical. Here are some things to think about:
· Know what you’re targeting—1: Private sector and federal government resumes are quite different in length and level of detail. If you’re targeting both sectors, you’ll need two separate resumes. One size does not fit all.
· Know what you’re targeting—2: Resumes require focus. No one is going to look at your resume and guess what you want; you need to use the relevant key words from the posting and your occupation. And your skills summary / qualifications statement / whatever you want to call it needs to make your focus clear.
· Know what you’re targeting—3: Tailor your resume each time, to each job. Even if you’re focused on similar kinds of positions, different job postings use different words. And make sure readers can see how your experience matches what the organization is seeking.
· Use numbers to give your work context. Do not assume readers of your resume will know how many people work for your organization, the size of your budget, the scope of your territory or anything else—even if you work for a well-known organization. It is your job to communicate this information through your resume.
· Focus on the recent and relevant: No one cares about what you did in high school. Or 20 years ago. Or that you’re a cub scout leader. Most employers want to know what you’ve done in the last 10 or so years. And if you’re an Information Technology person, please make sure your technical skills are up to date. Lose the mention of Vista, the Word Perfect and any mention of Y2K. And yes, I have actually seen this on resumes.
· Show your value. It’s not enough to say you did “x;” you need to show how “x” mattered / made a difference to your employer. Results is what you are “selling” and potential employers are buying; use them.
· Active verbs: Use them; they make for much more compelling reading. And please do not use “responsible for;” just because you’re responsible for something doesn’t mean you actually did it—only that you should have done it.
While making sure your resume factors in the above won’t guarantee your success, using these tools will improve your odds significantly.
Nancy H. Segal is a federal job search expert. Following her own senior-level federal HR career, she founded Solutions for the Workplace LLC to provide a HR management perspective to astute applicants to U.S. government positions.
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