Customizing your resume to the job

When you are applying for a job it is very important that your resume is a direct response to the advertisement that was placed for the position. Hiring managers will typically only look at a resume for a few short seconds before determining weather they will continue reading or discard it. In that few seconds your resume must have something that catches their eye and lets them know you may be qualified for that position.

Every position has different requirements and qualifications and customizing your resume to best reflect the needs that you satisfy is the best way to getting a hiring managers attention. If the most important qualification for the position is the education or certification then your education section of your resume should be at the top of your resume above skills and previous experience so that it is easily located and proves you have the necessary requirements to advance in the hiring process. The same goes for skills. If the ad is requesting particular skills or experience, put your skills section ahead of education and previous experience and be sure to have the skills the employer requires that you can satisfy listed before any others.

Applying for a job is like show-and-tell. Your resume has to show to others that you are capable of satisfying their need and you have just a few short moments to do that. Once you pass the first look through, it is likely your resume will have a more thorough review before the stage where you may be called for an interview.