Hey... sometimes it's not all common sense.  You have a posting, you reply to the posting and presto!  Interview!... Then why aren't you getting interviews?

 

This might be why!  Hundreds, if not thousands of people make the mistake of making a generic resumé and shooting it out to a broad spectrum of postings.  The employer never said to send them a targeted application, but often, that's what they want.  That's how you stand out.  And that's how you show them you are listening. 

This article examines how to interpret a job posting and create a targeted resumé to respond to it so you can land in front of a human to interview you for work there. 

Let's examine the job posting first.  Then we will examine crafting an answer. 

How do I read a job posting?

You just read it right?  From top to bottom like you would an article, or front to back like you would a book?  Well... you'd spend a lot of time reading, and not a lot of time applying! 

Take a look at the job posting you have right in front of you that you found on your job search.  Or find one.  This article is best read while comparing it to a real job posting.  And if the job posting is only a 20-character ad in a newspaper, that's no excuse.  Find one that matches it that has more words.  Apply to both if you want. 

What you have in your hand, the job posting, aka job description or opening, is an outline of the requirements and responsibilities of that job.  

You hold in your hand the employer's question they're waiting on you to answer, their need they're waiting on you to supply, their problem they're waiting on you to solve. 

So let's examine how they're trying to communicate with us!  But first, let's examine some tools. 

Tools you need

The tools you will need are a printout of the posting, a highlighter, and a pen so you can mark up the posting and make notes on where you're a match.  Alternatively, you can make a PDF version of the posting to markup or you can make notes on a notepad. 

When you get better at interpreting postings and targeting your applications, you will need these tools less and less, but for now, use them to develop your skills.  You don't want to forget a key qualification and miss your opportunity. 

Requirements/Qualifications section

The requirements section, aka the qualifications section, of a job posting, lists what is required to do the job.  It is sometimes labelled "What you bring" or "Who you are". 

This is the section of the job posting that you zero in on like a hawk to determine whether that dive from the sky to the ground is worth it.  

You will want to make the best use of your time and energy in making job applications and prioritize the ones that are a better fit for your skill set and the direction you want to go in.  Even if you are looking for survival jobs!  That's why this section is what you target first. 

Read the requirements section of the posting even before you read the rest of the posting.  

In the requirements section on a job posting, there may be mandatory qualifications, usually worded with "must-have" or "minimum".  And there may be additional qualifications, usually worded with "preferred" or "is an asset". 

It's usually safe to consider what's on top of the list as the most important qualifications unless some are worded as mandatory toward the bottom of the list. 

So what do you do with this section that you zero in on first?  Highlight or underline all of the keywords in it.  Keywords are words and phrases that sound important.  The requirements section of a posting contains the most important keywords you will mention in your resumé.  

(See examples at the end.)

Responsibilities section

The responsibilities section of a job posting outlines what you can expect to be doing on the job.  It is sometimes labelled "What you will do" or "A day in the life of" this job. 

This is the second section of the job posting you zeroed in on.  

Since this section describes the everyday life of the job, it gives you valuable insight into whether the job is a fit for you. 

This is what you will be using your skills and qualifications to do, for the most part anyway. 

Again, what you do with this section is highlight keywords you will address in your resumé. 

(See examples at the end.)

About the organization section

The "about the organization" section, aka "who we are", is being more commonly included in job postings in the last two decades because employers want to attract the right fit for their teams who can grow with them. 

Employers don't only hire for a position, they hire for the organization. 

This is why, if you notice a job posting doesn't have an "about the organization" section, you should do your organization research.  Look up their website and see their "about" section.  Take a look at their mission or vision,  and their projects and accomplishments.  Research them online and see what is written about them. 

The about section, most importantly, gives you insight into the organization's values.  If your character matches those values, you're likely a fit for that organization. 

What do you do with the about section?  You can highlight keywords in this section that speak about those values. 

(See examples at the end.)

How do I target my resumé?

Now you have a posting you highlighted.  You will find, visually straightaway, that when you recognize a lot of the keywords you highlighted, you're a match.  When you can say "yes I have that", "yes I have done that" or "yes I have done something along those lines", circle the highlights with a pen and make markups with short notes to expand on your resumé.

