dear jobsblogDear JobsBlog: I recently found a position I'm interested in at microsoft.com/careers. I could rewrite my resume pretty much word-for-word as listed in the "main responsibilities" section. Would doing so be helpful, or would it seem like I'm trying too hard?


AngelaAnswer: I don't think rewriting your resume to match the job description word for word is a good idea. I do think reviewing your resume to make sure that it addresses the responsibilities of a job description is a good idea.
A resume is something very personal. First and foremost it is important that your resume reflects accurate information about your experience. We see some resumes that have every technical skill and acronym known to mankind listed! This is frustrating for recruiters and managers to see, because it's hard for us to figure out your focus.
We don’t necessarily expect that a candidate will be a completely perfect fit for a specific job. Most hiring managers and recruiters I have worked with like to see the following:
  • A Summary / Skills section listing things you have done
  • An Experience section that speaks in detail how you might have gained the skills listed in your summary. For example, if you have C++ experience it is important to show in the body of your resume where you used this skill or gained this experience. Just listing something like this and not backing it up in your experience is not helpful to us in matching your skills to the job being filled.
  • Telling a story with your resume – what did you do personally, what were you responsible for on an overall project, how many products / services have you shipped, etc…
That type of resume is much more likely to get attention than a resume that's just a rewrite of the job description!
- Angela