How to tailor your resume to a job description

Tailoring is a repeatable process. Here’s a clean method that works for most roles.

Step 1: Extract the top requirements

From the job description, list:

• 5–8 core skills (tools, domains, methods)
• 3–5 responsibilities (what you’ll be doing)
• 2–3 “signals” (scale, leadership, stakeholder type, industry)

Step 2: Match each requirement to proof

For each requirement, find a real example from your background:

• where you used that skill
• what the outcome was
• what the scope/scale was

If you can’t find proof, don’t force it.

Step 3: Update the top third first

• Rewrite your summary to match the role focus
• Move role-relevant skills to the top of the skills section

Step 4: Rewrite the first 1–2 roles

• Keep bullets outcome-driven
• Use role language where it’s accurate
• Add numbers when possible (speed, cost, volume, %)

Step 5: Remove or compress low-relevance content

Tailoring is as much about focus as it is about adding.

Related:

• /learn/how-to-tailor-a-resume-without-keyword-stuffing
• /learn/how-to-quantify-impact-in-resume-bullets