Targeting Your Resume

How to Target Your Resume

1. Consider the Layout

  • Many people are surprised to learn that resume layout may be just as important as content.
  • Human resource research suggests that your resume has less than 20 seconds to make the right impression.
  • It must be eye-catching and easy to read.  Fonts like Garamond, Times New Roman, Arial  and Helvetica are good bets.
  • Avoid the MS Word resume template like the plague!  (Unless you want your resume to look just like everyone else’s.)

2. Write a short objective statement to address the job you are applying for

  • Keep the objective to one line if possible.
  • Use the title of the job in your objective.
  • Do not make this into a paragraph about your personal philosophical statement of your career thoughts or life goals.  Just tell the reader you want their job enough to identify it in your resume.
  • Objective: A position (or internship) as a technical writer with a progressive software company.  (The job title is “technical writer” in this case.
  • It’s OK to use a job number if the employer posts it with a number.  Don’t list the number used by a third-party system to identify the job.

3. Create a section titled “Related Skills”, “Skills & Qualifications” (or something similar). List your skills and competencies related to the job you are applying for

  • A targeted resume should address the skills listed in a specific job posting you are applying for.
  • Use the terminology used by the employer in the job posting.  Include as many of their key words as you can in your skills and employment history.
  • Write your competency statements as if you are addressing them to the specific job you are applying for.
  • Tell them you have done this before, you have coursework, or at least knowledge.
  • Put the competency statements in functional groupings within sub-headings such as “Financial Skills”, “Computer Skills”, “Technical Skills”… (See the targeted resumes samples.)
  • In each sub-heading, write brief, one-line statements that start with “action verbs” whenever possible. (See our action verb page).
  • These statements may be listed with bullets in front.

4. Other rules for targeted resumes

  • Your Employment History section should be included  after the “related skills” section.
  • Your Employment History section should list the employer’s (company or organization) name, position held (your title) and a one or two-line description of your main responsibilities for each job. Include start and end dates (month & year).  Your history should be listed most recent first.
  • You should keep the descriptive terminology in your work history to a minimum unless the job has direct relevancy to the job you are applying for.  (You don’t need detail on irrelevant jobs.)
  • Unless you have extensive experience, keep your resume to one page. Never exceed two pages.
  • Make sure to include your email in your contact information at the top.  Don’t use cutesy or questionable terminology in your email. Get a new email address if needed for employment.
  • If you don’t have an extensive work history. Include sections on “Relevant Coursework” or “Volunteer Experience”.
  • If you are just starting out and don’t feel you have much experience, include a section on your “Qualifications”.  These are general one-line statements on why you would be a good employee.  You can put them together in a bulleted list under the heading “Highlights of Qualifications”.
  • A targeted resume should tell a prospective employer that you want their job and you have the skills, education and/or qualifications to do it.
  • You should change the objective and skills to match each job.

Targeted resumes are more work, but you should see an increase in interview opportunities if you target your resume effectively.