There are a lot of differences between small town America and big city America. And hiring styles are no exception. Big city businesses and big corporations often prioritize different things than small town offices do. Before I begin, a quick caveat: I’m going to make some generalizations here that aren’t true across the board, but tend to be true in general. I mean no offense to anyone, and there are always exceptions to these generalities. Also: when I talk about “big city companies” and “small town businesses,” I’m referring more to the culture of the business itself, and less to the actual size of the city where the business is.
If you’re applying for positions at “big city companies,” it’s critically important to show that you are competent and you’ve got strong experiences behind you. It’s good to show metrics so your employer can see how much you increased revenue for your prior employer, it’s important to show confidence through firm declarations of your abilities, and you’ll garner more respect if you can illustrate your professionalism in your resume. These things matter.
At “small town companies,” all of this matters some, but these must be weighed in with other factors. Small town businesses often want to hire people who are humble, likeable, and friendly. They like to see a real passion for the business, the industry, and often for the locality as well, in a job candidate. Many of these businesses are wary of ivy league grads, for fear that they could be cold and unpleasant to work with. Here it’s more important to show a bit more of your personality, your humor, your interests, and your self.
Big city companies often hire a person for their background and their skills; small town companies generally hire a person for… well, for their whole person.
So! Before you start tweaking the words you choose on your resume, think about the company where you’re applying, and what kind of culture it has. Keeping that in mind as you decide which of your accomplishments and traits to emphasize and de-emphasize on your resume will serve you well in your job search.

