writing a resume for a specific job

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How to Write a Targeted Resume (With Examples)

Writing a Targeted Resume

Options for targeting your resume.

• Matching a Resume With a Job

Review a Targeted Resume Example

More targeted resume examples, writing targeted cover letters.

What are targeted resumes, and why should job seekers use them? A targeted resume focuses on a specific job opening. It's written to highlight the skills and experiences relevant to a particular position. When sending targeted resumes, the resume will be edited or rewritten for each job to which the candidate applies.

Taking the time to write a targeted resume enables you to show the employer why you're an excellent fit for the job. Your resume will, at a glance, show the reader that you're a well-qualified candidate for the position.

Also, a targeted cover letter is typically written to accompany the resume when applying for jobs. You can use both documents to showcase your qualifications for the job.

Here are tips for writing a targeted resume, with an example of a resume that matches the position description in the employer's job posting.

Adapting your resume for each position you apply for takes some time and effort, but it helps to make it very clear to hiring managers and whoever else sees your resume that you're a good match for the position.

Also, the applicant tracking systems that employers use to screen applicants check for keywords and phrases that show a candidate has the right credentials for the job. The closer a match, the better your chances of getting selected for an interview.

Customizing your resume allows you to showcase the qualifications, accomplishments, and particular aspects of your work history that match closely with the requirements listed in the job description.

Be aware that the more you tweak and adjust a resume, the higher your risk of introducing an error or typo; always proofread carefully before sending your resume to an employer.

Since any revisions take time, be certain that the job is indeed a good match , and that the company is likely to be receptive to your application, before spending time personalizing your resume for a particular position.

Edit the Summary or Profile

You don't necessarily need to rewrite your entire resume to make it targeted for a particular position. Sometimes, a few small updates in key sections of your resume can have a powerful impact on defining your strengths.

• Review the job description. The first step is to review the job description carefully so that you can be sure the position is a good match for you, and know which qualities and skills to emphasize on your resume.
• Add a section to your resume. The easiest way to target your resume (without rewriting the whole resume) is to include a Resume Summary of Qualifications , a Profile , or a Career Highlights section at the top of your resume.
• Make a match. Review the job description and then review your resume. Take the experience, credentials, and education that best match the job posting and include them in the Summary of Qualifications section at the top of your resume.
• Tweak the experience section.  List your experience in reverse chronological order, just like you would on a traditional resume. Be sure to edit your responsibilities, so they also match the job description.

One way to make your skills stand out is to add a bulleted list of your most relevant qualifications for the job to your summary statement. For example:

• Creating process improvements        
• Writing maintainable cross-browser code
• Ensuring code is scalable and responsive
• Estimating time and costs for projects

Write a Custom Resume

Another option for customizing your resume is to edit your resume, so your skills and experience are as close a match as possible to the job description or job ad requirements. Take the keywords used in the job posting and work them into your resume.

For each section of your targeted resume, you should include:

• Headline: The job for which you're applying.
• Summary or Profile: The skills and experience are required or preferred.
• Experience: The responsibilities or duties the employer needs you to perform.
• Education: The type of education or training the employer is looking for.

If you have a comprehensive resume that you update regularly, it will be easier to edit or rewrite it for each job you're applying for.

Example of Matching a Resume With a Job Posting

• Sample Help Wanted Ad with Targeted Resume: The following is an example of a job posting, along with a sample resume written specifically to apply for that position. You can see how the resume writer made sure that her highlighted skills are exactly what the employer is seeking.
• Sample Help Wanted Ad for Human Resources Manager: Recruit all exempt and non-exempt employees. Orient new employees to the organization. Design and implement staff training and development programs. Manage employee retention initiatives. Administer all compensation, benefit, and state-mandated programs, including the processing of enrollments, terminations, unemployment, and workers' compensation claims. Responsible for compliance with state and federal labor laws. Serve as COBRA administrator for the company. Member of union contract negotiating and management team.
• Targeted Resume Sample: The following is a sample resume targeted to the above job posting. As you can see, the Summary of Qualifications closely correlates with the job posting.

Resume Summary of Qualifications

• Experienced manager with expertise in human relations and project management
• Extensive background in staff recruitment and retention
• Staff training and development
• Superb written and oral communication skills
• Organizational and strategic planning
• Management coaching
• Program marketing
• Contract negotiation and compliance
• Knowledge of federal and state employment law

Targeted Resume Sample

Janine Carbone 1895 Sunbrier Circle Backstone, CA 01234 111-123-4567 j.carboneemail@email.com

SUMMARY OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR Riverbend Inc., 2018 - Present

• Senior Management of a Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) accredited treatment facility. Responsible for all aspects of program management: clinical, administrative, and fiscal.
• Responsible for recruiting, orienting, training, and supervising 50 staff, was able to reduce staff turnover from 68% to 14% by improving staff orientation and training, professional development, and mid-level management coaching.
• Oversight of all aspects of staff performance; performance evaluation, progressive discipline, mediation of staff disputes, and grievance procedures in accordance with state and federal laws.
• Leadership in the setting and achieving of strategic and organizational goals.
• Established training programs for staff in regard to all aspects of workplace performance and professional development.
• Program marketing, increased annual revenue by 38%.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER R. Dykeman Center, 2014 - 2018

• Administrative, clinical, fiscal, and human resources management of a large outpatient mental health center; 60 full-time employees and 45 contract employees housed in various locations.
• Responsible for the recruitment, supervision, and performance evaluation of clinical, administrative, and medical staff.
• Provided training to enhance workplace performance at all levels of staffing.
• Nominated as Training Coordinator for the West Seattle Mental Health Consortium, providing training as the trainer or contracting with relevant professionals to provide training in the areas of culturally relevant services, professional ethics and law, and areas of professional development as requested by staff members.
• Concurrently completed a two-year certificate program in Organizational Development and Leadership as the recipient of a merit scholarship by the Microsoft Corporation.
• Independent consultant to several small businesses, law firms, non-profit agencies, and school districts on staff grievance procedures, team building, and the setting and achieving of organizational goals.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR Family Reconciliation Services, 2011 - 2014

• Provided program management of the largest FRS contract in Washington State.
• FRS was responsible for providing in-home crises counseling to families on a 24/7 basis.
• Responsible for the recruitment, orientation, supervision, and performance evaluation of up to 45 Master's level clinicians.
• During this 10-year period, increased the ethnic diversity of staff from 0% to 36% and provided more culturally relevant services to the community served.
• Served as organizational and clinical consultant to a variety of organizations, including Bellevue School District, Eastside Mental Health, Renton Area Youth & Family Services, as well as several businesses and law firms.
• Completed the training required to become an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor.

CLINICAL DIRECTOR - Chemical Dependency Treatment Programs Rogue Valley Medical Center, 2004 - 2011

• Hired by the medical center to design and implement a residential treatment program.
• Responsible for the recruitment and hiring of all staff: medical, administrative, and clinical.
• Responsible for public relations and program marketing.
• Developed compensation structure, performance management, employee training, and evaluation structures.
• Developed an ongoing training program for nursing and clinical staff and served as a liaison between the hospital and the community, providing training to community partners, schools, the police department, and relevant medical and mental health professionals.
• Designed and created a family education and support structure for the community.
• Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification
• The Whidbey Institute, Organizational Development and Leadership
• University of Heidelberg, Germany, Psy.D in Clinical Psychology
• University of California at Berkeley, BA in Philosophy and German

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Society of Human Resources Management
• Portland Human Resources Management Association
•   Resume with a headline :  A resume headline that summarizes why you are an ideal candidate. You can use a headline to highlight the best attributes and experience that qualify you for the job.
• Resume with a headline and a profile :  Including both a headline and a profile will give the hiring manager even more information about why you’re a match for the position.
• Resume with a summary statement : A summary statement is a brief paragraph or two along with a short list of your strongest qualifications for the job. You can include information from the job posting in your summary.
• Resume with a branding statement : A branding statement showcases what you have to offer to a hiring organization. As with the other types of resumes, you can use it to highlight your qualifications for the position.

In addition to targeting your resume, you will need to target your cover letter similarly . Again, take the skills that match the job criteria and highlight them. You will need to show the hiring manager that you're a qualified candidate. You will only have a few seconds to convince them that you should be considered for an interview.

CareerOneStop. " Target Your Resume ." Accessed Sept. 7, 2021.

CareerOneStop. " Headline and Summary Sample ." Accessed Sept. 7, 2021.

SHRM. " How to Write Powerful and Memorable HR Resumes ." Accessed Sept. 7, 2021.

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No matter how much you try, if you're just not getting shortlisted, we blame your resume - it's high time to fix it.

[ Click here to directly go to the complete job-optimized resume sample. ]

The desperation that comes with not hearing from a recruiter after months of anxiously awaiting a callback can be taxing.

You're probably wondering why you're not getting shortlisted.

After all, you are more than qualified for the job and yet, you're lying on the couch with your head in your hands waiting for a miracle.

The light inside you is dying and you don't know what to do.

We've all been there.

But trust us when we say this:

It's not you, it's your resume.

Not getting shortlisted has more to do with your resume than it has to do with your skill sets. After all, a resume represents you on paper.

Do it right, and you'll have a job to your name.

Do it wrong, and you'll be running in this vicious loop of unemployment like a hamster on a wheel.

So in this blog, we have compiled a list of tips to help you optimize your resume according to the needs of your target job.

Here's a list of what we will cover in this blog:

Don't send the same resume to everyone. Customize it.

[ Back to Table of Content ]

If you have been sending out the same piece of paper to every tom, dick, and harry; stop right away.

A one-for-all approach will never work in your favor, especially when you don't have an office to go to each morning.

We understand that not having a job can be depressing.

But aggressively sending out the same resume without customizing it will land you in a deeper pitt of despair because you won't hear back from anyone.

The result?

You would have wasted a perfectly good opportunity for nothing.

Our advice:

Customize your resume.

Customizing your resume means tailoring your resume according to the needs of the jobs that you are targeting.

No two job openings will have identical needs and qualification requirements.

Does this seem too confusing? Read on:

How to tailor a resume to a job in 3 easy steps

Let's say you have your eyes set on a particular job.

Would you send the same generic resume to different organization hoping for a shortlist?

The answer is no. We've already covered that in the previous section.

Instead, you will tailor your resume according to your target job.

Here's a great way to to do this:

• Scrutinize the job advertisement
• Look for keywords
• Strategically insert keywords into your resume

What are keywords and why they matter

Keywords are basically job requirements.

A job position will always have a set of keywords indicating the hiring needs of an organization for a particular job.

Keywords matter because they have the power to get you shortlisted.

To get shortlisted, you need to pass two screening tests:

• Your resume needs to be parsed by an ATS
• Your resume needs to impress a recruiter

Importance of keywords in getting parsed by the ATS

An ATS or applicant tracking system is a software that organizations have started using for their hiring needs. You will often find mid-large sized companies using it.

So if you're applying for a job at an MNC, your resume needs to be ATS-compliant.

When your resume is ATS compatible, it will get parsed by the ATS.

To make your resume ATS compatible, you need to use keywords.

Since the software is designed to look for keywords, detecting those keywords will give you an advantage over other candidates.

Your resume will get parsed by the ATS and it will reach the second stage of screening. In the second stage, a human recruiter will evaluate your resume.

Importance of keywords in relation to recruiters

Now that your resume has gotten parsed by the ATS and reached a human recruiter, are you doing enough?

Like we suggested in the previous point, keywords matter.

They help you pass the ATS test.

And it scores you a brownie point with the recruiter too.

Inserting keywords in your resume will put you in the recruiter's good books because most recruiters are also psychologically driven to look for keywords.

Since recruiters are headhunters, not industry specialists, seeing a keyword in your resume shows them that you possess the minimum qualifications needed for the job.

