Stop Using a Generic Resume when Applying to Jobs.

Finding a new job can be boring, stressful, and can take a lot of time. Everyone takes a different approach when starting the search for a new job, but most people find themselves either a) taking their time to find a job they will love, or b) applying to any and every job that they come across.

If you’re desperate for a job, the second option may sound best so you can get a paycheck coming in as soon as possible, but often times you will have more success if you take your time applying for fewer jobs.

Why? Nobody wants to hire someone who puts in minimal effort. To you, it may seem like much more work to send an application and resume to 30 different companies, but all each company sees is your resume — and often times it is extremely easy to tell when someone submits a generic catch-all resume. That’s when it gets tossed in the trash.

Instead, take your time to find 3–5 jobs you would really enjoy, and make changes to your resume to make it unique to each job.

Start with your cover letter if required. Talk about your past experiences and skills, and how they relate directly to the unique position you are applying for. Mention the company by name if it fits in the flow of your cover letter. Help the employer understand why you would be an asset to the company. Start your cover letter with “Mr./Mrs. ______” if you were communicating directly with a recruiter or hiring manager for the company. Make it personal.

Next, move onto your actual resume. Your resume shouldn’t contain your entire past — only what’s relevant. Remove any past jobs that aren’t relevant to the position you are applying for, and include anything in your life that is relevant. Did you take a class in college or elsewhere that directly relates to the position or company? Add that. Take your time to think about the content of your resume and how each item could be relevant, because it’s not always straightforward. For example, if you’re applying for a position as a receptionist, go ahead and include your work at a fast food restaurant in high school. No, you probably won’t be making burgers as a receptionist, but you can use that entry on your resume to explain how you learned how to solve problems and communicate with customers.

Finally, before submitting your resume, have someone read over it — a friend, a family member, or a stranger on the internet. If you’ve spent several days writing resumes and applying for jobs, you’re more likely to miss some common errors someone else may pick up. I’ve seen resumes where the applicant talks about a different position at a completely different company. It was likely just a sentence they forgot to remove, but something like that won’t get you hired.

If you’re starting to look for a new job, throw out your old generic resume and start fresh. Want to make everything a little bit easier? Check out Ceev — a website to create and manage all your resumes in one place. It makes it super simple to create a well-designed resume in minutes with professionally-designed themes and plenty of customization options to make it stand out.