How much should you tailor your CV?

Some interesting comments on my recent blog on the Guardian: Dealing with a diverse work history on your CV.

Specifically: how do you write a CV when you have a wide background, and you’re not limiting yourself to one specific role?

Standard CV writing advice is to tailor your CV to the role you’re applying for. If you don’t, your CV risks looking unfocussed, and disconnected from what the hiring manager wants to see. If a hiring manager gets 100+ CVs, the ones that stand out are those which connect what you offer to the challenges of the role.

But how far should you tailor your CV if you’re applying for a variety of jobs?

If you’re applying for a similar role in the same sector as your current job
You probably already have a CV for this sort of role. Update it with your most recent experience, achievements, new skills etc gained from your current position. Beyond this, it’s difficult to tweak your CV much further.

Kerry Scott of Cluewagon points out: “… to change the resume for each opening seems unnecessary. Your experience is your experience, so how can you change it that much? That’s what the cover letter is for — to draw out how your experience applies to this particular position.

Your resume should present your experience in the best possible light, not in a light you think they might want to see. Even if you happen to guess right (unlikely), it’s creepy to receive a resume that looks like a copy-and-paste of the job description. I always wonder about the authenticity of the ones that look like such a direct match that they can’t be real.”

If you’re applying for a promotion
You’ll probably have to consider how to position yourself for this. At the next step in your career, what additional skills or experience are necessary to carry out the role effectively – and how will you need to present these on your CV?

If you’re applying for different roles, or in different sectors
It you’ve had a career in two different fields, it makes sense to have two different CVs that broadly focus on each field. Depending on the specifics of the job you apply for, it might also be possible to tweak your CV further for the particular role.

Don’t just rely on the wording of the job ad for hints. Research the industry, company and role, and use your network of contacts to find out more. The more you know, the less you risk double-guessing the hiring manager.

Photo credit: ellie