exercise 7.5 Chapter 7 Action Steps

USING THE JOB DESCRIPTION TO POSITION YOUR RESUME

It is usually necessary to make adjustments to your basic resume when you apply for specific jobs. By making these adjustments, you can more closely link your resume to the job requirements and increase your probability of obtaining a job interview.

The key to making these adjustments is to closely read the job description. By analyzing the job description, you can identify the key skills and knowledge the employer wants from a candidate for a particular job. In this exercise, we describe how to make these adjustments and test your ability to do so.

Find a marketing job posting position. Sources for postings include job posting websites, employer-specific websites, newspapers, and your campus career centre. In the space below, list the key skills, knowledge, and traits highlighted in the job description.

Job: _____________________________________________

Key skills desired: ______________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Knowledge desired: _______________________________

Traits: __________________________________________

Key questions to answer about this job description:

• What keywords should you include in your resume that are targeted toward this job?
• What action words are important to include?
• How should you change your basic resume to apply for this job?

Your resume must still be an honest reflection of your work and nonwork activities, but it is clear that one resume does not fit all job opportunities. That is why you should tailor it to the job you have targeted. Doing so increases the employers interest in interviewing you.