How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume (Templates & Guide)
How to Write a Targeted Resume (Examples & Guide)
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In today’s competitive job market, employers are looking for candidates who not only have the right skills but also demonstrate a clear understanding of the role and its requirements.
By aligning your resume with the job description, you can present yourself as the ideal candidate and significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.
In this article, we’ll provide targeted resume examples, step-by-step guidance, and tips on using our Resume Builder to create your personalized resume effortlessly.
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What Is a Targeted Resume?
A targeted resume is a customized version of your resume that highlights the skills, experiences, and qualifications that are most relevant to a specific role or company.
By creating a customized resume focused on the skills and qualifications needed for each job, you’ll stand out from the many applicants who submit generic resumes.
Here are a few key benefits of tailoring your resume to the job description:
- Demonstrates relevance: A targeted resume showcases why you’re the perfect fit, increasing the employer's confidence in your suitability for the role.
- Increases interview prospects: By aligning your resume with the job description, you can improve your chances of standing out and securing an interview.
- Highlights key strengths: Allows you to emphasize your most relevant measurable accomplishments and qualifications, standing out from generic applicants.
- Reflects professionalism: Customizing your resume shows that you’ve put thought and effort into applying for the role, demonstrating genuine interest and dedication.
- Addresses employer needs: Allows you to directly address the employer’s priorities, showing how you can solve their problems or contribute to their goals.
Tailoring your resume to fit the specific job you're applying for is crucial and showcases your most relevant experiences and achievements while demonstrating you understand the employer's needs.- Dr. Jasmine Escalera, Career Professional
How to Craft a Targeted Resume
Learn how to create a targeted resume that impresses hiring managers. We recommend exploring our guide on how to write a resume for additional examples and expert tips.
Identify keywords from the job description
Analyze the job description carefully, paying close attention to recurring keywords or phrases that describe skills, certifications, tools, or experiences.
By aligning your resume with these keywords, you can better demonstrate how your experience is relevant to the position, improving your chances of catching the attention of hiring managers.
Here is a sample job description with relevant keywords highlighted:
As a well-established banking company Americans can trust, we seek a detail-oriented teller for a full-time position at our Fresno, CA branch. Applicants must have teller experience and a superb talent for meeting customer's unique needs. The ideal candidate is comfortable learning the ins and outs of our system and will practice asset protection strategies to protect customers from fraud and data misuse.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Manage transactions, including deposits and withdrawals.
- Assist customers with a variety of financial services, including account management, loan applications, and savings bonds.
- Adhere to safety regulations to protect the identity of customers and avoid theft.
- Direct and refer customers to specialized bank staff to meet their needs.
Qualifications & Skills:
- 2+ years of teller experience.
- Cash counting and currency packaging.
- An associate degree or higher preferred.
- Great customer service skills.
The bank teller resume example below demonstrates how to incorporate the above keywords throughout various resume sections:
Customize each section of your resume
To create an ATS-friendly resume that stands out to hiring managers, customize each section to align with the job description. Explore our tips below to get started.
Resume summary
Your resume summary is your first opportunity to grab an employer’s attention, so make it count by customizing it for the job.
Focus on showcasing how your background matches the employer’s needs, demonstrating that you’re not only qualified but also the perfect fit for the position.
When you customize one of our resume templates in our Resume Builder, you can click to add a professionally written resume summary tailored to your target job title:
Work history section
When customizing your work history section, highlight accomplishments and responsibilities that directly align with the job you’re applying for.
Use bullet points to emphasize specific achievements, skills, and metrics mentioned in the job description. This targeted approach ensures that your experience clearly demonstrates your fit.
Employers often use action verbs to describe desired job functions. Incorporate these verbs to demonstrate how you’ve performed similar tasks. For example:
- Increased team productivity by 25% by implementing streamlined workflows and optimizing task delegation.
- Managed a $1.5M annual budget, ensuring all projects were completed on time and within financial constraints.
- Led a cross-functional team of 12 to successfully deliver a high-profile project 2 weeks ahead of schedule, earning client accolades.
Skills section
Note both hard skills (e.g., software proficiency, certifications, technical knowledge) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving) mentioned in the posting.
Incorporate these throughout your resume skills section to demonstrate your fit for the role. You can also enter a job title below to instantly generate a tailored list of skills for your resume:
AI Resume Skills Generator
STEP 1
Education section
To make your education section stand out, highlight degrees, certifications, or coursework that directly relate to the job you're applying for.
Include specific classes, projects, or honors if they demonstrate relevant knowledge or skills. You can include these in your education section, for example:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | Los Angeles, CA
- Honors: Dean’s List (6 semesters), Graduated Cum Laude
- Relevant Coursework: Data Structures and Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Design, Software Engineering
- Projects: Built a chatbot for customer service using Python and NLP libraries, achieving a 90% accuracy rate in response quality.
For roles requiring certifications or licenses, list them prominently to show you meet the qualifications. Tailoring this section helps reinforce your expertise and relevance to the position.
Choose the right resume format
The resume format you use can make a difference in how a hiring manager perceives your skills and experience. It’s essential to pick a format that highlights your key skills and experiences.
Chronological resume: Lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job, making it ideal for showcasing a clear career progression.
Functional resume: Focuses on your skills and qualifications rather than your work history, highlighting specific expertise relevant to the job.
Combination resume: Merges both formats, presenting your skills alongside a concise work history, offering a comprehensive view of your qualifications.
Regardless of the format, hiring managers prefer resumes that clearly highlight relevant skills and accomplishments, making it easy to see you're a great fit for the role.- Dr. Jasmine Escalera, Career Professional
Consider company culture
Research the company’s values, mission, and work environment through its website, social media, and employee reviews.
