Best way to target a Specific job Description with your Resume

If you want to impress employers, you have to tailor your resume to fit each individual role you submit for. You must make changes for every application so that your resume directly addresses the needs of the specific employer, not just lists out your own career path.

Of course, this is all easier said than done. To help, we've broken down why editing your resume to fit each application is important and outlined the key steps to take that will help you do it successfully. It's an unfortunate truth, but when it comes to the job search, having the ideal skills and experience isn't always enough.

Why it's important to tailor your resume

There are two main reasons for tailoring your resume for each job description. The first is to “please” applicant tracking systems (ATS). In other words, if your resume is not written with this software in mind, you could be rejected before a hiring manager even sees your name. If those keywords are not present on the resume, the ATS will assume that the applicant is unqualified or a poor match for the job and eliminate them.

The other reason why it's essential to edit your resume for each application is that it will help you speak directly to the specific needs of the employer. Luckily, the tool that will best help you pass through the ATS is directly in front of you: the job description. That is where you will find all of the essential skills and keywords that are important to a hiring manager.

How to tailor your resume for each job description

1. Emphasize relevant experience and achievements

You have to tailor your professional history to focus on the aspects this particular hiring manager cares about most — and the job description is your guide. You'll want to emphasize your work in advertisements and social media if you are applying for a role within a marketing department.

Just like your skills, you've likely built up a lengthy brag book's worth of experience and achievements throughout your career. However, also like your skills, listing everything you've ever done will result in your most relevant selling points getting lost.

2. Narrow down your skills

Adding every skill you've ever acquired will drown out and hide what the employer really wants to see. As you've progressed through your career, you no doubt have built up a respectable, versatile skill set, and it's natural to want to show that off on your resume.

Remember: The hiring manager told you through the job description what skills they care about most. Tailor your resume by using it to decide what to feature and what to remove. If there's room for more, choose those that are highly relevant, but leave it at that. If you can think of 20 impressive skills from your tool kit and 10 of them overlap with the job description, those 10 are the ones that should be highlighted on your resume.

3. Alter your professional summary

Your bilingual talent would usually be mentioned in a skills section. For instance, you could be a customer service professional who happens to be proficient in both English and Spanish. After you've read the job description and have an understanding of the role at hand, choose the parts of your story that best reflect it and bring them into your professional summary.

Your professional summary is the short paragraph at the top of your resume that introduces who you are as a professional and shares some of your key achievements. It's also the most flexible part of your resume.

4. Carefully read the job description

From your perspective as a job seeker, employers are telling you exactly what they are hoping to see — and you now know exactly what to show them. You'll first need to read it — thoroughly if you want to successfully fit each job description.

Hiring managers don't just jot down some notes about a job and press Publish. Instead, job descriptions are carefully crafted to precisely outline what the role will entail and list the unique collection of skills needed. Look for the phrases and keywords core to the role that you can organically incorporate into your resume.

5. Create a “master” resume

Working this way will help you streamline the application process because it makes the tailoring step quick and painless. This is your full, polished resume that houses every bit of your experience, skill set, and greatest achievements, all written out in a presentable way.

Instead, it's about adjusting and choosing which parts of your career story are highlighted and which can take a backseat this time around. When we talk about customizing your resume to fit each job listing, we don't mean that you should write a brand new resume every time you submit an application. To do this, it's best to create a resume template or “master” resume.