Tailoring Resumes to Target Specific Job Openings
by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor, CPRW, SME
In today’s competitive job market applicants are now competing against hundreds of others with similar qualifications. No longer can you simply state Education and Professional Experience and hope to get an interview. Hiring managers have neither the time – nor the inclination – to search for an applicant’s skills as they relate to that particular opening. It is now the responsibility of the job seeker to showcase relevant skills for each resume submission.
A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH TO TAILORING A RESUME:
1. Use online resources to determine job requirements within the targeted industry: Search online job sites such as HotJobs or online versions of newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, New York Times for employment openings. Within these postings will be the job requirements. Each requirement that matches your qualifications should be included in the opening summary of the resume. This provides immediate and relevant data to a hiring manager. It tells them that you are a serious contender for the position, because you have the skills and background to do the job.
2. Prioritize data within the resume that meets the requirements stated within the job opening: For example, if the opening is for an IT professional, then all relevant computer skills (including years of experience and certifications) should be presented at the beginning of the resume, preferably showcased in a separate section immediately following the Qualifications Summary. Don’t hope that hiring managers will search for this data – they won’t.
3. Determine what’s most important to the employer – educational background or professional experience – and list it in that order: The most important section should follow the opening summary. However, if the posting does not specify that experience is required, and the only experience in the field is of an academic nature, then Education should always be placed before non-related Professional Experience. The key is to place relevant information first.
4. Pull out industry jargon (also known as keywords) from the job posting: For example, a posting for a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) would include key words such as GAAP, tax audits, IRS, reconciliations, financial statements, etc. When a candidate’s experience matches those keywords, then they should be included in the opening summary of the resume. (eg: “Additional skills in GAAP, tax audits, other IRS-related matters, reconciliations, and financial statements.”) Failure to provide keywords, especially when submitting to large corporations that use scanning software to search for this industry jargon, will result in the resume being dismissed.
5. Use the appropriate formatting and tone as it relates to the targeted job: A sales professional, for example, may use a more stylish format and perhaps a more casual approach in wording, if appropriate to the targeted industry. If that industry were pharmaceuticals or educational book publishing, a conservative approach would be employed. The entertainment field or high fashion would warrant a more stylish/casual approach.
6. Include ONLY what is relevant to the targeted position: If the candidate has numerous degrees in different fields (i.e. Biology, Marketing, Art History), but is seeking a position as a Biologist, only that degree should be listed. Resumes do not contain an exhaustive listing of all academic pursuits or jobs worked. They should only contain what is essential as it relates to the targeted position.
The Professional Touch: Enhancing Candidacy with Language Skills
by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor, CPRW, SME
With each passing year, the global marketplace becomes a smaller, more interrelated community. With increasing frequency job postings are listing foreign language skills as desirable or required in a candidate. Because of this shift in focus from all-American (eg: English speaking only) to international, language skills should be showcased. This can be accomplished using these methods:
1. List language skills in the Qualifications Summary at the beginning of your resume.
2. Include Language Skills in a separate, special section.
3. Provide additional information regarding special schooling in English (for overseas students) and any certifications granted that indicate proficiency.
When NOT to Include Language Skills on a Resume
Never include data on a resume that indicates “familiarity with” or “knowledge of” a language. If you are not fluent or conversant in a language, then your skill level regarding it does little to enhance your candidacy. An additional note: It’s not necessary to write: “Fluent in oral and written…” Fluency in a language assumes you can write, read, and speak it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
· I am multilingual, but have a varying degree of skill in these languages. What is the best way of presenting this on my resume?
There are two options. You can write:
Fluent in English, Spanish, and French; conversant in Portuguese, Thai, and Chinese.
Or you may be even more specific writing:
LANGUAGE – SKILL LEVEL
English – Fluent, certified through US Language Institute, 2003
Spanish – Fluent, certified through US Language Institute, 2003
Portuguese – Intermediate; currently enrolled in advanced classes
Thai – Advanced; will take certification test Summer 2003
Chinese – Intermediate; currently enrolled in advanced classes
· I am a native English-speaker, but also fluent in Chinese, and have a Chinese name. Because of my name, should I even indicate that I know the Chinese language (I’m afraid a US company will think I’m not fluent in English)?
Rather than exclude an obvious skill, write something like this:
Bilingual, with fluency in English (native-speaker) and Chinese.
· I know 15 languages, and numerous dialects, should I list them all?
If the companies to which you are applying have international divisions where these languages and dialects are spoken, then certainly list them. Generally speaking, the only languages/dialects you might not include would be those that are not widely used in international business.
SAMPLES
Showcasing Language Skills for a Foreign Applicant in the Qualifications Summary:
PROFILE
Marketing & Sales Background ~ Client Relations ~ Bilingual, English & Japanese
Conscientious, results-oriented professional with a solid business background in promoting products, providing superior customer service, recruiting and managing teams, and researching competitors to determine market strategy. Currently seeking admission into an MBA program with an emphasis on marketing to gain additional knowledge for career success. Academic achievements include A.U.A. certification in English, 2002.
