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Intentionally examining job descriptions is an essential step to prepare for tailoring your resume and successfully completing the professional interview.
- Identify Competencies
- Determine what knowledge and skills are needed both generally and specifically for the role.
- Highlight related experiences on your resume and in interviews.
- If you lack direct experience, prepare to address this through similar experiences and transferable skills.
- Identify Themes
- Ask: What seems most important to the hiring manager?
- Review the responsibilities section and note repeated or emphasized themes.
- Pay special attention to items listed prominently or multiple times.
- Ask: What seems most important to the hiring manager?
- Identify Your Selling Points
- Use the job description to decide which strengths, accomplishments, and experiences to emphasize.
- Prioritize experiences that directly align with required competencies and themes.
- Use the job description to decide which strengths, accomplishments, and experiences to emphasize.
- Identify Gaps or Issues
- Consider potential weaknesses from the employer’s perspective.
- Reflect on where another candidate might appear stronger and plan how you’ll address this.
- You don’t have to agree with every requirement (e.g., years of experience), but be ready to reframe your relevent experiences.
- Reflect on where another candidate might appear stronger and plan how you’ll address this.
- Consider potential weaknesses from the employer’s perspective.
- Anticipate Questions
- Consider likely interview questions based on the responsibilities and qualifications listed.
- Practice common behavioral questions.
- Use frameworks such as the STAR Method to structure strong, specific answers.
If you have additional questions on how to tailor your resume consider scheduling an appointment with a career advisor.
