How Do I Tailor My CV To A Specific Job?

As a CV writer at Career Point Kenya, I’ve had the privilege of working with countless clients, many of whom ask me, “How do I tailor my CV to a specific job that I am applying for?”. Recently, I had a conversation with a client whose CV, though filled with impressive experiences, lacked focus on the job they wanted. This significantly reduces the chances of landing an interview. If you want your CV to stand out and resonate with recruiters, it’s essential to tailor your CV to a specific job.

Here are five ways to tailor your CV to a specific job

1. Use Keywords

Employers often use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter CVs, and these systems look for specific terms that match the job requirements. To tailor your CV to a specific job, I advised the client to identify these keywords and incorporate them into their CV. This helps you pass the initial ATS screening and shows the recruiter that you have the exact skills they’re looking for.

2. Customize Your Career Objective

A personal statement that is broad or vague does not make you stand out. To customize your CV for the job, I suggested to the client that they rewrite their career objective to align with the role they were applying for. This immediately demonstrates your value to the employer.

3. Highlight Relevant Professional Experience

To tailor your CV to a specific job, it’s essential to highlight the experiences that matter most for the position. Instead of listing every job held, I recommended they emphasize roles where they demonstrated the skills needed for the job they wanted, such as leadership and project management.

4. Align Your Skills with the Job Requirements

Many candidates fall into the trap of listing all their skills, whether relevant or not. I explained that to personalize your CV for the position, the skills section should mirror the job description. This approach shows that you’ve understood the job’s needs and that you possess the competencies required.

5. Clean and Focused Layout

Even a well-written CV can go unnoticed if it’s not well-organized. To tailor your CV to a specific job, the layout should be clean, and your most relevant qualifications should be easy to find. I advised the client to format their CV in a way that highlighted their most important achievements and qualifications first.

If you’re unsure of how to tailor your CV to a specific job, let us help. Sign up for our CV writing service, and we’ll work with you to create a CV that stands out and increases your chances of getting hired.