But, that is not enough.

Simply sprinkling keywords in your resume won't help.

You need to back it with data too. In other words, your professional experience needs to resonate with the keywords you have used.

We will get to that soon, but before that, we will show you how to identify a keyword in the first place.

Top 3 keywords to look for in a job description

Identifying keywords in a job description can be easy if you know what to look for in the first place.

For example, a keyword can be any one of the following or a combination of them all:

• Skill requirements : Based on the industry, a particular job can have basic skill requirements and add-ons too.
• Education requirements : Some organizations explicitly look for professionals with a college degree while some are okay with hiring high school graduates.
• Work requirements : Some people prefer to hire experienced professionals while some people are open to hiring people without any work experience.

There can be more job requirements in addition to the ones we have mentioned above.

Let's look at a couple of examples:

How to identify keywords in a job description

Given below is a LinkedIn job advertisement for a marketing profile:

The job description has various keywords such as:

• It indicates that the job profile is a mid-senior level profile. This means that the ideal candidate is someone with work experience.
• The JD mentions the functional industry: financial services. So a marketer with marketing experience in financial products would be ideally preferred.
• Another keyword here is the skills. This JD has listed a list of skill sets needed in the ideal candidate.

This job description goes on to get more detailed and descriptive concerning what it expects from the candidate.

Here's the second half of the JD for the marketing job:

In this job description, the keywords become more definitive:

• It confirms that the job is explicitly looking for experienced candidates with a minimum work experience of 5 years.
• It specifies that the candidate should be a holder of a bachelor's degree.
• It also specifies that the candidate should be an "analytical marketer', should be good at 'campaign execution', and have 'excellent relationship management skills'.
• It also specifies a list of generic soft skills needed. These aren't overwhelmingly important but you can showcase them in your resume.

How to use keywords to make a detailed oriented and highly customized job-specific resume

Writing a job-specific resume is the shortest route to getting shortlisted. We have already established that.

Now that we know how to identify keywords, it's time to put them on paper.

All you have to do is compare resume to a job posting.

So let us now write a job description resume:

Optimizing your Profile Title & Summary

In the job advertisement, the company was looking for:

• Marketing experts with 5 years of experience
• Marketing professionals with a foothold in finance

If you meet these criteria, you can incorporate these keywords into your resume. Your profile title and summary are a great place to feature these keywords.

Here's what you can do:

• To show that you meet the 5 years work requirement, you can start your summary like this: "5+ years experienced Marketing Manager.......".
• To show that you have marketing experience in the finance sector, you can use the keyword 'finance' in the summary strategically. Example: "5+ years experienced Marketing Manager with extensive experience in domains encompassing finance, advertisement, education, and distribution industry".

Optimizing the Skills Section of your resume

In the job advertisement, the company is looking for marketing professionals with the following skills:

• Customer-centric solutions
• Launch strategies
• Integrated marketing
• Campaign execution
• Sales campaigns
• Marketing strategy
• Lead generation
• Digital marketing

If you have these skill sets, you can highlight these keywords in a distinct 'key skills' section.

Here's an example of what you can do:

Optimizing the Education Section of your resume

Now we'll discuss the third and final requirement: i.e. the education requirement.

According to the job description, you need to have a bachelor's degree.

So if you meet the minimum bachelor's qualification, all you have to is make a distinct education section in your resume to show that you meet the criteria.

Here's an example:

Resume Sample of a customized job description resume

Customizing your resume according to your target job does not end with the three sections that we have mentioned above.

While the summary section, the key skills section, and the education section are perfect places to incorporate keywords, it does not end there.

After the ATS parses your resume, your keyword-optimized resume will reach the recruiter too. And a recruiter is likely to evaluate your resume in totality (not just the 3 sections we discussed above).

Here's a resume sample showcasing a job-customized resume that is tailored according to your target job:

• Analyzed financial products and studied market trends to target the right audience
• Executed social media campaigns across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram on a weekly basis
• Formulated a week-wise email marketing strategy to market products across email platforms to existing clients
• Handled 10+ top priority clients and executed 50+ marketing campaigns with 100% customer satisfaction
• Developed marketing campaigns and deployed link building strategies to increase website traffic by 50%
• Improved campaign performance by 30% by conducting an in-depth analysis of the market & client specific data
• Increased website traffic by 70% by analyzing multiple metrics such as page views, ad impressions etc.
• Supported Customer Life-cycle Management (CLM) of 85000 users to reach them on weekly basis
• Deployed analytics & used multiple modes of communication for customer acquisition & engagement
• On-boarded & trained a group of 10+ marketing associates
• Mediated between top level executives & junior marketers to execute campaigns at the stipulated TAT
• Awarded ' marketer of the year ' for 3 consecutive years in '17, '18, and '20
• Top 5 percentile of the class
• Top 10 percentile of the class

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How to Write a Great Resume for a Job in 2024

What makes a job-winning resume

Before you start writing your resume, you need a tool to craft it, how to make a perfect resume - step-by-step guide:, the best resume formats and when to use them, resume formatting tips: the anatomy of a job-winning resume, 7 fundamental sections you must have in your resume, proofread your resume, save it, and hit send, make a resume that beats ats and wins interviews today.

Your resume is more than just a document on your computer.

And its true value goes way beyond that of a white piece of paper.

Looking at it profoundly:

You’ll realize that your resume is the portal through which you jumpstart the career of your dreams. After all, the CV is what headhunters rely on to form their first judgment about you before they change your life forever.

Now, believe it or not...

The main cause why 95% of resumes get rejected isn’t because of the candidate’s lack of experience. Think about it — there’s no shortage of overqualified job hunters who still struggle to get noticed.

The real reason is that they look like this:

Recruiters are only humans. They get bored with monotony quickly, which is why they find uncreative resume templates tedious to look at.

But are jobseekers to blame for this?

Not at all!

When you’re bombarded with misinformation about how to make a resume for the first time, the best you can do is get rejected a lot.

For instance:

If you’ve been on the job hunt recently, you may have heard the following:

• You can easily make a resume in ten minutes
• A resume shouldn’t showcase any details besides contact information, paid experience, skills, and education
• You only need to make a resume once in your life
• Following specific rules for writing your resume is the only way to get hired

Let’s be honest — these myths are enticing to hear as they break down the resume writing process to an elementary task. But they couldn’t be more harmful when you’re building your resume.

We will debunk all of them throughout this guide and show you how it’s really done.

Let’s get started.

Upload & Check Your Resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Creating a great resume is an art that requires practice and patience.

It takes a sharp eye to know which details to include in your CV and where they go on the page. More importantly, you need to have an objective right from the start on what you want to achieve with your resume.

Before we get into the practical knowledge, let us first ask:

What exactly is a resume?

“A résumé is essentially a document that enables you to sell yourself to an employer in the best possible way.” ~ Bing

In simpler terms:

A resume is a tool through which you’ll market yourself and the benefits of hiring you to a potential employer.

But where do you even get started? What should you keep in mind while crafting your resume? And how do you sell yourself best with a resume?

Let’s get to the secret sauce…

A good resume is performance-based

“..focus on the specific results you’ve driven and provide tangible evidence of your skills and accomplishments.” ~ Laszlo Bock, VP of People Operations at Google

The best way to market yourself to your dream company is by actually showing what you’re capable of. Feature measurable accomplishments and skills within a context throughout your resume to differentiate yourself from the pretenders.

A good resume is human-centric

“How I Hire: Focus On Personality” ~ Richard Branson

Showing personality takes your resume to a whole new level where recruiters can see your worth more clearly. It enables you to emphasize your strengths and paint a clear picture of what it’s like to work with you.

A good resume is short & concise

“If you cannot sell yourself in 2 pages, you won’t be able to do so in 5 — either.”

This is a rule that 100% of hiring managers agree on when it comes to resume making — which makes it non-negotiable.

Do we even have to ask why?

Hiring committees have to quickly review and shortlist hundreds of the resumes they receive each week. So, one way to make their job easier and get yourself ignored is by making your resume unnecessarily long.

A good resume is job-specific

“We don’t believe in the “spray and pray” tactic – choose 2-3 companies and apply for them” ~ Enhancv

Does that seem counterintuitive?

Well, it really isn’t…

Applying to dozens of companies with a generic resume makes your application look weak and uninteresting.

On the contrary:

A job-specific resume focused on only a few companies portrays you authentically. This is a modern approach that all successful candidates have followed to jumpstart their dream careers.

A good resume is a natural heatmap

“Make it easier for recruiters to spot the best match for the position without spending hours interviewing the wrong applicants.”

Recruiters go over tens of thousands of similar applications throughout their careers. Thus, it’s only natural for them not to be excited about reading every single word on every resume they see.

A well-designed resume prioritizes a nice layout with clearly divided headings and sections that maximize readability. That’s the best and only possible way to beat the 7 seconds rule and keep headhunters engaged.

There are hundreds of resume builders out there claiming to be the best option in the market. But what 99% of them are is just a slightly advanced version of Microsoft word.

Enhancv, on the other hand, is the first performance-based, human-centric resume builder to help you tell your resume story with confidence.

We’ve organized our sections to portray your expertise best and show what you’re truly capable of. And we collaborated with HR specialists and design experts to help you establish the perfect balance between personal and professional.

Our resume builder allows you to spotlight your achievements — not just through words, but also by highlighting your character, personality, and professional expertise.

Ready to hear the best part?

With each step forward, we made sure to keep Enhancv resume builder adherent to industry guidelines while ensuring 100% ATS-friendliness.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word would be top of our list if this was 2006 and you were applying for an office job in a small city.

But today, a lot of things have changed.

The employment landscape has gradually shifted towards a modern hiring culture. Headhunters have different expectations and demands — so they expect more creativity in the resume.

But with Microsoft Word being far from the human-centric approach, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure before you even start.

In many fields, the hiring company would love to go beyond work experience and learn more about you. Personality, projects, and personal interests make up a big part of resumes in creative fields. All of which are almost impossible to show using Microsoft word.

Let’s summarize all these disadvantages in that 95% of rejected resumes are created using Microsoft Word.

Resume building platforms like Europass

Hiring companies may sometimes require applicants to use certain resume-building platforms specifically. For example, many businesses in Europe prefer a standard resume format, so they ask their applicants to use Europass.

If your target company is asking you to use a precise resume-building tool, go for it. Because that’s the only way your application is getting screened and shortlisted.

Thankfully:

That’s not the case in the US, Canada, and most other countries in the world. You can use any resume builder you want as long as your resume is neat and scannable.

Photoshop and Illustrator

Photoshop and Illustrator offer you unlimited design options to create any resume template you want. Therefore, they should be the best option for making your resume.

Well… Only if the following two conditions apply:

• You have months of free time to study graphic design from scratch
• You’re motivated to learn everything about resume making rules and industry guidelines

Even if you do have time and motivation, there’s actually a worse part:

You’re only going to use this knowledge once and never look at it again once you get hired.

So, yes… That sounds unreasonable!

The biggest advantage of using our resume builder is in sparing yourself weeks of work while maximizing your chances of landing the job you deserve. You’ll focus your time on finding better opportunities for work and improving your interviewing skills.

With the right tools and knowledge at hand, it’s time to jump into action and create a resume you can feel proud about.

Based on our long years of experience, we developed a thorough process to help job seekers create their resumes with ease. We relied on research studies to identify key resume characteristics that can help you land more interviews and improve the success rate.

In the rest of this guide…

We’ll map out all the actionable steps you must follow to take your resume from “Okay” to “Great.” You’ll learn expert-based tips and HR-approved techniques to bring your CV to life and beat luck.