You will write about these in the relevant sections of your resumé.  Even as you use keywords in your resumé, the language is best simple.  

Resumés that use keywords and simple language are the resumés that get past the bouncer (the applicant tracking software) and strike a connection with the human behind the desk.

Highlights of qualifications/profile and skills sections

The first page of your resumé is the most eye-catching part for the employer.  It has sections such as the highlights of qualifications (typical for Canadian resumés) or profile and skills (typical for U.S. resumés).  Then it goes into your experience. 

The highlights of qualifications or the profile and skills section of the resumé answer the questions asked in the requirements section of the job posting. 

These sections should contain many of the most important keywords you highlighted. 

(See examples at the end.)

Experience section

In the experience section of your resumé, you can describe your jobs using a battlefield bullet, aka an outline bullet, and one or two bullets of accomplishment statements, and you can incorporate some keywords you highlighted as well.

The experience section of the resumé answers the questions asked in the responsibilities section of the job posting. 

You might think just from one glance at the responsibilities section, that you don't have matching experience.  But have another look.  You may have been doing these same things but in different roles, or in different sectors or industries. 

You will notice, especially for jobs that do not identify how many years of experience under a job they are looking for, that this is where you can describe jobs where you have used many transferable skills that can equip you in this new position. 

(See examples at the end.)

Cover letter page

The cover letter, aka the letter of intent (the intent being your interest in being considered for the job), introduces you and presents the resumé.  

You will want to address some keywords you highlighted that describe who the organization is, and what values they prioritize.

The cover letter (and sometimes the highlights of qualifications or profile and skills section of the resumé) answers the questions asked in the "about the organization" section of the posting. 

(See examples at the end.)

How do I craft my resumé?

When writing your targeted resumé, it's not just about keywords.  It's about content.  Be selective in what you include on your resumé because you only have two pages of real estate (three, if you count the cover letter) to catch the employer's attention.  

Pick skills that suit their needs, expand on experience that shows that you have been building these skills and summarize the other experience. 

But hold up... what if the highlights you made on the pages look like they take up the entire job posting, and you cannot answer using half of these keywords?

Don't panic.  If you have 50% of the qualifications outlined under the requirements section of a job posting, apply.  And if you have anything above 75%[i], you're already a strong candidate!  

Better you apply than the person who allows their self-doubt to prevent them from tendering an application in the first place.  Shoot your shot.  

"You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky. 

Employers like to ask for the moon in all its silvery splendour, but no one is the moon.  Employers end up well-lit with the stars they bring into the team, who come with their unique strengths, and who grow with them anyway. 

But how do you show them you're the star they're looking for to work with the stars they already have?  It starts with listening... or reading per se.   

As you approach the end of this article, with your job posting in hand, you have been learning to interpret what the employer needs by decisively and strategically reading the posting.  And you are learning how to talk to them in their language on your resumé while answering the questions they ask.  It's a game of match you know you can win.

Ahhh... but targeting a resumé sounds like a lot of work.  It is.  But you don't need to spend countless hours carving out each resumé like a one-of-a-kind canoe you hope will take you safely down rapids. 

Sometimes you can create a master resumé, which can be a floor-length catalogue of all of your qualifications, skills, experience, education and training, to use as a reference to pull content from and create your targeted resumés.  That way, you don't feel like you have to craft a resumé from scratch every time you see a posting you like. 

Learning how to craft where it's important, however,  is a fruitful skill to practice and it becomes easier the more you do it.  It should not take you too long to build this skill.  You can increase your chances of landing your next job by practicing for a few rounds and then applying to as many jobs that suit you in a short space of time.  Be consistent with this until you land interviews and get job offers.  

Your targeted resumés don't have to be perfect, they're not masterpieces, you are.  

And using a resumé to speak to an employer's needs is how you make the hawk-dive from the sky to the ground and snatch up the opportunity, making the most of your time, energy, and the opening presented. 

The resumé, after all, is a conversation you start with the employer that will be continued at the interview level. 

So let it be a good one.  Let it show you are listening.  Write you on its pages so the employer can feel a strong connection with you enough to want to meet you. 

Examples

Nope, I didn't forget the examples.  I organized them here in one fell swoop so you can see how the sections of the job posting and the sections of the resumé talk to each other. 

