Avoid the Cookie-Cutter Approach Many job seekers, thinking they are short on time, end up drafting a single version of their resume and using it in applying for job after job. The problem with this approach is that it does not allow for the fact that each position is unique and may require a slightly different approach. For instance, while the list of jobs you’ve held won’t change from resume to resume, the details you list about your duties on each job might.

Consider this example: You’re applying for a position as a public relations manager for the Navy. You’ve held various PR positions in the past—but some of your activities in those positions are more applicable to this particular job than others. If the Navy position requires you to interact often with the news media, highlight this experience on your resume. If, on the other hand, the job does not require you to be a Webmaster, you might not even list your homepage-producing skills on your resume. After all, you don’t want a Human Relations manager to think that you are overqualified for the position—or that your experience is not quite applicable to the position being advertised.

Keep the Spotlight on Your Achievements With a resume, there is always the temptation to simply list various job responsibilities. However, let’s face it—there are numerous applicants who have drafted correspondence…supervised other employees…and produced annual reports. Therefore, it’s critical that you find a way to show that you would be a truly valuable employee to a prospective employer.

In order to achieve this feat, you’ll need to focus on your career milestones in the text of your resume. The fact that you compiled a convention book may not impress an employer—but the fact that you earned a local advertising award for your book might. Remember—you are more than just the sum total of your job duties. You are, first and foremost, a unique professional with a great deal of talent and expertise to share.

Be Brief—But Be Memorable Unfortunately, when many of us start talking about ourselves, we tend to have difficulty stopping. We become so engrossed in discussing the minutiae of our job histories that we manage to bore our audience. The same can happen with a resume. A document that is too wordy will turn off a manager—and could make that prospective employer less interested in your candidacy. When writing about your record of achievement, be sure to keep your comments short and to-the-point.

Wrapping It Up There is no doubt that rewriting a resume can be a daunting experience. However, if you keep these guidelines in mind, chances are you will produce a composition that will capture the interest of a headhunter, leading you to a job that is truly rewarding—both financially and emotionally speaking.

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