In your resume, emphasize experiences and skills that resonate with their culture, such as innovation, teamwork, leadership skills, or adaptability.
For example, if a company’s website mentions the importance of community and collaboration, consider ways to incorporate those ideas into your resume.
Perhaps you were a resident assistant in college or volunteered at a nursing home one summer. Connecting your mission with theirs shows you are in sync with the company.
Employers look for candidates who have the skills needed to do the job they are hiring for. They also want someone who will fit in well with the team and with the company.- Toni Frana, Career Professional
Company-specific resume examples
Targeted Resume Examples
Explore the targeted resume samples below for various job titles. For additional inspiration, we have an extensive library of resume examples available.
Accounting manager
This accounting manager resume showcases relevant skills and experience, such as implementing strategic initiatives and driving financial success.
Camp counselor
Use this camp counselor resume as inspiration for tailoring your resume with relevant skills like leadership, team management, and accident prevention.
Event coordinator
This targeted event coordinator resume features strong action verbs relevant to the role, including “planned,” “developed,” and “coordinated.”
Targeted Resume Template
The targeted resume template below is designed to ensure that every section of your resume is tailored to the job you’re applying for, increasing your relevance and appeal to hiring managers.
You can use it to build a strong resume outline to kickstart the writing process.
[Your Full Name]
[City, State ZIP] | [Phone Number] | [Email Address] | [Bold.pro Profile or Portfolio Link]
Professional Summary
A [job title or industry] professional with [X years] of experience in [relevant field or skills]. Proven expertise in [specific skills or achievements that align with the job]. Adept at [another relevant skill or quality]. Seeking to leverage [your unique value] in the [specific job or industry] role at [Company Name].
Skills
- [Relevant skill or tool]
- [Key qualification or expertise]
- [Another skill tailored to the job]
- [Industry-related software or methodologies]
Professional Experience
[Most Recent Job Title]
[Company Name] | [City, State] | [Month/Year] – [Month/Year]
- [Achievement or responsibility directly aligned with the target job]
- [Accomplishment demonstrating impact or relevant skill]
- [Quantifiable results related to the position, e.g., "Increased sales by 20%"]
[Previous Job Title]
[Company Name] | [City, State] | [Month/Year] – [Month/Year]
- [Job duty tailored to the job description]
- [Highlight of a relevant project or skill]
- [Metric or result that aligns with the employer’s needs]
Education
[Degree]
[School Name] | [City, State] | [Graduation Year]
- Honors: [e.g., Dean’s List, Cum Laude]
- Relevant Coursework: [List key courses related to the target job]
- Projects: [Highlight a project relevant to the position, with brief details]
Certifications
- [Certification or training relevant to the job, e.g., “Certified Project Manager”]
- [Professional development program or workshop]
Use our ATS Resume Checker to scan your resume against key criteria and get on-the-spot recommendations to improve the customization and formatting of your resume.
Create a Cover Letter for Your Targeted Resume
A targeted resume alone isn’t enough to fully capture a hiring manager’s attention. To create a compelling application, you also need to tailor your cover letter to the specific job and company.
A cover letter is your opportunity to go beyond the resume and showcase your personality, passion, and how your unique skills align with the company’s needs. It allows you to make a personal connection with the employer and explain why you’re the perfect fit for the role.- Toni Frana, Career Professional
Customizing your cover letter starts with researching the company and thoroughly reviewing the job description, incorporating key insights into your letter.
For example, if the company emphasizes innovation, you can highlight projects where you implemented creative solutions or introduced new ideas.
You can use a cover letter template that matches your resume template to ensure a cohesive and polished job application.
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Key Takeaways
- A targeted resume is tailored specifically to the job you're applying for, highlighting the skills, experiences, and achievements most relevant to the role.
- Incorporating keywords from the job description in your resume ensures it passes applicant tracking systems (ATS) and catches the attention of hiring managers.
- Focus on accomplishments that directly relate to the job, providing clear evidence of how your background and expertise align with the employer’s needs.
FAQ
How does a targeted resume differ from a general resume?
A general resume is often used for multiple job applications without significant changes, providing a broad overview of your skills, experiences, and qualifications.
In contrast, a targeted resume is carefully customized to highlight the skills, achievements, and experiences most relevant to a particular job or company.
It often includes keywords from the job description and focuses on demonstrating how your background directly addresses the employer’s needs.
This tailored approach increases your chances of catching the attention of hiring managers and passing applicant tracking systems (ATS).
When should you use a targeted resume?
You should use a targeted resume whenever you’re applying for a specific job or role that requires you to demonstrate how your skills and experiences align with the employer’s needs.
Here are a few examples of when to use a targeted resume:
- When transitioning to a new field, a targeted resume allows you to emphasize transferable skills and experiences that are relevant to the new role.
- If a job posting includes a comprehensive list of qualifications and responsibilities, tailoring your resume ensures you address the specific requirements and keywords.
- A targeted resume showcases your relevant expertise for jobs that require unique qualifications, such as technical skills, certifications, or specific industry experience.
- In competitive industries or positions with many applicants, a targeted resume can help you stand out by clearly showing why you’re the ideal candidate.
Explore resume tips for additional advice on how to create a compelling resume.
How long should a targeted resume be?
A targeted resume should be one page long for most job applications, especially if you have fewer than 10 years of experience.
Your one-page resume should include only the skills, experiences, and accomplishments directly related to the job you’re applying for.
Avoid adding unrelated details or lengthy descriptions. Hiring managers prefer clear, streamlined resumes that quickly convey your suitability for the role.
However, a two-page resume may be appropriate if you have extensive experience or are applying for senior-level roles. The key is to focus on relevance and conciseness.
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How to Write a Targeted Resume (Examples & Guide)
Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.
More Articles by Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRWOur customers have been hired at:*Foot Note
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