Can we talk about how job hunting changed after I stopped using the same resume for everything?

Back in 2019, I was sending out the same general resume for every single job I saw online. I got maybe two callbacks in three months. I was so frustrated. Then a friend who works in hiring told me to pick one job I really wanted and rewrite my resume just for that one, using the exact words from the job ad. I spent a whole afternoon on it for a project manager role. I got an interview the next week and the hiring manager said my resume 'spoke directly to the role.' It felt like a magic trick, but it's just about matching words. Has anyone else found a simple change that made a huge difference in getting noticed?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade_johnson10d ago

Oh wow, I read that ATS systems basically scan for those exact keywords first.

the_wren12d ago

Honestly that sounds like a ton of extra work for every single application. I just keep a master resume with everything on it and send that. Got my last job that way. The time spent tailoring could be spent applying to more places.

keithbutler11d ago

Yeah but is it really worth all that extra time? I feel like most hiring managers just skim for keywords anyway, so a good general resume should still catch those. Spending a whole afternoon on one application seems like overkill unless it's your absolute dream job.