How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description

How to tailor your resume to a specific job posting

1. Read the job description carefully

Nothing we say before or after this will work if you’re not taking the time to thoroughly read through the job description. You have to understand what the company is looking for and what the position demands. Most companies include a summary of who they are and what they do. Read that, too. You’ll want to have as much information as possible before moving on to the next steps. Take note of the qualifications of the role and the experience you have, and begin considering how you can connect the dots in your resume and application.

2. Highlight keywords in the job description

Keywords are one major way that ATS filters a resume. If you’re a growth marketer, but neglect to include that term in your resume, you’re not getting past the ATS software. That’s why reading the job description is so important. 

3. Skills, tasks, and qualifications

Many of the keywords you’ll want to include in your resume show up in the job description's skills, tasks, and qualifications sections. Look for phrases that describe specific skills, personality traits, role responsibilities, and company culture. For example, if an employer states they’re looking for someone who’s a self-starter and detail-oriented, you should include those terms somewhere in your cover letter or resume. If they make specific mention of software skills, like being proficient with Microsoft Excel or Adobe Photoshop, be sure to include mention of that in your application as well. 

4. Update your summary

Remember, your summary is the first thing employers and recruiters read on your resume. It’s important to get it right, and tailor it to the specific job you seek.

If you have a summary, make sure to include the most relevant experience and skills to the role

Don’t just use a cookie-cutter summary for every job application. Include skills, traits, and experience that specifically relate to the job and company you’re applying for. This is also a good place to include keywords, if they’re a natural fit. The summary is also useful for highlighting any major achievements so they’re not overlooked if someone quickly scans your resume. 

5.  Customize your work and volunteer experience with keywords

To keep things feeling authentic, don’t stuff too many keywords together. Intersperse them throughout your cover letter, resume, or portfolio where they make sense. Ultimately, while you want to get past the ATS software, you also want to sound like a person, not a robot. A good way to do this is by sprinkling keywords throughout your work and volunteer experience. Another way to avoid sounding too repetitive is to include synonyms, acronyms, and similar terms for keywords. This will increase your chances of humans and software alike picking your resume out of the pile. 

Your work experience section is a perfect place to include keywords related to specific skills and experiences. For example, if a job listing says the ideal candidate should have experience with “SaaS and subscription based business models,” this is where you work those keywords in. If it says the candidate should have experience in a “startup environment or fast-paced organization,” you’ll want to mention any exposure you’ve had to those types of workplaces. 

Your volunteer experience section is another opportunity to include keywords related to specific skills and experiences. Perhaps you haven’t worked at a startup, but you have taken on a leadership role at a small charity with bold aspirations. That’s absolutely relevant, and should be highlighted. If a job listing asks for candidates with “strong time management skills,” emphasize how you balanced volunteer roles with work or studies. 

6. Format your resume correctly  

Like all technology, applicant tracking systems are not perfect. It’s possible that you’ve included a keyword they’ve missed or didn’t properly export to the employer. To avoid this from happening, make sure your headlines are simple and descriptive and that your resume summary statement is included at the top of your resume. You should also avoid including tables in your resume, as those may not be exported properly through the ATS. Lastly, you should follow the employer's suggested file type, which is typically .docx or .pdf. 

7. Proofread, then proofread again 

There is absolutely no room in your resume for spelling or grammatical mistakes. There’s far too much competition out there, and hiring managers are looking for any number of ways to filter through candidates. You need to make sure your resume is clear of any errors and that it includes all of the variables that we’ve spoken about, including keywords, headers and a summary of your experiences. Once you’ve read it through a few times, have someone else read it. A fresh set of eyes can make all the difference, so consider sharing your resume with friends or family to get a second opinion.

Should I tailor my resume for each job?

Here’s a rule to keep in mind: you should never send the same resume/cover letter combination to more than one company. There has to be something that each employer is asking for that is slightly or considerably different, and your resume should reflect those differences. You’re trying to get noticed, and that means putting your best foot forward. You can’t do that if you aren’t customizing your resume to fit with what’s written in the job proposal. Understand that your first battle is with the applicant tracking system. You’ll have to follow the points we listed above just to get past the software, but regardless of if a company uses ATS or not, your resume should be unique every time you apply for a job. 

Looking for more job application tips? Read more about how to write a cover letter that will get attention.

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