Tailoring Your Resume for Different Job Applications: Dos and Don’ts
Crafting a resume that stands out to potential employers can be a nuanced art, so we’ve gathered insights from seventeen seasoned professionals, including Career Consultants and Marketing Managers. Their advice ranges from incorporating job description keywords to following critical steps to align your qualifications, providing a comprehensive guide to customizing your resume for different job applications.
- Incorporate Job Description Keywords
- Tailor Soft Skills with Metrics
- Create Base Resumes for Job Families
- Edit Resume to Match Job Points
- Mirror Job Description Language
- Use Job Description Problems as Headers
- Match ATS Terminology Precisely
- Provide Examples of Applied Skills
- Utilize Keyword Density Tools
- Draft Clear, Relevant, and Concise Resumes
- Place Skills in Bullet Points
- Showcase Relevance and Specificity
- Align Resume with Job Description
- Follow Critical Steps to Align Qualifications
Incorporate Job Description Keywords
One key tip for effectively tailoring your resume to fit the requirements of different job applications is to take a close look at the job description and strategically incorporate any keywords that apply to your own experience into your resume.
Make a list of the specific terms and phrases used to describe these requirements, such as “project management,” “data analysis,” “client relations,” or “cross-functional collaboration.”
Once you have compiled a list of these keywords, review your existing resume and look for opportunities to naturally integrate them into your professional summary, work experience bullet points, or skills section. For example, if the job listing emphasizes “developing and executing marketing campaigns,” you could highlight your experience with “developing and executing successful marketing campaigns that drove a 15% increase in brand awareness.”
When you describe your work experience in the same terms used in the job description, you demonstrate a clear understanding of the role’s requirements and position yourself as a strong fit for the position. This targeted approach increases the chances of your application resonating with hiring managers and advancing to the next stage of the hiring process.
Geoffrey Scott, SEO Content Manager and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CRPW, Resume Genius
Tailor Soft Skills with Metrics
As tempting as it can be to send a completed resume in bulk, it’s important that you don’t, and instead tailor each resume and cover letter to meet the specifics of the role you’re applying for. However, don’t just focus on any soft skills; tailor them to match each role you apply for. Some companies use Applicant Tracking Software (ATS), which scans CVs looking for keywords that make someone a potentially good candidate for the role.
To demonstrate the best soft skills in your CV, read the job description and review the essential skills and qualities the hiring manager seeks. If they want someone who is an excellent communicator, demonstrate this in your CV using metrics. Use a bullet point and describe what makes you an excellent communicator, with a fact or figure to back it up.
Emily Maguire, Career Consultant and Managing Director, Reflections Career Coaching
Create Base Resumes for Job Families
To simplify the tailoring process, create a base resume for each family of jobs you’re applying for (ideally two to three). As you prepare your application, pick the most appropriate base resume and edit it to include keywords and accomplishments relevant to the specific listing.
For example, if you’re applying to both sales and marketing jobs, you can have one resume to showcase your sales experience and another to showcase your marketing experience. If you decide to apply for a Marketing Manager job, you’ll already have all your marketing experience in one place, and you can focus on tailoring the finer details.
Alex Lahmeyer, Founder, DEI Consultant, and Career Advisor, Boundless Arc
Edit Resume to Match Job Points
This is the easiest trick in the book. First, you need to read and understand the job description, see which points align the most with your skills. Next, edit your resume to highlight these points specifically. This will take more time than having a one-size-fits-all resume, but it will also yield better results.
For the requirements you don’t meet, if there is an option to include a personal statement, you can write about how these are areas you are working on or currently learning. Note down keywords from the job description and include them in your resume.
Making time to edit your resume to tailor it to the employer’s needs will help you stand out from the crowd. People are more likely to hire candidates who put in the effort and fit the role than a resume that is not relevant.
Shalini Ramanayake, Marketing Manager, Pulse Recruitment
Mirror Job Description Language
The best practice is to mirror the language of the job description. Hiring managers often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes for keywords.
So, identify the skills and experience they emphasize, and rephrase your qualifications using those same terms throughout your resume (naturally, not forcefully). This increases the chances your resume gets noticed and makes it clear you possess what they’re looking for.
Rahul Vij, Co-Founder, WebSpero Solutions
Use Job Description Problems as Headers
Think of a job description as a list of problems. The candidate’s objective is to demonstrate to the hiring manager that they are the best person to come in and fix those problems.
Highlight the most important keywords (problems) from the job description and use them as mini-headers in your resume. Then highlight the most relevant achievements from your career that demonstrate how you’ve solved a similar problem.
When we are able to help the hiring manager feel seen, heard, and understood, this can significantly increase our chances of landing an interview.
James Tomasi Kennedy, Executive Career Coach-Recruiter
Match ATS Terminology Precisely
One mistake candidates often make is not using the exact same terminology from the job description on their resume, even when the words on the resume are effectively saying the same thing.
Most companies are using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), and these tools can be very literal. For example, if you have “Account Management” on your resume and you read “Client Service” on the job description, you may rightly assume you are talking about the same kind of role and responsibilities.
The problem is the ATS doesn’t know that. They are programmed to look for the same terms as on the job description, and if they don’t see them, they send that resume to the rejection pile. It only takes a few minutes to use ChatGPT or a host of other AI-based tools to compare your resume and the job description and make easy-to-implement changes before submitting. Candidates are regularly surprised at what a difference this makes in getting a call for a screener interview.
