Multiple resumes, if you only have one, don’t expect results

She knows that one pair of shoes won’t cover every event

Why do you need multiple resumes?

You hear it all the time. Multiple resumes! It is common knowledge that you should tailor your resume for every position you are applying for. That being said, I don’t think candidates fully understand the gravity of this concept or the consequences of applying for multiple positions with a single version of their resume. If you have applied for 20 different jobs, that would equal 20 other resumes.

Using a single resume to apply for multiple jobs is like wearing a single pair of shoes for every wardrobe change, regardless of the occasion. All shoes may hide your corns and ingrown nails, but a single pair won’t transition seamlessly from the office to the gym to a happy hour.

No single tool for every job

Each company considers its culture and open position to be unique. Tweaking a few bullet points or rearranging the order of a few accomplishments isn’t what will lead to an interview. This is the equivalent of thinking a single bow vs. a double bow on your kicks, and thinking it will take you from day to night.

Too often, I see resumes that cover an applicant’s ENTIRE work history regardless of relevance.  This can work as long as the individual bullet points are directly related to the position for which the application is being made. When work history and bullet points are unrelated to the role, it’s a first clue that the candidate isn’t tailoring their resume to the role. It is also an indication that their work will lack strategic thinking.

What is appropriate for the occasion/job?

Listing your entire work history is like rotating your ENTIRE shoe collection at a single social event. Wearing your running shoes at the black-tie event isn’t appropriate.  And although you will probably include some black patent loafers or heels in your rotation, the rest of the collection won’t be applicable and will look out of place. Ensure the footwear you wear represents your professional image.

I occasionally help candidates with their job searches and resumes. I always ask for a specific job description of interest.

Our accomplishments on the resume will echo these bullets.

If this post surfaced more questions, the book “Before the Interview | An Insider’s View of How Resumes Are Interpreted Before Anyone Talks to You.” goes deeper into how these and other resume decisions are actually made.

Different racquets or clubs

If you play tennis or golf, you will have several rackets and clubs for different shots and tennis court surfaces. I enjoy fishing and use a different rod for catching little trout and another for large salmon. 

A game of golf typically uses 4 or 5 clubs in a single round, though more may be used.  Each shot will require a different stroke and club. You will use a driver at the T and a putter on the green, and based on the distance between these two points, a few more clubs in between.

As we become serious about our after-hours activities, we pay attention to these details and allocate extra time and resources to the appropriate accommodations for our hobbies. 

Especially true for recent graduates

I see this “same resume” attitude being submitted for positions at all levels.  Recent graduates often apply to a diverse set of industries and roles.  An account manager, a customer service representative, and an entry-level analyst are all different roles.

If you have been sending 100s of resumes without receiving any responses and getting discouraged, it may not be your skill set.  You may be trying to fit a round peg in a square hole.

The quiet truth

You may be fully qualified.
You may even be the best candidate.

But if your resume introduces friction early, it won’t reach the stage where qualifications are debated.

This post describes a few of the signals recruiters notice instinctively. In Before the Interview, I explain the broader system behind those signals: how resumes are actually read, what they compete with, and why interpretation happens the way it does long before anyone talks to you.

Understanding that system changes how you write, not just what you write.

Want to go deeper on this topic? Check out the book, “Before the Interview, An Insider’s View of How Resumes Are Interpreted Before Anyone Talks to You.“

See you at the after party,

HRNasty

nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky, and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.

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