How to tailor job details in your resume for maximum impact

Generic resumes don’t land interviews‌, but personalized ones do.

Tailoring your resume to each opportunity is a must to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and get a human recruiter to look at your resume. Since hiring managers initially spend only a few seconds reviewing resumes, customizing your application can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.  

In this article, Remote walks you through the steps to crafting a tailored resume, helping you align your professional story with the role you’re targeting.

What does it mean to tailor a resume?

A tailored resume is a customized document that aligns your skills, experiences, and achievements with a specific job description. Unlike a generic resume that provides a broad overview of your career, a tailored resume focuses on showcasing how your background directly matches the requirements of the job.  

Think of it like dressing for an occasion. Just as you wouldn’t wear hiking gear to a wedding, your resume should reflect the unique needs of the job you’re applying for. 

Why tailoring your resume matters

Tailoring your resume isn’t just a nice-to-have‌ — ‌it’s critical for proceeding with the next steps to getting the job you want. Here’s why tailoring your resume matters:

Shows commitment

A tailored resume reflects that you’ve invested time and effort into understanding the role and the organization. Customizing your resume also shows you value quality work and show attention to detail, which are transferable skills that employers look for in new hires.

Helps you stand out 

By highlighting your most relevant skills and experience, recruiters can see why you are a good fit for the role. A tailored resume flags to the recruiter that you are a strong candidate, setting you apart from other applicants.

Optimizes for ATS 

Many companies use ATS to filter resumes. A tailored resume increases your chances of making it through this automated screening because it includes the exact terms and skills the employer is looking for. By optimizing for ATS, you’re making sure your resume effectively communicates your value both to machines and humans.

Steps to tailor job details in a resume

Submitting the same resume to multiple employers is not an effective way to land your next job. Here are steps to tailor your job details efficiently:

1. Analyze the job description  

Understanding the job description is the first step to tailoring your resume. Start by carefully reading the job posting and take note of these key elements:  

• Main responsibilities Pay attention to the primary tasks and duties mentioned for the role. Identify experiences in your resume that show your ability to perform these responsibilities.

• Required skills Identify the hard and soft skills the employer is seeking. These may include technical proficiencies (e.g., specific software or tools) as well as interpersonal skills (e.g., teamwork, problem-solving). Make sure your resume showcases these skills with relevant examples.

• Preferred qualifications Look for any specific degrees, certifications, skills, and experiences that the employer prefers. Make a list of these qualifications to highlight them in your resume at a later stage. 

• Keywords and phrases Note recurring terms and phrases in the job description, such as “project management,” “data analysis,” or “client relations.” Use these terms strategically in your resume to align with the employer’s language and optimize for ATS.  

• Company values and culture Many job descriptions include information about the company’s mission, values, or culture. Incorporate language and examples that show you align with these values. For instance, if the company values innovation, highlight your creative problem-solving abilities or experiences leading innovative projects.  

• Focus areas or priorities Look for clues about what the employer considers most critical to success in the role. These focus areas and priorities often reveal the key challenges or objectives the organization expects the candidate to address.

2. Match your skills and experience  

Once you know what the employer is looking for, match your skills and experience to the job description. This proves that your qualities match the specific requirements of the role, and can contribute to the employer’s success.

Highlight your skills and achievements that best demonstrate your ability to meet your employer’s needs. For example, if the employer values project management expertise, showcase specific projects you’ve successfully led, emphasizing measurable results such as meeting tight deadlines, increasing efficiency, or staying under budget.

3. Optimize the resume format 

A well-structured resume format ensures that your most relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments are easy to find and aligned with the employer's expectations. Begin by choosing a layout that highlights the sections most important for the role.

For example, if the job emphasizes technical expertise, consider placing a dedicated "Skills" section prominently at the top. Use clear headings and bullet points to make the resume scannable and visually appealing. This not only helps recruiters quickly identify key qualifications but also ensures your resume performs well with ATS.

4. Leverage keywords strategically

Avoid simply listing keywords without context; instead, weave them into specific achievements or responsibilities to demonstrate your practical experience. 

Instead of simply repeating "data analysis" as a keyword, offer a concise example of how you performed this task. For instance you can tailor your resume to read, "performed advanced data analysis to identify trends and inform strategic decision-making, resulting in a 15% increase in operational efficiency." 

By contextualizing keywords with concrete results, your resume is appealing to ATS and hiring managers.

Common mistakes to avoid when tailoring your resume 

While tailoring your resume, you may unintentionally make mistakes that create an ineffective application. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid when customizing your resume: 

Overloading with Keywords

While it’s important to include job-specific keywords to optimize for ATS, stuffing your resume with too many keywords can make it sound robotic and unnatural. Focus on using relevant terms strategically and in context to maintain readability. Plus, to stay relevant, include your skills and experiences that directly relate to the role.  

Forgetting to proofread

Customizing your resume for each job can increase the likelihood of typos, grammatical errors, or leaving job-specific details from a previous application. Always double-check for accuracy and polish before submitting your application for each employer. 

Omitting transferable skills

While focusing on tailoring your skills to a job description, you might overlook your transferable skills that show your versatility. Transferable skills‌ like communication, leadership, or problem-solving can prove your value to several employers.

Take charge of your job hunt

Tailoring your resume to a job description may take extra effort, but the payoff is worth it. By analyzing the job requirements, matching your skills, and incorporating keywords, you can create a resume that grabs attention and lands interviews.  

Better yet, an HR partner like Remote Talent helps you stand out to top remote employers from around the world. With Remote Talent, you can apply confidently only to remote roles that you interest you. 

Filter for remote or hybrid roles, by location, and pay range in advance, so you can connect with employers that fit your unique needs. That means you have a higher change of matching with a company that requires your skillsets.

Find your next role through Remote’s job board and create your free job profile today. 

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