How to tailor your resume the right way!

In today's issue, I'm going to show you how to quickly tailor your resume for better results with your job applications

Key Takeaways 

• Customizing your resume can really boost your odds of success!

• Sending out many general applications can waste time and drain energy.

• Recruiters want to see resumes that clearly speak to their needs.

• Resumes that don't include keywords are not as likely to be seen by recruiters! 

But before we do that, let's answer a couple of questions posed by job seekers this week!

Question 1 - Should I include that I am autistic and physically disabled on my resume / cover letter?

In general, it's not necessary to mention your disability status on your resume or cover letter. The most important thing to focus on is highlighting your skills, qualifications, and experiences.

That being said, if you need accommodations during the application or interview process, it's totally fine to disclose your disability and request accommodations. You can do this either in your application or during the interview.

It's important to remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S. or the Canada Human Rights Act (CHRA) in Canada protect people with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace. However, not all employers may be aware of their obligations under the law. If you do choose to disclose your disability, be clear and concise while highlighting your strengths and abilities.

Question 2 - I work at a well-known controversial organization. I’m trying to get in with a more progressive organization, should I use wording to illustrate I don’t agree with my former employer.

Instead of getting hung up on the name of the organization, focus on highlighting the skills and experience you have gained as an associate producer. Make sure to show off any bipartisan or balanced reporting you have done in your portfolio and talk about your desire to work for an organization that represents the entire public.

You could even add a quick statement to your cover letter that explains your career goals and your eagerness to work for a more balanced news organization. This can help show that you're committed to journalistic integrity and that you're looking for an opportunity to apply your skills in a more diverse and inclusive setting.

Question 3 -  Any advice for a 30-year old looking to start a new career?

Starting a new career can be both exciting and daunting, especially when you're approaching 30 and looking for stability.

Before diving into any career path, get a clear understanding of your strengths, skills, and interests. Take some time to reflect on what you enjoy doing, what you're good at, and what you would like to learn more about. This will help you identify potential career paths that align with your passions and strengths.

Once you have a better understanding of your strengths and interests, start researching potential careers that align with those areas. Look at job requirements, expected salaries, and growth projections to help you narrow down your options.

Depending on the career path you choose, you may need to go back to school or complete some sort of training program. Research the education and training requirements for your chosen career path and make sure you're prepared to meet them.

Networking is a great way to learn more about different industries and potential career paths. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with people in your target field to learn more about what it takes to succeed.

If you have any resume or career-related questions, be sure to join my Reddit community, r/FinalDraftResumes for the latest advice!

Do I really need to tailor my resume to every position? Well no, you don't need to do anything you don't want to, but if you're interested in landing a job sooner rather than later, you will!

The good news is that it doesn't take a lot of time. A few hours a week is all you need to reap the rewards.

Before you start, create a master resume.

It's important to have a master document saved before you begin the process of tailoring. A master document is a resume that will serve as your starting point for all future modifications. It's essentially a comprehensive record of your work experience, skills, and education that you'll later modify depending on the job you're targeting.

Your master resume isn't a one-and-done deal either. It's an evolving document that you'll continue to add to as your career progresses. Use it to jot down new jobs, new accomplishments, and new skills you learn.

The 4 steps to tailoring a resume.

Once you've created a master resume, the next step is to research the company and role you're interested in.

#1 Review the company's website

Looking through a company's website is a great way to get an idea of culture, core values, and what they look for in their staff.

Concentrate on the company's mission/vision statements, the language used, and if there are employee profiles that might suggest what qualities they value in staff. Typically, professional company websites are organized with separate tabs, and the "about us" section is where most necessary information can be found.

Another great place to review employee profiles is on LinkedIn. It’s super easy to do, see images below:

Search for people that hold your target role in order to get an understanding of how they’re positioning themselves, keywords they’re using etc.

#2 Review the job posting carefully

To get a better understanding of what the employer is looking for, start with the job description. It's essential to note the different sections and identify key phrases that stand out.

Generally speaking, job postings are broken down into four sections:

• The company profile, which gives you some background on company, its industry, and its services.

• An overview of the role. This is a broad brushstroke picture that will give you an idea of how the position will fit into the company's larger operation.

• The typical responsibilities of the position. This area will provide a breakdown of the day to day responsibilities, typically in bullet format. Responsibilities are usually ordered by importance, with greater or more primary responsibilities closer to the top.

• Qualifications. This section will outline what the employer's expectations are in a candidate. You'll usually see required degrees, years of experience, and important skills here.

#3 Ensure your title in the resume matches the one in the job posting

This is just marketing 101. By mirroring the job title somewhere near the top of your resume, you're ensuring alignment with the role.

In the screenshot below, I’ve mirrored the job title (business analyst), at the top of my resume.

#4 Integrate keywords and phrases into your resume

To optimize your resume, use the keywords you've identified during your research of the job posting and the company's website and incorporate them throughout your resume. You will need to sprinkle them across various sections, such as:

• Summary

• Work Experience

• Skills

When adding keywords, make sure you add originals as well as variations. In the screenshot above, the third bullet in the responsibilities section lists the keywords “client relationships”. An example of how you could incorporate those keywords could be:

“Developed lucrative client relationships with 25 regional food and beverage businesses”.

You’ll also want to use variations of those keywords whenever possible. One variation could be:

“Built hundreds of profitable business relationships with longterm clients”.

Whenever you're ready...

I can help you write a pretty knockout resume - I've been reviewing and writing them for over 15 years! Learn more about me here.

If you're looking for a more affordable option, I recommend checking out the Resume Writer's Handbook, which will show you how to build a great resume, all on your own.

In today's issue, I'm going to show you how to quickly tailor your resume for better results with your job applications

Key Takeaways 

• Customizing your resume can really boost your odds of success!

