Tailoring Resumes and Cover Letters

myFOX Job Shop - Don’t overlook tailoring your resume and cover letter. Demonstrate to potential employers that you are that ideal candidate, the one well suited for the specific position they’re offering.

Carefully study the job description. This is your answer key. Since employers list the exact requirements of the role here, your cover letter and resume should highlight how you are the perfect match.

Here’s how:

• Language: Read the job description thoroughly and modify your resume and cover letter to match the language used in the job listing. Recruiters often look for specific keywords and phrases in the resumes and cover letters they receive, or … resumes and cover letters are electronically screened for certain keywords.

• Qualifications: Emphasize your qualifications by specifically calling out how you fit the requirements of the position. Remove qualifications that aren’t relevant, or move them to a “Skills” section at the bottom of your resume.

• Ordering: Typically, employers put the most important requirements at the beginning of the job description and then, later, list the optional or less important skills. In your resume and cover letter, rearrange your skills so that the most important requirements are highlighted first.