Emphasizing Language Skills in a Special Section:
LANGUAGE SKILLS
- Fluent in English, Russian (native tongue), and Hungarian.
- Demonstrated excellence as an interpreter in verbal and written translations.
- Interpreted conference lectures on business issues from English and Hungarian into Russian for audiences of up to 1,000 attendees.
- Translated business documents from English and Hungarian into Russian and back.
- Certificate in Hungarian Language, UK Language Institute, 2001
- TOEFL scores include a CBT 260, which is equivalent to a PBT 620.
The Professional Touch – Job Titles – Also Known as Tag Lines
by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor, CPRW, SME
A tag line can say so much more than an Objective and in a minimum of space. In today’s time intensive workplace, hiring managers appreciate information that’s delivered in a concise and well-prioritized fashion. Tag lines do just that whether they are specific or general.
A COMPARISON OF SPECIFIC AND GENERAL TAG LINES
Specific
Oracle Database Administrator
Elementary Teacher – Grades K-5
CPA – Tax Planning
Immigration Attorney
Portfolio Manager
General
IT Professional
Educator
Accountant
Lawyer
Financial Services Professional
TO ACHIEVE THE MOST MILEAGE OUT OF TAG LINES
1. Use specific tag lines whenever you’re applying to a job posting.
2. Use general tag lines when you’re distributing many resumes to numerous industries.
3. If you’re new to the field, it’s best to use a general tag line to increase opportunities.
4. If you have specialized expertise and want to remain in that niche, use specific tag lines.
JOB TITLES – ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QUESTION: I want to keep my resume as general as possible to apply for all opportunities, so isn’t it smart to use “Profile” or “Summary of Qualifications” rather than any tag line?
ANSWER: Not really. In the modern workplace there are no “one size fits all” jobs. However, many jobs require multiple talents beneath one job heading. This would include:
Administrative Assistants who handle reception, word processing, mailing, and in many cases, bookkeeping.
Communication Professionals who are charged with marketing, public and media relations, graphics, and website design.
Sales Professionals experienced in inside/outside sales, B2B sales, consumer sales, etc.
In each of the above, a general tag line covers many opportunities, while also being specific enough to engage a hiring manager.
QUESTION: What if I’m transitioning from one career to another? How do I reflect that in a tag line?
ANSWER: Your best bet would be to use the word “Candidate” before an actual job title as listed on a posting (or for the general industry), while also indicating past experience that can be transitioned towards the new career. For example:
Candidate: Commercial/Individual Insurance Sales – B2B/B2C Sales Experience
Candidate: Insurance Sales – B2B/B2C Sales Experience
QUESTION: I’m looking to apply for a position within the federal government. Are tag lines the same for those postings as for private sector resumes?
ANSWER: Tag lines for federal positions are far more specific and should include the agency and the vacancy announcement number. For example:
Legal Secretary – State Department – Vacancy Announcement # 20057
JOB TITLES (TAG LINES) – EXAMPLES
Specific:
Physician: Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
Law School Candidate: Intellectual Property Law Experience
Manager – Telecommunications
Vice-President – Academic Affairs
Business Developer – Entertainment Industry
Graduate School Candidate: Mathematical Finance Program
General:
Consultant
Senior Project Manager
Journalist
Sales Professional
Tips for Telephone or Videoconferencing Interviews
by Darlene Zambruski, ResumeEdge.com Managing Editor, CPRW, SME
With non-traditional interview methods being employed more and more for telecommuting and other jobs, it’s important to know appropriate and effective conduct that will enhance your candidacy.
1. Always use a landline, not a cell phone during these interviews:
Why? Because cell phone signals have a tendency to cut in and out. Additionally, poor reception will not only distract from the interview process, it will certainly aggravate the employer. The best advice is don’t risk it.
2. Always use a phone that’s in a quiet area:
It’s unprofessional and certainly not conducive to impressing a potential employer when there are children crying or shouting in the background, dogs barking, trash being picked up or a TV/stereo blaring away. You wouldn’t conduct an interview in an office in this manner – don’t do it that way at home.
3. Speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard:
If an employer is forced to say, “Excuse me, I can’t hear you,” several times without the problem being rectified, you can be assured that person will stop listening. Additionally, never eat or drink anything while on the line. This can clearly be heard, and it’s not something you would do if you were face-to-face with that person.
4. Never interrupt:
Many individuals feel that their behavior can be more casual when using the telephone. Nothing could be further from the truth. You wouldn’t interrupt the interviewer in person – don’t do it by phone.
5. If this is a videoconference:
Dress in appropriate business attire. What’s more, make very certain that the area behind the video monitor looks professional. Don’t make the mistake of having clothes and dirty dishes strewn about, or inappropriate posters hanging on the wall. Everything, right down to what’s on your desk, should look orderly and professional.
6. If you are asked a question and don’t immediately know how to answer, don’t keep quiet while you think of a response.
This is especially true of telephone interviews. After several seconds of dead air, an interviewer may very well think that you’re no longer on the line. Instead, preface your coming remarks with, “That’s a good question. I want to answer it fully, so please give me a second.” That gives the interviewer a cue as to what’s happening on your end.