• Sending out many general applications can waste time and drain energy.

• Recruiters want to see resumes that clearly speak to their needs.

• Resumes that don't include keywords are not as likely to be seen by recruiters! 

But before we do that, let's answer a couple of questions posed by job seekers this week!

Question 1 - Should I include that I am autistic and physically disabled on my resume / cover letter?

In general, it's not necessary to mention your disability status on your resume or cover letter. The most important thing to focus on is highlighting your skills, qualifications, and experiences.

That being said, if you need accommodations during the application or interview process, it's totally fine to disclose your disability and request accommodations. You can do this either in your application or during the interview.

It's important to remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S. or the Canada Human Rights Act (CHRA) in Canada protect people with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace. However, not all employers may be aware of their obligations under the law. If you do choose to disclose your disability, be clear and concise while highlighting your strengths and abilities.

Question 2 - I work at a well-known controversial organization. I’m trying to get in with a more progressive organization, should I use wording to illustrate I don’t agree with my former employer.

Instead of getting hung up on the name of the organization, focus on highlighting the skills and experience you have gained as an associate producer. Make sure to show off any bipartisan or balanced reporting you have done in your portfolio and talk about your desire to work for an organization that represents the entire public.

You could even add a quick statement to your cover letter that explains your career goals and your eagerness to work for a more balanced news organization. This can help show that you're committed to journalistic integrity and that you're looking for an opportunity to apply your skills in a more diverse and inclusive setting.

Question 3 -  Any advice for a 30-year old looking to start a new career?

Starting a new career can be both exciting and daunting, especially when you're approaching 30 and looking for stability.

Before diving into any career path, get a clear understanding of your strengths, skills, and interests. Take some time to reflect on what you enjoy doing, what you're good at, and what you would like to learn more about. This will help you identify potential career paths that align with your passions and strengths.

Once you have a better understanding of your strengths and interests, start researching potential careers that align with those areas. Look at job requirements, expected salaries, and growth projections to help you narrow down your options.

Depending on the career path you choose, you may need to go back to school or complete some sort of training program. Research the education and training requirements for your chosen career path and make sure you're prepared to meet them.

Networking is a great way to learn more about different industries and potential career paths. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with people in your target field to learn more about what it takes to succeed.

If you have any resume or career-related questions, be sure to join my Reddit community, r/FinalDraftResumes for the latest advice!

Do I really need to tailor my resume to every position? Well no, you don't need to do anything you don't want to, but if you're interested in landing a job sooner rather than later, you will!

The good news is that it doesn't take a lot of time. A few hours a week is all you need to reap the rewards.

Before you start, create a master resume.

It's important to have a master document saved before you begin the process of tailoring. A master document is a resume that will serve as your starting point for all future modifications. It's essentially a comprehensive record of your work experience, skills, and education that you'll later modify depending on the job you're targeting.

Your master resume isn't a one-and-done deal either. It's an evolving document that you'll continue to add to as your career progresses. Use it to jot down new jobs, new accomplishments, and new skills you learn.

The 4 steps to tailoring a resume.

Once you've created a master resume, the next step is to research the company and role you're interested in.

#1 Review the company's website

Looking through a company's website is a great way to get an idea of culture, core values, and what they look for in their staff.

Concentrate on the company's mission/vision statements, the language used, and if there are employee profiles that might suggest what qualities they value in staff. Typically, professional company websites are organized with separate tabs, and the "about us" section is where most necessary information can be found.

Another great place to review employee profiles is on LinkedIn. It’s super easy to do, see images below:

Search for people that hold your target role in order to get an understanding of how they’re positioning themselves, keywords they’re using etc.

#2 Review the job posting carefully

To get a better understanding of what the employer is looking for, start with the job description. It's essential to note the different sections and identify key phrases that stand out.

Generally speaking, job postings are broken down into four sections:

• The company profile, which gives you some background on company, its industry, and its services.

• An overview of the role. This is a broad brushstroke picture that will give you an idea of how the position will fit into the company's larger operation.

• The typical responsibilities of the position. This area will provide a breakdown of the day to day responsibilities, typically in bullet format. Responsibilities are usually ordered by importance, with greater or more primary responsibilities closer to the top.

• Qualifications. This section will outline what the employer's expectations are in a candidate. You'll usually see required degrees, years of experience, and important skills here.

#3 Ensure your title in the resume matches the one in the job posting

This is just marketing 101. By mirroring the job title somewhere near the top of your resume, you're ensuring alignment with the role.

In the screenshot below, I’ve mirrored the job title (business analyst), at the top of my resume.

#4 Integrate keywords and phrases into your resume

To optimize your resume, use the keywords you've identified during your research of the job posting and the company's website and incorporate them throughout your resume. You will need to sprinkle them across various sections, such as:

• Summary

• Work Experience

• Skills

When adding keywords, make sure you add originals as well as variations. In the screenshot above, the third bullet in the responsibilities section lists the keywords “client relationships”. An example of how you could incorporate those keywords could be:

“Developed lucrative client relationships with 25 regional food and beverage businesses”.

You’ll also want to use variations of those keywords whenever possible. One variation could be:

“Built hundreds of profitable business relationships with longterm clients”.

About the Author

I’m James, Cofounder of Final Draft Resumes. I’ve been in the career consulting space for 13 years, and before that, I was a recruiter for AECOM.

I’ve helped thousands of job seekers, from industries like software engineering, IT, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and more generate job opportunities through well-written resumes that translate unique backgrounds into coherent narratives.

If you’re struggling with your resume for whatever reason, reach out - I just might be able to help!

If you’re more of a DIY person, then check out Resumatic, my free-to-try resume builder.