Are You Writing a Resume for a New or Existing Position?

One thing that many job seekers don't contemplate when writing a resume for a job position is whether that position about to be filled is new or existing. In other words, did someone vacate the position and it now needs filling, or have they created it and you are among those who could be the first to fill it?

There are different ways to approach writing your resume based on whether the position is new or existing. Let's take a look at how you would handle both circumstances.

The Existing Position

Most job positions that we apply for are ones that have already been filled by someone else. Expectations have already been fulfilled and the company already knows what it wants for this job based on what has and hasn't worked in the past.

In this circumstance, it's a good idea to not only find out what the company is looking for in this position (via the job posting and a conversation with human resources), but also why the previous employee left the job. It could be the specific expectations were not being met. If this is the case then you could highlight in your resume how you plan to meet them. The more digging you do to find out what the position needs, the more you can make sure your resume show that you're capable of meeting the employers' expectations.

The New Position

If you are applying for a position that has just been created then it will be up to you to show that you not only understand what the employer is looking for but that you can mold the position into what they most desire. Again, it doesn't hurt to contact human resources to get an idea of why the position was created and what they hope to gain company-wide by creating this position. But afterward, it's up to you to show that you have the right skills to not only hit the ground running and meet the employer's expectations, but also come in with your expectations that exceed theirs.

Writing a resume is not simply jotting down a little bit about your past and hoping employers will know you're right for the job. You have to show that you're the right person. So do your research to find out what the company needs. And if you don't think you can write your resume on your own, find resume assistance online to get you on the right track.