Here’s how to write a resume for a job:

• Decide on a suitable resume format
• Add a captivating resume header
• Write a professional resume summary
• Feature your work history through relevant accomplishments
• Showcase your job-specific skills and talents
• Highlight your education, certificates, and courses in separate sections
• Inject personality into your resume through additional sections
• Update your resume to match the job offer
• Proofread, save, then hit “Send”

Other additional resume writing guides you might find useful:

• How To Write Your First Job Resume
• Resume with No Experience
• Career Change Resume
• College Resume
• Resume Examples for 500+ different jobs

The resume format is the structure through which you organize the information on your resume. There are many formatting options such as the modern and basic , which you can choose depending on the job role and industry.

Here are the most popular resume formats:

Reverse chronological resume

The reverse chronological resume format features your work experience, starting from your most recent job going backward. It’s an all tmes favorite for many as it makes the recruiter’s job a whole lot easier.

• Emphasizes successful career progression
• Fit for many job positions and industries
• Easy to skim , which makes it preferred by recruiters
• Employment gaps are more apparent
• May force the candidate to feature unrelated work
• Draws less attention to skills , projects, awards, and certificates

This format is excellent for traditional fields such as finance and accounting — where work experience is the most vital factor.

Not sure whether this is a right fit for your resume? We have a detailed guide about the reverse chronological format to help you decide.

Functional resume

The functional resume format focuses on skills and talents instead of job experience. It’s a widely popular formatting option among recruiters because it highlights the synergy between the candidate’s skills and expertise.

• Promotes your job-specific skills as extremely valuable assets
• Makes up for any lack of experience in the field
• Stands out with a lasting impression among traditional resumes
• Doesn’t portray your skills in action
• Too creative and hard to assess for some old school recruiters
• Lacks essential elements of who you are you are as a candidate

A functional resume is great for entry-level applicants or recent graduates with no experience in the real world. It also works for anyone making a career transition as they can highlight their transferable skills within a context.

Hybrid resume

Based on the name, can you guess what a hybrid resume is?

It’s a cross between the reverse-chronological format and the functional format. Put together, you’ll have the hybrid resume format that combines work history with skillset on the same page.

You don’t even have to be a recruiter to see how awesome this format is. Imagine a resume that isn’t only focused on measurable expertise but also showcases any sought-after skills.

• All-inclusive as it compensates inexperience with skills and vice versa
• Portrays the ability to occupy various positions within the company
• Not always a good format for senior-level applicants since experience is their strength
• Some headhunters just prefer the chronological format

The hybrid resume format is your go-to option if you’re looking to change your career path or get back to work after a long break. It enables you to keep your resume captivating despite any irrelevant experience or long employment gaps.

Now that you fully understand what makes a good resume, it’s time to learn the essentials of resume formatting.

There are a million ways to create your resume based on your job field, work experience, and design preferences. On our platform alone, we have more than 40 ready-made resume templates that you can use.

What do all stellar resume templates have in common?

Resume Formatting Checklist:

• Length — keep your resume length to one or two pages at most
• Bullet points — write 3 to 5 bullet points under each job title featuring your achievements or relevant job duties
• Font — Use one or two modern, professional fonts to establish a clear hierarchy and maximize readability. Be sure to use a consistent size of 10-12pt for body text and 14-16pt for headings
• Color — add some color to your resume to make it visually appealing
• Bold and italics — Use different text formatting options to draw the recruiter’s attention towards important terms and metrics
• White space — leave white space on the margins and around various sections to ensure an optimal reading experience

For your resume to reflect an intriguing narrative, it has to be broken down into smaller sections… Each one tells a tiny part of your story until the full picture is revealed.

After that, you must create heading titles to keep headhunters focused and orient them towards the information they need.    

What sections do headhunters expect to see on your resume?

• Section 1 - Header
• Section 2 - Summary
• Section 3 - Experience
• Section 4 - Skills
• Section 5 - Education
• Section 6 - Certifications
• Additional sections (volunteering, projects, awards, languages, etc)

We’ll now go through each one of them in more depth:

How to write a resume header

Your resume must feature an eye-catching header at the top of the page. That will bring attention to your personal details and help you stand out quickly.

What are the key details to feature on a resume header?

Below your full name, your header must include the following personal details:

• Add a short phrase, a quote, or a creative value proposition as your resume headline
• Pick a professional job title that describes your job role and expertise
• Aim to match the job offer in the title you choose to meet the recruiter's viewpoint
• Stick to a well-known email provider such as Gmail, iCloud, or Outlook
• Use a professional email format such as “[email protected]” or “[email protected]”
• Avoid using your current work email as that reflects disrespect and unprofessionalism
• If you’re a student or a recent graduate, you can use your university email
• Add your cellphone number instead of your home number so you can respond to important calls instantly
• Use a standard phone number format like (123) 4567-8910
• Always include a phone code to your number if you’re applying to jobs abroad
• Use a standard “City, State” address format
• Exclude your complete home address as that’s no longer required by hiring companies
• If you're yet to move to a new state or country, include an “Open to relocate” sign next to your current address
• Only include links if they're essential to showcasing your accomplished projects or work history
• Include links to your website, blog, or portfolio on GitHub
• Feature links to recent projects and activities on Behance or Twitter to stand out as a creative professional

As for the resume photo , there is no universal rule for whether you should add one. The norms around this trend vary based on the industry and the country you’ll work in.

Let’s look at a couple of real examples for resume headers:

Read our detailed guide on how to perfect your resume header to learn more about the best practices in this section.

How to write a resume summary

The resume profile is your elevator pitch.

It’s your chance to spark the recruiter’s interest by showing them why you’re fit for the job. This section is crucial for you to stand out from the competition and prove your worth in a few sentences.

Your resume profile can either be a summary or an objective.

“What’s the difference between the two?” You may wonder…

It’s quite simple!

A resume summary works better if you already have work experience in your field. You’ll use it to bring attention to your top career highlights and job-specific skills in a nutshell.

Other impactful selling points you can mention here are:

• Relevant challenges you’re qualified to solve
• Certificates and educational background
• Ways you can help the hiring company improve
• Industry-related topics you’re passionate about

Let’s look at a couple of examples for resume summaries:

On the other hand:

A resume objective is a better alternative for entry-level candidates or recent grads looking to make their way into a new job position. It also works if you’re looking to make a career transition with limited work experience.

How to write your resume experience

The experience section is the heart of the resume for job seekers in many fields. That explains why it’s often hard to write despite the unlimited amount of free information available online.

If that’s the case for you, no worries! Because we’ve got you covered on this part.

Let’s start with a simple definition of what experience is:

Job experience refers to any work position you held in the past that is related to your dream job.

Here’s how to show it on a resume:

• Professional job title to describe each position
• Company name (with a short description if the company isn’t famous)
• Location using the “City, State” format (just the country if you worked abroad)
• Work duration from starting date to finish date

Notice that — so far — we haven’t mentioned anything about adding your past job responsibilities.

Can you guess why?

Because the headhunters already know them by heart, and they don’t care. Instead of unoriginal duties, they’d rather see your influence in a similar work atmosphere.

To make a lasting impression, you must match the job description by:

• Demonstrating your touch and all the significant changes you were responsible for
• Focusing on highly-related career wins and highlights instead of dull job responsibilities
• Quantifying your impact through exact metrics and measurable outcomes
• Using action verbs and keywords to convey a strong message
• Writing your sentences in the past tense to emphasize expertise and availability

Keep in mind:

If you have decades of experience, you’re not going to feature every single job you held in the past. That applies even if you’re seeking a high-level position in a competitive job field.

Recruiters expect to only see jobs from the past 10 to 15 years at most. Anything before that period might come off as irrelevant and unnecessary.

Promotions are the most powerful advantage when featuring your work history. Simply because advancing in position under the same company shows how reliable, skilled, and dedicated you are.

So make it a priority to highlight work progression and promotions whenever possible.

Two good/bad examples for the experience section:

Now get this:

There are strong empirical data suggesting that internships will improve your chances of landing an interview. For instance, applicants with internship experience had a 14% higher interview rate when compared to those without no internships at all.

So whether it’s paid or unpaid, always include your internships to compensate for your inexperience.

Does your work experience fall under a specific job field or position? Include that in your section title to make it more interesting. For example, your section heading can be — Management Experience, IT Experience, Accounting Experience, etc.

How to add your accomplishments:

Hiring managers love resume accomplishments because they help them separate the talkers from the real achievers. After all, what would be better proof of your competence than your past successes?

Aside from that:

The accomplishments section is an excellent way to bring your resume to life with examples of tangible career wins. Bolster that with concrete numbers and unique facts, and you’ll have a resume that represents the full scope of your impact.

What are you most proud of in your personal, educational, social, and professional life? How did such triumphs affect you and your surroundings?

Take your time with these questions because your answer will reflect your personality and how you define success.

Check out our complete guide to discover more ways to show highlights on your resume .

How to add skill to your resume

As the name suggests:

The skills section is the part of your resume where you highlight your talents and abilities. It helps you edge out most of the competition with a few magical words describing your competence.

There are two types of skills you can put on your resume:

• Soft skills — transferrable talents and personality traits that are hard to measure
• Hard skills — industry-specific skills that are easily quantifiable and can be acquired through practice and education

We’ll get into specific examples of these two types of skills in a moment.

You need to understand how to choose attractive skills to add to your resume.  

Here’s the secret:

Read the job offer attentively to comprehend what the hiring company expects from you in terms of skillset. Then make a list of all the required skills that the headhunter will want to see.

As a final step…

Reduce your list to 5-10 soft skills and hard skills , and put them in a separate “Skills” section.

Here are the best soft skills by 2025 according to the Future of Jobs Report (2020) :

• Leadership — is the ability to influence others to achieve common goals through motivation and decision-making .
• Interpersonal skills — include a myriad of social skills and communication skills.
• Detail-oriented — shows recruiters that you have strong analytical thinking skills .
• Multitasking — refers to the ability to work under pressure and thrive despite all constraints.
• Team management — is critical for managerial roles where strategic thinking and organizational skills are most required.
• Problem-solving skills — prove your ability to succeed in tough environments that demand critical thinking and creativity .
• Transferable skills — encompass many portable skills, including fast learning and adaptability .

We recommend that you scatter these skills across all resume sections. This way, you can better demonstrate their real use and show they helped you handle difficult tasks.

And another thing…

Even if the job posting doesn’t specify any skill requirements, you can convey your knowledge of the position by only featuring relevant talents. That will leave you more room to tailor your resume and appeal to recruiters.

Ready to find out more about this? Read our blog on how to write a stunning skills section that leaves a mark.

How to write your resume education

Education is still required in most job fields during the hiring process.

Because having a strong academic record shows that you’ve invested long years into your career. It’s also direct proof of your deep industry knowledge and promising potential for the future.

Here’s what recruiters want to know in this section:

• Degree name — i.e. “Master’s Degree in Computer Science ”
• Education institution — i.e. “Columbia University”
• Graduation date or years attended
• GPA (only if it’s above 3.5 or if you’re in a technical field)
• Honors and scholar programs (optional)
• Major & Minor (only when relevant)

Where should all of that be on your resume?

Remember that you’re trying to market yourself best by telling a compelling story to the hiring manager. Thus, the order in which you place various parts on your resume matters.

If you already have enough experience to land the job, it’s okay to put the education section at the bottom. However, your academic record might be your best selling point if you’re a recent graduate, which is why education should come at the top.

Here are some rules to keep in mind when creating an education section:

• You can include an incomplete college degree by simply adding the school name and its’ location
• Add an expected graduation date to list any degrees that you’re currently pursuing
• Including relevant coursework is an excellent way to make up for your lack of experience
• A high school degree can be a plus when applying to entry-level jobs you’re qualified for
• You may add Dean’s list if you were featured on it repeatedly

For more details about this section, read our guide on how to highlight education on your resume .

