How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description

Short answer: Duplicate your main resume, then: match your headline to the job title, rewrite the summary’s first line for the role, add the posting’s key skills you genuinely have, and reorder bullets so the most relevant evidence comes first. It takes about 15 minutes per application.

The 15-minute method

  1. Duplicate your main resume so your general version stays intact.
  2. Read the posting twice. Underline the job title, the must-have skills, and anything mentioned more than once.
  3. Match the headline under your name to the job title, if it honestly describes you.
  4. Rewrite the first line of your summary so it speaks to this role.
  5. Add missing skills you genuinely have, in the posting's wording.
  6. Reorder bullets in each role so the most relevant one comes first.
  7. Cut bullets that are irrelevant to this job if you need space.
  8. Check with the ATS checker and fix the gaps that are true for you.

What not to do

  • Do not copy the job description into your resume.
  • Do not claim skills you do not have — they come up in interviews.
  • Do not hide keywords in white text.

Keep track

Name each copy after the company and role ("Acme — Product Analyst"). In Ovelit Resume you can keep as many versions as you like, free.

Put it into practice

Build your resume with built-in guidance, 137 templates and a free ATS check. No account, no watermark.

Match your resume to a job

Related guides