Most of the career advice I share on this blog is about how to succeed in your job. Many people have asked me to write about finding a job. This post is about creating strong resumes that will land you interviews.
A great resume is tailored to the job for which you are applying. That means that you should develop separate resumes for every job you want. “What,” you say? “I don’t have time to write a separate resume for every job in which I’m interested.”
In that case, you probably won’t get hired. Your resume gets a quick overview by HR folks and hiring managers. They are looking for key words. If your resume doesn’t have these key words, it goes into the circular file.
Finding these key words is easy – they’re in the job ad, or posting on Monster. Smart job seekers make sure these key words get into their resumes.
Starting from scratch on a resume is difficult. However in these days of Microsoft Word and cutting and pasting, it’s pretty easy to create a unique resume for every job for which apply – if you have a master resume.
The other day I saw a great article on resumes by Jessica Hernandez, an expert resume writer and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. Jessica suggests that everybody needs a master resume. I agree.
A master resume is a source document. It allows you to create a unique resume for every job for which you are applying. Jessica was gracious enough to allow me to post her thoughts on master resumes. Check out what she has to say…
When applying for multiple jobs, many job seekers find themselves at a strange crossroads: They know they need to create unique resumes for each job but are tired of recreating similar documents over and over. If you find yourself in this predicament, you might want to consider a master resume.
The Basics of the Master Resume
A master resume is a document that functions as a source to help you create other resumes. It is not meant to serve as the template—and is never to be submitted. Instead, it allows you to list every skill you’ve acquired, your valid education, all of your jobs, etc. in one place.
For instance, if you have had careers in public relations and human resources, you will have a need for different information depending on the type of job for which you’re applying. You should create a master resume that allows you to add every detail of your careers to one document.
Why You Need a Master Resume
There are obvious benefits to using a master resume. One is that you don’t have to deal with the hassle of remembering everything you’ve accomplished in the scope of your career. Also, it speeds up the resume writing process by setting all of your career details in front of you.
Also, a master resume allows you, as a job seeker, to take a good look at your career. You may decide whether you’re moving in the right direction—or it can help you make changes if you’re not on the right path.
The master resume serves as an amazing reference point for you when trying to remember all you’ve accomplished throughout your career. So why not try it for yourself to decide if this organizational tool will work for you?
Jessica is right. Put together your master resume. Then use it as a source document to help you create unique resumes that are tailored to every job for which you apply.
The common sense career success coach point here is simple. Resumes are the key to landing interviews. A good resume is uniquely tailored to every job for which you apply. Developing a master resume makes it easy for you to create resumes that are tailored to every job for which you apply. Take the advice of Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast – and of this career success coach. Create a master resume. Use it to help you write powerful resumes that are uniquely tailored to the job for which you are applying.
That’s my career advice on how to create resumes that land job interviews. What do you think? Please take a minute to share your thoughts with us in a comment. As always, thanks for reading my musings on life and career success.
Bud
Thank you Bud! Makes so much sense for someone like me who has a broad background. As always your daily blogs are so informative.
Thanks for your comment Karen.
I appreciate it.
A master resume is a great thing to have if you have wide ranging experience.
In fact, it’s good to have if you have tightly focused experience but with a number of companies.
Let me know how yours comes out.
I appreciate your kind worda about this blog.
Bud