Courses, certifications, and awards on resume

A hiring manager with two hundred applications in their inbox will need more than work experience to choose a candidate. They have to look deeper into what you can offer based on further qualifications.

That’s where courses, certificates , and awards come into play.

Unsurprisingly:

The 2021 workplace learning report by LinkedIn put a huge emphasis on the importance of talent development. It showed that job seekers have spent +50% more time consuming informational content in 2020 compared to 2019.

Do we even have to ask why? Companies that did the best during COVID focused on upskilling and reskilling to survive economic uncertainty. The rapid shifts throughout all industries are now pushing employers to prioritize fast learning and adaptability in the workplace.

The importance of showing your skills set as well as your ability and willingness to learn.

Now, as you may have noticed, these sections fall under different categories. So it doesn’t make sense to put them all under the same heading.

For example:

Let’s say that you have a project management certificate that you want to feature in your resume. You’ll create a new header, name it “Certifications,” then put your certificate with its official name.

You’re not going to randomly list all the courses and licenses from the past because that only shows desperation. Instead, you should only choose the most recognized and valuable ones to add to your resume.

Other sections in your resume

Up to this point, you’ve learned the ins and outs of how to make your resume outstanding . You created and perfected the most important parts of your CV to make a solid impression.

In the rest of this guide, you’ll discover how to put the final touches to your resume in a way that makes a difference.

Let’s start with the best additional sections you can add to your resume:

Showcasing strengths on a resume is a unique way to leap over your competition.

One thing most candidates struggle with when creating the strengths section is self-image. In other words, job seekers find it hard to identify strengths in relation to their work history.

If that sounds like you, don't worry…

We’ve got a few solutions to help you get going:

One thing you should never do is copy uninspired strengths from online resumes and expect them to be appreciated. You must avoid industry jargon and buzzwords at all costs as that might get your resume ignored.

Reflect on your past accomplishments and look for any big projects you were part of. What was it about you that made you successful? And how can these strengths help the hiring company grow?

Another way to go about this is to ask a friend or a former coworker to tell you a little bit about yourself. Nudge them towards giving you a precise answer by asking for a good description of your points of strength.

Can you speak more than a few languages?

This is the perfect place to show off your language skills .

Add the primary language you’ll be using at work along with your mother tongue and any other languages you’re good with.

You can break down your proficiency into these five levels:

• Intermediate

Be careful:

Lying about your language proficiency could get you in trouble in later stages of the hiring process. Most other candidates won’t even have a language section, so stating your language level is already enough.

Volunteering

Community service paints a positive image inside the recruiter’s mind about your good intentions and high values. So even though it doesn’t reflect experience or qualification, volunteer work is a good indicator of your personality and what it’s like to work with you.

In addition to that:

A volunteer section can make up for any employment gaps on your resume — especially if volunteering helped you gain job-relevant skills.

If you were responsible for managing budgets for a charity, you can turn that into an intriguing story that shows your expertise and morals.

When adding volunteering experience:

• Name your position at the voluntary association
• Name of the association
• Description of your role as a member
• Years of community service
• Bullet points summarizing your quantifiable contributions while concentrating on applicable skills

Projects and publications

This section could include personal projects, work-related projects, hackathons, academic publications , freelance work, etc.

Featuring projects on your resume is the ultimate proof of concept every headhunter needs before hiring you. It’s a straightforward way to emphasize technical skills and show personality attributes.

Now — here's the deal:

Projects need to portray your industry-relevant skills and experience positively. So make sure that each project you include is actually understood by recruiters so that it becomes beneficial for your application.

Be sure to include lots of measurable successes using ATS keywords to improve your chances. And don’t worry if you have to leave out some details because you can always address them later in the interview.

Personality - shown through passions, interests, hobbies, or quotes.

Here’s a golden tip to double your chances of getting hired:

Give recruiters a glimpse of what you are like even before they hire you. Not only will that get you noticed quickly, but it also sheds a light on all the positive attributes you can bring to the workplace.

A recent psychological study about resume evaluation has proven the effects of applicant personality on job success. Researchers have found that there are specific resume cues that recruiters often look for in a resume.

In the following section, we’ll break down these cues into the simplest explanation possible.

• Conscientiousness — refers to a candidate’s diligence, reliability, and ability to perform tasks effectively within the deadline
• Agreeableness — suggests that the applicant is easy-going, trustworthy, and fun to work with. It also indicates high morals and sympathy towards their coworkers
• Openness — is the creative sense and the ability to come up with solutions quickly.

Now, to show all of that, you must add new sections — such as “Passions,” “Interests,” “Hobbies,” and “Quotes” to make your application more interesting.

You could also focus on showing each trait individually. Here’s are some ideas to help you get going:

Conscientiousness:

• Create a “Day In My Life” section
• Focus on your “Years of experience”
• Demonstrate acquired skills and talents
• Feature projects and achievements

Agreeableness:

• Showcase teamwork & empathy skills
• Include project collaborations
• Focus on group awards and company achievements
• Highlight your volunteering experience
• Add creative projects with direct links for a personal website, Behance, Github, etc
• Illustrate your artistic achievements
• Specify your passions with hobbies and interests
• Use a modern resume design

Aside from that, you can help headhunters understand your character just by sharing more about yourself. For instance, you can include a quote that you find inspiring, even though that wouldn’t always reflect your true self.

Tailoring your resume

Now with to the most critical step in the resume-making process:

Tailoring your resume to the job offer.

You must create a job-specific resume that captures hiring managers’ interest at first sight. Once they’re hooked, your resume has to outshine the competition by showing your relevant experience and skills.

Think of it this way:

Marketing professionals have to set objectives for their campaigns and identify their target audience before they launch. And since your resume is a marketing tool, you have to follow the same steps and create a targeted resume .

Here’s how you’ll do that:

• Read through the job description to identify the key requirements
• Create a list of essential job duties and relevant keywords
• Update various parts of your resume to match these hiring demands

Let’s look at a quick example of job requirements:

• College degree in Accounting , Finance , or other relevant fields
• 2-5 years of work experience in finance/accounting
• Outstanding time management and decision-making skills
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Highly energetic with a positive attitude
• Solid Excel and QuickBooks skills

The focus keywords you can pick here are accounting, finance, time management, decision-making, QuickBooks, etc. All you have to do now is use them repeatedly in your resume to make it appealing.

Congratulations!

You’ve made it to the final part of our HR-approved resume-making process. Getting to this point shows just how motivated you are to land your dream job and live a new experience.

We have a few final resume tips you can apply before you start sending out your CV…

Throughout the years, we came to identify the most common resume mistakes job seekers make in their journey. Avoiding these errors at an early stage will save you weeks of frustration and help you get hired quickly.

Here’s our final resume-making checklist:

Proofread your resume —

Grammatical errors on a resume are unattractive and can come off as mediocre. Be sure to read the whole thing from start to finish out loud so you can catch any typos or spelling errors.

You may also ask someone to double-check after you to minimize errors.

Name your file the right way —

The hiring manager is probably too busy rejecting other resumes when they decide to shortlist you. So they’ll appreciate it if you used your first and last name as a filename to help find your application quickly.

You can take this one step further by adding the company name to capture their attention. Your resume filename will look something like this:

Jeremy Turner Resume — Google.pdf

Choose a proper resume format —

PDF is the best format according to recruiters because it preserves your resume design and layout. It can be opened using any file reader and on different devices without any errors.

Test print your resume on paper —

Does your resume look good on physical paper ? Print a physical copy of your final CV to test the formatting and color looks.

If you ever decide to send a physical copy of your resume, use high-quality white paper with a smooth texture.

Apply to jobs via email —

Here’s a crucial tip to increase your application success rate:

Send your resume directly to the hiring manager via email to stick out from the crowd. But you shouldn’t do that if the hiring company asks you specifically to use their email address in the job posting.

How do you find the hiring manager’s email?

Here are a few quick ways:

• Find their profile on LinkedIn
• Look them up on various social media platforms
• Check the company’s website, specifically the “Our Team” section
• Do a quick Google Search
• Use a browser extension such as “Rapportive” or “ContactOut”

You may also send your CV to an insider to introduce you to HR and help you put a foot in the door.

Include a references section only when necessary —

“ References ” was a popular section a few decades ago — yet it continues to lose its appeal today as fewer recruiters see the need for it. Save up space on your resume by leaving out references and only include them if required.

Follow our thorough guide to learn how to create a perfect resume that makes you the center of attention. Also, be sure to try our resume builder to save yourself time, energy, and a lot of heartbreak in the process.

Let’s be honest…

You’ll only get so far with written tips and theoretical knowledge. You can read dozens of books on writing a resume — but without actual samples and templates, you’ll always lack the magical touch.

That’s why we created +500 resume examples for different job titles to inspire you to build a resume you can hand with a smile. We also have +40 ready-made resume templates fitting various professions and industries to write your resume without much hassle.

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How to Write a Targeted Resume in 2024 to Boost Your Job Search

3 key takeaways:

• What a targeted resume is
• How to create a targeted resume 
• Using the Teal AI Resume Builder to write a targeted resume

It's no secret that searching for a job can become a full-time job. 

However, in the present climate of fierce competition, many people can't afford to wait for an extended period to land a new role.

Because of this, job seekers like you have to do everything they can to stand out and get hired for not just any role but the  right  one. 

The best way to start? With a targeted resume if you're ready to get specific with your job search in 2024.

What is a targeted resume? 

A targeted resume is a carefully crafted document designed to showcase your skills and experience directly related to the particular job you're seeking.

The idea behind one is to show the employer you have the specific skills and experience outlined in the job description rather than just providing a general overview of your qualifications.

A targeted resume is structured to ensure it draws the reader's eyes to the essential qualifications and experience for the specific position immediately. And while it requires an intricate understanding of industry-specific keywords and your own qualifications, it's vital to take the time to customize and  tailor your resume  for each job you apply for. This shows that you have a vested interest in and the right qualifications for the role you're applying to.

If done correctly? A targeted resume can be a powerful tool for landing interviews at top companies.

Who should use a targeted resume?

Anyone looking for a job can benefit from a targeted resume. 

Recent graduates

• With limited work experience, a targeted resume allows recent graduates to demonstrate potential and adaptability as entry-level candidates—emphasizing their relevant coursework, internships, and extracurricular activities directly related to the role they're applying for.

Seasoned professionals

• With an extensive work history and expertise, a targeted resume allows experienced professionals to tailor their qualifications and achievements to align with specific job requirements—showcasing years of experience, impact, and industry-specific accomplishments.

Career pivoters

• For professionals making a career change, a targeted resume highlights how their existing skills and knowledge can be applied effectively to a new field or industry—showcasing adaptability and commitment to learning,

Dream job applicants

• When applying for a dream job where competition is fierce, a targeted resume is essential to make a lasting impression by precisely matching skills and experiences with the role's qualifications and expectations—demonstrating passion and dedication and increasing chances of standing out.

Why do you need a targeted resume?

There are several reasons you need a targeted resume:

• Show relevance:  A targeted resume allows you to highlight your relevant skills, qualifications, and experience that align with specific job requirements.
• Your resume should showcase the top 10% of your skills and experience that is 100% relevant to the role you're applying to.
• Stand out from the crowd:  In today's job market, hiring managers receive many generic resumes that don't show a specific interest or fit for the job.
• A targeted approach helps you figure out  how to make your resume stand out  by demonstrating your understanding of the role and enthusiasm for the position.
• Make a strong first impression:  The first impression you make with your resume can determine whether you get an interview.
• A targeted resume can help you make a strong first impression by showcasing your relevant skills and experience in a way specific to the job you are applying for.
• Save time:  Creating a targeted resume takes time, but it can save you time in the long run.
• By tailoring your resume for each job you apply for, you avoid having to rewrite your resume for each application. (You can also save time by using tools like  ChatGPT for your resume .)

