The Importance of Tailoring Your CV for Each Job Application – How to customise your CV for every role

Hello everyone,

This topic may not be the most popular among candidates, but it's essential—tailoring your CV. It’s not an easy task. First, you need to understand what the employer is looking for. Then, dive deep into the job description to identify the right keywords. Finally, deal with the fear that, even after all that effort, it might not lead anywhere.

I remember when I was in the early/mid stages of my career, spending a lot of time crafting what I thought was the perfect CV. I made sure it reflected my experience, expectations, and what I could bring to the table. I read countless guidelines and reviewed the CVs of others whose career paths matched mine. I was really proud of the result and put it out there, expecting great things to happen.

But, disappointingly, nothing did. At first, I applied for about five jobs a day that matched my experience. Then, I broadened my criteria and applied to 10 a day within my industry. Soon enough, I was sending out 15 applications daily, for jobs that barely matched. Sound familiar?

Nothing worked. I kept tweaking my CV, but I got nowhere. It wasn’t until I spent six years in recruitment that I understood why. I was using what I now call the "machine gun" approach—firing my CV in every direction, hoping for the best.

After reviewing thousands of CVs and helping over 1,000 people find their next job, I now see the value in tailoring your CV. Even today, when I meet a strong candidate, I work with them to make adjustments. The result? Over 80% of my candidates get at least a first-stage interview.

Now, I want to help you! Let’s get straight to the point—here are my top tips to increase your chances of landing that job.

Match the Job Title:

This is a key point I highlight often. It’s the easiest way to catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. A relevant job title is good, but an exact match is best. Why? Most applicants face the toughest stage first: screening. The talent team may not have the same technical knowledge as you, and that’s where missteps happen.

Imagine your current role is "Financial Analyst" but the job title you’re applying for is "Financial Consultant". Though the responsibilities may be the same, the hiring team might not know that. To them, these could be two entirely different roles, and that can lead to rejection.

So, give yourself the best chance possible. Align your CV’s job title to match the role you're applying for. Instead of a five-second glance, they’ll now take a deeper look, searching for reasons why you’re the right fit.

Add Relevant Keywords:

We’ve all heard this advice before, but how do you find out which keywords are important?

It can be confusing with modern job descriptions sometimes listing hundreds of details. Start by focusing on the project specifics—what’s going on and why they’re hiring.

If the JD doesn’t offer enough detail, look for keywords in sections like:

• Must have

• Mandatory

• Key experience

• Crucial

  
  

Words like "beneficial" or "bonus" are nice, but they won’t be as impactful as the keywords in these other sections. Still stuck? You can even use ChatGPT to help pull out the most important keywords from the JD!

Once you’ve identified them, integrate those keywords throughout your CV. This not only helps recruiters, but also boosts your chances with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that might be scanning your CV.

Highlight Responsibilities:

This section is often underestimated. Many candidates focus only on their biggest achievements but miss highlighting their day-to-day responsibilities.

Achievements are important, but recruiters want to know what your role involved daily—whether it was analysis, support, team leadership, mentoring, development, or anything else. That’s what will resonate with them, especially if it matches 80-100% with the job description.

Even if you were only briefly exposed to certain responsibilities, including them can be the game-changer that moves your CV from the "maybe" pile to the "definitely" pile.

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If you follow these steps, I guarantee you’ll see a significant boost in your application success rate. If your applications aren’t getting anywhere, it might not be because you're unqualified. It could simply be a "miscommunication," and it’s up to us as candidates to bridge that gap and convince employers we’re the right fit.

Still unsure about your CV? Review it against the JD and ask yourself: would you hire that person? Is this CV worth the £60,000 a year salary the job is offering? By doing this, you’ll get your CV to the next level!