Use keywords from the job description contextually to tailor your resume for any company. Highlight relevant experience, skills, and qualifications that directly align with the job requirements. The easiest way to tailor your resume is to add the job title and name of the company you’re applying to in the summary section. Then, in the skills section, list key skills that the company expects from candidates. Next, refine your work experience section by mentioning the type of responsibilities and achievements the company’s hiring managers are after.
When looking at how to tailor your resume, it’s all about using resume keywords strategically to prove you’re an ideal fit for a specific company’s needs.
Tailoring your resume is all about directly aligning with the job description. This means weaving in the key skills and experiences from the company’s hiring criteria into your resume.
If you’re sending the same resume to apply for the same role at different companies, it’s not surprising that you’re not landing interviews.
That might sound harsh. But the truth is, hiring teams want candidates who are dead serious about working for their particular company.
A spray and pray shotgun approach won’t get you the most responses. What will get you more replies though is a targeted, sniper approach, which is the purpose of tailoring your resume.
Short on time? No worries, here our our top strategies to tailor your resume:
- Thoroughly read the job description
- Check the company's about us page
- Read the company's social media pages
- Gather skills and keywords from existing employees
- Update your resume sections accordingly
If you want to learn more about resume keywords and optimizing your resume, check out our dedicated guides on:
- The Best Technical Skills Hiring Managers Want to See
- Top Resume Skills to Include
- The Most Popular Hard Skills to Add
- How to Follow the Perfect Resume Format
To create an ATS-friendly resume with ease, put your details and the job description into our AI Resume Builder, grab a coffee, and relax knowing it's all taken care of.
What it Means to Tailor Your Resume
Tailoring your resume means directly matching it to a particular company’s job description. You do this by showcasing the skills and experiences from your background that address the company’s specific needs.
Here’s the thing: recruiters aren’t fans of reviewing the best general resume for a certain role. They’re fans of reading the best resume for a certain role at THEIR company.
To prove you’ve built your resume specifically for the company’s job opening, you’ll need to include:
- Keywords
- Competencies
- Brand values
These details should also relate to the job description and company culture.
When you’ve put in the time and effort to personalize your resume like this, it helps with proving that you’re a good fit for the role.
And ideally, you should be aiming to position yourself as the best candidate to work with.
The Purpose of Tailoring a Resume
The purpose of tailoring your resume is to make it clear that your resume isn’t just for anyone. It’s specifically for the company you’re applying to.
A tailored resume gets more responses because it is precisely crafted to match the specific job requirements, demonstrating your relevance and commitment to the position. By aligning your qualifications and accomplishments with the job description, you capture the hiring manager's attention quickly and efficiently, increasing your chances of making it to the interview stage.
Show a Genuine Interest
It’s valuable for employers to hire a worker that’s self-driven and passionate about what they do.
If you could show a growth mindset and that you’re motivated to grow with the company, it can be acknowledged as an advantage since they’d want to hire long-term candidates.
To reflect those values, you’ll need to spend the time doing research and making specific references in your resume. The hiring manager will take notice of this and as a result, they’re more likely to read you as a strong fit for the company culture.
Position Yourself as a Match to the Company Culture
Skills and experience are important. But, so is self-awareness and attitude.
Not all applicants’ personalities are something that can be developed quickly with training and courses. The inner character of a person requires more, which is another reason why matching their cultural values can help you stand out.
Plus, if you’re a good fit for their culture and work environment, it tends to lead to higher job satisfaction and better job performance overall.
Keep in mind that it’s more expensive for hiring managers to hire new employees than it is to retain existing ones. That’s one reason why they’ll also consider the long-term factor.
Get Past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Tailoring your resume is not just about impressing humans; you also need to navigate past the digital gatekeepers, known as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems are used to quickly filter job applications based on predefined criteria, such as specific keywords and qualifications. Failing to tailor your resume to align with these requirements can result in your application being lost in the sea of candidates.
To avoid common resume mistakes, make sure your resume matches what the ATS is looking for, increasing your chances of progressing in the hiring process. Failing to include the right keywords or relevant details could cause your resume to be overlooked.
How to Tailor Your Resume and Get Noticed
Here’s how to tailor your resume:
- Check the company’s job description for key skills, primary requirements, and day-to-day responsibilities.
- Review the company website’s about page and social media accounts to identify cultural values.
- Research an existing employee—see their LinkedIn profile and take inspiration from how they described their current and previous roles.
- Optimize your resume summary section by adding in the company’s name and the job title you’re applying for.
- Use relevant keywords in the work experience section when describing achievements and duties.
- Mention core skills and competencies in the skills section.
1. Refer to the Job Description
Understanding the job description is like having a treasure map to find your dream job. This is your starting point, and you need to dig deep to uncover the hidden gems and winning resume keywords.
Read it thoroughly. Don't just glance at it; take your time to understand every word. Look at the responsibilities and qualities that have been included and ask yourself:
- What are they looking for in candidates?
- What are the skills and attributes they expect to see?
These are the types of things that you should put on a resume. You’ll need to mention these if you want to get past the first stage of the hiring process and get invited for an interview.
2. Check the Company Website’s About Page
There’s a strong chance you’ll find more information about the company’s beliefs and corporate cultural values on their website.