Because many job seekers create one resume and send it out to every potential employer, a target resume can be a differentiator. 

Not only that but when employers see that you took the time to tailor your resume to meet their needs, they gain confidence in your commitment level. Customizing the ideal targeted resume template is easy with the right tools and can significantly increase your chances of success.

Targeted resumes and applicant tracking systems

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are software systems used by organizations to manage their recruitment process. They aren't just a resume keyword scanner but a digital filing system.

When an applicant submits their resume for a job, the resume goes into the ATS, which is used to store and organize all of the applications received for a particular job posting.

Once the hiring manager, recruiter, or prospective employer is ready to sift through the applicant pool, they can search the ATS for specific keywords. The ATS then pulls the applications with resumes that match those specific terms.

It's important for job seekers to write a targeted resume aligned with the job ad of the role they're applying for—ensuring it's a compatible ATS resume . This means using important keywords from the job posting and avoiding certain formatting and design elements that could cause problems with the initial resume scan.

By targeting their resumes to the job and optimizing them, job seekers can improve their chances of getting their tailored resume seen by a human recruiter and increase their chances of getting hired.

Pro Tip: There are online programs available that offer a free ATS resume scan; those really only show whether or not your resume scans into the system correctly. The real test is how your resume is found by a human recruiter when they search for specific keywords.

Targeted resume template

Later in this article, you'll find the steps that take when creating a targeted resume. However, if you'd like to make a custom resume in minutes with the help of custom templates, sign up for Teal's free  AI Resume Builder.

Teal can help you create targeted resumes from scratch for each job you save within the tool. Click the button below to get started today!

How to create a targeted resume

Now that you know what a targeted resume is, why it's essential, and who should use one, here's how to create one.

1.) Identify the types of jobs you want to apply for

This is a discovery process! Below are all the questions you should be asking yourself when you first start your job search. Think of all the jobs you've had in the past and write down your thoughts.

Questions you should ask include...

• Were there some roles you liked more than others? 
• What did you like the most about each of them? 
• What were your day-to-day activities for each role?
• What types of roles align with your experience? 
• What roles have you yet to have but feel confident you can do well? 
• What industries have you worked in? 
• What industries did you like the most? 
• What industries have you never worked in but have always wanted to try?  
• What did you find challenging in your previous roles, and what would you like to avoid in your next job?
• What  resume hard skills and transferable skills did you develop in your previous roles that you'd like to use again?
• What new skills or experiences would you like to gain in your next role?
• What was the company culture like in your previous job, and what type of work environment do you thrive in?
• What type of work-life balance are you looking for?
• What was the commute like in your previous jobs, and how far are you willing to commute for your next job?
• Were you satisfied with the compensation and benefits in your previous roles?
• What kind of growth opportunities were available in your previous roles, and what type of advancement opportunities are you looking for in your next job?
• Do you have any passions outside of work that you could explore professionally?

After reviewing the answers to these questions, identify two or three roles in the most exciting industries that relate to your answers above that you'd like to apply to. 

2.) Study the common job descriptions for each role

Now that you've identified your target roles, it's time to do some research!

Use these job boards to analyze the standard description of the target job title you plan to apply for. 

Note the expected skills, responsibilities, and qualifications that job descriptions repeatedly mention. Once you've looked at 10-20 job descriptions for each role and collected all the consistent resume keywords, you can start to customize your resumes. 

Pro Tip: The Teal AI Resume Builder and Job Application Tracker pull the top five keywords from any job description—saving you time and effort. Teal+ members have access to unlimited keywords (as hard skills, soft skills, and other important language) for every job description.

3.) Customize specific areas of your existing resume

When writing a targeted resume, you should customize several key resume sections to ensure that it effectively showcases your qualifications and experience for the specific job you are applying for.

If you already have a generic resume created, you can take your original document and use it as a starting point. Or, build off any one of these  1200+ resume examples  to get up and running even quicker.

From there, you can copy that original resume document and create targeted resume sample versions that you will tweak and use interchangeably based on the roles you apply to.

Here are some areas to focus on:

• Target title: Your target title should align with the position description of the role you're applying to as long as there is some overlap in your skills and qualifications if you haven't held that same job title previously.
• Professional resume summary:  Your resume summary statement or short professional bio is at the top of your resume and should be tailored to the specific job opening you are applying for. Since the top half of your resume is the part recruiters and hiring managers see first, it's crucial to make a good first impression and should highlight your relevant skills and experience.
• Skills:  Make sure to highlight the skills that are specifically required for the job you're applying for. This could include technical skills, soft skills, or industry-specific skills.
• Work experience:  Customize the description of your work experience to match the responsibilities and requirements of the job you are applying for. Highlight any relevant projects, metric-driven achievements, or accomplishments that demonstrate your fit for the role. (And don't forget to include impact for maximum results!)
• Education:  If you have a relevant degree or certifications, be sure to mention them and emphasize how they relate to the job you are applying for.
• Keywords:  Incorporating keywords from the job description into your resume, like specific software or programming languages, to increase your resume's relevance and make it easier for the hiring manager to identify your fit for the role.
• Formatting:  Use a professional and clean format for your resume to draw attention to the areas where you highlight the most relevant information for the job you are applying for.

The tweaks don't have to be massive but should be enough to help you show that you're an expert in a specific area. This can help you stand out from other candidates and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Targeted resume examples

Below you'll see two targeted resume samples. These focus on unique job types. Both are somewhat similar, but you'll notice that different experiences are showcased to align with the targeted role.

The first example is a targeted resume for a product marketing manager role.

The second example is a targeted resume for a content marketing role. 

(For more samples of targeted resumes, check out these marketing manager resume examples .)

How to write a targeted resume fast with Teal

Hiring a certified professional resume writer or a resume expert isn't the only way to ensure your resume is specific and targeted.

Spending time creating multiple target resumes seems daunting, but as technology has evolved, more platforms have popped up to streamline the process. Teal's  AI Resume Builder  is one of the best tools that can assist you with building a top-notch resume. 

With Teal, you can store your entire career history in one place, making it easy to build a targeted resume. The AI Resume Builder also has features like career insights and an Achievement Assistant to strengthen your content. With Teal, you don't need to have just 2-3 targeted resumes. Instead, you can have a tailored resume for every job you apply to. 

Sign up for a free account today  to see the tool in action!

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific elements should i include in a targeted resume to make it stand out to employers, how often should i update or revise my targeted resume, can i use a targeted resume for online job applications that use automated resume screening systems.

Alli Tunell

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How to Write a Powerful and Memorable HR Resume

No matter how many thousands of resumes you've reviewed throughout your HR career, you are likely to still find it difficult to write your own. Like anyone else, you need to step back and look at your career objectively. What will make people remember you? Why will others want to hire you? What can you bring to an employer that no one else can?

While there's no single formula or template to use in crafting an effective HR resume, we offer some guidelines that will help you showcase your greatest talents and accomplishments. 

1. Use a Well-Branded Headline 

Of course, your resume will start with your name and contact information (phone number and live links to both your e-mail address and LinkedIn profile) prominently positioned at the top of the page. Then create a headline statement that tells readers who you are professionally with regard to your current career objective. Readers should instantly see whether you're a generalist, specialist or senior executive. Your headline replaces the now outdated "Career Summary" or "Professional Profile" heading you may have used in the past. 

Think about adding one or two subheadings to further define your expertise. Do you have an industry specialization? Any distinguishing credentials? Experience with a hot-button HR issue? With just a few words, you can convey what sets you apart from other candidates.

Be certain to highlight not only what you've done in the past but also what you want to do in the future. This is extremely important because you want readers to perceive you as qualified for the positions you're targeting.

If you have extensive experience managing compensation and benefits, for example, but you don't want that to be a major part of your next job, don't note it in your headline. Rather, simply mention it as appropriate in the experience section. Be selective and be strategic.

 Tips continue below. 

Resume Samples

2. Share Details About Where You've Worked 

Help your readers understand the depth and breadth of your experience by providing details about the organizations where you've worked. You can cite the number of employees, locations, total annual revenue, specific business or industry, and other details. Knowing where you've worked before helps hiring managers put everything into context and makes your experience and accomplishments that much more impressive.

Just as with your headline, be strategic. If you've worked only at large public companies and now want to move to a small privately held business, the size of your prior organizations might scare off your target employers. Think about your goals and add the details that make you a good fit for the jobs you want.

3. Emphasize Achievements 

This is perhaps the most critical strategy in creating a powerful and memorable resume. Without highlighting your achievements, your resume will sound much like that of any other HR professional who has similar experience.

While your knowledge and expertise are important, hiring managers want to know more. They seek to understand what you have done—how you have contributed to business objectives, how you have made a difference, what measurable results you have produced, what you have done to improve company culture and more.

Both quantified and unquantified results can add value, so don't feel you must have a hard number for every bullet point. But dig deep to find results wherever possible. Ask yourself about the problem you solved—not just the activity or task, but why it was important to the business.

4. Highlight HR Keywords 

You know how important keywords are for both human readers and the electronic eyes scanning your resume, so make sure to scatter them throughout the document. You can create a "Core Competencies" or "Professional Skills Summary" section at the top, but that's not enough. Consider adding bold keywords at the start of each bullet point. This is a very effective strategy both for increasing the keyword density of your resume and for making your resume highly "skimmable." 

5. Prepare Your Resume for ATSs 

As an HR professional, you have the advantage of being able to "look under the hood" of an applicant tracking system (ATS) to see what happens in a typical keyword-driven resume review. Use that knowledge to your benefit.

Because there are so many ATSs, and because candidate searches are conducted by humans who have their own habits and preferences, you can't guarantee a perfect result from every ATS scan. But you can and should follow best practices for formatting your resume, integrating keywords and increasing keyword density. 

For example, use and spell out acronyms so that the ATS has the best chance of picking up relevant terms, however they're defined. You might have "SHRM-SCP" at the top after your name, but that should become "Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional" under the "Education & Professional Credentials" section. 

6. Share What Makes You Special 

In addition to your professional experience and educational credentials, share your professional credentials (e.g., SHRM-SCP), professional affiliations (e.g., SHRM, OD Network), board of director appointments, and other leadership posts, presentations and public speaking engagements, media features and quotes, and publications.

We recommend that you focus on professional activities and exclude common civic or community-based affiliations. Resume "real estate"—just one or two pages—is extremely valuable, so you want to be certain that each line of text adds strength to your candidacy.

7. Write Tight, Lean and Clean

Clean, clear, concise writing is the hallmark of a good resume. Readers simply don't have the time or inclination to wade through irrelevant experiences, fluffy adjectives, unnecessary details and the other "filler" that weighs down many resumes.

No one writes this way on the first pass. It requires repeated review, careful editing, and a constant focus on strategy and goals to determine what's important to include and what does not support your professional brand and career objectives.

In addition to writing tight, pay attention to formatting. Avoid dense paragraphs (anything longer than three or four lines) and allow ample white space to create an inviting document that rewards readers, whether they come for a quick skim or a more thorough read.

Moving Forward

These guidelines cover just some of the things you can do to create a strong resume. Constantly remind yourself that you're writing to the future—to the positions that you're targeting—and emphasize relevant skills, experiences, achievements, keywords and results. If you do, chances are you will get noticed, interviewed and, we hope, hired.  

Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark are both master resume writers, job and career transition coaches, and certified professional resume writers who have authored 40-plus books, including  Modernize Your Resume: Get Noticed … Get Hired  (Emerald Career Publishing, 2016). 

