Writing for a Specific Job
Oct 20, 2005
Author: William Nichols

Resume Writing for a Specific Job Listing

In today's competitive job market, it is impossible to stress
enough the importance of writing not just a good, but a terrific
resume. With job recruiters and human resources managers getting
as many as 400 resumes per job listing, it's vital to write a
resume that stops them in their tracks.

This means that your resume must be written to fit a particular
job listing if you want to even have a chance of being
considered for the job you're applying for. This means you need
to do certain things such as:

* Read the listing closely and make sure you're the right
applicant for the job before applying. Nothing will get your
application dumped in the trash more quickly than applying for
the wrong position to start with. * When writing your resume,
use as many of the same words and phrases to describe your
skills as are used in the ad or posting because many human
resources managers now scan resumes looking for keyword matches.
This helps them weed out the desirables from the undesirables.
So make sure to sprinkle these words and phrases liberally
throughout your resume. * Use concrete examples of your skills,
expertise and successes. Make sure these examples are in line
with the requirements listed in the job listing. * Edit your
resume for anything that is not relevant to the particular job
you're applying for. Recruiters don't have time to waste and
will trash resumes with lots of unnecessary information in them.
* Don't use trite phrases such as team player, multitasker,
etc., but instead give examples of those skills. Vagueness will
not get your resume noticed. Again, relate these to the specific
job you're applying for. You may be a great communicator, but if
the job you're after doesn't need that particular skill, leave
it out of your resume. * List specific successes you've had that
fit the job listing. For example, if you're applying for a sales
manager position and at your last job you not only met but
surpassed your sales quota by 10%, say this, don't just say
something indistinct like "exceeded sales quota." The more
specific you are about past successes using direct statements,
the more likely it is that those successes will be noted--and
remembered. * Only list past employment and education that is
directly related to the position you're applying for. You may
have worked as a waiter while you were in college, but unless
that has a direct bearing on the job you're applying for, don't
list it.

The key to writing a killer resume these days is to be short and
to the point, using words and phrases to describe your skills
and experience so that they directly relate to the job you're
applying for. Don't waste recruiters' time by filling your
resume with fluff that sounds nice or creative. This may get you
remembered, but not in the way you want to be!

About the author:
HealthCareJobHunter is health care job search engine.
Specializing in providing job listings and resume services. Our
writers contribute original content to help you in your career
search. http://www.healthcarejobhunter.com/rf/.