More specifically, their about page. Here, you may find things such as:
- Mission statement
- Brand story
- Goals and objectives
Using this information, make direct references to their values to show that you align with what they’re working towards. For instance, what’s the main problem or pain point they mention that best skills can help solve? What are the qualities that they value most in their work environment?
3. Review The Company’s Social Media
Other than their website, you may also find relevant information about the work culture on their social media pages. For example, they could be found on sites such as:
- Twitter
Find out what they’re posting about. See if there are parts of the process that you’re experienced or skilled in, and how you could fit in. These are the things that you could include in your resume.
4. Research an Existing Employee
Another hack is to look at the existing employees who already work there.
If there’s someone who has the job title you’re applying for or someone who works in a similar field, do some research on their LinkedIn profile.
From there, take a look at what they’ve included in their:
- About section
- Experience section
- Education
- Skills
The company is already hiring them because they’re a good fit. So, one winning strategy is to take inspiration from that employee. Show that you have a similar depth of knowledge and skills as they do, as well as a similar approach.
5. Update Your Resume Sections
Updating your resume to align with a specific job description is the key to standing out in a competitive job market. Start by:
- Tailoring your resume objective or resume summary to include the company's name and convey why you're a perfect fit for the role.
- The work experience section is the core of your resume; focus on showcasing relevant skills and achievements. Highlight responsibilities that resonate with the job description, and quantify your accomplishments with specific numbers whenever possible.
- Your skills section isn't one-size-fits-all either – customize it to emphasize the skills the job posting emphasizes, whether they are technical skills or soft skills like teamwork and leadership.
- Your education section remains constant, but you can adapt it by emphasizing degrees, certifications, or coursework that align with the job's requirements.
Use Rezi AI Keyword Targeting to Help You Create a Tailored Resume Faster
Now that you’ve reached this point, we’ll share how to tailor your resume faster without losing the quality of your job application.
The only problem with following the standard method of tailoring your resume is that it can take hours of back and forth research. While we’ve only included 5 steps, the reality is that the process is a lot long longer than it looks.
If you’re looking to send multiple tailored job applications to several companies so you can receive a job offer faster, Rezi gives you the resources you need by helping you do 2 things:
- Find the keywords required
- Get professional feedback
Find the Keywords Required
The first step is to create an account on Rezi (it’s free).
Next, you’ll have the option to create a new resume on the left side of the screen.
Fill out the details in the form provided.
Head over to the finish-up tab and you’ll be taken to the following page.
You’ll notice that the Rezi score is provided at the top corner. This assesses your resume and gives you feedback where necessary.
On the right side of the page, you’ll find the AI keyword targeting feature.
To use this feature, do the following:
- Enter the job title you’re applying for
- Copy and paste the job description
Next, click on “save job description”.
Now, you have the list of keywords you need to create a tailored resume that stands out and beats the applicant tracking system at ease.
Example of a Resume Tailored to the Job Description
This tailored resume for an English language teacher is specifically designed to match the requirements of a teaching position in the field of English education. It works effectively for several reasons:
- Relevance: The resume highlights qualifications and experiences that are directly related to teaching English, such as relevant degrees, teaching certifications, and language proficiency.
- Keyword Alignment: The resume is optimized with keywords commonly found in English teaching job descriptions. This ensures it passes through applicant tracking systems and catches the attention of recruiters.
- Accomplishments: Instead of just listing responsibilities, the resume emphasizes tangible achievements, such as improvements in students' language proficiency, successful curriculum development, and notable teaching awards.
- Customized Objective: The resume's objective or summary clearly expresses the candidate's passion for teaching English and their commitment to effective language instruction, demonstrating a strong alignment with the teaching role.
Get More Job Offers By Sending Tailored Resumes
For some of you, the biggest challenge in creating the perfect resume could be that it takes a lot of time to research all the information you need. Especially when you need to write a resume when you have no experience.
And as some of you may know, it’s draining and takes a lot of effort.
That’s where Rezi’s resume builder comes in.
We speed up the process and help you get job offers faster by enabling you to send more quality resumes with minimal effort.
Best of all, you can get started at no cost. So, the ball is in your court.
All job seekers who create a resume with Rezi have a 62.18% chance of getting an interview!
Explore Rezi 🔥 Comes with 5,000 AI Credits, and is free forever, no credit card required.
Summary
Let’s summarize how to tailor your resume:
- Note the core responsibilities and requirements from the job description that the company expects the candidate to fulfill.
- Dig deep when researching the company to identify potential values that can help you stand out and match their vibe. Check their website and social media accounts to get up to speed.
- Add the relevant keywords throughout your resume where it fits naturally. Use them when describing previous duties and accomplishments.
- Show you’re a direct match for the company by making it clear you have a background that’s strongly compatible with the role. Highlight key achievements that prove you’re capable of solving a specific problem that the company needs help with.
- Tweak other resume sections that help position you as an ideal fit for the role.
When it comes to job applications, it’s quality over quantity.
An applicant that sends five targeted resumes is more likely to receive a favorable response than the applicant who sends ten generic resumes.
That’s why it’s important to get all the information you need before sending your resume. Employers can tell when a candidate has rushed their application and whether they’ve done their homework.
