Writing an effective resume, one that gets the interview, always starts with reading the job posting. Resumes generally fall into two categories: they can be either stable – unchanged for individual job postings – or targeted (change often). Each targeted resume is going to have its roots in the original job posting, and the language used to write the post. These kinds of resumes have shown time and again to be much more effective at getting interviews.
First things first
Remember that a job posting is not an infallible document – it was written by someone just as busy, stressed and presentation-minded as everyone else. And while there is crucial information that needs to be gathered – there is also exaggeration, hyperbole and idealization. With that in mind, we can start to break down a job posting with an eye towards gathering valuable information, and discarding half-truths and exaggerations.
Example Job Posting
I found this job under the austin.craigslist.org Health Care/Medical job posting section.
Medical Job Posting from Craigslist.org
Make a list
A good way to start a ‘targeted’ resume is take a piece of blank paper, and draw 3 vertical columns. At the top of the first column write ’skills’, second column write ‘knowledge/experience’, and third write ‘personal characteristics’. Re-read the job posting. What language suggests concrete skills the job-seeker will need? What about overall knowledge and experience? Lastly, what personal characteristics does the candidate need? These should all be listed in the 3 column worksheet.
Example Resume:
Skills – MS Word, Outlook and Excel
Knowledge/Experience – 2 years claims processing. Knowledge of ICD9-CD (etc) Revenue codes. Medical insurance processing. GED preferred. Strong knowledge of details of claims processing.
Personal Characteristics – Communication, customer service and problem-solving skills. Ability to interpret instructions.
Compare your own experience to the list based on the job description
The 3-column worksheet will help determine if your experience, skills and characteristics are a good match for the job. This is, of course, only the first step. If the job is a good fit, and you will be creating a targeted resume, the challenge is to translate your skills, experiences and characteristics to match up with the job description. This will be made easier by having the three-column worksheet to reference and guide your writing process.
Use the summary to your advantage
The summary in a resume is a great place to integrate into the resume those traits and characteristics listed in the job posting. This will let the hiring manager know immediately that you are qualified for the job. A well-written summary will also give you a guide for writing the rest of the resume – everything in the resume should connect back to the summary statement. This makes it easier to read, and it allows the resume to be taken in at a glance (since it’s all linked together).
