When responding to a job posting, be sure to highlight “key words” or core qualifications as specified by the hiring company. Next, sprinkle the key words throughout the body of your resume.

“Oh no!”...I heard you scream. Are you saying I have to prepare a different resume for each job posting? The answer to that question is part no and part yes. Let’s start with the part I know you like best. Hey, I rhymed!

NO – if you’re targeting one profession and one profession only...for example IT...then you do not need to create a new resume for each company to which you are applying. Although IT jobs may vary, your education and experience should be relevant to most companies and therefore your information is appropriate across the board.

YES – I believe it is foolish to read a job posting, recognize key qualities that an employer wishes to find in the desired candidate, and not include those qualities in your resume...provided you in fact possess them.

Nowadays, hiring managers are inundated with hundred of resumes on a weekly basis. And there is simply not enough time in the day to read every submission. Therefore they rely on scanners to facilitate the job. If the scanner finds or fails to find a specific key word or group of words, your resume will be marked accordingly. You might be the perfect job candidate, but if you can’t get past the scanner, you won’t advance to the next round.

EXAMPLE: Company A is looking for people knowledgeable in Microsoft Office Suite, and your resume lists your computer skills as follows: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access & Publisher. Yes, you have what they’re looking for, but because you did not convey your skills in their language, the scanner passed you by. Not so “sweet”, is it?

A little extra effort with each resume submission goes a long way, it truly does. Now pick up those highlighters and go that extra mile...I promise you, the scenery is worth it!