Resumes are important tools to use in applying for a job and evaluating those that apply. The LinkedIn resume’s summary statement is a general overview of your past career and doesn’t need to change, but the summary statement at the top of your paper resume or what you upload with your application should have a summary statement crafted separately for each job you apply for. This is of course a lot of work but that is just the reality of what it takes to search for jobs. The search itself has many needs that influence the reasons why it is a lot of work.

Job postings reveal what is wanted in a job applicant. The company wants certain skills and specific types of experience. When you prepare a resume to submit with your application your goal should be to show the potential employer that your experience and skills are the best match for what they are looking.

It seems obvious that awards and innovations that an applicant may be responsible for in other industries or jobs that have no relevance to what in the posting is what is being asked for should be left off. Sometimes it is personal pride that causes an applicant to include such unrelated items. Remember that resume writing matters and giving the potential employer what they are looking for is how you get hired and that is why it matters.