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10 Best Resume Builders to Create A Great Resume – 2024 Guide

A re you exhausted from investing endless hours into creating an impeccable CV? This article introduces the top resume builders that will revolutionize your job application approach. Bid farewell to monotonous formatting and greet a remarkable resume that distinguishes itself from the rivalry. Prepare yourself to secure your dream job with self-assurance effortlessly!

>> Unlock Your Career Potential With Super Star Resume

10 Best Resume Writing Services

• Super Star Resume - Best overall
• ZipJob - Best for guarantees
• Resumeble - Best with custom bundles
• Let’s Eat, Grandma - Best for range of career service
• ResumeSpice - Best for job seekers of any level
• TopResume - Best customer service
• Resume Writing Services - Best for affordability
• Craft Resumes - Best for quick turnaround
• Resume Companion - Best value resume writing service
• Resume.com - Best free service

When creating this compilation, we considered different elements such as affordability, ease of use, accessibility, the privacy policies of the companies involved, and more. The highest-rated services offer advice, templates, and tools and allow you to consult with experts who can help you craft an impressive resume highlighting your strengths to potential employers.

Our collection comprises free services and those that make use of professional writers’ skills. Some options require a subscription or one-time payment.

>> Secure Your Dream Job With Super Star Resume

Super Star Resume - Best Resume Builder Overall

Star Rating: 4.9/5

Super Star Resume is an innovative resume builder that completely transforms creating professional resumes. By offering a user-friendly interface and a range of powerful features, Super Star Resume enables individuals to produce exceptional resumes that effectively showcase their abilities, accomplishments, and work history.

• Skilled and seasoned writers
• Customized strategy aligned with unique career objectives
• Timely delivery of resumes
• More significant expense compared to certain other resume writing services
• Restricted selection of additional services
• Availability may be restricted depending on demand and geographic location
• Intuitive resume builder: An intuitive interface that simplifies the resume creation process, offering modern templates for a professional look.
• Customization choices: Users can personalize their resumes by selecting from various font styles, colors, layouts, and sections to align with their unique style.
• Comprehensive content suggestions: Access to a collection of expertly curated bullet points, action verbs, and industry-specific phrases to craft impactful resume content.
• Real-time previews and editing: Real-time previewing and editing capabilities ensure a visually appealing and error-free final resume.
• Integration with professional networking platforms: Integration with LinkedIn allows users to maintain consistency between their online presence and resume.
• Tailored resumes for different job applications: The duplication feature facilitates the creation of multiple resume versions, each customized for specific job applications or industries.
• Resume analytics and tracking: Users can monitor the views and downloads of their resumes, gaining valuable insights to optimize their job search strategies.
• Professional Resume : $169
• Resume With Cover Letter : $199
• All-Included : $199

>> Use Super Star Resume to Secure Your Dream Job

ZipJob - Best Resume Builder for Guarantees

Star Rating: 4.7/5

ZipJob is widely regarded as an excellent option for resume creation, especially for those who value guarantees. Their impressive 60-day assurance ensures that individuals searching for employment will experience a surge in interview invitations within this period.

If this desired outcome cannot materialize, ZipJob proactively offers a complimentary review and revision of your resume. This guarantee highlights their commitment to client contentment and showcases their unwavering belief in the superior quality of their resume writing services.

• The starting package is cost-effective
• Complimentary ATS check included
• 60-day interview assurance with higher-tier packages
• The design and layout made it challenging to read the resume
• The summary section was overly lengthy and filled with clichés
• The formatting of the education and training sections was subpar
• Expert resume writers: ZipJob provides access to a team of expert resume writers with the skills and knowledge to review, evaluate, and optimize your resume for compatibility with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and hiring managers.
• ATS optimization: Meaning they ensure your resume is structured and formatted to navigate and succeed in ATS filters effectively. Employers commonly use these filters to assess and rank resumes during the initial screening process.
• Keyword optimization: The resume builder online offered by ZipJob assists you in identifying and integrating pertinent keywords and industry-specific terminology. This practice heightens the visibility of your resume, making it more likely to capture the attention of hiring managers.
• Job-specific content suggestions: ZipJob provides valuable advice regarding the most relevant and influential content to include in your resume for different job titles and industries. This guidance is invaluable in customizing your resume for specific roles.
• Cover letter writing assistance: ZipJob supports the creation of impactful cover letters that complement your resume, strengthening your overall job application.
• Unlimited revisions: One noteworthy feature of ZipJob is the option for unlimited revisions and updates to your resume. This ensures that your resume not only meets but continues to meet your specific requirements and mirrors your professional growth.
• Collaboration with resume writers: the platform facilitates direct collaboration with the resume writers, enabling you to share additional information, discuss specific requirements, and seek clarifications at any stage of the resume creation process.
• Launch Package: $139 (or $48/mo)
• Fast Track Package: $189 (or $65/mo)
• Premium Package: $299 (or $27/mo)

>> Use ZipJob to Secure Your Dream Job

Resumeble - Best Resume Builder With Custom Bundles

Star Rating: 4.3/5

Resumeble is a highly efficient and user-friendly resume builder that empowers individuals to create professional and compelling resumes. With Resumeble, crafting a standout resume becomes a streamlined process thanks to its intuitive interface and extensive range of customizable templates.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone looking to change careers, Resumeble caters to all needs and skill sets. It offers helpful suggestions and expert advice to ensure your resume showcases your unique qualifications and achievements in the best possible light.

• A 60-day interview guarantee is included
• Budget-friendly package deals are available
• It’s more established than some other websites
• Keyword optimization: This feature helps optimize your resume by suggesting relevant keywords aligned with your target industry or job, enhancing your visibility to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruiters.
• Content import: Resumeble allows you to import your existing resume or LinkedIn profile, saving you the time and effort of manual data entry.
• Real-time editing: You have the convenience of editing and modifying your resume in real time, providing the flexibility to experiment with various formats, sections, and content.
• ATS compatibility: Resumeble ensures your resume is ATS-compatible, essential for better visibility and a higher chance of being shortlisted by employers using Applicant Tracking Systems.
• Download options: The platform offers various download formats, including PDF, Word, and plain text, ensuring compatibility with diverse application processes.
• Cover letter builder: Resumeble features an integrated cover letter builder, streamlining the creation of professional and personalized cover letters that complement your resume.
• Career Pro Package : $159.00
• Professional Package : $299.00
• Premium Package : $399.00

>> Use Resumeble to Secure Your Dream Job

Let’s Eat, Grandma - Best Resume Builder for Range of Career Service

Star Rating: 4/5

Let’s Eat, Grandma is an inventive and progressive tool for creating impressive resumes. The platform streamlines the resume-building process, making it easier for job seekers to craft exceptional resumes. With Let’s Eat, Grandma, individuals can create unique resumes that catch the eye of employers and set them apart from the competition.

This user-friendly platform offers a range of customizable templates that allow users to tailor their resumes to showcase their specific skills and experiences. Let’s Eat, Grandma also provides expert advice and recommendations to help ensure that your qualifications and achievements are effectively highlighted in your resume.

• Complimentary resume evaluation
• Choices available for individuals from entry-level to executive-level positions
• Extensive collaboration opportunities
• Not specialized in academic CVs or federal resumes
• Relatively higher pricing compared to some other services
• Potential for a longer turnaround time compared to competing services
• Expert choice: You can save your resume in multiple formats (PDF, Word, plain text) or easily share it with potential employers via email or a link, simplifying the distribution of your resume.
• Error highlighting: The builder can identify potential errors, inconsistencies, or missing information within your resume and provide suggestions or alerts for improvement.
• Section prompts: Pre-written prompts for various resume sections (e.g., work experience, education, skills) can help you structure your resume effectively and ensure you include essential details in each area.
• Customizable sections: You can add, remove, or rearrange sections to tailor your resume to emphasize your strengths and relevant experiences.
• Keyword optimization: The resume builder can recommend industry-specific keywords based on the job description, enhancing your resume’s chances of passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and grabbing the attention of hiring managers.
• Starter Package : Priced at $439, but there is an anti-inflation sale price of $389.
• Accelerated Package : $549.
• The premium Package : $689, but the anti-inflation sale price is $614.
• Executive Concierge Service : $1,899 or as low as $119/month.

>> Use Let’s Eat, Grandma to Secure Your Dream Job

ResumeSpice - Best Resume Builder for Job Seekers of Any Level

Star Rating: 3.8/5

ResumeSpice , a renowned online resume builder, streamlines crafting professional resumes. This platform provides job seekers with a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of templates, enabling them to create impressive resumes that align with their career objectives.

With ResumeSpice’s seamless experience, users are guided through each resume section effortlessly while receiving valuable tips throughout the process. From personal details and work history to skills and accomplishments, this platform ensures that all crucial aspects of a resume are comprehensively addressed.

• Additional assistance
• Timely service
• ATS optimization
• Guaranteed interviews
• Restricted revisions
• Insufficient customization options
• Restricted refund policy
• User-friendly interface: ResumeSpice boasts an intuitive and user-friendly platform, simplifying the resume creation process and offering a seamless experience to users.
• Extensive template library: The platform offers a vast selection of professionally designed templates tailored to various industries and job positions. Users can explore different styles and layouts to find the perfect match for their needs.
• Import and export options: ResumeSpice enables users to import their existing resumes in formats like PDF or Word for easy editing and updates. Users can conveniently export their finalized resumes in multiple formats, facilitating sharing with employers or uploading to job portals.
• Mobile-friendly design: ResumeSpice is optimized for mobile devices, allowing users to create and modify their resumes using smartphones or tablets.
• Cloud storage: The platform provides secure cloud storage for users’ resumes, ensuring accessibility and updates from any device with an internet connection.
• Resume tracking: ResumeSpice includes tools for tracking the performance of submitted resumes, such as monitoring views, downloads, and application outcomes. These features empower users to evaluate their progress and make data-driven enhancements to their job search strategies.
• Entry Level Resume : $479
• Professional Resume : $589
• Executive Resume : $699

>> Use ResumeSpice to Secure Your Dream Job

TopResume - Best Resume Builder for Customer Service

Star Rating: 3.6/5

TopResume is an outstanding resume builder explicitly tailored for customer service professionals. It offers a seamless and user-friendly experience, enabling users to create exceptional resumes effortlessly. The platform goes beyond just providing a basic resume template, offering valuable suggestions and tips to optimize the content.

This ensures that each resume created on TopResume is unique and attention-grabbing in the highly competitive job market.

Besides its user-friendly interface, TopResume provides expert review services. These services allow skilled professionals to provide personalized feedback on resumes, helping enhance their overall quality further. By leveraging this feedback and incorporating attention to detail, customer service professionals can create compelling resumes that effectively capture the attention of potential employers.

• Streamlined registration process
• Well-designed and formatted one-page resume
• The summary and Job Scope sections were overly extended
• The training section needed to have prominence
• Skill-based sections: The resume builder features dedicated sections highlighting essential customer service skills, including communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relationship building.
• Expert review services: TopResume provides expert review services where experienced professionals offer personalized feedback and recommendations to enhance the overall quality of your resume.
• ATS compatibility: The platform ensures that the resumes created are compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which employers commonly use for scanning and filtering resumes.
• Download and sharing options: Users can download their resumes in various formats, such as PDF or Word, and easily share them with potential employers or upload them to job portals.
• Industry-Specific Tips: TopResume offers industry-specific tips and guidance to assist users in tailoring their resumes to the customer service field, helping them stand out among competitors.
• Cover letter builder: Besides resume building, TopResume provides a builder that empowers users to craft professional and compelling cover letters customized for customer service roles.
• Mobile accessibility: The platform is mobile-friendly, allowing users to create, edit, and update their resumes while on the go, using their smartphones or tablets.
• Entry level : Up to 200$.
• Professional level : Up to 200$-400$.
• Executive level : Up to $350-$700.

