4 Tips for Making Your Resume A Perfect Match for Any Opening

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When a hiring manager reviews your resume you want them to say, “Wow! That person sounds like the perfect fit for the job!” And then, of course, they call you for the interview! So how do you create a resume that communicates that you’re exactly what they’re looking for in a new employee? Below are four tips for creating a perfect-match resume.

 

Customization is critical

 

Remember, you always want to tweak your resume when you apply for a job. No two positions are exactly alike, and each employer is going to have different standards and requirements that are very important to them. Key in on those requirements, and be sure to incorporate them into your resume. You’ll know what these requirements are by reviewing the job advertisement and noting special keywords throughout; or, in most cases, the employer will state required skills or preferred qualifications. You’re a perfect match when you meet all of the required and preferred qualifications. Which leads me to my next point.

 

Required and preferred skills are essential

 

When reviewing the description for a job opening, be careful to note exactly what the employer lists as required and preferred. This is critical information. You want to make sure your resume communicates very clearly that you possess all of the required skills. This means you’re capable of doing the job and performing the essential functions. Preferred qualifications are the employer’s wish list of things they’d like to have in a new employee. They can live without them, but if you can prove you possess them, you just upped the ante for the other candidates being considered and are one step closer to positioning yourself as the ideal candidate.

 

Keywords are a must

 

Scan the opening for important keywords listed throughout. Chances are any recruiter or HR person is going to use these keywords when searching job boards for your resume. You want to make sure these keywords are listed throughout your resume or the applicant-tracking software the organization is using won’t pull your resume in the search results.

 

Don’t forget about branding

 

Branding your resume is important to your job search, but it is also vital to proving you’re the perfect fit for an opening. You need to think about what makes you unique as a candidate. What can you offer that others can’t? Show the employer you can offer them value and benefit that others cannot. Do this through a branding statement, branded career summary, and metrics-driven accomplishment statements.

 

Creating a resume that communicates your perfect fit for an open position can be challenging, but following these simple tips can make the process easier and less painstaking.

 
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  • Christopher O
    Christopher O •
    I have several resumes that get used on the keyword job searches. The problem I seem to be having is my resume is over loaded with qualifications that include military experience and I never get a call for an interview or I get an email that I'm overqualified. Thus I have a job but not the one that I fit or fits where I would like to be.
  • Sharon W
    Sharon W •
    Thank you so much the information is very useful.
  • joseph w
    joseph w •
    This is very helpful but help us with a brief review
  • Linda A
    Linda A •
    I thought the 4 tips for Making Your Resume A Perfect Match gave some excellent ideas. It has been a few years since I had to do a new resume and I found this article very helpful.
  • Harle H
    Harle H •
    This is good information but you cannot make yourself what you are not.  The HR people see through some of that stuff when it is fudged on a resume. One has to carefully select only those areas that they can defend in an interview.
  • eva t
    eva t •
    ok sounds good
  • Gayane h
    Gayane h •
    Thank you. I really need this tips.
  • Vincent V
    Vincent V •
    Great article.
  • Barbara C
    Barbara C •
    These are helpful, common sense tips; however, they do not appear to be helpful to many of us who are "seasoned" workers.
  • Celeste L
    Celeste L •
    I would also appreciate an example of a branding resume.  Please post one.
  • Nichol S
    Nichol S •
    Your employment seeker tips are relevant and very helpful. Anyone earnestly seeking employment would benefit from the expert advice you consistently supply.
  • Adedoyin M O
    Adedoyin M O •
    Very good and helpful. Thanks !
  • Terry A
    Terry A •
    i know i'm old (54, out of work over 2 years), and adverse to trendy lingo. but please, what is meant by "branding statement", "branded career summary" and especially "metrics-driven accomplishment statements"? the only metrics i am aware of is the kind used in european measurements.
  • kelly s
    kelly s •
    Very informative article, I really appreciated the incite throughout. What I would have further appreciated was brief examples in the "Keywords are a must," and the "Don't forget about branding" paragraphs.
  • Allison A
    Allison A •
    What is a branding statement, branding summary and a "metrics-driven accomplishment statements"?
  • Frank C
    Frank C •
    These tips are very important!ThanksFrank
  • James C
    James C •
    I've noted space on "show your personal brand."  In resumes and cover notes, it's mandatory to tell who we are and how we show ourselves to the world.  The tips above are great and need to be followed.Thank you.
  • john B
    john B •
    Than you  I,ll start do this right away !!
  • Denise C
    Denise C •
    Helpful! Thanks!
  • maurice c
    maurice c •
    very helpful tks
  • siddu.R
    siddu.R •
    very good
  • Margery G
    Margery G •
    I would like to know more on branding. Altogether, very informative and useful.
  • Joe C
    Joe C •
    This was extremely helpful. It has been a while since I had to update my resume and this article helped me. Thanks
  • Bita N
    Bita N •
    very helpful & clear!
  • Ly N
    Ly N •
    Unnecessary to list the key words that match with the requirements.I list what I have in the real world from school to experiences and show my words of my characters honestly. Employers have to think whether companies styles would match with my personalities.  Ex: I like high tech , organized, secured and clean work place, open minded fair management where everybody works with love to achieve together. Are employers getting those levels?I choose the job I think I can do and learn to do with all my heart.Can employers see that in my resume?If not, too bad they lose the real diamond.

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