I've said it before- I am not a good resume writer, I am just reading a lot of job postings. Therefore, anyone can be great at writing a resume!
The new and "must do" approach to resume writing is to tweak it for every job you apply to. This can be tedious, but perhaps the only way to prove you are qualified for that unique job with that specific company. We can no longer assume that the cover letter will be read first, if at all.
Tweaking your resume requires you have a specific job posting.
Step 1: Highlight/underline the specific skills and requirements in the job posting. (I am not talking about "excellent communicator" and "work well independently or as a team member" kind of stuff.
Step 2: Use this terminology or wording (as long as it is true) in your summary.
Step 3: Develop and incorporate specific examples of times when you have performed these job requirements. Most heavily in your current job, whenever possible.
Louise Fletcher at Blue Sky Resumes just wrote a post which shows specifically how to tweak/transform a resume. This shows the process I described with an actual resume and job posting.
Learning how to do this effectively should provide greater results without taking a lot of time.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
