If you’ve spent any time looking for jobs, you’ll probably have encountered the advice that you should tailor your CV to the job description of each individual role you apply for.
When it comes to CVs, one size does not fit all. Employers want to see how your skills and experience match the specific role they’ve advertised.
Tailoring your CV will show employers you’re a serious candidate, and that you really want to work for them. Most recruiters will be able to spot a generic CV a mile off.
We’ve put together a few tips to help you tailor your CV to the job description.
Key points: How to tailor your CV to the job description
- Always read the job description carefully — understanding every requirement helps you align your CV precisely with what the employer wants.
- Identify and include key skills and phrases from the job listing to improve your chances of passing ATS (Applicant Tracking System) screening.
- Reframe your past experience to show how it demonstrates the abilities and qualities listed in the job description, even if it’s from a different industry.
- Use clear, evidence-based examples to highlight core skills such as teamwork, communication and organisation.
- Prioritise your most relevant experience by placing it near the top of your CV for maximum impact.
- Research the company’s culture and values, then reflect these subtly in your CV to show genuine interest and a good fit.
- You don’t need to rewrite your CV from scratch for every job — small, targeted adjustments can make it perfectly tailored for each application.
Read the job description carefully
We can’t stress this enough: read the job description from beginning to end, thoroughly. And then read it again. And maybe a third time.
Make sure you fully understand what the employer is looking for and what the role requires.
Just by reading the job description carefully you’ll immediately give yourself an advantage over a proportion of the competition.
Pick out keywords and phrases
Highlight keywords and specific skills listed in the job description, and include them in your CV.
Lots of employers now use ATS software to scan applications before they’re seen by human eyes.
ATS software scans CVs for specific keywords or phrases related to the role. If your CV doesn’t include these words and phrases, it probably won’t make it past this stage.
And if your CV does make it through to be seen by a hiring manager, they’ll be looking out for the same key phrases.
If the job description asks for ‘good communication skills and strong attention to detail’, make sure you get those words in there somewhere.
Make your experience fit
Experience that doesn’t seem immediately relevant may still have involved skills listed in the job description.
Lots of roles require soft skills like the ability to work in a team, interpersonal skills and organisational skills.
New data from job search engine Adzuna.co.uk, reported via CKF, revealed that ‘Communication’ is the most sought after soft skill in potential employees. In their survey of one million adverts, 10.9% of ads mention ‘Communication’ within the job description, highlighting the value of showing off soft skills gained through previous experience on your CV.
Therefore, your previous sales role may not be directly relevant to the project management position you’re applying for, but you can still draw attention to skills required by both roles.
Demonstrate the skills you want to highlight with specific examples if you can.
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Put your most relevant experience first
You might not meet every single requirement listed in the job description, and that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be invited to interview.
Tailoring your CV is about making the skills and experience you have appear to the best advantage – so make the most relevant parts of your CV the most visible.
Rejig the order of your CV so that your most relevant experience comes first. This might be a previous role, qualifications or training or some freelance work you did on the side.
You want to make an impact right from the get-go, so lead with the thing that’s most likely to catch the hiring manager’s eye.
Research the company
Don’t just read the job description – research the company itself as well.
See if you can find out anything about the company’s values and culture, and include any information which shows you fit in.
This might include volunteering or charity work, a blog you write or sports you’re involved in.
FAQs: How to tailor your CV to the job description
Should you tailor a CV to a job description?
Yes — tailoring your resume to the job description significantly increases your chances of progressing to an interview. It helps you highlight the most relevant skills and experience, match key industry terms and address the employer’s exact needs, making your application stand out from generic submissions.
What is the 7-second rule for CVs?
The 7-second rule refers to how long a recruiter typically spends scanning a CV before deciding whether to continue reading. This means your most relevant skills, achievements and keywords must be clearly presented near the top to make an immediate impact.
Can an AI writer tailor my CV to a job description?
We don’t recommend using AI CV writers to tailor your CV to the job description. In many cases, your CV will suffer due to a lack of personalisation, use of relevant context, lack of common sense and AI hallucinations. Some employers also use AI detection tools. For more information, read our guide: Why An AI CV Writer Could Harm Your Job Search.
What are 2025 CV buzzwords to avoid?
Buzzwords to avoid in 2025 include vague terms like hard-working, team player, results-driven, dynamic, motivated and go-getter. Employers prefer concrete examples that demonstrate your value, such as measurable achievements and specific skills rather than empty clichés.
What are red flags on CVs?
Common CV red flags include unexplained employment gaps, inconsistent dates, generic job descriptions, spelling and grammar mistakes, and lack of measurable achievements. Overly long CVs, unclear formatting or omitting essential details can also raise concerns for hiring managers.
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Tailor your CV to the job description for the best chance of success
Tailoring your CV is about highlighting the parts of your CV that best fit the job description.
It’s about drawing attention to details and examples that match up with the requirements of the role and the company’s values.
This might sound like a lot of work, but once you’ve got in the habit of tailoring your CV it will become an easily manageable step in the job application process.
We hope you enjoyed this blog. For more insights and guidance around interview advice, take a look at the following articles.
- CV Qualifications: How And Where To Add Professional or Vocational Qualifications
- What Does A Good CV Look Like In 2025? With Examples
- Please Find Attached My CV: Other Ways To Write This Phrase
- AI Interview Process: Do Employers Use AI To Assess Job Candidates?
- How Do I Update My CV? Advice And Guidelines
- How To Write An Investment Banking CV: Our Guide
- Audit CV Writing: Our Advice For Auditors When Writing A CV
- Social Work CV: Writing A Great Social Work CV
You don’t need to start from scratch every time. A few well-placed tweaks to your standard CV should be all you need.
Our unique, affordable CV writing service produces tailor-made CVs that show you at your best. Find out how our CV writing team can help you today.
