How to match your CV to a job advert
A practical method to tailor your CV for each application using the advert's own words, so recruiters and ATS software see the fit fast.
Why tailoring matters
Recruiters and applicant tracking systems look for evidence that you match a specific role. A general CV makes them search for it. A tailored CV puts the match in plain sight, in the first few lines.
Step 1: Highlight the advert
Read the advert twice and highlight:
- The exact job title.
- Required skills and tools.
- Words that appear more than once, which signal what matters most.
- Qualifications and years of experience.
Step 2: Make a short keyword list
Write down 8 to 12 words and phrases from the advert, such as "customer relationship management", "MS Excel", "cash handling" or "lesson planning". These are what a recruiter is likely to search for.
Step 3: Use the words where they are true
- Put the job title under your name.
- Mention the top two or three skills in your profile.
- Use the advert's wording in your skills section.
- Rewrite one or two experience bullets to show the most important requirement.
Only use keywords for skills you really have. Words you cannot back up will fall apart at interview.
Step 4: Reorder for relevance
Move the most relevant role, project or skill to the top of its section. If the job is technical, put skills before experience. If it values education, as many graduate programmes do, keep education first.
Step 5: Check the match
Paste your CV and the advert into a keyword checker, such as the free CVfor99 ATS checker, and see which important words are missing.
Keep a master CV
Keep one full master CV with everything you have done, then make a tailored copy for each application. In CVfor99 you can make a tailored copy of any CV for a specific job in one step and track the application from your dashboard.