The method
Why tailoring beats a one-size-fits-all CV
Most applications are filtered first by software that matches keywords, then skimmed by a recruiter in seconds. A generic CV rarely surfaces the exact evidence a specific role asks for. Tailoring means reordering and rephrasing what you already have so the match is obvious — not inventing anything new.
Seven steps to a tailored CV
Read the job description like a checklist
Pull out the must-have requirements, the day-to-day responsibilities, and any phrases that repeat. These are the criteria you will be measured against.
Extract the keywords that matter
Note the exact skills, tools, and qualifications named. Screening software often matches literal terms, so keep the employer's wording — write "project management" if that is what they wrote.
Mirror the language
Where a phrase honestly describes your experience, adopt it. Swap vague synonyms for the specific terms the role uses.
Lead with the most relevant experience
Reorder your bullets and roles so the evidence the employer cares about appears first. Trim or shrink anything that is irrelevant to this job.
Quantify your results
Replace duties with outcomes and numbers — "cut reporting time by 40%" beats "responsible for reporting." Numbers survive both the recruiter's skim and the software screen.
Align your summary and skills
Rewrite your top summary to speak to this role, and make sure the skills section lists the ones the job actually names.
Check it is machine-readable
Keep a clean, single-column-friendly layout, standard section headings, and no text trapped inside images. A parser should be able to read every line.
A few things not to do
- Do not invent experience or stuff in keywords — a recruiter, and the interview, will catch it.
- Do not reuse the same CV for every posting — the whole point is the match.
- Do not bury the relevant proof on page two.