When applying for that first corporate job, the question that goes through most prospective employees’ minds is, “how do I get this company to notice me, what will help me stand out?” The answer is simple: a resume/cover letter that matches your job description. Jobs are not one size fits all, so your resume should be fine-tuned to each employer when applying for a job. If you give the same resume to every job, you better hope that every job has the same description of what they need. Doing this will really limit you from becoming a prospective employee and make you easily skippable. When coming out of school, showing your accomplishments and job history is cool for the show, but that is not what is going to get you hired. The reason why the employer made this opening in the first place was to look for SKILLS that would be assets to their company. By matching your resume to the job description and showing why you should be chosen, you will have a much higher chance of getting selected for an interview.
How to Match Your Resume to a job description
Matching your resume to a job description is simple but tedious. There are 4 easy steps to follow:
- Read the description thoroughly.
- Make a list of all of the requirements or skills the employer is looking for.
- Make notes or checks of any of the requirements or skills you have experience in.
- Incorporate them in your resume.
When looking for these requirements and skills as a student, you may feel a little overwhelmed and feel like you lack experience. This is not the always case, especially for an entry-level job. Just because you haven’t had your first corporate job does not mean that you don’t have experience in the classroom. You also should remember that you do not have to be a perfect match. We are all imperfect people, and 9 times out of ten we will lack at least 1 of the skills they are looking for. It is important that you rank the skills and requirements they are looking for first from strongest to weakest, and not add the ones you lack. Lying on your resume is never good, and if you are caught, then it will harm you in the long run.
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