How to tailor your CV for every job application?

How to Tailor Your CV for Every Job Application

Actively applying for jobs or internships, but not hearing back as much as you'd like? You're not alone! Many job applicants and fresh graduates struggle to land interviews despite having solid experience, academics, and interests.

You might be making one BIG mistake:

Sending the same generic CV to every job application.

So, what is a tailored CV?

Instead of using the same CV for every application, carefully review the job description (JD) and customize your CV accordingly.

A tailored CV is designed specifically for each role. Rather than including irrelevant details, it highlights the experience and skills the recruiter is actually looking for.

Why employers and recruiters expect tailored CVs

Recruiters can quickly spot generic CVs. They prefer candidates who have:

• Carefully read the job description
• Understood the role
• Demonstrated that they meet the required qualifications

For example:

If you're applying for a Data Analyst role, emphasize your experience with Excel and Power BI rather than unrelated experience like tutoring.

Long, unfocused CVs are often ignored, while concise, targeted CVs immediately communicate your strongest qualifications.

How to tailor your CV

Step 1: Analyze the job description

Read the job description carefully to understand what the employer wants.

Pay attention to:

• Job title
• Company information
• Job summary
• Key responsibilities
• Required qualifications
• Desired qualifications
• Benefits and company culture
• Application instructions

Ask yourself:

• Do I meet the required qualifications?
• Which responsibilities match my experience?
• Which skills should I emphasize?

Step 2: Identify key skills and keywords

Highlight the important keywords throughout the job description.

When writing your CV:

• Use the same wording as the job posting whenever possible.
• Place your most relevant experience near the top.
• Remove information unrelated to the role.

For example, for a Software Engineer position, include keywords such as:

• Python
• React
• Node.js
• JavaScript
• SQL

Step 3: Prioritize relevant experience

Give the most space to your most relevant experience.

For example:

For a software engineering position:

• Highlight coding experience
• Showcase technical projects
• Emphasize software development work

Remove unrelated experiences.

Example:

A sociology research project may be valuable, but it isn't relevant for most software engineering roles and can be omitted.

Remember:

The more recent and relevant an experience is, the more space it deserves on your CV.

Many organizations also prefer a one-page CV, so every line should add value.

Step 4: Optimize for ATS

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by recruiters to manage applications and scan CVs for relevant keywords.

To make your CV ATS-friendly:

• Use clear section headings.
• Include keywords exactly as they appear in the job description.
• Avoid replacing keywords with synonyms or abbreviations.
• Keep formatting simple and readable.

A tailored CV closely matches the job description, making it more likely to rank highly in ATS systems.

Other quick tips

• Quantify your achievements using measurable metrics.
• Include a portfolio such as GitHub or Notion.
• If you don't have relevant work experience, include:
  • Online courses
  • Certifications
  • Volunteer work
• Use strong action verbs like:
  • Spearheaded
  • Optimized
  • Launched
• Include industry-specific terminology.
• Ensure your CV is:
  • Grammatically correct
  • Consistently formatted
  • Easy to read
  • Organized with clear headings

Example of CV tailoring

Sarah majored in Art History and is applying for a Research Associate position.

Her previous experience includes:

• Freelance content writer for a tech company
• High school math tutor
• Intern at the Museum of Art and Design
• Research project on local cultural heritage

The job description emphasizes research and writing.

Instead of submitting a generic CV, Sarah:

• Places her museum internship first.
• Highlights her research project.
• Emphasizes the writing and analytical skills gained from content writing.
• Removes her math tutoring experience because it isn't relevant.

As a result, recruiters immediately see the experience that matters most for the role.

Final takeaway

Not tailoring your CV is one of the most common mistakes made by early-career job seekers.

A tailored CV:

• Highlights your most relevant experience
• Matches recruiter expectations
• Performs better in ATS systems
• Significantly improves your chances of getting interviews

Tools like TailorFitCV.com can help automate this process by generating an ATS-friendly version of your CV for each job posting.