3 Keys to Customize Your Resume

1. Utilize Proper Language

The first rule of customization is to ensure your resume contains the same language found in the job advertisement. Many companies use junior human resources staff as the first reviewers for the resumes they receive. Since HR staff typically know a lot about HR and less about the business of their company, they often look to match your resume with the keywords used in the job ad. This is why it’s important to customize your resume for an untrained eye; generally, the first person (or software program) looking it over is not discerning enough to know what you mean unless you use the exact same language.

2. Optimize Your Resume With Keywords

For a job seeker who is looking at several different industries, matching keywords can be the most time consuming part of the process. For instance, someone with a background in nonprofit development may be looking at various nonprofit positions as well as opportunities in sales.

Although both jobs essentially involve bringing in money for the employer, the nonprofit industry talks about “fund-raising” while the sales industry talks about “market share.” In order to save herself the hassle of changing the language of her resume every time she applies for a job, this job seeker would want to design both a standard nonprofit resume and a sales resume as the basic documents to work from for either type of job.

3. Put Important Details First

Another way to customize your resume for a specific job opening is to construct the various sections of your resume in the same order as the items listed in the ad. For instance, if an advertisement says, “Seeking licensed master’s level social worker for clinical supervisor,” then your resume should display your academic degrees and social work license near the top. Employers generally use their ads to tell you what they’re looking for—so don’t make it hard for them to find it!


Read more at http://www.careerealism.com/3-keys-customizing-resume/#8GiqYFZCztmv2tzy.99

5 Things You Can Do To Help Recruiters Find You on LinkedIn

1. Update Your Profile

If you want to be visible, you need to make your profile public. This also means completing all parts of your profile. A completed profile is given more preference over those that are incomplete in the search engine’s ranking of results. Your profile should also include a photo, but one that is professional – you want to appear dressed for the job.

2. Include Keywords

When a recruiter searches for candidates, it often means using keywords like a job title, the name of an employer, or common terms used in the field. If your profile does not appear with any of these keywords, it’s not going to show up in search results. Make sure your profile is updated with the proper keywords, including them in your sub-header (the headline right below your name), summary, description of work experiences, and under specialties. If you want to be thorough on keywords, also look at job postings you’re applying to for common terms and phrases. It’ll help build up your profile’s searchability.

3. Obtain Recommendations

A LinkedIn profile with recommendations informs recruiters that you are active in the workforce, and have the support of others vouching your skills and talent. It also encourages recruiters to want to click on your profile to read further into what your experience, skills, and talents are.

4. Make Connections

The more relevant connections you have, the greater the likelihood your profile will show up. For instance, if your profile is connected to five other contacts the recruiter is also connected to, it makes your profile more favorable than someone with no related connections.

5. Have A Voice

When you stay active on LinkedIn, your profile will get in front of more contacts. Think about sharing relevant articles with your contacts, joining group discussions – particularly industry and job specific ones recruiters comb through, commenting on shared content, and so on. The more interaction, the greater visibility your profile will have.


Read more at http://www.careerealism.com/linkedin-recruiters-help-find/#ofZpb4qmEjSu1CpB.99