Hiring experts say you should tailor your resume to the job you're applying for, but what does that really mean? This quick guide answers all your questions.
What does it mean to tailor your resume to your dream job abroad? And, more importantly, how do you do it?
One of the most common comments we get from remote companies is that they see people applying for jobs en masse, but not for the right reasons. These applicants simply send off the same resume and cover letter without considering whether they are a good fit for the company that is receiving them.
In the age of COVID-19 layoffs, no one can blame you for applying for jobs because you need a steady income. However, you can give hiring teams a better indication that you are the right person if you tailor your job search materials specifically for them.
Yes, it can take a lot of time and effort to tailor your application to each individual position. That's why we're here Dear Griffin to present a fast, scalable process to our WWR community in our second webinar.
Previously, he was director of operations at Skillcrush Caro gave us some great resume tips based on her experience in HR and hiring. And even though the webinar has already ended, you can watch the full recording here.
Read on as we walk through the process and add a few tips of our own in today's guide.
How to tailor your resume for your dream remote job
Specific improvements you make to your resume can have a hugely positive impact on your job search. Consider the time you spend on your resume as an investment in your future.
While resumes are by no means perfect, they provide the best opportunity to introduce yourself, showcase your skills and experience, and get one step closer to landing your dream job.
Before we begin, we must note one crucial point: The goal of a resume is not to get a job, but to land an interview. .
This means that your resume should be compelling enough to pique the hiring team's interest while demonstrating that you are the right person for the job and the company culture.
Tailoring your resume to each job and company will help you do this. And all you have to do is follow this simple 6-step process:
1. Create and constantly update a master resume?
Think of a master's resume as an ongoing list of all your professional accomplishments and experiences in your various roles. Here you can list everything you have ever wanted to put on a resume.
Don't worry about how long this document is; the goal is to collect all of your ideas and compile a list of things that you can later pick out to create more targeted resumes.
So add all your education, online courses, awards and recognitions, as well as any roles or work experience that may or may not be relevant to your current job search abroad.
Having all of this information gathered in one place will make it easier for you to update your LinkedIn profile and have a solid foundation for all of your future resumes.
Keep your master's resume current and update it whenever you acquire new experience, credentials, job titles, etc.
2. Work on 2 or 3 different versions of your resume?.
If you're creating two or three different versions of your resume, you're going "in parallel" and playing the short and long games at the same time. This will optimize your chances of success and enable you to apply for a wider range of positions.
First, try creating different resumes that you target:
Similar tasks that are consistent with what you currently do or have the most experience with.
Bridge functions, which is perhaps a bit far-fetched. These positions typically require skills you've acquired in your previous positions, while also allowing you to acquire new skills that will put you in a better position to land your dream job.
Dream roles that represent the greatest challenge. These roles may require additional skills or certifications, represent a jump in seniority, or be in a completely different field than the one in which you have experience.
Let's say you currently work as a virtual administrative assistant, but you actually want to become a digital marketing director. Applying for a marketing assistant job would bridge the gap between your administrative experience and give you the skills you need to work your way up to your dream job.
If you focus on similar tasks and bridging functions, you can expand your job search and still find the position you want. And a dedicated resume for each type of role will help you focus on the specifics that hiring managers are looking for.
Once you come across jobs in these categories, all you need to do is choose the resume that best fits and customize it from there.
3. Read job advertisements and job descriptions with a fine-toothed comb.
Most applicants are not aware that they can find everything they need for a convincing CV in the description of a job advertisement. Hiring teams spend a lot of time writing these descriptions. So use it like a cheat sheet and give them exactly what they're looking for. In order to do this:
First, copy the entire job advertisement into a new document . This will give you a working model that you can work on depending on your skills/experience and the needs of the company.
Next, highlight specific industry keywords and phrases . These are the secret passwords you'll use to show hiring teams you're a good fit.
Many hiring teams receive more than 300 applications for a single position. It's almost impossible to read all of these applications, so over 90% of companies use applicant tracking systems/software (ATS) to help them do this. ATS analyze your resume to determine how many keywords match the keywords in the job description.
