Sending out the same resume to every potential employer may seem like a time-saving strategy. However, it often results in missed opportunities and decreased chances of landing your dream job. Customizing your resume for each job application is essential for standing out among the sea of applicants, showcasing your most relevant skills, and aligning with a company’s specific needs.
Here’s why using a one-size-fits-all resume doesn’t work in the multifamily industry and how to tailor yours to get noticed.
Why You Shouldn’t Use the Same Resume for Every Application in Multifamily Industry
1. Every Job is Different
While jobs in the same industry may seem similar, each role has unique responsibilities, skill requirements, and company cultures. Using a generic resume makes it difficult for hiring managers to see how you fit their specific needs. A one-size-fits-all resume may highlight irrelevant experience while downplaying your most important qualifications for the role at hand. Tailoring your resume ensures that you are aligning your skills, experience, and achievements with the demands of the position.
EXAMPLE:
- Generic Resume: “Managed a team of employees at a residential property.”
- Tailored Resume for Property Manager Role: “Oversaw daily operations for a 200-unit multifamily property, managing a team of 10 and ensuring a 95% tenant retention rate through excellent customer service and efficient problem resolution.”
2. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Most large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen resumes before a human even reads them. ATS software scans resumes for keywords that match the job description. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, it may never make it to a hiring manager. By using the same resume for every job application, you risk being filtered out simply because your resume doesn’t reflect the specific language of the job posting.
EXAMPLE:
If a job posting emphasizes “preventative maintenance” and “HVAC repair experience,” but your resume focuses on unrelated tasks like inventory management, you may not make it past the first round. Tailor your resume to include relevant skills mentioned in the job description, like “Conducted preventative maintenance and repairs on HVAC systems.”
3. Missed Opportunities to Showcase Achievements
A tailored resume provides the opportunity to emphasize your achievements that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Generic resumes can make it harder for employers to see how your past successes would translate into their specific context. In the multifamily industry, this might mean highlighting tenant satisfaction metrics, occupancy rates, or maintenance response times, depending on the position.
EXAMPLE:
- Generic Resume: “Handled leasing for multiple apartment units.”
- Tailored Resume for Leasing Agent Role: “Increased lease conversion rates by 15% over six months through personalized tenant engagement and effective property tours.”
How to Avoid Using the Same Resume for Every Application
1. Analyze Each Job Posting
Start by closely reviewing the job description and picking out keywords, skills, and qualifications that are repeated or emphasized. These are clues to what the employer is really looking for in a candidate. Focus on the key competencies they mention and consider how your own experience matches those.
For multifamily roles, this may include skills like property budgeting, tenant relations, lease agreements, or vendor management.
EXAMPLE:
For a property manager position, if the job posting highlights “budgeting and financial oversight,” you might adjust your resume to say: “Managed annual operating budgets exceeding $2M, consistently reducing expenses while maintaining high-quality property upkeep.”
2. Customize Your Summary or Objective Statement
Your resume summary or objective is one of the first things a hiring manager will read. This section should immediately address how you’re qualified for the specific role you’re applying for. Customize this section to emphasize your most relevant experience in the multifamily sector using the job-specific language from the job description, helping the reader understand why you’re a good fit.
EXAMPLE:
- Generic Summary: “Experienced real estate professional with a background in managing properties.”
- Tailored Summary for Maintenance Supervisor Role: “Experienced maintenance supervisor with 7+ years managing multifamily property repairs, specializing in HVAC systems, plumbing, and preventative maintenance for large residential communities.”
3. Quantify Your Achievements
In the multifamily industry, numbers matter. Whether you’re managing a budget, increasing occupancy, or reducing repair costs, quantifying your results helps to paint a clear picture of your abilities.
EXAMPLE:
- “Achieved 95% occupancy across a 150-unit property, exceeding the company’s leasing goals for four consecutive quarters.”
- “Reduced emergency maintenance requests by 30% by implementing a proactive maintenance schedule for a 300-unit property.”
Conclusion
Customizing your resume for each job application in the multifamily industry is crucial to showcasing your relevant skills and accomplishments. By focusing on the specific needs of each role—whether it’s tenant relations, property maintenance, or budgeting—you can significantly improve your chances of landing an interview. Don’t let a generic resume hold you back. Invest the time in tailoring your resume, and you’ll stand out as the ideal candidate for each job.