Do I really need to tailor my resume to each job posting?

Question: 

Do I really need to tailor my resume to each and every job I apply for?

Answer: 

Yes, if you want to give yourself the best chance at landing the job.

Explanation: 

Job seekers often ask me if they really have to tailor their resume to a particular job posting. I think they’re hoping it’s just a myth that recruiters, hiring managers, HR folks, and resume writers like myself made up. And I get it. When you’re applying to dozens of jobs, tailoring your resume each and every time seems exhausting. But sending out resumes that are unlikely to make it through initial screenings are not only wasted effort, but also wasted chances to land the job. 

Here’s why. To get through the ATS (applicant tracking system), you need the right keywords, which means checking your resume against the keywords in the posting. Getting through the recruiter or initial HR screen means standing out from the crowd, which won’t happen with a generic resume and cover letter. And getting the hiring manager to call you for an interview means convincing him or her that you are at least likely to be able to perform the duties listed in the job description with a high degree of competence, which requires demonstrating the specific experience or skills the position calls for.

Now, this shouldn’t mean rewriting your resume dozens of times. It should mean small tweaks. Adding a few keywords here, reordering a couple of job duties there. Maybe you need to add some detail to an older role to expound on a particular area of expertise that the posting emphasizes. If you find that changes like these are taking a long time, then your resume probably isn’t sufficiently tailored to the kinds of roles you’re looking for (but that’s a topic for another time). I usually tell clients to budget 10-20 minutes per job. Sometimes, you’ll find a job posting that’s really similar to a job you just applied for. In that case, it will probably take even less. Either way, I promise, it will be time well spent, especially if you’re currently struggling to get interviews even when your experience lines up well with the jobs you’ve been applying to.

I look at it this way. If you ask someone a question, you want an answer to the question you asked. You don’t want to be redirected to an FAQ page that provides generic answers to questions that are like yours, but not exactly yours. Tailoring your resume means customizing it to answer the question the hiring manager is asking you: why are you the best candidate for this job? Answering that question directly and specifically will not only put your best foot forward with the hiring manager, it’s also going to put you two steps ahead of all those candidates who didn’t tailor their resume.

I know it’s a pain, I know it’s a lot of work, but which would you prefer: 20 minutes well spent or 5 wasted?