Out of every 100 job seekers, at least 80 have done this. Chances are you have too.
Be honest. How many times have you applied for different job openings with the same CV?
Don’t worry, most of us have done it at some point, and it makes sense. After all, job hunting is a numbers game. The more applications you send out, the better your chances. That’s why it’s so common to reuse the same CV over and over. On the surface, it is faster. Easier. Logical even. But in reality, it’s one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make, and it could be costing you opportunities without you even realising it.
In this article, we’ll show you exactly why the one-size-fits-all approach is a recipe for failure and how to tailor your CV for any job.
But let's start with the basics.
Let’s understand why using one CV to apply to different jobs is not as effective as it looks anymore.
Every job is unique, with specific skills, experiences, and requirements. A generic CV, however, diminishes your ability to highlight how your background aligns with the employer’s needs. For example, a CV tailored for a data analyst position with the help of this free CV Matcher would emphasise analytical skills and proficiency with tools like Python or SQL. A one-size-fits-all CV can’t effectively do that.
According to Hire Autism, 83 in every 100 recruiters say they would hire a candidate whose CV aligns with a specific job. This is also backed by 55% of recruiters who affirm that untailored CVs are one of the reasons why job seekers don’t get jobs.
That is what separates job seekers from smart job seekers. Smart job seekers don’t just send out applications. They prioritise quality over quantity, tailoring their CV to every job.
An all-in-one CV shows employers that you haven’t taken the time to understand their needs or the role. Recruiters can easily tell when they come across a one-size-fits-all CV. It is usually unclear and includes irrelevant information that does not align with the job. This lack of effort can make you appear unprofessional or uninterested.
Sending out the same CV may feel productive, but it is draining. The time and mental energy spent applying to jobs that don’t align with your skills could be better invested in targeting fewer, high-fit roles. This leads to better outcomes and less burnout.
Kenya’s job market is highly competitive, with a lot of job seekers competing for fewer roles. The only advantage you have is your ability to stand out. Only a tailored CV can help you achieve that. It demonstrates you have researched the company, understood its goals, and are genuinely excited about the role. This level of effort sets you apart from candidates who submit generic applications. According to LinkedIn’s 2025 The Future of Recruiting Report, hiring managers value candidates who show a clear understanding of the company’s needs.
Now that you understand why a one-size-fits-all CV doesn’t work, let’s look at how to create a tailored CV that maximises your chances of landing an interview. Follow these steps:
The job description is all you need. It outlines the skills, qualifications, and experiences the employer values most. Here’s how to break it down:
Identify Keywords: Every JD has keywords. They are specific skills, tools, or qualifications mentioned in the job description. You would find things like “project management”, “Excel”, or “customer relationship management”. If you are not certain, use our CV-matcher tool to compare your CV against the job description and identify missing keywords.
Understand the Role’s Priorities: Note which responsibilities or skills are emphasised. For example, if the job description mentions team collaboration multiple times, that is what you should target in your CV or cover letter. Emphasise your teamwork experience.
Research the Company: Visit the company’s website or LinkedIn page to understand its mission, values, and culture. Incorporate relevant details from there into your CV.
Your professional summary is the first thing recruiters read. Tailor it to reflect the job’s requirements and needs. For example:
Generic Summary: “Experienced professional with strong skills in communication and leadership seeking a challenging role.”
Tailored Summary: “Results-driven marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in digital campaign management and SEO optimisation, eager to drive MyJobMag’s brand growth through innovative strategies.”
If you observe closely, you would notice that the tailored version incorporates specific skills and aligns with the company’s needs.
Reorganise your CV to prioritise skills and experiences that match the job description. Use these strategies:
Reorder Your Experience: List the most relevant roles or projects first, even if they aren’t the most recent.
Use Action Verbs and Metrics: Quantify your achievements with numbers. Typical examples include “Increased sales by 20%” or “Managed a team of 10”.
Eliminate Irrelevant Details: Remove experiences or skills that don’t align with the role. For example, if you’re applying for a software engineering role, your retail experience from 10 years ago is likely irrelevant.
To ensure your CV passes ATS screening, incorporate keywords naturally throughout. Also bear in mind that virtually all ATS flag buzzwords which are common phrases or words overly used. That is why you need to avoid boxing your CV with them. To optimise for ATS, see a typical example:
If the job description mentions “Agile methodology” include it in your experience section: “Led a team of 5 developers in delivering projects using Agile methodology”.
Also use standard section headers like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills” to make your CV ATS-friendly.
Create a dedicated skills section that emphasises your hard and soft skills relevant to the role. For example, Tableau, Data Visualisation, and Statistical Analysis are relevant skills for Data Analyst jobs.
SEO, Google Analytics, and Social Media Management are like relevant for a Digital Marketing jobs.
Show that you’re a cultural fit by incorporating language from the company’s mission statement or values. For example, if the company mentions “creativity”, mention how you’ve introduced creative solutions in past roles.
A tailored CV should look polished and professional. Use a clean, ATS-friendly format with consistent fonts, headings, and spacing. Proofread carefully to avoid typos or errors. Save your tailored CV as a PDF to preserve formatting unless the job posting specifies otherwise.
MyJobMag’s CV Matcher: This free tool analyzes your CV against job descriptions to identify missing keywords and suggest improvements.
Grammarly: This one ensures your CV is free of grammatical errors and uses professional language.
Canva: Canva offers customizable portfolio templates for a visually appealing design.
Smart job seekers understand that applying to fewer, well-targeted jobs with a tailored CV is more effective than blasting out a generic CV to hundreds of roles. This approach requires more upfront effort, but it yields better results. Instead of gambling on luck, you’re strategically positioning yourself as the ideal candidate.
Here’s how to adopt this mindset:
Be Selective: Apply only to roles that align with your skills, experience, and career goals.
Invest Time in Research: Spend 10–15 minutes per application researching the company and tailoring your CV.
Track Your Applications: Use a spreadsheet to monitor which jobs you’ve applied to, the tailored CV used, and the outcome.
Follow-Up: After submitting your application, send a polite follow-up email to the recruiter to reinforce your interest.
Let’s compare a generic CV to a tailored one for a job posting for a “Digital Marketing Manager” at a tech startup.
Generic CV:
Professional Summary: “Skilled professional with experience in marketing and project management.”
Experience: “Managed marketing campaigns and collaborated with teams.”
Skills: Marketing, Communication, Leadership
Tailored CV:
Professional Summary: “Dynamic Digital Marketing Manager with 6 years of experience driving brand growth through SEO, PPC, and content strategies. Passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to enhance MyJobMag’s online presence.”
Experience: “Developed and executed SEO campaigns that increased organic traffic by 35% for a SaaS company. Managed a 50KSH monthly PPC budget, achieving a 20% ROI improvement.”
Skills: SEO, PPC Advertising, Google Analytics, Content Marketing, Social Media Strategy
You can see that the tailored CV directly addresses the job’s requirements, uses specific metrics, and aligns with the company’s focus on digital growth.
A one-size-fits-all CV is a recipe for disaster. What you need instead is a tailored CV. Tailoring your CV increases your chances of passing ATS filters and impressing recruiters. So, the next time you’re tempted to send out that generic CV, resist the urge.
Yes that's challenging especially in administration looks like it's just typing day to day responsibility...How much do u charge for cv rewrite or tailoured one?