How To Tailor Your CV To A Job Description

Do you tailor your CV to every job?  Once you commit to applying for numerous jobs, it can sometimes become very time-consuming and tiresome.

As a job seeker, have you found yourself applying for jobs using the same CV without really going through the job advert?

Truth is, in as much as this method will increase the number of jobs you apply for, it will significantly decrease the chances of you getting any job.

Even though many of the roles you are applying for will be similar, no two jobs are the same. As such, you should tailor your CV accordingly to reflect the requirements of each job.

Here are a few steps to follow as you tailor your CV to ensure that it has maximum appeal to every employer you send it to:

1. Read the entire job advert

When a job advert catches your eye, don’t rush in and send your CV straight over in an attempt to beat the competition with speed. Instead, focus on beating them with quality.

Take a few minutes to understand the job requirements and compare them with your CV. Imagine you were the recruiter for this role and reading your CV for the first time… Does it match up with the job specification?

Before you apply, ask yourself:

• Can I immediately see the key requirements for the job on my CV? – If not, then you will need to move some of the information around or add some skills or knowledge that you’ve left out.
• What is my CV missing? – You won’t always tick every box for a vacancy, and it’s important that you understand your shortfalls so you can combat them. If you’re missing certain experience or knowledge from the requirements, then you need to be creative and think about similar experiences or transferable skills that you can highlight in your CV. This ensures you still look like a good fit on paper.

2. Pick out keywords and phrases

Highlight keywords and specific skills listed in the job description, and include them in your CV.

With many employers resorting to use ATS software to scan applications, you will want to ensure that yours passes the software.

ATS software scans CVs for specific keywords or phrases related to the role. If your CV doesn’t include these words and phrases, it probably won’t make it past this stage.

If after going through the job description and you realize they need ‘good communication skills and strong attention to detail’, make sure you get those words in your CV.

3. Modify your CV profile

As your profile sits at the very top of your CV, it will be the first thing an employer sees and makes a judgement on. If the reader can’t see the most important skills for the job in your profile, some will move straight on to the next CV without reading any further.

You need to determine which skills are most important for the employer in question and include them prominently in your CV.

For example, if a job advert states ‘Sales & Marketing degree or higher is essential’ and you have a sales & marketing degree, then you need to ensure the recruiter knows about it.

Don’t leave your degree hiding at the bottom of your CV in the education section; mention it in your profile too, so that the employer can instantly see you have that essential requirement.

In the end,

Tailoring your CV for every application does take a bit of extra time and effort. But, it will pay off! Each application you make will be of a high standard and greatly increase your chances of getting shortlisted for interviews.

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