How to Write a Targeted Resume

A targeted resume can increase your chances of getting a job.

Before you can apply for many professional positions, you'll need to compile your relevant professional and educational experience into a resume. Your resume shows the potential employer that you're qualified for the job and that you can be a real asset to his company. When you know the job you're applying for, you can target your resume to that specific job by reviewing the job ad and the company website carefully.

Instructions

1. Study the advertisement for the position and the company website carefully. Make a note of all the requirements for the job, both professional and educational, and make note of any skills or traits that the company seems to value, such as excellent customer service skills.

2. Type your name at the top of your resume. Under your name, include your address, phone number and email.

3. Create an objective for your resume. Your objective should be targeted to the specific job you're applying for, such as "Seeking a position as a Junior Account Executive in the financial industry."

4. Add a section to list your professional skills. List the specific skills you have that are also listed in the job ad and that you noticed the company values on their website. This section can include technical skills, such as proficiency with a certain computer program, or interpersonal skills, such as excellent customer service skills. List the skills that are most relevant to the job you're applying for.

5. Create a professional experience section. This section will list your past positions. For each position, list your title, the company's name, the location, your dates of employment and three to five bullet points that explain your main duties and responsibilities you had on the job. These should also be targeted to the specific job you're applying for. For example, if you worked as a manager in a restaurant and are now applying to work as an office manager, you should focus on your responsibilities managing the employees, handling the budget and satisfying customers, rather than your responsibilities helping out the cooks, assisting the dishwasher and other tasks not relevant in an office job.

6. List your education in an education and training section. Include degrees you've received, and the university, location and date you received the degree. Also, list any professional training you've received that's relevant to the position you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for a job as a salesperson, you might list a workshop you completed in customer relations. However, you most likely wouldn't list a diving class you took. On the other hand, if you're applying for a position as a lifeguard, you should list the diving class, but not the customer relations workshop. Basically, make sure the training is relevant to the position before you list it on your resume.

References

• Fazed.com: Targeting Your CV/Resume