How to Tailor Your CV for Different Job Applications

man writing tailored CV

In today's competitive job market, a one-size-fits-all approach to CV writing simply doesn't cut it. Tailoring your CV for different job applications can significantly increase your chances of landing that coveted interview.

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to customise your CV to suit various roles and industries.

1. Understand the Job Description

Before you start tweaking your CV, read the job description thoroughly. Identify the key skills, experiences, and qualifications the employer is seeking. Take note of specific keywords and phrases used in the description, as these can be crucial for passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Action Steps:

• Highlight the core requirements and responsibilities.

• Note any specific skills or qualifications mentioned multiple times.

2. Align Your Executive Summary

Your professional summary or objective statement should be a snapshot of your qualifications and career goals, aligned with the job you're applying for. Customise this section to reflect the most relevant aspects of your experience and how they make you an ideal candidate for the role.

Action Steps:

• Rewrite your summary to include keywords from the job description.

• Focus on achievements and skills that match the job requirements.

3. Prioritise Relevant Experience

While it might be tempting to list all of your career experiences, it’s more effective to emphasise the successes and responsibilities most pertinent to the job at hand. Use bullet points to detail your accomplishments and duties that are most relevant to the new role.

Action Steps:

• Reorder bullet points where required to bring the most relevant experience to the top of each job entry.

• Use strong action verbs and quantify achievements where possible.

4. Showcase Relevant Skills

Tailor the skills section of your CV to reflect the specific competencies mentioned in the job posting. Avoid a generic skills list and focus on those that directly relate to the job.

Action Steps:

• List the most relevant technical and soft skills.

• Include any specific tools, software, or methodologies mentioned in the job description.
  

5. Highlight Education and Certifications

If the job requires certain educational qualifications or certifications, ensure these are prominently displayed. Place them near the top of your CV if they are critical to the role, even if your education is normally listed at the bottom of the document.

Action Steps:

• Mention relevant degrees, courses, and certifications.

• Include any honours, awards or projects that showcase your expertise.

9. Include a Tailored Cover Letter

A tailored cover letter can enhance your tailored CV. It provides an opportunity to explain why you’re an excellent fit for the role and elaborate on your most relevant experiences.

Action Steps:

• Write a new cover letter for each application.

• Reference the job description and explain how your background and skills match the role.

Conclusion

Tailoring your CV for different job applications is a necessity in today’s job market. By aligning your CV with each job’s specific requirements, you demonstrate that you’ve done your homework, are genuinely interested in the role and have the skills and experience to perform.

Follow these steps, and you'll be well on your way to landing more interviews and, ultimately, securing the job you want.

If you would welcome a confidential discussion about CV writing, please do not hesitate to email me on tim@mercurycoaching.co.uk