>> Use TopResume to Secure Your Dream Job

Resume Writing Services - Best Resume Builder for Affordability

Star Rating: 3.3/5

While Resumewritingservices.org may be a different size than its competitors, it stands out due to its team of talented and experienced resume writers. The website is user-friendly and provides exceptional service. However, this service’s true strength lies in its writers’ expertise.

Resumewritingservices.org sets itself apart by offering a comprehensive consultation process and goes beyond expectations by providing unlimited calls with its resume writers. This personalized approach distinguishes them from other companies and guarantees each client receives individual attention and support.

• Experienced resume writers of the highest caliber
• Unlimited phone consultations and revisions
• More expensive than rival services
• A limited range of products
• Skilled and experienced resume writers: Resumewritingservices.org takes pride in its team of highly trained and professional resume writers who possess a deep understanding of crafting effective resumes.
• Personalized service: Resumewritingservices.org offers a personal touch by providing unlimited calls with their resume writers. This unique feature allows clients to engage in direct communication and close collaboration with the writers throughout the resume creation process.
• Competitive job market expertise: The writers at Resumewritingservices.org have knowledge of current job market trends. This ensures that the resumes they create are optimized to excel in today’s fiercely competitive job market.
• Quality Assurance: The service maintains a rigorous quality assurance process to guarantee that the resumes delivered to clients meet the highest standards and align with their expectations.
• Timely delivery: Resumewritingservices.org is committed to delivering resumes within the agreed-upon timeframe, ensuring clients receive their documents promptly.
• Client satisfaction guarantee: Resumewritingservices.org offers a client satisfaction guarantee, assuring clients are fully content with the final resume. The service is ready to provide revisions if necessary.
• Affordable pricing: Resumewritingservices.org provides pricing options that are competitive and transparent, making professional resume writing accessible to a wide range of job seekers.

Resumewritingservices.org employs a pricing system that is clear and easy to understand for their resume-building services. The initial package begins at $270 , including a comprehensive consultation with a skilled resume writer and developing an individualized resume.

They offer extra options that enable customers to personalize their packages based on their unique preferences. This adaptable pricing strategy guarantees that clients can choose the services that align with their requirements and financial constraints.

>> Use Resume Writing Services to Secure Your Dream Job

Craft Resumes - Best Resume Builder for Quick-Turnaround

Star Rating: 3/5

Craft Resumes stand out as a well-established writing and editing service known for its ability to deliver effective outcomes. Our dedication to providing a 24-hour turnaround guarantees you’ll receive the initial version of your resume promptly.

Navigating our user-friendly website is effortless, making it easy to use our services. At Craft Resumes, we specialize in crafting customized resumes to match your skills, qualifications, and aspirations for your career.

• Speedy completion
• Customized CVs
• Intuitive site
• Insufficient details
• Absence of assurances
• Quick turnaround: Craft Resumes commits to delivering the initial draft of your resume within 24 hours, ensuring a speedy and efficient service.
• Expert Writers: Craft Resumes prides itself on its team of experienced writers who possess expertise across various industries and stay up-to-date with current hiring trends. They’re dedicated to making your resume stand out and catch the attention of potential employers.
• Unlimited revisions: We provide unlimited revisions to guarantee your complete satisfaction. If you have specific changes or additions in mind, our team will collaborate with you closely to implement the modifications.
• Confidentiality and Privacy: At Craft Resumes, we prioritize the confidentiality and privacy of your personal information. You can trust that your data will be handled securely and with the utmost discretion.
• Tailored resumes: We specialize in tailoring resumes to align with your career objectives, industry, and job requirements. Each resume is personalized to accentuate your unique strengths and qualifications.
• Resume Writing : $229.00
• Basic : $279.99
• Optimal : $339.99
• All-In-One : $499.99

>> Use Craft Resumes to Secure Your Dream Job

Resume Companion - Best Value Resume Builder

Star Rating: 2.8/5

Resume Companion is a virtual platform and service that specializes in aiding individuals in creating resumes that are professional and impactful. It offers an array of resources and tools to assist job seekers in crafting interesting resumes that effectively showcase their skills, experiences, and qualifications.

A prominent feature of Resume Companion is its user-friendly resume builder. This tool allows users to select from various professionally designed templates and personalize them based on their specific requirements.

Users can effortlessly incorporate their personal information, employment history, educational background, skill set, and other pertinent details to produce a customized resume tailored to their needs.

• Intuitive user interface
• High-quality templates
• Efficiency-boosting functions
• Cost-effective choice
• Restricted editing features without subscription
• Absence of extensive customization options
• Limited availability of extra services
• Cover letter builder: Resume Companion goes beyond resumes and provides users with a tool for crafting customized cover letters tailored to specific job applications. This feature guides users through the process, helping them effectively present their qualifications and make a compelling case to prospective employers.
• ATS optimization: In today’s job market, many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Resume Companion helps users ensure their resumes are ATS-friendly. The platform offers valuable tips and insights on incorporating relevant keywords, formatting the document correctly, and increasing the likelihood of passing through the ATS screening process.
• Educational resources: Resume Companion extends its services by offering an informative blog and educational materials that cover various aspects of resume writing, job search strategies, interview techniques, and career development guidance. These resources provide users with valuable insights and advice to help them create impressive resumes and enhance their job search efforts.
• Download and sharing options: Upon completing their resumes, users can conveniently download their documents in multiple formats, including PDF and Word. Resume Companion also makes it easy for users to share their resumes online or print them offline.
• Customer support: Resume Companion values user satisfaction and offers customer support to assist with users’ questions or concerns while utilizing the platform. Users can access support through email or the platform’s contact form.

Resume Companion provides a cost-effective solution for individuals seeking an all-inclusive service. It’s vital to remember subscription renewal is required to access future editing services. In summary, Resume Companion offers a wallet-friendly option for those who desire a user-friendly resume-building experience without needing advanced writing abilities.

>> Use Resume Companion to Secure Your Dream Job

Our Ranking Methodology for Best Resume Writing Services

To comprehensively and objectively rank the top resume writing services, it is essential to have a thorough methodology. The first step in this process was conducting extensive research and analysis. This involved gathering a comprehensive list of reputable resume-writing services from multiple sources such as online searches, customer reviews, industry directories, and personal recommendations.

• Feature analysis: Evaluate the functionalities provided by each resume builder, considering elements like template variety and quality, customization flexibility, user-friendly editing and formatting options, import/export capabilities, spell check and grammar tools, and integration with job search platforms and professional networks.
• Template collection: Examine the assortment and quality of templates. Look for a wide range that suits various industries, job levels, and design preferences, considering these templates’ aesthetics, readability, and contemporary design.
• Editing and customization: Scrutinize the adaptability and user-friendliness of the editing and customization tools each resume builder provides. Assess the capacity to add or modify sections, reorganize content, and tailor resumes to specific job requirements.
• User interface and experience: Analyze the user interface and the overall user experience each resume builder offers. Evaluate the ease of navigation, instruction clarity, guidance or prompts, and the platform’s responsiveness.
• Integration with job search platforms: Determine whether resume builders offer seamless integration with popular job search platforms and professional networks like LinkedIn or ATS systems. Consider how well the resumes can be transferred and their compatibility with these platforms.
• Additional resources: Evaluate if the resume builders provide extra resources such as sample resumes, tools for creating cover letters, interview tips, or career advice. Consider the breadth and practicality of these supplementary resources.
• Mobile-friendliness: Gauge the mobile-friendliness and responsiveness of the resume builders, recognizing the growing trend of mobile job searching and application processes.
• Customer support: Reflect on the accessibility and quality of customer support services, encompassing options like live chat, email support, or knowledge bases. Assess the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team.
• Pricing and value for money: Appraise the pricing plans presented by the resume builders in terms of the value they offer based on features, usability, and overall service quality.
• Industry reputation: Consider the standing and trustworthiness of the resume builders, considering factors such as awards, recognition, partnerships, and user feedback from reputable sources.

Buyer’s Guide: Why Use a Resume Builder?

Crafting a well-crafted CV comes naturally to particular job seekers. However, even the most seasoned experts may need help in resume writing. If you find yourself in need of help with creating a compelling resume, here are several ways in which the best online resume builder can be beneficial:

Resume builders provide users with pre-designed templates and helpful tips, streamlining the process of writing a resume and alleviating stress.

Offers Writing Tips

Promoting oneself requires considerable effort. Only some people possess writing skills, even if they enjoy self-promotion. To showcase one’s experience and knowledge effectively, a resume builder can help select the most appropriate words and phrases.

Improves Design

In every field, there are unique standards for an impressive resume. If you need to gain knowledge in design or the tools, resume builders can provide free templates to enhance your resume’s visual appeal and quality.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Recruiters often use ATS systems to scan resumes. A good resume builder will help with formatting to ensure that your resume is easy for these systems to read.

What’s the Best Resume Builder?

The ideal resume builder for each individual may differ according to their specific requirements. If you prefer a tool that offers step-by-step guidance in creating your resume, we suggest using a builder that provides helpful tips and recommendations. If you prefer a resume builder that auto-generates a summary, we recommend using a tool that extracts information from your LinkedIn profile.

For those who enjoy having creative control over their resumes, we suggest using a platform with features. By selecting the resume builder that aligns with your needs and suits your industry and personal style, you’ll significantly increase your chances of capturing the attention of hiring managers.

Resume Builder vs. Resume Writing Service: What Matters for You

When it comes to crafting a resume, there are three options available. You can opt to create it independently, use a resume builder tool, or enlist the services of a professional resume writer. Your best choice will depend on your writing abilities, available time, and financial resources.

Do-It-Yourself

You have the choice to construct a resume entirely by yourself. The benefit of this option is that it costs nothing but requires a significant amount of effort. Along with composing all the information, you must possess graphic design skills.

This approach works well if you have these abilities, but with them, your options for creating a resume are unlimited. To overcome this limitation, you can use a resume builder or enlist the help of a resume writing service.

Resume Builder

A tool for creating resumes allows you to input your details into a template, resulting in an original appearance and layout with no design work. The top resume building tools also offer suggestions on enhancing your resume and tailoring it to match the specific job you are applying for.

While you are still responsible for writing the content, once it is written, you can quickly transfer that information into any other template with just a few simple clicks. Some of these services are free and many like to promote themselves as such, but most require a small payment to download your finished resume.

Professional Resume Writing Service

Professional resume writing services are expensive, but they offer the convenience of handling all the work for you. An experienced writer will gather relevant information about your background and transform it into a unique and engaging resume.

The process typically takes a few days, and the level of originality in the outcome largely relies on your choice of company and writer. However, we will not delve into these services further in this guide.

Are Resume Builders Worth It?

Definitely, without a doubt. An effective resume creator will guarantee that your CV is formatted correctly to navigate Applicant Tracking Systems and ultimately reach the hands of recruiters.

Is It Unprofessional to Use a Microsoft Word Resume Template?

Relying on a template will not set you apart, and there is a high likelihood that your application will be dismissed because your resume is identical to those of other job seekers.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right resume builder is crucial in today’s competitive job market. Creating a professional and impactful resume that stands out from the crowd can significantly impact your job search. With the right tool, you can save time, improve your chances of landing an interview, and ultimately secure your dream job.

When selecting a resume builder, consider your specific needs and priorities. Look for features like customizable templates, industry-specific examples, and the ability to export your resume in different formats. Consider user reviews and ratings to ensure you choose a reputable and reliable platform.

Remember, an exceptional tool for crafting resumes should give you the power to present your skills, experience, and accomplishments effectively. It should simplify and expedite creating a resume without hassle. Investing in a reliable resume builder is investing in your professional future.

Therefore, explore the different options available for resume builders. Test out their free trials or demos and choose the best fit for your objectives. Our top recommendation is Super Star Resume . This meticulously designed resume can open doors to exciting career prospects and be a dependable companion on your journey toward success.

