New Graduate Resume - A Targeted Approach To New Grad Resumes
A targeted resume... is it right for a new college graduate? A former recruiter explains why the general resume is out, and the targeted resume is in. Plus, how the new graduate can simplify the process of creating them.
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When I grew up, kids fresh out of college could get by with a general resume. You remember those: grandiose but meaningless objectives, a drawn out education section, the briefest mention of a part-time job or two. All of it locked down on paper and static for the duration of the job search. And guess what? We all got hired. Well, those days are gone.
The job market today demands a different kind of resume. If a job seeker wants to compete in the aftermath of the worst recession in 50 years, even if that job seeker is fresh out of college with a spanking new diploma, the resulting resume had better be a targeted resume.
A Targeted Resume is a Customized Resume
A targeted resume is a resume that is customized to match up a candidate's qualifications with the specific requirements of a specific job. Showcasing the skills and experiences most relevant to one opportunity, a targeted resume is created for each new job application.
The Advantage of a Targeted Resume
As a new college graduate, your resume is competing fiercely with any number of qualified candidates. Want to be one of the few called in for an interview? Then first up, your resume needs to make it through several rounds of screenings. Resumes that are targeted toward the job opening in question improve their chances of getting through those screens and landing a phone call. General, one-size-fits-all resumes will be screened out. There is simply too much competition for it to be any other way.
How To Write Targeted Resumes
1 - The first step is to write a master' resume. This core document will be the repository of all things remotely qualifying about you. Stick everything you can think of in there. Every positive trait, attribute or personal characteristic that might come into play in a work environment. All your jobs, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Each club or association to which you were ever a member, especially those in which you held leadership roles. Include relevant college courses and brief descriptions (with focus on how they relate to your career objective). Don't fret the length of this thing - nobody will see it but you.
2 - As the need for a targeted resume arises (that is, as you prepare to apply to a job opening or a time slot with a campus recruiter), first make a copy of the master. Next, take that copy and begin eliminating everything that's not applicable to the position to which you're applying.
3 - Tighten up the resume you're left with. If you know the title of the job position in question, put that title directly into the objective statement. Not using an objective statement? Then put the title of the job opportunity directly into your profile or summary section (and yes, you'd better be using one of these). Use the rest of your profile section to subtly redirect your personal and professional qualifications so they point naturally toward the job in question. You want to drive home the point that you are the right person for this particular job.
Once the profile has been sufficiently customized, go through the balance of your resume. Are there any past jobs from which you acquired skills applicable to your objective? If so, make that transition obvious. Along the same lines, focus your education toward the objective (for example, mention specific courses or a minor area of study, if relevant).
4 - Get the length right. Your master or core resume can be a sloppy two, three or four pages long. Your targeted resume doesn't have that luxury especially for new grads. Whittle down the targeted resume until it fills no more than a single page.
You've just written a targeted resume. Now repeat that process for each new job opportunity, spinning off and customizing new resumes while leaving the master intact. This targeted approach is work, certainly. But it provides an opportunity for you to out hustle your competition.
Out hustle often enough, and you've got your job.
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