How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description
A 15-minute method to match your resume to any Canadian job posting using NOC keywords, mirrored language, and quantified bullets.
Step 1: Mine the posting
Open the job description and highlight every noun and tool that's repeated, every responsibility, and every required qualification. Those are your keywords.
Step 2: Mirror the language
If they call it "stakeholder reporting", don't call it "client updates". Use their phrasing exactly where it's truthful. The ATS and the recruiter both reward this.
Step 3: Re-rank your bullets
For each role, move the bullets most relevant to this posting to the top. Demote (or cut) anything off-topic. Each remaining bullet should follow action + impact + metric — see examples.
Step 4: Refresh the summary
Rewrite your 2–3 line summary to reflect the role. Lead with your title (matched to the posting), years of experience, and the 1–2 keywords that matter most.
Step 5: Final pass
- Run the tailored resume through the ATS checker.
- Confirm the title family matches your NOC code.
- Pair with a tailored cover letter.