Tailor your CV to one advert in 20 minutes
Tailoring doesn't have to take an evening. With a good base CV, this routine takes about 20 minutes per advert.
Before you start: a base CV
Keep one fuller master CV with everything you've done, including bullets you don't always use. Each tailored CV is a copy of it, trimmed and reordered for one advert. Save each version with the job's name so you know what you sent.
Minutes 0 to 5: read the advert
List the must-haves and nice-to-haves. Highlight the exact words used for tools, qualifications and skills. Our guide to reading a job advert helps here.
Minutes 5 to 10: check your evidence
For each must-have, find your line. Mark each one clear, unclear or missing. This is the step SmashTheJob does for you, if you'd rather paste the advert and your CV.
Minutes 10 to 17: fix the unclear lines
Rewrite the unclear must-have lines first, using the advert's words where they're true. Then move your best-matching bullets to the top of each job. Add any must-have you have but left out.
Minutes 17 to 20: statement and final check
Update your personal statement to name the job and two or three must-haves you clearly meet. Then read the CV once as the recruiter would, with the advert beside it. Check spelling, dates and contact details.
Questions
Is 20 minutes enough?
For a similar job to ones you've applied for before, usually. A new kind of job, or a long application form, will take longer the first time.
Should I tailor my CV for jobs on a recruitment agency site?
Yes. Agencies search their databases with the same kind of words, and the consultant compares your CV to the client's brief.