Resumes containing these keywords are considered “qualified” and end up in a hiring manager’s inbox. Applications that do not contain these keywords may end up in the trash.
Finally, identify the tone and adjust it . In order to learn how to tailor your resume to the specific company, you also need to read the room (so to speak). Some job advertisements are more buttoned up, while others are more casual. Your resume must match this tone in order to resonate with potential employers at these companies.
Reading job advertisements carefully will also help you notice small details that other applicants may miss. Companies can ask you to apply with a specific subject line or include your favorite emoji to see how well applicants pay attention and follow instructions. Those who don't are immediately weeded out of the herd.
4. Use a resume scanning tool?.
Online resume scanning tools can show you how well your resume matches what a company is specifically looking for. This way you can optimize your resume and increase your chances of getting an interview. And they're a lifesaver when you're applying to a variety of jobs every day.
With a tool like JobScan copy the job advertisement and your CV and paste them into separate text fields. Then the assistant robots scan both fields to find any similarities and differences and give your resume a score. The higher your score, the better your chances of outsmarting the ATS gatekeepers.
Tools like this help you easily find and replace the most important keywords and phrases. They can show you that the job ad uses the word "organized" while your resume uses the word "coordinated." Swap these out and you'll be one step closer to finding the perfect candidate.
If you're applying for jobs you're qualified for but aren't getting interviews, your application may fall through the cracks due to a simple keyword mismatch. Fix these problems and you'll be surprised at how many callbacks you'll get.
5. Write relevant, convincing texts that sell ✅
As a rule of thumb, your resume should be between one and two pages long, depending on how long your work experience is. But that doesn't give you much leeway.
Considering how precious space is on your resume, every word, bullet point, and statement counts. So leave the platitudes aside and get straight to the point.
Only include work experience, education and other points that relate to the position you are applying for. . For example, if you For example, if you're applying for a position as a front-end developer, you shouldn't talk too much about your call center experience. Save this for your LinkedIn profile and only give hiring teams the most relevant information.
Place your most important arguments in the top third of your CV . If a busy hiring manager is just skimming your resume, make sure they see the most important information first and foremost. Stay interesting and they might read the rest of your resume to see why you deserve an interview.
Begin each sentence or bullet point with an action verb . Words like “implemented,” “pioneered,” “at the forefront,” and “optimized” grab attention and bring life to your resume.
Show, don't tell . Instead of regurgitating your tasks, show hiring teams the result of your hard work with numbers, percentages, dates, and other quantifiable metrics that back up your claims. This will help you better understand how much you contribute to your team's success and set you apart from your competitors.
These details are difficult to quantify in hindsight, especially since we tend to forget our everyday successes. So once you've collected these numbers, start collecting them and putting them on your resume.
How will you stand out from hundreds of other applicants with similar education and work experience? How can you show hiring teams that your character, values, and work ethic align with the company culture?
You give the company an unforgettable insight into your personality, your passions and interests. Everything from your cover letter to the colors and format of your resume can help you make a memorable impression or get lost in the crowd of other applicants.
Caro gave a great example of this during our webinar on crafting your remote resume:
One applicant, affectionately known as "Fish Guy," mentioned that he loves tropical fish (and even used a small fish emoji ? in his application). This friendly fun fact revealed his interests, made a memorable first impression, and led the team to go down the rabbit hole of his portfolio to learn more about him.
To stay ahead of the competition, you should:
Draft a 2-3 sentence elevator pitch or personal branding statement in which you describe what you do, what you are interested in and how you can help the company succeed. Make a connection between your experience and the needs of the company.
State why you want to work for this particular company . You may want a job as a developer, but it's up to you to show the teams why you want it. this particular one Developer job and why you are a perfect fit for us.
Make your resume interactive by linking to your projects, digital portfolio, website, and more. . These will demonstrate your clear point of view and your outstanding skills at the same time.
Final thoughts on how to tailor your resume for your dream remote job
Hiring teams are always more impressed by resumes that seem tailored to the job at hand rather than boring, generic resumes that can be easily spammed out. So it's in your best interest to put extra effort into jobs that really interest you.
Consider the time you spend customizing your resume as an investment in your long-distance career.
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