How Many Resumes Do You Have?

Multiple Resumes

Sounds like a strange question, but many job hunters have two or more resumes. Why? If you’ve been job hunting for any length of time, then you’ve probably received a call from a headhunter asking for a revised resume with a few “tweaks” (and he/she needs it within the hour). The requested revision is usually to highlight some experience or skill that is not clearly (or prominently) presented in your resume.

Whether or not you should have multiple resumes and how many resumes you have depends on the diversity of your experience and the length (as in the number of years) of your experience.

Suggested Reading: Career Success Blueprint: Discover your passion – create a superb resume

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Target Your Audience

Now that we’ve determined that it’s not unusual to have several resume versions, each of your resumes should be targeted to specific job functions (but all of which should be accurate representations of your experience). While it is unusual to have resumes with completely different skill sets (it’s doubtful that you will have an Accountant’s resume and a Chef’s resume), it is not unusual to have resumes that highlight different skill sets.

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11/22/2024 07:19 am GMT

To avoid the pressure of having to revise your resume “on the fly”, it makes sense to create your resume versions at the start of your search process. If you have decided that you want to focus on one aspect of your experience, then read no further. However, if you want to cover all of your options – read on.

To give some background, it would be useful to review CareerAlley’s A Simple Step by Step Guide to Building the Perfect Resume

“You’ve probably heard hundreds of times that your resume is the most important document in your job search (because it is). But if you want to stand out from the competition, you need more than a great looking resume. In the end, only qualified candidates will get called for an interview.”

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Why You Need More Than One resume:

1. New Industry: Maybe you’re in the communications department of a big retail store and now you are considering a similar position at an Internet startup. Your Internet startup resume will focus on different skills than if you were looking to stay in retail.

2.  New College Degree: Suppose you just finished your college degree at night while working during the day. If your college undergraduate degree is in a major that is different than your work experience, you will want a second resume that focuses on your major.

3. New Position: You’ve decided to change to a different career.  Maybe you were in social work before and now you want to become a teacher.  Whatever the change, a new resume will definitely be required.

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Resources:

• 5 Helpful Resume Tips – This article provides a few great resume tips to help you make a great impression so that you’ll get that job interview and the chance to present your skills in greater depth. No matter how many versions you have, your resume must include only the skills and experience that you have.

• 7 Top Sites for Free Resume Templates and Advice – It’s easier to start with a template than from scratch. This post provides a wealth of information on resume templates and advice. The post includes links to resume samples (arranged by occupation, format, and “problem”), career resources, a resume guide, and more.

• The Resume Revolution – Resume Guide – This comprehensive guide covers every aspect of creating a winning resume from experts in the field. This guide outlines the three main types of resumes, exploring when to use them and where you can find relevant templates and samples.

• Bestsampleresume.com – Thanks to a reader for bringing this website to my attention. The site has some basic information, followed by a very long list of resume samples by profession. There are links to a resume writing guide, resume tips and a resume blog.

• Is One Resume Enough? Multiple Resumes Take Work, But Can Payoff – Another article regarding multiple resumes, this post provides some tips on how and when to use them of multiple resume use.

Book Corner – Knock ’em Dead Resumes: How to Write a Killer Resume That Gets You Job Interviews