Do I really have to target my resume to every job I apply for?
When you’re applying for internships or post-graduation jobs, yes. This can be a little more challenging when you’re applying for student jobs, though, because you’re more likely to be applying for many different types of jobs, and possibly also a larger number of jobs, so targeting your resume to every position might end up being a lot of work. What some students choose to do instead is identify the main types of jobs they’re going to apply for (for example – customer service, office work, child care, etc.) and create a version of their resume targeted to each of those types of jobs. That way, they can still send out resumes that highlight the types of skills and experiences that are most important to a given employer without having to change every resume. If you find a position that you’re really excited about, though, it may be worth the extra time to create a resume customized to that job where you make sure to address every specific thing in the job description and use all their keywords.