Your resume will never capture every single thing about you. Think of it more as a marketing tool. You’re showcasing the career experience and talents you have that best fit with the job where you’re applying—not everything you’ve ever done. So if you’ve had a 30-year career, it’s very unlikely that you need to list a job that you left in 1995.
Yes, it really is best to tailor your resume for each job opening. It’s an important step in the process. You don’t need to rewrite your resume each time you apply to a job, but look it over and make sure it’s highlighting what the hiring manager is looking for. For example, if the job opening wants someone with management experience (and you have that), make sure to mention that in your resume.
It helps to include specific numbers. How many people reported to you? How many visitors used the website you managed? Think about what you do and make sure to add relevant numbers and statistics to show just how much you accomplished.
The organization of your resume depends on where you are in your career. If you recently left school, your resume might emphasize your education more than if you have 5 or 10 years of career experience behind you. Are you changing careers? You’ll have to show how the experience you’ve had so far can translate to your desired career. Determining the organization of a resume is one of the most difficult parts, which is where a professional writer can help.
It’s OK if your resume is more than one page. It really depends on the person. If you’ve a long career, it’s more likely you’ll need to write a resume that’s a page and half to capture what you need to capture. But if this is the first job of your career, one page will probably do.
Resume Writing basics