Tailor your CV to the job ad
One CV for every application reads as generic. Five steps show that you fit this role, without inventing anything.
Try it free →Why tailoring is worth it
Recruiters compare your CV with the job ad. They look for the requirements listed there and skim the rest. If the most relevant points sit far down or use different words, they are easy to miss.
Tailoring does not mean bending the truth. You choose what matters for this role and move it to the front.
5 steps to a matching CV
- Mark the requirements: note must-haves, tools, qualifications and terms the ad repeats.
- Match your evidence: write down where you have already met each requirement.
- Rewrite your profile: sum up in two or three sentences why you fit this role.
- Reorder your bullet points: put what matches the ad first in each role and cut the rest.
- Use the same terms: adopt the wording of the ad where it describes your experience accurately.
Example: turning a task into an argument
VorherResponsible for social media and newsletter.
NachherEditorial planning for Instagram and LinkedIn, weekly newsletter to existing customers
Example for an ad asking for content planning and email marketing.
Mistakes to avoid
- Copying sentences from the ad word for word
- Listing skills you could not back up in an interview
- Describing old, unrelated roles in as much detail as recent ones
- Changing only the cover letter and leaving the CV as it is
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to change my CV for every application?
- For roles that matter to you, it pays off. A new profile and a different order of bullet points are often enough.
- Can I use terms from the job ad?
- Yes, if they describe your experience accurately. Avoid copying whole sentences.
- What if I do not meet every requirement?
- Show what you do bring and leave gaps open rather than claiming something. Job ads often describe an ideal candidate.