Here are two job postings with their corresponding resumés from applicants.  Keywords are underlined so you see how they work. 

Example one.

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Job Posting: Cashier at Saks (Toronto, ON).

Requirements:

 - Dedicated customer service professional and one plus years of

customer service in department stores and superstores.

 - High School Diploma equivalency and Certificate in customer relations.

 - Strong communication skills, in reading, writing, listening and speaking; treats each customer with dignity and picks up on their needs and sense of style to make recommendations.

 - Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented; high accuracy in cashing out, quick at balancing cash register; reorganized store during COVID-19 pandemic.

Responsibilities:

 - Cashing out customers using the POS, for cash, cheque, and card payments. 

 - Handling returns according to store policy.

 - Zoning merchandize, organizing displays, and keeping the shopping area presentable.

 - Warmly greeting  customers and helping them with their purchases.

 - Letting them know of deals and sales, and upselling items. 

About Saks:

Saks is the best luxury and designer clothing distributor with a collection of curated shops for your everyday, special occasion, and seasonal needs. We are driven by a mission to help customers express themselves through inspiring and relevant style. Since, 1974, we have been delivering one-of-a-kind shopping experiences with an assortment of fashion and highly personalized customer service. 

Candidate: George Amity

Highlights of Qualifications

 - Dedicated customer service professional and one plus years of

customer service in department stores and superstores. 

 - High School Diploma equivalency and Certificate in customer relations.

 - Strong communication skills, in reading, writing, listening and speaking; treats each customer with dignity and picks up on their needs and sense of style

to make recommendations.

 - Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented; high accuracy in cashing out, quick at balancing cash register; reorganized store during COVID-19 pandemic.

Experience

 - Processing sales, attending to customers' needs, and organizing merchandise.

 - Cashing out customers using the POS for cash and card purchases, handling

returns according to store policy, reminding customers of sales and deals; as top five best in upsetting in February.

 - Organizing sections and departments before and after big blowout sales for next day shopping experiences. 

Cashier at Farm Fresh, Superstore, (Brooklyn, NY), Jan 2020 to July 2021

 - Processed sales, helped customers, and organized merchandize. 

 - Cashed out customers, was top ten in price-matching and taking coupons quickly. 

 - Zoned and organized displays for every-day merchandise, festivals and seasons.  Lifted and moved crates of merchandize. 

 - Reorganized store layout during the COVID-19 pandemic to practice physical distance. 

Education

 - Standard First-Aid CPR/AED, The Red Cross, May 2021

 - Certificate (five weeks) in Customer Relations, The Business Institute, April 2011

 - High School Diploma Equivalency - G.E.D. 

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Example two.

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Job Posting: Cook at The Cheesecake Factory (New York, NY)

Qualifications:

 - Two years of experience preparing meals and managing kitchens.

 - At least one year of experience supervising kitchen staff.

 - Strong prioritization skills, able to switch tasks depending on demand.

 - Detail-oriented and keeps a clean and tidy workstation and kitchen.

Responsibilities:

 - Preparing general and specialty meals on the menu from scratch every day, including appetizers, main courses, sides, and desserts.

 - Managing kitchen staff from general cooks and specialty cooks to servers and ancillary staff.

 - Reporting to the shift manager and franchise manager on a regular basis. Training new cooks in meal preparation.

 - Cleaning up before, during, and after opening hours.

 - Keeping a consistent quality of meals prepared. 

About The Cheesecake Factory:

The Cheesecake Factory, with over 300 locations in the U.S. alone, is a restaurant chain with a giant reputation.  With generous portion sizes, delicious meals, and signature cheesecakes, and award-winning customer service and dining experiences, we're sure to please both new and returning customers. 

Candidate: Amber Illinois

Profile

Chef/cook passionate about creating quality, memorable and delicious meals, with almost two years of experience in meal preparation while supervising trainees and managing kitchens.  

Skills

 - Meal preparation from scratch, for appetizers, main courses, sides, and desserts. 

 - Strong prioritization skills; prepares meals according to demand and trains new cooks in a short space of time. 

 - Detail-oriented and keeps workstation and kitchens tidy and clean. 

