How to Tailor Your General Resume for Specific Job Applications

In today’s competitive job market, sending out a general resume for every application just doesn’t cut it. Tailoring your resume for each specific job application is essential if you want to stand out to hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS). A well-tailored resume shows that you understand the employer’s needs and that you are the best fit for the role. This guide will walk you through the steps to customize your general resume for each job application while maintaining efficiency. You’ll learn how to optimize your resume for ATS and hiring managers and discover the key elements that make a tailored resume successful.

Why Tailoring Your General Resume is Crucial

Employers receive dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes for each job posting. A one-size-fits-all resume, while convenient, doesn’t convey your specific qualifications or how you can meet the company’s needs. Tailoring your resume demonstrates attention to detail, shows that you’ve done your research, and highlights the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

By tailoring your general resume, you can expect the following benefits:

• Higher chance of getting past the ATS: ATS algorithms scan resumes for keywords related to the job description, and tailoring your resume with these terms can help you rank higher.
  
  
• Increased likelihood of landing an interview: Customizing your resume makes it more relevant to the job and helps it stand out to hiring managers.
  
  
• Stronger alignment with the employer’s needs: You can highlight specific skills and experiences that align with the company’s values and goals.

1. Analyze the Job Description

The first step to tailoring your general resume is thoroughly analyzing the job description. Pay close attention to the required qualifications, skills, and experiences mentioned in the job posting.

What to look for:

• Keywords and phrases: Identify important keywords, such as specific skills (e.g., “project management,” “Adobe Creative Suite”) and industry jargon (e.g., “agile methodologies”). These keywords are essential for passing through ATS filters.
  
  
• Top responsibilities: Note the key duties and responsibilities outlined in the job description. These will provide clues about the most important experiences you should showcase.
  
  
• Company values and culture: Understanding a company’s mission and values can help you tailor your resume to show that you align with their culture.

Action step: As you analyze the job description, make a list of the top skills and keywords to incorporate into your resume. This will ensure your resume resonates with both ATS and the hiring manager.

2. Customize Your Professional Summary

Your resume’s professional summary is one of the first sections a recruiter or hiring manager will read. Instead of using a generic summary, customize it to reflect how your experience aligns with the specific job you’re applying for.

What to include:

• Position title: Incorporate the job title from the job posting. For example, if you’re applying for a “Marketing Manager” position, include that title in your summary.
  
  
• Relevant skills: Mention two or three skills that are directly relevant to the role. Ensure that they are highlighted in the job description.
  
  
• Achievements: Include a key achievement that aligns with the responsibilities of the role you’re applying for. For instance, if the job requires experience in increasing customer acquisition, mention how you led a campaign that grew customer acquisition by X%.

Example:  

“Results-driven Marketing Manager with over 10 years of experience in digital marketing and campaign optimization. Proven track record of increasing customer acquisition by 25% through targeted content strategies. Proficient in Google Analytics, SEO, and CRM management.”

By doing this, you tailor your general resume to specifically align with the role you’re applying for, making your application much more appealing.

3. Highlight Relevant Experience

Next, focus on the work experience section. Review your general resume and adjust your bullet points to emphasize the tasks and accomplishments that are most relevant to the job.

What to do:

• Reorganize bullet points: Move the most relevant responsibilities to the top of each job listing. If a job posting emphasizes leadership, highlight your management experience first.
  
  
• Quantify achievements: Whenever possible, quantify your results. Numbers catch the eye and show a tangible impact. For instance, instead of saying “Managed a sales team,” say, “Led a sales team that increased revenue by 20% year-over-year.”
  
  
• Adjust job titles if necessary: If your past job titles are similar but not identical to the one in the job posting, consider tweaking them slightly (without being dishonest) to match the new role. For example, if you were a “Social Media Coordinator” and you’re applying for a “Social Media Manager” role, you can adjust your description to reflect managerial responsibilities you had in the role.

Example:  

In a general resume:  

“Managed social media accounts and increased engagement.”

Tailored resume:  

“Led a team in managing social media platforms, increasing engagement by 30% through data-driven strategies and creative content campaigns.”

This adjustment ensures your experience is relevant and impactful for the job you are targeting.

4. Add Industry-Specific Skills

Tailoring your general resume for a specific job application means identifying and highlighting the skills that are most relevant to the role. 

Steps to follow:

• Review your skills section: Remove any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for, and replace them with those that match the job description.
  
  
• List industry-specific tools: Include tools, software, and technologies that are commonly used in the role. If the job requires experience with Salesforce or Trello, ensure those are on your resume if applicable.
  
  
• Soft skills: While technical skills are critical, don’t overlook the importance of soft skills. Employers value traits such as leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Action step: Tailor the skills section by focusing on the job-specific tools and abilities the employer is looking for, ensuring your resume looks tailor-made for the position.

5. Align Your Accomplishments with the Job

Tailoring your general resume means ensuring that your accomplishments align with the company’s needs and the role’s responsibilities.

How to highlight accomplishments:

• Focus on outcomes: Don’t just list responsibilities—show results. Did you save the company money? Improve processes? Increase customer satisfaction? These are outcomes that hiring managers care about.
  
  
• Customize based on the job: If the job emphasizes innovation, highlight your most creative projects. If leadership is a focus, mention team management and successful projects where you led a team to success.

Example:  

For a sales position:  

“Exceeded quarterly sales targets by 20%, driving $500,000 in revenue over 12 months by leading a team of account managers.”

6. Optimize for ATS

Tailoring your general resume for ATS optimization is essential if you want it to be seen by hiring managers. Many companies use ATS to screen applications based on keywords and skills. If your resume isn’t tailored to include the right terms, it may be filtered out before a recruiter ever sees it.

How to optimize for ATS:

• Include keywords from the job description: ATS systems scan for specific keywords that match the job description. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your resume.
  
  
• Use simple formatting: ATS may struggle with complex formatting, graphics, or columns. Stick to a clean, traditional resume format to ensure your resume is processed correctly.

Conclusion: Tailor Your Resume for Best Results

Tailoring your general resume for specific job applications is crucial for making a lasting impression on hiring managers and increasing your chances of landing an interview. By analyzing the job description, customizing your professional summary, highlighting relevant experience, and optimizing for ATS, you can ensure your resume stands out. For ambitious job seekers aiming for six-figure careers, customizing your resume for each opportunity allows you to showcase your most relevant skills and achievements, ensuring you position yourself as the ideal candidate.