Resume writing guide
How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description
Match the posting to evidence from your own work, then make that evidence easier to find. Follow these four steps in your existing document, or use the AI resume tailoring tool to draft edits for review.
1. Separate requirements from preferences
Read the whole posting. List required skills, qualifications, responsibilities, and preferred experience separately. A repeated word can suggest emphasis, but frequency alone does not make it a hiring requirement.
2. Map each requirement to evidence you actually have
For each item, note a project, task, qualification, or achievement that demonstrates it. Mark genuine gaps explicitly. If you have not used a tool or earned a certification, leave it out rather than treating it as a missing keyword to insert.
3. Rewrite and reorder the relevant parts
Lead with your most relevant achievements. Use the employer’s terminology where it accurately describes your work. Explain your action, the context, and an outcome you can support. Keep official titles, dates, qualifications, and the scope of your contribution accurate.
4. Check the document and the application form
Proofread, follow the requested file format, and check the reading order by copying your exported text into a plain-text editor. Review any fields auto-filled by the application portal. A checker can suggest wording or structure issues, but cannot guarantee how an employer screens applications.
Worked example: a data analyst application
This is a fictional teaching example, not a customer result. The posting asks for SQL, Tableau dashboards, and stakeholder communication; Python is preferred. The applicant has used SQL and Tableau, but has not used Python.
| Requirement | Known evidence | Edit |
|---|---|---|
| SQL and dashboards | Built weekly SQL reports in Tableau | Name both tools in the experience bullet |
| Stakeholder communication | Presented findings to sales managers | Specify audience and purpose |
| Python preferred | No Python experience | Leave it out; do not add it to the skills list |
- Before
- Responsible for reports and working with the sales team.
- After
- Built weekly Tableau dashboards from SQL sales reports and presented regional trends to sales managers to guide account reviews.
The edit adds specific evidence, not invented performance figures. Include a measured result only if you can substantiate it. For technical roles, see the software engineer examples; for delivery roles, see project manager keywords.
Before you submit
- Every added skill is supported by experience, education, or a clearly labelled project.
- The summary describes this role without changing your actual background.
- Dates, contact details, and qualifications match your records.
- The exported document is readable and follows the employer’s instructions.
- You reviewed application questions separately from the resume.
Applying with a CV? See the CV-specific guidance for regional wording and conventions.
Frequently asked questions
Which sections should I tailor?
Start with the summary, skills, and the most relevant experience bullets. Reorder evidence to match the role. Do not rewrite employment dates or inflate job titles and qualifications.
Do I need to repeat every keyword?
No. Include terms that truthfully describe your experience and help the reader understand it. Put important skills in context. Keyword repetition does not replace evidence of doing the work.
How should I handle a skill I do not have?
Treat it as a qualification gap, not an editing problem. Describe adjacent experience honestly or identify a learning goal; do not claim to have used the missing tool.
Is there a passing ATS score?
There is no universal passing score. Tools use different methods, and an employer can use screening questions, human review, and other criteria. Use findings to improve clarity rather than chase a number.
Can I automate part of this process?
Yes. MatchCV can extract keywords and draft suggested edits. You still need to review them for factual accuracy and relevance. The AI tailoring tool is linked below if you want to try it.