5 Ways to Target your Resume to a Job Posting

5 Ways to Target your Resume to a Job Posting

Ask any professional resume writer, and they will tell you that your chances of getting an interview are better if you target your resume to the job description. If you’re applying for multiple roles with similar job functions, making minor adjustments to your resume before submitting your application is worthwhile.

The good news is that you don’t have to completely rewrite your resume every time! A strategically designed resume will be easy to tweak to include keywords from different job postings. Here are 5 ways you can adapt your resume to various job descriptions:

1. Identify keywords in the job posting.

Different employers use different terminology. When you find a job posting you want to apply for, start by highlighting the keywords and incorporating them into your resume so that you and the company are speaking the same language.

2. Edit your headline.

Include a headline under your name and contact information (but above your professional summary) that specifically tells your reader what your skillset is and what type of position you are targeting. The headline can either be the exact job title of the position you are submitting your resume for or a more descriptive and branded statement that immediately shows who you are as a candidate.

3. Change up your core competencies list.

Your skills list is the easiest place to incorporate keywords from the job description into your resume. Sometimes you can swap one term for another, and other times you may replace it altogether. Just remember to only choose keywords that are true and to scan the rest of the document to ensure your language is consistent.

4. Include functional job titles.

Like point 1 above, you want to speak the same language as your potential employer. If some of your formal job titles are specific to your employer and don’t clearly describe your role, include a functional title with the job title header that is understood more universally.

5. Rearrange your bullets.

Don’t stress about rewriting all your bullet points for every job application—but do reconsider their order. Put the bullets in order starting with the achievement that is the most relevant to the job posting.

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