Tailoring your resume and cover letter is an important part of the applying process that many job seekers tend to overlook. By tailoring your application materials to the jobs you’re applying for, you will show those potential employers that you are that ideal candidate for their specific position. Simply Hired has tips and tricks for tailoring your resume and cover letter.
Your main point of reference when tailoring your cover letter and resume should be the job description for the position to which you are applying. In a job description, employers write out the exact requirements of the role they are hiring for – so your cover letter and resume you should highlight how you fit these very specific requirements.
Here’s how:
- Language: Look at the job description and modify your resume and cover letter to match the language used in the job listing. Recruiters are not necessarily experts in the fields they recruit for, so they often look for specific keywords and phrases in the resumes and cover letters they receive. In addition, some large corporations electronically screen candidates by keywords in their resume and cover letters.
- Qualifications: Emphasize the qualifications you have that are required for the position to which you’re applying. Also, consider removing qualifications that aren’t relevant, or moving them to an “Other Skills” section at the bottom of your resume.
- Ordering: Typically, employers put the most important requirements at the beginning of the job description and move to the less important or even optional skills. In your resume and cover letter, rearrange your skills so that the most important requirements are highlighted first on your resume and cover letter.
Simply Hired has some additional tips for stellar and targeted resumes and cover letters:
Writing a Targeted Cover Letter
Make Your Resume Stand Out
By creating tailored instead of generic resumes and cover letters, employers will see that you truly are the candidate they want to hire.
Don’t forget to attend our “Steps to Success Series” workshops on Resume and Cover Letter writing for tips and feedback!
- Resumes: September 9th at Noon in Taylor 203
- Cover Letters: September 15th at Noon in ELC 217
Source: Simply Hired blog, August 20th post