You may think of a resume as a minor introductory document that shows an employer who you are and why you're the right applicant for a certain job. Unfortunately, simpler resumes aren't very effective when you're trying to focus and get a certain position in a specific field.

Job seekers in various professions have found this out when using standard resume templates and basic information. A specialized resume helps to get jobs, whether you're looking for something in a certain industry (such as health or IT) or a specific type of position (such as a federal, military, or executive career), so here's a few tips to help you optimize your resume for the job that you're trying to get.

Health Care

Anyone working in the health industry knows just how rewarding it is. Whether you’re a medical assistant, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, clinic manager, technologist, physical therapist or physician, you do plenty on your job every day. This should definitely not be taken for granted when writing your resume.

Your job is to show the scope of experience you’ve gained by not selling yourself short when describing previous positions. If you’ve been a charge nurse in various units, it’s important to list those units and showcase the different duties you held. Also, don’t be afraid to use terminology that showcases your expertise, as long as it’s not too abstract for the hiring manager who doesn’t speak "health-ese."

IT

One standout quality of the information technology industry is the depth of which employees know the latest technology. This is why it’s always important to showcase what you know when writing an IT resume. In addition to proclaiming your levels of proficiency in various programming languages, applications, software and hardware, it’s important to list any certifications you’ve received – these are almost as good as degrees.

Federal / Military

If you’re writing a federal or military resume, details are the most important features to take into consideration. This means, you are supposed to read the job posting thoroughly and list what experience and qualifications you have that exactly match what the position is looking for. Anything that shows that you’re not exactly qualified for the position you’re applying for could result in your resume being discarded.

Another tip to remember with the federal or military resume is that you’ll want to include a KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities), which is a series of statements written in a narrative format. Federal jobs usually require this part of the resume. On some part of the resume or application, be sure to include your title, grade, and announcement number.

Executive

When applying for an executive-level position, you want to keep in mind that the expectations for candidates are extremely high. Every executive resume should showcase an executive's ability to lead effectively. Having a strong professional brand both on the Internet and non-virtual world are also important. Overall, you want the company to know that you will be a great ROI (return on investment), which can be communicated through a results-driven, accomplishment-heavy resume with tons of numbers (money made, employees managed, etc.).

Regardless of the field, there are always ways to make a resume stand out and grab the attention of prospective employers. So before getting started on yours, see if any of the above tips apply to you then use them to create a resume employers can’t resist.