Tailoring a resume, cover letter, or your interview prep
Every job is different, and to really stand out, you’ll need to tailor your approach. You don’t need to start from scratch for each job, but you should not be sending the same application in or giving the same answers for every job you are going after.
Keep a master version of everything
There will be transferable components in your interview responses/ resume/cover letter. Keep a master copy of everything that you can duplicate and work off of when tailoring your apps.
Find the most important aspects
Go through the job description and highlight any tools or responsibilities mentioned multiple times throughout the posting, as well as any mentioned in the first couple bullets. These are likely to be most important for the role.
Identify your strengths
For the most important skills, know which ones you’re strong in, and how the company expects you to use those skills.
Brush up on your gaps
Practice anything in the description that you’re rusty in, or check out free online courses to build a foundational understanding of any new skills. You don’t need to be a pro at 100% of the skills listed, but you should be able to speak to them intelligently.
Write 5-8 relevant stories that highlight your core skills
Especially for tech talks or other events that have a topic or theme, doing some advance research can help you talk the talk, and start informed conversations with other attendees.
Follow up with the people you meet
You should be able to tell a story in response to any aspect of the job description that highlights your experience with something similar. These don’t necessarily have to be impressive examples; the important thing is that your transferable experience is evident.