Ahad Waseem is a business, blockchain, and cybersecurity writer who often takes on art, politics, and economics too. As a linguistic engineer who writes to solve problems, he’s written for various tech and business publications. When he’s not writing, he’s probably on horseback, caring for his houseplants, or training Bonsai trees. He can be reached at [email protected] . McClatchy’s newsrooms were not involved in the creation of this content. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links.

©2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Mastering Job Applications with AI & ChatGPT

Are you ready to harness the power of AI to revolutionize your job search? Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a newcomer to the digital age, this guide is your roadmap to navigating the AI job search process with ease and flair.

Here’s a glimpse of the treasures within:

• Learn how to use ChatGPT to generate personalized cover letters tailored to specific job applications, overcoming writer’s block and enhancing application quality.
• Turbocharge your job search with AI job search tools and AI-powered resume builders like ours, to refresh your resume’s experience section, ensuring it highlights relevant skills and achievements for targeted job roles.
• Leverage AI-guided career transitions to identify transferable skills and experiences, facilitating smooth transitions between different job roles or industries.

With ChatGPT and our AI tools and resume templates , you’ll be able to fully take advantage of the benefits to quickly land an interview .

Dive in and discover how AI can make your job search smoother, smarter, and a lot more fun.

What Is ChatGPT and How Does It Work 

With the AI market value poised for explosive growth—expected to increase twentyfold by 2030 to nearly two trillion U.S. dollars —it’s clear that AI, and ChatGPT in particular, are reshaping the landscape.

Crafted by the innovative minds at OpenAI, ChatGPT is akin to a linguistic maestro. Picture engaging in a conversation with a friend who not only grasps every word but also enriches the conversation with insights from a vast reservoir of knowledge, courtesy of advanced machine learning algorithms . 

The applications of AI for your job search are impressively diverse, serving as a versatile companion in several tasks:

• Assisting with research: ChatGPT streamlines your job search by researching companies, industries, and roles, delivering insights on trends, required skills, and company cultures to customize your applications, ensuring you stand out in the competitive job market.
• Offering career advice: Leveraging its extensive database, ChatGPT offers personalized career guidance. From mapping out career paths to suggesting skills development strategies, it provides actionable steps for career growth.
• Crafting application content: ChatGPT, whether through an AI resume builder or generating personalized cover letters, excels in adeptly matching your qualifications to job descriptions, emphasizing relevant skills, and creating compelling narratives tailored to employer requirements , significantly boosting the effectiveness of your applications. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using ChatGPT for Your Job Search

On your quest for the perfect job, ChatGPT steps up as your virtual guide , offering a hand in crafting standout resumes and providing thoughtful career advice. This journey, though filled with promise, also presents its share of hurdles.

Advantages 👍

Personalized content : Utilizes AI job search strategies to customize applications.

Efficiency : Speeds up material creation for faster applications.

Market insights : Provides current job market trends for relevant applications.

Interview prep : Offers practice questions and feedback for interviews.

Disadvantages 👎

Lack of personal touch : May not fully capture human nuances.

Overreliance risk : Could limit personal skill development in job applications.

Generic responses : Risk of producing common, less tailored content.

Adaptation issues : May struggle with specific job sectors or company cultures.

Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of ChatGPT equips you to use AI thoughtfully in your job search. 

With this knowledge, you can harness the tool’s strengths while compensating for its weaknesses, ensuring a more informed and effective approach to securing your next opportunity.

How to Use ChatGPT and AI for Your Job Search

Let’s explore how you can leverage ChatGPT and AI to enhance your job search, ensuring each application you send is polished and personalized.

Tailoring Your Resume to a Specific Job Ad

Writing a resume with ChatGPT that speaks directly to the job you’re applying for is more art than science. 

ChatGPT can analyze the keywords used in a job ad and suggest specific skills and experiences to highlight in your resume. This ensures your resume mirrors the requirements of the job , significantly increasing your chances of catching the hiring manager’s eye.

The following prompt can help you achieve this:

Analyze the job description for the [job title] position at [company/organization] provided below. Utilize my resume to tailor it specifically for this role. Identify and emphasize the skills and experiences that directly align with the job’s requirements. 

Highlight any relevant achievements, projects, or roles that demonstrate my suitability for this position. Ensure the language matches the tone and key terms used in the job ad. 

Provide suggestions for any additional information that could strengthen my application for this specific opportunity.

Writing a ChatGPT Cover Letter

Your cover letter is your chance to tell a story that your resume can’t. It’s about connecting the dots between your past experiences and the future you envision with the prospective employer. 

ChatGPT can help you craft a compelling narrative that aligns with the company’s values and the role’s responsibilities, making your application memorable.

Try this prompt to write your cover letter:

Write a cover letter for the [job title] position at [company/organization], using the job description and my resume as references. Begin by expressing my genuine interest in the role and the company. 

Highlight my relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that align with the job’s requirements. Emphasize how my background makes me a suitable candidate and how I can contribute to the company’s goals. 

Conclude by expressing eagerness to discuss my application further in an interview. Ensure the tone is professional and engaging, and reflects my enthusiasm for the opportunity.

You can then use our cover letter editor with the text you generated from ChatGPT to ensure your professional introduction is perfectly tailored to the position .

Writing a Follow-up Email

The follow-up email is an essential step in the job application process, yet it’s often overlooked.

ChatGPT can assist you in composing a polite and concise follow-up email that reiterates your interest in the position and highlights your enthusiasm and qualifications. A well-timed follow-up can keep your application top of mind for the hiring manager.

Use this prompt to write your email:

Using my resume and the details of my recent interview for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name], craft a polite and engaging follow-up email. 

Highlight my enthusiasm for the role, reiterate how my skills and experiences align with the company’s needs, and express appreciation for the opportunity to interview. 

Include a sentence that opens the door for further communication. Please ensure the tone is professional yet conveys genuine interest.

Updating Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital handshake in the professional world. It’s crucial to keep it as current and comprehensive as your resume. 

ChatGPT can suggest updates and improvements to your profile, ensuring it showcases your achievements, skills, and career aspirations effectively. A strong ChatGPT LinkedIn profile not only attracts recruiters but also positions you as a proactive and engaged professional. Here is a prompt you could use:

Using the details of my professional background and achievements below, update and improve my LinkedIn profile summary and experience sections. 

Ensure the language is engaging, professional, and reflects a strong personal brand. Highlight my key skills, relevant accomplishments, and the impact of my work. 

Tailor the content to appeal to recruiters in [specific industry or job market], emphasizing my readiness for [specific roles or career goals]. 

Include suggestions for keywords that will optimize my profile for search visibility in my field. Additionally, advise on any LinkedIn features or sections I might leverage to showcase my expertise and stand out to potential employers.

Professional Background and Achievements: [Insert your professional background, key achievements, skills, and any specific elements you want to be included or emphasized.]

Industry/Job Market: [Specify the industry or job market you’re targeting.]

Specific Roles/Career Goals: [Mention any specific roles, job titles, or career goals you’re aiming for.]

By integrating ChatGPT into these aspects of your job application process, you’re not only streamlining your efforts but also applying AI’s precision to tailor your applications more effectively. The result is a ChatGPT job application that is both highly personalized and optimized for success.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Job Searches

Embarking on a job search journey requires precision and careful thought. Think of ChatGPT as a compass, guiding you with prompts designed to refine and tailor your professional documents. 

Use the following prompts to enhance your next job application .

Tailoring Your Resume

Crafting a resume that resonates with potential employers is an essential part of any job application. The following prompts will help you sculpt a document that not only reflects your achievements but also aligns with the job you’re eyeing:

Write a resume for a [job title] based on this job description: [job description.]

Write a tailored resume for this [job title] role at [company/organization], excluding an objective statement or references. Include a professional summary, the last 5 years of work experience with 3-5 bullet points per role, and weave in the most important keywords from the job description. [Add job description.]

Using my resume and the job description below, tailor my resume for a [job title] role at [company/organization]. [Add your resume and the job description.]

Highlighting Skills and Achievements

Your skills and achievements are the jewels of your resume . These prompts ensure they shine brightly, catching the eye of recruiters:

Using the resume and job description below, showcase 10 relevant skills I should highlight. [Add your resume and the job description.]

Writing Professional Summaries

A compelling professional summary acts as the opening chapter of your career story. These prompts help you craft a narrative that’s both engaging and succinct :

Create a compelling professional summary for a job application using my resume and the job description below as a reference, keeping it to 500 characters or less. [Add your resume and job description.]

Write a professional summary under 100 words that showcases my skills and experiences relevant to a [job title] role in [industry]. [Add your resume.]

Let these ChatGPT prompts be your guide in your next AI-powered job search and see how your skills and experience turn into a compelling narrative that resonates with employers.

Updating Your Experience Section with AI

The experience section of your resume is crucial to showcase your professional journey, reflecting your growth and the milestones you’ve achieved . 

As the job market evolves, so too should this part of your resume to ensure it remains relevant and engaging to potential employers. 

This is where ChatGPT comes into play. It offers a unique opportunity to breathe new life into your experience descriptions , making sure they not only recount your achievements but also underscore the impact and metrics behind those successes, aligned with the future opportunities you’re seeking.

Here is a prompt you could use for this purpose:

Rewrite the experience section of my resume to highlight my progression and achievements, focusing on impact and metrics. Ensure it aligns with the requirements of a [job title] role at [company/organization]. [Add your current experience section.]

This gentle nudge from AI can transform your experience section from a mere list of duties to a dynamic story of your professional evolution , showcasing your readiness for the next chapter in your career.

Strategizing Career Transitions with AI

A career transition is much like embarking on a voyage to new horizons—it’s an exhilarating journey that brings a mix of anticipation and the unknown. In these pivotal moments, having a guiding light to illuminate the path ahead is crucial. 

AI shines brightly in this role, offering personalized insights and actionable strategies to help you step confidently into a new career phase.

Take a look at how this can be achieved:

Identify the skills and experiences from my current role as [current job title] that will be most valuable in transitioning to a [new job title] position within [company/industry]. Highlight how I can present these in my resume and cover letter. [your resume.]

AI is reshaping how we approach job applications, offering a blend of innovation and personalization. 

As we adapt to this new era, ChatGPT can become a valuable partner in crafting a compelling narrative for your professional journey. Leverage the insights in this article and present yourself more effectively to potential employers.

Get started now with our AI-powered resume builder and let AI illuminate your path to success!

Common Questions About AI-Powered Job Searches

AI revolutionizes the job application process by automating and personalizing tasks, from crafting tailored resumes to optimizing cover letters. It analyzes job descriptions to highlight relevant skills, ensuring applications resonate with employers . Tools like Chat GPT also offer strategic advice for interviews and career transitions , making the search more efficient and targeted. This blend of personalization and efficiency significantly enhances your chances of landing your desired role.

Yes , ChatGPT can craft a resume that reflects your unique professional journey by integrating your personal experiences, achievements, and skills. While it provides a solid foundation , personal touches and detailed inputs from you ensure the resume not only represents you accurately but also stands out to potential employers, making it a collaborative effort .

To customize your application for various industries, start by feeding ChatGPT-specific industry keywords and job descriptions . AI can then tailor your resume and cover letter by emphasizing the skills and experiences most relevant to each sector. This approach ensures your application aligns with industry expectations, enhancing your appeal to potential employers across diverse fields.

Using AI in job applications carries risks like over-reliance , which might limit personal input, and the potential for generating generic content . To avoid these, actively engage in the process by customizing AI-generated suggestions with your unique experiences and voice. Ensure you review and personalize AI outputs to maintain authenticity and stand out to employers, blending AI efficiency with your individuality.

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