In the days of typewriting, a common practice for job seekers was to hire a résumé writer, mimeograph the document and then mail it out to every Tom, Dick, and Harry in town.
I often receive a request for a hundred hard copies of a general qualifications package.. Unless you're planning to circulate it at an event like a career-fair, mass mailing a general resume in today’s highly competitive job market may not reflect the best use of your time and resources.
Why?
Considering that many, if not most, applications are required to be made online today, you'll have to request the electronic version of the document, or you'll have retype it and save it on your hard drive.
A general qualifications package could also potentially waste prospective employers’ time.
No busy hiring manager wants to read a page of information if most bullet points have little or nothing to do with specifics of the job they are trying to fill, even if you're perfect for the job. Let the manager know your fitness by speaking their language and crafting a document that reflects how you have displayed the qualities and characteristics and have mastered the skills they seek.
A better approach is to carefully target your résumé to the company and position in question.
Folks often complain to me that this approach takes too much time, especially when considering multiple applications.
In the scheme of things, it’s time well spent. In my experience, applicants who take the time to target, and do it correctly, get the interview.
More about how to effectively target your résumé in upcoming posts.
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