How do I tailor my résumé to a job description?

Start with the employer’s priorities, then reorganize and rewrite your existing evidence so the most relevant qualifications are easy for both the ATS and the hiring manager to find.

How to Tailor a Resume to a Job Description

Read the posting like a scoring guide

Separate the posting into required skills, preferred qualifications, responsibilities, tools, industry language, and measurable outcomes. Repeated phrases usually signal greater importance.

Mark requirements you can prove.
Circle exact terminology that accurately describes your experience.
Do not add a keyword merely because it appears in the posting.

Match evidence—not just keywords

For every major requirement, identify a role, project, achievement, or skill that demonstrates it. Keywords help discovery, but evidence creates credibility.

Example: Instead of “experienced in account management,” use “Managed a national portfolio of 100+ enterprise and government accounts while maintaining 98% retention.”

Rewrite the top third first

Update the headline, summary, and core skills so they reflect the target role. A recruiter should understand your fit before reaching the experience section.

Name the target function, not an inflated title.
Lead with the two or three strongest matches.
Use measurable results where the source résumé supports them.

Reorder and tighten experience

Move the most relevant bullets higher within each role. Remove low-value repetition, but preserve dates, employers, titles, and factual context. Tailoring is prioritization—not fabrication.

Finish with an ATS check

Use standard headings, readable fonts, simple bullets, and a single-column structure when possible. Confirm that important skills appear naturally in context and that the final document remains easy to scan.