10 Minute Custom Resumes

This constitutes the second in our four-part series on job search written materials

As stated in my last post: “Resumes are the calling card of the unemployed”. Only people looking for a job use resumes. Luckily, several excellent resume builders provide you with 100’s of templates for various occupations: Resume Builder, Monster, Optimal Resume, and more. You can also have a professional write your resume for you. I recommend Sally Morrison. You can also check out one of Wendy Enelow’s excellent books.

Resume Formats

People generally use one of several styles of resumes. Each format provides different benefits:

• Chronological resumes list your experience and work history in chronological order. They highlight a consistent, progressive work history.
• Functional resumes list experiences, not by calendar, but in functional groups. They focus attention on your functions rather than spotty or inconsistent work history
• Combination resumes combine two or three of the above formats into one resume. They allow you to focus on more than one of the benefits listed above
• Each occupation also uses specialized formats depending on the occupation

I suggest a simple procedure for creating a resume that can be completely customized in 10 minutes. It requires two steps.

Step 1: Create the resume template

1. Create a Google or Word document named “Master Resume”
2. Build a template using one of the the formats outlined above as page 1. Include all the parts that will not change like name, address, topic titles, company names, job titles, or functional group titles. Do not include any details except those that would not change
3. Type all of the 3rd base portions of your home run statements on pages 2-4
4. Save it again

Step 2: Customize your resume for each company

1. Open your “Master Resume” and save as “Company Name Resume”
2. Select the home run statements that most apply to the company’s requirements
3. Cut and paste them into the appropriate section of your template on page 1
4. Delete everything on pages 2-4 after you pasted all the statements you need into page 1
5. Save your resume as a PDF so that you can email easily to the company

Of course, you can always just use a resume builder mentioned in the first paragraph

Join me on Monday when we explore formats for emails and cover letters

How do you develop your resumes? Best resume advice?