Experience

Chef/Cook A-La-Maison, (Brooklyn, NY), July 2021 to Present (March 2023)

 - Preparing meals from scratch from general and specialty menus (creole, Italian, and Spanish, some vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free).

 - Trained up to three teenagers with different learning styles in simple and complex meal prep (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and some desserts) in a timed environment, cleaning as they go, during a crunch time of under a month before they went off to college.  

 - Practiced over 30 recipes in under five weeks to concrete a 15-recipe menu and trained cooks at the same time to prepare quality meals minimizing waste. 

 - Results gave trainees confidence to operate independently, and they contributed signature dishes for guests and meals for holidays. 

InstaCart and HelloFresh Order Picker, (Brooklyn, NY), Jan 2023 to Present (March 2023)

- Sourced perishables and non-perishable meal ingredients and alternatives for customers' orders from farm hubs and superstores an delivered to their doorstep.

- Achieved high rating for matching requests to various demands and for prompt deliveries. 

Associate at Walmart Superstore, (Jamaica, NY), June 2018 to Feb 2021

 - Cashed out customers, attended to their needs, and organized merchandise. 

 - Was given training responsibilities within six months of hire; ran safety programs and taught standard procedures and policies. 

Education

 - Food Handler's Certificate, 2021

 - High School Diploma

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Notes on examples

Notice that you don't date the High School Diploma because it ages you.  But have copies of it available for the employer upon request.  George's G.E.D. is relevant. 

Certificates can be one day certificates or one year, and they're all valid.  It's a good idea to quantify them by weeks or hours to show the effort you've invested into your skill set. 

Notice that Amber added a position under her belt, for training her teenagers how to do meal prep before they went off to college.  This provides invaluable experience for her and if she can train teenagers, she can train anyone.  Here's a woman who knows her worth and how to put it down on paper!  Amber also included Walmart on her application to show transferable skills.  These can build you for any job. 

Both George and Amber matched their skills, strengths, and accomplishments to the employer's needs. 

Matching your skills to the employer's needs is not about regurgitating what they wrote, but showing them how you use these skills.  Candidates who do this get noticed. 

So go ahead and do what you need to do with postings, and make applications that speak about your fit for the job and the organization to the employer. 

And if you manage to land in front of the employer without them ever seeing your resumé, have a copy prepared but either way, speak to the skills the employer requires with the strengths you have built.

Summary

You know I've got you for the recap on how to target your resumé to the job posting. 

1. Zero in first on the requirements/qualifications section of the job posting.  This section is sometimes called "What you'll bring" or "Who you are".  Highlight keywords.  This section contains the most important keywords. 
2. Zero in second on the responsibilities section of the job posting.  This section is sometimes called "What you'll do" or "A day in the life of".  Highlight keywords. 
3. Examine the "about the organization" section of the job posting or the organization's "about" section on their website.  Highlight keywords that speak about values. 
4. On the job posting that you highlighted, circle and make notes on where you're a match so you can include these on your targeted resumé. 
5. Target your resumé by using keywords and being selective about content in relevant sections. 
   
6. The highlights of qualifications (typical for Canadian resumés) or the profile and skills section (typical for U.S. resumés) answer the questions asked in the requirements section of the job posting.
   
7. The experience section of the resumé answers the questions asked in the responsibilities section of the job posting.  Be sure to include experience that shows your transferable skills as well. 
   
8. The cover letter (and sometimes the highlights of qualifications or profile and skills section of the resumé) answers the questions asked in the "about the organization" section of the posting. 
9. When writing a targeted resumé, pick skills that suit the employer's needs, expand on experience that shows that you have been building these skills, and summarize the other experience.
10. Shoot your shot.  If you see that you have 50% of the qualifications outlined in the requirements section of a job posting, apply!  If you have anything more than 75%, you're already a strong candidate. 
11. If you land in front of the employer without them ever seeing your resumé, have a copy prepared but either way, speak to the skills the employer requires with the strengths you have built.
    

Notes

This article contains no text pictures to ensure that every word can be read aloud by a text-to-speech application. And was tested using Google Chrome’s “Read Aloud” add-on.

Bio

Tiffany Persaud is a freelance writer and resumé writer who has helped dozens of people find jobs they like during the pandemic and coming out of it.

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References

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