How many versions of a resume should I have?

You have spent hours on writing, editing, proofreading, and polishing your perfect resume. All that’s left to do is apply for a job, right? 

Even if your resume is complete, there is still some work left to do. This is because you need to tailor the document around every position you apply to. This doesn’t mean you go around making major changes or that you need to rewrite it. 

In fact, it’s the opposite that’s true. If you have a career objective and experience to back it up, then your resume should stay the way it is. You need to tweak it – so that the potential hiring manager knows that you are “THE ONE” for the job. 

When crafting resume versions, here’s what you need to focus on –

The name of the file

If you’ve held the position of “Sales Assistant”, but are looking for a role as a “Customer Service Executive” – use that as the file name for your resume. For instance, instead of “Brad Pitt Sales_Assistant”, title it as, “Brad Pitt Customer_Service_Executive”. This will help you bypass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) easily.

Your summary of qualifications

Rather than having an objective on top of your resume, include a list of your top qualifications, strengths, or core competencies. You can customize it according to the job prospect you seek to apply for. You can also edit the language slightly. Read the terminology and guidance mentioned in the job posting.

Your work experiences

This is a crucial area where you need to pay attention whilst crafting your resume. Throughout the process, you’re not going to make big changes – make small, impactful ones. For example, a certain job duty is important for one role rather than another. Highlight what makes sense, so you stand out to the hiring manager and make yourself the best candidate for the job position. 

So, the question still remains, “How many versions of resumes do I need?”. The answer is ONE. This is going to be your primary document. You need to tweak the others according to the job you seek to apply for. 

Need more insights on the same? Get in touch with professional resume writers at ResumeWW today!