How to Use Job Descriptions to Tailor Your Resume

People who have been following me or this newsletter on LinkedIn for any decent length of time know I am a proponent of quality over quantity when it comes to job applications. Of course, following that mantra doesn’t mean you need to craft completely unique resumes and cover letters whenever you apply to a new role.

The trick to a great job application is to have solid foundational documents that you can tailor to the specific job description. Doing so allows you to be a stand-out applicant while also getting your materials quickly submitted, which dramatically improves your chances of getting an interview.

The first step to all of this is to create a somewhat targeted job search. Know the type of job you want, the industries you’re willing to work in, and other factors that are important to you. The goal should be to create a reasonably targeted area without narrowing your window of opportunity too much. 

Once you’ve landed in that sweet spot, you can work on crafting your core resume and other materials that you will eventually tailor for specific roles.

Looking at several job descriptions for the roles you want to target will help focus your core resume. “You’ve got to have a really clear focus on your resume of what you’re about,” says

Dawn Rasmussen

from Pathfinder Writing and Career Services. “No employer is going to hire a generalist.” A focused resume helps you appear as a specialist in your area, increasing your appeal to recruiters who are looking for specific skills and experiences.

Once that core resume is done, it’s ready to be tailored for roles that show up on your radar. Dawn tells me that the goal is to remain authentic while aligning your resume with the specific needs and language of the job you’re targeting.

When a job ad catches your attention and interest, Dawn says that description will serve as the guide for how you need to tailor your existing resume.

“You basically have to go through the job description,” she says. “Go requirement by requirement and make sure you are providing specific examples that match those needs.”

To help you along, Dawn suggests that you keep an “accomplishments file” handy, including various successes from your career. You can swap your listed accomplishments based on which ones will best position you for the specific role.

One of the biggest traps job seekers fall into is that they add too much information that isn’t relevant to the role they want, Dawn says. 

“I always say it’s your job to distill your background as concisely as possible to meet those requirements,” she adds. “If you have other jobs that are not relevant, push out the things that are most relevant first. You can even call that section ‘relevant experience.'”

Something to pay attention to as you tailor your resume is the use of keywords, job titles and language, specifically jargon. The resume and application should show you know what’s important to the employer and that you’re familiar with that industry and profession.

“You need to tweak your resume by looking at the job description and aligning your resume with the language used there,” Dawn says. This alignment includes matching job titles and skill descriptors, ensuring that your resume speaks directly to the role’s requirements.

For example, some companies use unique job titles for their employees. Industry standards also change over time, meaning titles may morph. “If your job title at the time doesn’t match current industry language, list your actual job title and then, in parentheses, include the equivalent contemporary title,” Dawn says.

Additionally, make sure you’re highlighting any keywords included in the job description, such as skills, throughout your resume. If the posting says the employer needs someone who has project management skills, that is something to highlight within your experience section, for example.

While you will be changing your resume for each job application, it’s important to stay true to yourself and your abilities. Embellishing your background to land an interview will not work out for you in the end. In fact, it will likely ruin your chances of ever getting hired at that employer.

One question to ask yourself about each role is if you have the skills and experience to do the job right now. If not, you may need to put some effort into developing those areas through contract work or education.

“You really have to spend the time making sure you’re qualified and making sure that your resume is speaking directly to what the job description is asking for,” Dawn says. “Then, make sure you’re providing specific, relevant examples and ensuring that all those keywords are folded in.”

Few experiences are as daunting as facing a layoff. Lorraine K. Lee, an entrepreneur and LinkedIn Learning instructor, joined me on the latest episode of Get Hired with Andrew Seaman to explain how she turned her layoff into a springboard for her successful career as a “solopreneur.” Her proactive approach to this career disruption — embracing entrepreneurship and leveraging her network — offers valuable lessons for anyone navigating a job loss or considering a career pivot.

A transcript of the conversation is available by clicking here. You can listen to the episode above or on Apple Podcasts by clicking here.

• How do you come up with a desired salary? (Summary by Todd Dybas) Career coach Adam Broda says on LinkedIn to check sites to see general salary numbers for the job you’re chasing. Understand that the level and location of the role will influence the pay band assigned to it. Broda also notes that compensation goes beyond salary. Determine if you need work location flexibility, more vacation to avoid burnout or a bonus to help pay for a big-ticket item. Also, remember that the baseline you set now affects your future earnings. Click here to see what people are saying about it.
• What numbers should you include on a resume? (Summary by Todd Dybas) Career coach Keith Spencer writes on LinkedIn to check for volume metrics, project metrics and operational metrics, among others to add to your resume. Volume can involve the number of customers or the amount of data processed. Project metrics include team size, initiatives led and scope. Operational metrics focus on waste reduction or budgets handled. Look for efficiency metrics, too. Click here to learn more.