Tailoring your resume to the position - best practice

Many people use the same resume to apply for different jobs. However, to show your potential employer that you actually want the position at hand, a resume needs to be tailored to fit the job description. Job ads actually provide a wealth of information related to the job, and if you know what to look for they practically write your resume for you!

It is important to include the typical resume features such as personal details, education, employment history, awards, professional development and voluntary or community work if relevant. The hardest part for most people is highlighting their skills and framing these skills in the most impressive way possible.  For specific positions there are generally key skills indicated in the job ad, such as IT and programming experience for an IT specialist, or registration as a psychologist and experience with children for a job in child psychology. It is essential to highlight these key skills in your resume, along with relevant experience.

However, for many jobs there are common skills and qualities that are in high demand.

If a job ad states that the successful candidate needs to:

·          

     "Be enthusiastic, dedicated, driven or have a passion for the job"

You should highlight your skills and experience by identifying your dedication to your previous work. Rather than just stating that you worked as a Dietitian and gained experience in X, Y and Z, it is beneficial to sell yourself and your experience. This can be done by stating that you ‘Committed yourself to’, ‘persevered in’, ‘took opportunities to’ and ‘volunteered for’. It is all about the language you can use to sell yourself! When talking about achievements, it is important to phrase them in an exciting way, for example ‘I exceeded expectations’ or ‘I led the company to succeed in’.

·         "Use initiative, be proactive, candidate should think for themselves"

You should identify your leadership skills and provide examples of times when you have worked in an ambiguous environment and worked well individually or led groups. Indicate any ideas that you had that were new, creative, resourceful or imaginative (be sure to detail their success if they were successful). 

 ·         "Work well with others, have sound communication or interpersonal skills"

Most jobs require you to work with others and to be able to communicate well, and your ability to demonstrate these skills will be looked upon favourably by employers. If these are skills relevant to the position you should identify instances when you have worked in a team. To enhance the appeal of this skill, use language such as ‘liaised’, ‘coordinated’, ‘reported back to’ ‘collaborated’, ‘partnered with’ or ‘interacted with’. Demonstrate your enjoyment for being around people, and your drive to communicate effectively with others (providing examples of this is always good).

Don’t forget to write a cover letter that makes employers want to read your resume! It is important to express your interest and passion for the company and the area they work in, and use examples of the tasks or requirements stated that link to the value you can deliver. As recruiters and employers have piles or applications to get through, something engaged and relevant will always put you far ahead of a standard application that is more about using fancy words than actually addressing key requirements!