Tailoring CVs - Just How Far To Go?

November5th

I overhauled my CV, and have made one that is easier to read, and much easier to tailor to specific jobs. It still needs work but I am already much happier with it.
I road tested it yesterday and got the response:

"your skills set does not exactly match with the client's specific requirements"

I knew before I sent it that I had probably had not tailored it enough and wondered whether I should be just repeating the job description wholesale, but thought that does not reflect me enough.

Do you really just completely word for word match the job description? Am I rewording what I did do and levering it to match? This is surprisingly difficult, and I am a good pitch writer!

It has been many years since I have had to apply for job and everything seems to have changed so much. My CV used to have a pretty much 100% strike rate (while I was employed), but now it is about 2%. It is a shock.

Uncertain

November5th wrote: »

....... and I am a good pitch writer!

It has been many years since I have had to apply for job and everything seems to have changed so much. My CV used to have a pretty much 100% strike rate (while I was employed), but now it is about 2%. It is a shock.

Is it over "pitched"?

I for one used to hate reading CVs that were riddled with all the popular "buzz" phrases or gave me the impression they were a "hard sell" containing only what the applicant thought I wanted to hear.

I'm sure this varies in different fields but sometime simple and factual is best.

November5th

Uncertain wrote: »

Is it over "pitched"?

I for one used to hate reading CVs that were riddled with all the popular "buzz" phrases or gave me the impression they were a "hard sell" containing only what the applicant thought I wanted to hear.

I'm sure this varies in different fields but sometime simple and factual is best.

This makes me hopeful as I have used keywords for the industry but no buzz words (I find them meaningless).
If I posted my profile paragraph would you critique that? It is a flavour of the whole CV.

SevenOfNine

I tailored my CV somewhat to emphasise what I'd been doing that fit what they were looking for. Then I used my covering letter, which though I kept short, I rammed home a few more skill points which fit their bill.

Judith_W

I agree that the cover letter is the main area to tailor and show you meet the job description, the experience on CV should show as somewhat relevant but the cover letter is the key.

November5th

Judith_W wrote: »

I agree that the cover letter is the main area to tailor and show you meet the job description, the experience on CV should show as somewhat relevant but the cover letter is the key.

Just finished a tailored CV for a job I am going for today, and I am as happy with it as I will ever be.
For the cover letter I have simply taken the main points in their job description and answered then in my own words ie I have the skills to take ownership of this role by: and then listing the main requirements.

Is that wrong?

KiKi

I always, always, always tailor my CV. I pick out the points in my experience that are most relevant to the JD and highlight those, taking out the less meaningful ones. I change my profile paragraph depending upon the focus of the business and job purpose.

I use the cover letter to explain how I meet each essential criteria, and outline the desirable, too.

Like you, I've always had 100% hit rate with my CV - but bear in mind now, though, that employers are getting so many applications that it's very possible they're just writing something to reject you when it's not necessarily the actual reason. Unhelpful, I know, but it happens - moreso now.

CVs need to have lots of 'white space' which makes them accessible, easy to read and appealing. No-one wants to trawl through 5 pages of management speak! I'd be happy to look at it if you want to PM me the profile (or the whole thing). I worked in HR for 11 years, and I write now, so it's a good combination for CV writing!

HTH
KiKi

stokelady1

Judith_W wrote: »

I agree that the cover letter is the main area to tailor and show you meet the job description, the experience on CV should show as somewhat relevant but the cover letter is the key.

I'm not sure i'd agree with this, depending on which job you are applying for ie unless it is a niche job, local advertised only position etc. I work in recruitment and at the minute with over 40 responses per job and working several jobs at a time we only have time to read the cv not the cover letters. This will apply to agencies and large HR departments, most hiring managers also request we only send one document over ie the CV so i'd suggest putting key info on there. Use your covering letter as a supplement not as the key information document