One or More Resumes?
When applying for a job, a good résumé gets your foot in the door. A better résumé gets you an interview and gives you the chance to land the job. But what if you have a very diverse technical background and, as a result, a lengthy, in-depth résumé? The hiring manager may not notice your skills relevant to the job and you could miss an opportunity. So, how can you make the most of your résumé?
For starters, it’s a good idea to have a few different versions of your résumé, especially if youare a developer, business analyst, project manager, or a combination of the three. That way, when applying for a technology staffing role, your résumé highlights only your appropriate skill sets and relevant background. Your résumé should bring out your strengths and pinpoint how your skills match the position’s requirements rather than vaguely summarize all of your skills and background. For clarity, the role and/or title do not change but the summary of experience within the roles may be featured and leveraged differently.
To take 
this a step farther, let’s say you are a project manager with a heavy technical background. If you are applying for a straightforward project manager position, it’s best to leave out most of your technical background and to focus on your project management history. Though you may be an excellent Java developer, including this on your résumé may overshadow your project management experience. The hiring manager may consider you “not a fit” for the job because he or she believes you are a developer, not a project manager. The same is also true for project management roles that require a heavy technical background – let them know about your Java expertise!
You can work with your recruiter to help tailor your résumé to the job. However, as always, make sure your résumé is an honest reflection of your experience and skills. If you want to make sure you don’t get the job, lying on your résumé is a great way to do it.
Leave us a comment if you have any résumé success stories!