Want more interviews? Read this.
Tailoring your resume to align with a specific job description can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.
At Relentless, we do this for candidates by inserting a “pitch” that’s tailored to every job at the top of each resume.
This feature alone increased our application to interview conversion rate across our candidates by 10 to 30 percent.
Here’s how it looks so you can copy it:
Notice that:
We insert the name of the company and role title into the resume in multiple places. This shouts “Hey I took the extra time to personalize my resume to this job post!!!”
We use a 5 bullet point argument to assert why the candidate is a terrific fit for the role.
If you’ve been accepted into Relentless, don’t worry, we handle this for you.
If not, here’s how you can do a manual version of this on your own:
Step 1: Analyze the Job Description
Before you start tweaking your resume, it’s crucial to understand what the employer is looking for.
Carefully read the job description and identify key responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications. Pay close attention to:
Job Title: Ensure your resume reflects your suitability for this role.
Responsibilities: Note the primary duties and think about your related experiences.
Skills: Highlight the skills the employer values most.
Keywords: Identify industry-specific terms and keywords used in the job description.
Step 2: Highlight Your Relevant Experience
Once you have a clear understanding of the job requirements, review your resume to identify experiences that align with the job description.
Focus on positions where you performed similar tasks or used relevant skills.
Step 3: Re-Write Your Bullet Points
Re-write your bullet points to mirror the language used in the job description. Here’s a structure you can follow to make your bullet points impactful:
Action Verb: Start with a strong action verb that conveys what you did.
Task: Describe the task or project you were involved in.
Result: Highlight the result or impact of your work.
Metrics: Whenever possible, include quantifiable results to demonstrate your achievements.
Example Transformations
Example 1: Customer Success Manager
Job Description:
Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers to ensure high levels of satisfaction and retention.
Identify and resolve customer issues and concerns promptly.
Collaborate with internal teams to improve the customer experience.
Analyze customer data to drive account expansion and renewals.
Original Resume Bullet Points:
Handled customer relationships.
Resolved customer issues.
Worked with other teams.
Used data to help customers.
Transformed Resume Bullet Points:
Developed and maintained strong relationships with over 50 customers, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate and a 90% retention rate.
Identified and resolved customer issues within 24 hours, leading to a 30% reduction in customer complaints.
Collaborated with internal teams to enhance the customer experience, resulting in a 20% increase in Net Promoter Score (NPS).
Analyzed customer data to drive account expansion and renewals, contributing to a 15% increase in annual revenue.
Example 2: VP of Software Engineering
Job Description:
Lead and manage a team of software engineers to deliver high-quality software products on time.
Develop and implement strategies to improve software development processes.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align engineering goals with business objectives.
Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure continuous improvement.
Original Resume Bullet Points:
Managed a team of engineers.
Improved software development processes.
Worked with other teams.
Tracked performance metrics.
Transformed Resume Bullet Points:
Led and managed a team of 30 software engineers, delivering high-quality software products on time and within budget, resulting in a 25% increase in project delivery efficiency.
Developed and implemented strategies to streamline software development processes, reducing the development cycle by 40% and improving code quality.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align engineering goals with business objectives, contributing to a 20% increase in product market fit.
Monitored and reported on key performance indicators (KPIs), driving continuous improvement and achieving a 15% increase in team productivity.
Step 4: Use Keywords Effectively
Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description into your bullet points.
This not only makes your resume more attractive to hiring managers but also helps it pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for specific terms.
Step 5: Review and Refine
After re-writing your bullet points, review your resume to ensure it flows well and that each point clearly demonstrates your value.
Make sure the formatting is consistent and that there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
Additional Tips
Be Concise: Keep your bullet points clear and to the point. Avoid unnecessary jargon.
Prioritize: Place the most relevant experiences and skills at the top of your resume.
Tailor for Each Job: Customize your resume for each job application to highlight the most relevant experiences.
Show Impact: Focus on the impact of your work. Employers are interested in results and how you can contribute to their success.
Want help landing your next role?
Head to our site: joinrelentless.com
This is fantastic advice, I particularly liked the worked examples, it made the points you were trying to make, that much clearer,