Bob Goodwin, Career Strategist, Career Club
Provide Examples of Applied Skills
Instead of merely listing skills, provide clear examples of how you’ve successfully applied those skills in past roles. For instance, if the job requires expertise in project management, you could specify that you “led a team that delivered a complex software development project on time and 20% under budget, increasing company efficiency by 30%.” This method not only demonstrates your capabilities but also showcases your impact, making your resume more compelling and relevant to potential employers.
Scott Foley, Career Change Coach, Scott Foley Coaching
Utilize Keyword Density Tools
I always recommend clients use a tool like Jobscan or Teal to scan their resume and the job listing to provide feedback about keyword density. The Applicant Tracking Systems will filter you out if you have the wrong ratio, so the first step is to get in there and edit your resume so it has the right proportion of relevant keywords to get you through the ATS.
It’s a simple step, albeit a bit time-consuming, but in this day and age, the hardest part is getting the interview. If you can’t get through the ATS, you can’t get the interview, which means you won’t get the job. Start with the scanning tools to help you get through that pesky ATS!
Susan Baroncini-Moe, Executive Coach, Baroncini-Moe Executive Coaching
Draft Clear, Relevant, and Concise Resumes
As a recruiter, I’m much better at reading resumes than writing them. However, it also means that I know what my ideal “perfect fit” resume looks like. I’m glad to share with you a few HR tricks on how to draft a resume that grabs recruiters’ attention.
Firstly, simplicity is key. Avoid flowery or overly formal language and opt for short, straightforward sentences. Recruiters like myself aren’t geniuses from another galaxy—we’re just regular people who appreciate clear communication.
Secondly, mirror the language used in the job posting. Not that you should copy and paste the job description word for word, but make sure you include all the pertinent tool names, keywords, and particular skills and qualifications. These are the words recruiters like me hone in on, so the more you include, the stronger your first impression.
Lastly, cut out the fluff. Remove any work experience or job responsibilities that aren’t related to the position you’re applying for. Trust me, irrelevant experience won’t impress a recruiter; it’s only going to distract from your relevant achievements.
Recruiters are looking for resumes written exactly like this. They take a little longer to write and edit, but I’m sure it is worth the effort because we respond to them far more often.
Karolina Górska, Senior HR Coordinator, Delante
Place Skills in Bullet Points
Any resume must be tailored to the job description. Period.
Current resume formatting preferences provide the option to place six to nine bullet points of skills. This is where the applicant should tailor the resume to the posting.
If the job description says, “Ideal candidate has mastery of Excel,” a bullet point should be “Excel Expert” or some variation of such.
This practice does two things: It aligns the candidate more closely with the job, and it helps to get around any parsing software that may be used to eliminate candidates without the right qualifications.
Harry Lakin, Founder, Hire Capacity
Showcase Relevance and Specificity
The key to effectively tailoring your resume for different job applications lies in highlighting relevance and specificity. Companies sift through countless resumes, so they value candidates who clearly show how their skills and experiences align with the job’s requirements.
To stand out, emphasize experiences directly related to the role, naturally integrate keywords from the job description, and quantify achievements to demonstrate your impact. Adjusting the resume format to highlight crucial information, such as technical skills or leadership experience, can also catch a company’s attention.
Additionally, crafting a customized cover letter to illustrate your fit for the position further enhances your chances of standing out among applicants. By tailoring your resume/profile with these strategies, you can increase your likelihood of making a positive impression.
Rachel Weiner, Senior Technology Consultant, EC1 Partners
Align Resume with Job Description
One key tip for tailoring your resume to fit different job applications is to align your resume with the job description. To accomplish this, carefully read the job description to identify the most important skills, qualifications, and experiences the employer seeks.
Then, you should adjust your resume to highlight the most relevant aspects of your background by lightly editing your resume to incorporate similar language and keywords found in the job description, as these are often indicators of what the employer values most.
By taking these steps, you make it easier for hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS) to see that your qualifications match the job requirements, thereby increasing your chances of getting noticed.
Heather O’Neill, Career Expert and Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW), Resume Now
Follow Critical Steps to Align Qualifications
A key tip for effectively tailoring your resume to fit the requirements of different job applications is to focus on aligning your qualifications with the specific needs of the job you’re applying for. This process involves a few critical steps:
Carefully Analyze the Job Description: Start by thoroughly reviewing the job description to identify the key skills, qualifications, and experiences the employer is seeking. Highlight or note down specific keywords and phrases that are emphasized. These often point to the most critical requirements for the role.
Assess Your Own Experience and Skills: Reflect on your career history and identify the experiences, skills, and achievements that best match the highlighted requirements. This may require looking beyond your core duties to include relevant projects or accomplishments that demonstrate your capability.
Customize the Resume: Begin tailoring your resume by incorporating the keywords and phrases you identified into your summary, skills, and experience sections. Emphasize your most relevant experiences by placing them prominently in the resume, adjusting the order or focus to highlight these aspects.
Modify the Summary and Skills Section: Write or adjust your summary to reflect the primary attributes the employer is seeking. Also, ensure that your skills section reflects the specific skills mentioned in the job description, phrasing them in a way that mirrors the job posting.
Quantify Your Achievements: Where possible, include metrics or specific examples that demonstrate your impact and ability to meet the role’s requirements. Quantifiable achievements can be more persuasive than generic statements.
Review and Optimize: After customizing your resume, carefully review it to ensure that it’s cohesive and concise. Make sure each detail directly relates to the role in question.
Melissa Pennington, CEO and Founder, HR On Demand
