Don’t Push Your Luck with a Generic Resume

by | Mar 17, 2017 | Blog

When it comes to finding a job, you may be willing to settle for whatever you can get your hands on until the right opportunity comes along. Or perhaps you really have no idea exactly what you want to do because you’re experienced in many areas. While you should be proud of your ability to easily adapt to different roles, creating a “jack-of-all-trades” generic resume isn’t the way to go.

Think of it this way: if an employer could replace your name with someone – anyone – else’s, then you’re missing the mark. You don’t want to blend in with the crowd. And the employer isn’t looking for someone who could fill five different roles – they want someone who is a good fit for a specific role. After all, that’s why they created the job opening and didn’t hold a general recruitment.

Not taking the time to tailor your resume to a specific position can have some drawbacks:

  • Your resume doesn’t send a clear message about who you are and what you can do. It provides more of a general overview that could apply to anyone.
  • You’re missing the opportunity to zero in on targeted accomplishments and skills that demonstrate why you’re a great fit for the role. You may tick every box, but if your resume doesn’t show it, an employer won’t know.
  • It can make you look unfocused. Showcasing a wide range of tasks and responsibilities that may or may not be related to one another – or the job you’re applying for – can send a mixed message to employers.
  • A generic resume can make it more obvious that you’re applying to multiple jobs and give the impression that you can’t be bothered to take the time to tailor your resume for the position, or that you aren’t truly interested in the job. If you really wanted it, you’d do everything you can to show why you’re the best candidate.

However, you don’t have to create 57 different versions of your resume. Create a master copy and adjust from there, adding and removing elements that align with each position. Carefully read through the job description and stay focused on how your skills and experiences match up. While you may feel desperate to land a job, you’ll be improving your chances by slowing down and picking opportunities you’re a good match for and reworking your resume rather than spamming a generic resume to every position you can find.

The team at Grammar Chic can help you to create a targeted resume that can be easily adjusted to fit other job openings. Contact us today at (803) 831-7444 or resumewriting@grammarchic.net to schedule a personal consultation.