How to Tailor Your CV for Every Job Application

If you’ve been sending the same CV to dozens of job listings and wondering why you’re not getting callbacks, you’re not alone. Most job seekers make this exact mistake.

Why Generic CVs Fail

Recruiters spend an average of 6-7 seconds scanning a CV. That’s not enough time to connect the dots between your experience and their requirements. They’re looking for specific signals — keywords, relevant achievements, and role-specific skills.

When your CV doesn’t immediately show relevance, it gets filtered out. Often before a human even sees it.

The Tailoring Process

Here’s how to customize your CV for each application:

1. Analyze the Job Description

Read the job posting carefully. Highlight:

Required skills and qualifications
Key responsibilities
Company values and culture indicators
Specific technologies or methodologies mentioned

2. Mirror the Language

Use the same terminology the job description uses. If they say “project management,” don’t write “managing projects.” ATS systems and recruiters look for exact matches.

3. Reorder Your Experience

Put the most relevant experience first. If you’re applying for a marketing role but your most recent job was in sales, lead with marketing achievements from any position.

4. Quantify Relevant Achievements

Instead of “Improved customer satisfaction,” write “Increased customer satisfaction scores by 35% through implementing new feedback systems.”

5. Customize Your Summary

Your professional summary should directly address what the employer is looking for. Reference specific aspects of the role.

The Time Problem

The obvious challenge? This takes time. Properly tailoring a CV for one job can take 30-60 minutes. When you’re applying to multiple positions, it becomes unsustainable.

A Better Way

This is exactly why we built Kuji. Upload a job description, and we’ll automatically tailor your CV to match — highlighting the right experience, using the right language, and formatting for maximum impact.

Your first job pack is free. Try it now →