How to tailor your CV to a job description

1. Find what the job is really asking for

Read the posting and write down the three to five things it cares about most. They are usually in the first lines of the responsibilities and in the "must have" list, not the long tail of nice-to-haves. Note the exact words used: if they say "stakeholder management", that is the phrase to use, not a synonym.

2. Lead with the matching experience

For each of those things, find where you have done it. Move those bullet points to the top of each role, and rewrite them to show the result, not just the task: what changed because you did it, with a number if you have one. Cut or shorten what does not support this job.

3. Rewrite the top of the CV for this job

Your profile or summary is the first thing read. Two or three lines that say who you are in this job's terms, and the one or two strongest reasons you fit, do more than a general statement that could go on any CV.

4. Use the posting's words, honestly

Many employers screen CVs by keyword. Use the posting's terms where they truly describe your experience. Never add a skill or tool you have not used: it may pass the screen, but it will not pass the interview.

5. Check every claim before you send

• Every number, tool and achievement is something you can talk about in an interview.
• Job titles, dates and company names are exact.
• The layout fits the field and the country: a photo is expected in some countries and unusual in others.
• It still reads like you.

How Pip helps

Pip does these steps for every job you pick. It reads the posting, rewrites your CV and cover letter around your matching experience in the posting's words, picks a layout for the field and country, and then checks the result: anything it cannot trace back to your own CV is flagged for you before you send it.

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