Step 7 of 21: Apply for Jobs and Tailor Your Applications for Each Job Application

In Step 7 of the "Mastering Your Job Search" series, we dive into the crucial process of applying for 1-3 jobs while tailoring each application. Applying for jobs can be nerve-wracking, so it's essential to give yourself ample time to be careful and thoughtful with your applications. Always save a copy of the job description to refer to later, as some companies remove postings once interviews begin.

To tailor your resume, focus on the professional summary and key skills section. Carefully review the job description, noting important qualifications and phrases used by the company. Create a short summary that highlights your most transferable skills and experiences relevant to the role. Incorporate keywords from the job description into your key skills section.

Additionally, review the rest of your resume for language and terminology alignment with the job description. Make necessary adjustments to speak the same language as the industry and company. By taking the time to tailor your applications, you can apply to jobs you are genuinely excited about and qualified for with better results. Remember to allocate enough time for each application, as processes may vary, and a well-prepared, flawless application increases your chances of success.

Important Links:
How to Tailor Your Resume to the Job: 7 Tips: https://bit.ly/43KTIbu
How to Write a Resume for Remote Work: Tips from a Career Expert: https://youtu.be/ZC9Z0ps59Qc

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Transcript

Welcome to step 7! Now for what can be one of the more unnerving parts of the job search. Submitting the applications! It is important to give yourself ample time when you are applying for jobs so that you can be careful and thoughtful with your application and take the time to tailor your resume for each position. As you begin to apply for jobs you may find that it seems that many companies have a slightly different process, and you don’t want to feel rushed and unprepared for the process.

An important and often overlooked step is to always save a copy of the job description in a pdf or print it out. Companies will often remove the job posting from their site once they start interviewing and it can be tricky to prepare for an interview if you don’t have the job description in front of you!

At this point in the process, you have updated your resume with new and relevant skills and reviewed your document with a trusted source. Now, you have found a job or two that seem like just the right fit and you’re excited to get some applications submitted! But, before you start to submit your resume, pause for just a moment. Now is the time to tailor your resume to each job that you apply to. What does this mean?

Previously we talked about crafting a professional summary and key skills section for your resume. This section offers a great area to focus your attention to tailor your resume to each role. In this section, you can present yourself as the perfect candidate for the role you are seeking by describing your most transferable skills and experiences.

Carefully read and review the job description all the way through to the very end. Sometimes the instructions for applying or contact information are found at the end of the job description and you don’t want to miss this crucial information! Take note of important words or phrases that are used frequently or directly noted as qualifications for the position. Using that information select elements of your past experience that align most closely with the role and use that as your guide to create a short summary of 3-5 sentences that will help a recruiter to envision you in the role. Additionally, use a key skills section to easily add keywords of qualifications that you have from within their job description.

Once you have your summary and key skills updated to present you as a qualified applicant, review the rest of your resume. There is no need to rewrite your document, but consider the language, lingo, and terminology you are using versus what is in the job description. Do you refer to customers, but the job description mentions clients? Could you adjust your language to better fit this job or this industry while telling the same story? Remember, we want to help the recruiter to envision you in that role and speaking the same language can help!

Application tracking systems and processes vary between company, industry, and function, so it’s important to allow yourself time when applying to follow all the steps. Some applications may ask you to complete an assessment that will take several minutes, others will be a simple submission process, but you always want to be prepared with enough time to submit a flawless application.

Tailoring your resume and application materials will take some time, but when done right you can apply to jobs you are truly excited about and qualified for with better results!

Check out the links below from our blog for more advice on tailoring your resume to each application!