Do you have a master resume?
It is essential to make sure your resume is relevant for any job you are targeting. But you don’t want to have 20 different versions of it, or you will drive yourself crazy!
One alternative is to write a “master resume” with sections that can be repositioned if you are applying for more than one general type of job. With a few minor tweaks, it can read like an entirely new resume!
I had two recent clients who both worked in sales at the beginning of their career, but now were executives for separate nonprofits. We put together a master resume with two distinct versions for both of them so they could apply for jobs in both fields.
Master Resume Example
If you want a better idea of how this works, let’s take a look at another of my clients. This client had expertise in commercial and residential flooring, but also experience with consumer packaged goods (CPG). He was open to applying for jobs in both areas, so we created a master document that had two distinct versions:
CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS (CPG) RESUME vs. FLOORING RESUME
Headline:
- CPG: Consumer Packaged Goods (Sales Executive, Sales Management, Account Management, Regional / National / International)
- FLOORING: Vice President of Sales (Florida), special expertise in flooring
Areas of Expertise:
- CGP: Includes specific keywords related to sales in any industry.
- FLOORING: Includes industry-specific words such as LEED certifications and Health & Environmental Declarations.
Product Lines:
- FLOORING: Products are included for flooring, but not included for CPG.
Training / Selected Customers / Regional Management / Team Management:
- These are different between the two resumes.
Geographies / Experience / Education / Global:
- Descriptions of company names, job titles, accomplishments, international experiences, and education are the same for both resumes.
Length:
- CPG: One page with a border
- FLOORING: Two pages without a border
The bottom line is that the top half of a master resume can easily be repositioned, depending on the job listing. The rest of the resume, however, will most likely remain the same.
The process of writing a master resume takes a lot of thought. They work best when someone has had two or more distinct career paths and is open to opportunities for either one. Be sure to watch the video for this post because it has “show and tell” to compare the two resumes. And if you think that having a flexible master resume would work for you, don’t hesitate to sign up for a free consultation at Tools for Transition.
I look forward to collaborating on a master resume that will land you whatever position you apply for in the future!