Your resume and LinkedIn are not generic 'here’s my life story' documents.

They are SALES PAGES designed to sell one thing...YOU!

Tailor them ruthlessly, align with the job and make it impossible for recruiters to say no.

Turning Business Strategy into Career Strategy

Business Strategy: A business succeeds when it tailors its offerings to meet a customer's needs. By studying the market, emphasizing measurable results and presenting clear value, businesses attract the right clients and outshine competitors.

Career Strategy: Similarly, your resume and LinkedIn should be customized for each role. They should focus on relevant skills, achievements and measurable accomplishments. This tailored approach will showcase your value, align with the employers’ needs and makes you the obvious choice for the job.

Strategy Ratings

Impactfulness: 10/10

• This strategy is highly impactful because it transforms resumes and LinkedIn profiles into targeted tools that directly align with job requirements. It increases the likelihood of landing interviews and offers.

Time to Implement: 8/10

• Tailoring resumes and optimizing LinkedIn profiles for each role takes considerable time, especially when breaking down job descriptions and customizing content.

Difficulty: 7/10

• While the steps are straightforward: maintaining precision, consistently tailoring for multiple roles and optimizing for ATS systems can be challenging.

Why Use this Strategy?

Tailoring your resume and LinkedIn ensures you present yourself as the perfect candidate for each role. This makes it easier for recruiters to connect your skills with their needs.

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cut it in a competitive job market. Customization proves you understand the job and are serious about it.

By aligning your experience, achievements and profile with the role, you maximize your chances of standing out, getting noticed and landing interviews.

How to Tailor Your Resume and LinkedIn to Land Any Role

1. Stop Using a 'One-Size-Fits-All' Resume

• A generic resume is a straight ticket to the rejection pile.
• Every role you apply to deserves its own custom version.
  • Bonus: Speak directly to the job description. If it’s not relevant, get rid of it.

2. Study the Job Description Like It’s Your Blueprint

• Break it down:
  • Highlight the must-have skills, tools and experience.
  • Look for repeated keywords (these are gold for ATS systems).

3. Use the “Three-Second Scan” Test

• Recruiters spend 6-10 seconds on your resume. Make the first three count!
• Quick Fixes:
  • Bold the most relevant keywords.
  • Start with a killer summary that screams your value.

4. Quantify EVERYTHING

• Numbers = Proof. Proof = Trust. Trust = Interviews.
  • Change This: Led a project to improve system performance.
  • Into This: Led a project that improved system performance by 35%, reducing downtime by 40%.

5. Front-Load Relevant Experience

• The most relevant experience goes at the top of each section.
• If your current job doesn’t match the role, lead with past projects or freelance work that does.
• Bonus: If it doesn’t scream, 'I’m perfect for this job,' cut it.

6. Optimize for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

• Use the exact phrasing from the job posting
• Don’t overdo fancy designs. Simple and clean formats work best.
• Bonus: Test your resume with ATS simulators (tools like Jobscan).

7. Customize Your LinkedIn Like a Landing Page

• Your LinkedIn profile should mirror your tailored resume but be more conversational.
• Steps to Optimize your LinkedIn Page:
  1. Write a killer headline that screams your expertise and niche.
     • Example: “Cloud Architect | AWS-Certified | Expert in Scalable Infrastructure”
  2. Use the 'About' section to tell your story:
     • Focus on the value you bring and not just your career history.
  3. Fill the 'Skills' section with job-relevant keywords.
  4. Request endorsements for these specific skills. These are easy social proof wins.

8. Showcase Role-Specific Achievements

• Both your resume and LinkedIn should spotlight projects and wins that align with the job.
• Example: If applying for a cybersecurity role:
  • Resume: 'Implemented an intrusion detection system and reduced security incidents by 50%.'
  • LinkedIn: Post a breakdown of the project to demonstrate expertise publicly.

9. Leverage a Targeted 'Experience Remix'

• Got experience in another field? Frame it to match the role you want.
• Example: If switching from IT Support to DevOps:
  • Highlight transferable skills: Automation, troubleshooting and scripting.
  • De-emphasize irrelevant tasks like answering support tickets.

10. Create a Custom Cover Letter (for Extra Edge)

• While many skip this, a well-written and tailored cover letter can set you apart.
• Formula:
  1. Why you’re interested in this role.
  2. How your specific skills/experience solve their problems.
  3. End with a confident call to action: “I’d love to discuss how I can deliver [specific result] for [company].”

Conclusion

Your resume and LinkedIn are not generic 'here’s my life story' documents.

They are SALES PAGES designed to sell one thing...YOU!

Tailor them ruthlessly, align with the job and make it impossible for recruiters to say no.

Work with Me

If you need help implementing this strategy, reply to this email.