Once you have a clear job goal in mind, you’ll need a narrow and focused resume to support your search. Many of my professional executive clients are baffled by the need to continually customize their resumes and ask: Why should I customize my Executive Resume and how?
The reason for customizing your resume is simple. Because each audience is different and each job posting has unique requirements that need to be addressed.
Just as you can’t buy “any size shoe” for “any person”, you can’t apply for “any job” with “any size resume”. If the shoes don’t fit, you can’t wear them. If your resume doesn’t fit (to meet the audience’s needs), you may be deemed unsuitable for the job.
When you resume customization, your unique role requirements are recorded and the associated values are displayed. Customization also ensures that the file contains the correct keywords, key phrases, and relevant achievements.
How do you customize your Executive Resume? It’s easier than you think.
Once you’ve created a well-written and up-to-date resume, take another look. every day application. Have a job posting ready, analyze it carefully, and ask:Does my resume meet the needs of this employer?If not, please customize it. Leave the resume format and strategy as is, but start at the top of the file and work your way down, addressing the following points:
Match resume headlines with job postings.
If you’re targeting a job as VP of Operations, but one post says “VP of Operations,” that exact job title should be listed in your resume headline. This is a small variation, but it requires customization. With a simple headline adjustment, you can see that your resume matches your target position exactly.
Understand keywords and key phrases in job listings.
Ask yourself if the most common job posting words and phrases appear on your resume exactly as they appear in the job posting and with potential variations. Make tweaks as needed.
For example, if a particular job posting emphasizes the need for “relationship management” and that term isn’t on your resume, but it’s a skill you have, add it. increase. Also consider consolidating related variations such as ‘Relationship Manager’ and ‘Stakeholder His Relations’. Try to be aware of what humans or systems are searching for.
Tailor your resume wording to the industry story.
You may be keen to target the roles of Operations Director in manufacturing or healthcare. These two are diverse industries with unique industry terminology. Tailor your resume wording to industry requirements.
This doesn’t mean haphazardly adding “buzzwords” to your resume. It’s about keeping the same perception when it comes to language.
Manufacturing recruiters don’t want to read about medical terminology, specific healthcare systems, or exact medical project examples. Instead, they want to know your understanding. their Manufacturing needs, systems or processes.
Eliminate references to irrelevant industry jargon and share details that apply better.
Coordinate points to share only the best and most relevant content.
If some aspects of your resume don’t align well with your job requirements, don’t use them. Exchange those points. Or customize.
If warranted, it’s fine to use one example to post A and modify or change it to post B.
Let’s say you aim for the role of IT Director. In some posts he emphasizes his experience with ERP software tools such as JD Edwards, in others he only asks for experience in IT systems. You can tailor your resume to include or exclude certain system references as needed.
General statement: “We have increased productivity by 15% by driving upgrades to our IT infrastructure and software tools.”
Customized statement: “By promoting the upgrade of our internal ERP system to JD Edwards, we have increased our productivity by 15%.”
Apply this subtle and strategic content customization to your entire file.
Finally, don’t be overwhelmed by resuming content customization. Some job seekers go so far with customization that they completely rewrite their resumes from scratch every time they apply for a job. This is difficult, time consuming and unnecessary. If you have a great starter resume, you only need to tweak your content.
Looking for more help customizing your resume? Check out our handy resume kit that includes a resume customization guide. https://www.jobsearchjourney.com/product/adriennes-fav-things/
Need help writing a modern executive resume to compete for a higher position? Check out this post for resume trends. Or contact me. I write a resume that gets the attention of executives.
