A lot of companies use software to scan resumes before a human even sees them. By tailoring your resume with keywords and phrases from the job listing, you’re more likely to pass through that automated filter and get noticed for the role.

Step 1: Start with a Generic Resume

I start with a generic resume that is named, say, ryan-haber-generic.docx. After I customize my resume for a product manager role or a sales role, I save the new, customized resumes as ryan-haber-product-manager.docx or ryan-haber-sales.docx. From then on, whenever I start customizing a resume, I pick whichever pre-existing resume is closest. I eventually have ryan-haber-fintech-product-manager.docx, ryan-haber-api-product-manager.docx, etc.

Step 2: Swap in Keywords

Having selected a generic resume closest to the job description that I'm writing for, I start replacing my resume's language with keywords specifically found in the job description.

This step is crucial. No human ever sees your resume unless the applicant tracking system (ATS, a.k.a, the filter) scores you highly. Scores are almost entirely derived from the number of keywords from the job listing also found in your resume.

There are great tools that are helpful for finding keywords in job descriptions. I recommend resumeworded.com, but jobscan.co, tealhq.com, and skillsyncer.com all get good reviews.

Bear in mind the following:

  • Use exact phrases. Match keywords directly from the job description (e.g., “project management” instead of “managed projects”) to increase your chances of passing the ATS.
  • Don't overstuff. Sprinkle keywords naturally throughout your resume, but don’t force them in everywhere – it needs to sound human.
  • Prioritize important terms. Focus on the most critical skills or qualifications listed in the job post, especially those mentioned multiple times or at the top of the job description.

Step 3: Reorder Bullets

Resume readers are like other readers. They start at the top left and work their way down to the bottom left. While your resume is engaging, they will keep reading.  When it answers the question, "Is this person a good fit?" they stop reading. Your resume is engaging as long as it keeps connecting to the job description.

Therefore, put the most relevant bullet points as close to the top as possible. Put the most critical phrases and words at the beginnings of sentences. Do not bury the lede.

Step 4: Rewrite Your Summary

Because your summary is near the top of your resume, it's your best chance to catch your reader's attention and make them feel you're a fit. Incorporate words and phrases from the job description. If you can incorporate the name of the company to which you are applying into the summary, this can only help.

Here's a summary I wrote on a resume for a role at Zapier as a product manager:

Avid Zapier user with 20+ zaps in production. Hands-on and client-focused technical product manager with 7+ years of product owner and product management experience focusing on developer experience. Extensive experience with REST APIs and GraphQL, integration, data management, and data visualization. Owns the product development lifecycle from product discovery to QA testing and final delivery.

Here's a good chance to hit plenty of their keywords that don't fit in easily elsewhere and let them know that you know them and what they're about.

Step 5: Review

Give it a read over one more time. With the amount of copying and pasting and rewriting, you're likely to have sentences interspliced or unfinished.

This phase is further important because, while you have to robotically include lots of keywords to get through the filter bots, you also have to sound like a human because you want it to be read by a human eventually.