Should Jobseekers in 2025 Still Be Tailoring Their Resumes?

Kelly Grivner-Kelly
Latest posts by Kelly Grivner-Kelly (see all)

If you’re job hunting in 2025, you’ve probably wondered whether tailoring your resume for each position is still necessary. After all, with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), shouldn’t technology take care of the heavy lifting? The answer is simple: yes—tailoring your resume remains crucial for standing out in today’s competitive job market. Here’s why it matters, and how to do it effectively.

Why Tailoring Your Resume Matters

Hiring managers typically spend just a few seconds reviewing a resume before deciding if it’s worth a closer look. An untailored resume risks burying your relevant qualifications, while a tailored resume highlights your fit for the role, helping both the ATS and the recruiter quickly recognize your value.

Applicant Tracking Systems are designed to scan resumes for keywords that match the job description. If your resume doesn’t reflect the language and requirements outlined in the posting, it may be filtered out before reaching human eyes. Tailoring aligns your resume with the specific needs of the employer, increasing your chances of moving forward in the hiring process.

Steps to Tailor Your Resume

While tailoring your resume might feel daunting, it’s a skill that becomes easier with practice. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help your resume stand out:

Professional Summary: Start with a professional summary of 4-5 concise sentences that highlight your value to the employer. If you have direct experience in the role, mention the job title (e.g., “Marketing Manager”). If not, focus on transferable skills and achievements that are most relevant to the job. Be sure to clearly communicate how your experience will contribute to the company’s success.

Areas of Expertise: Update your “Areas of Expertise” section with key skills from the job description. Prioritize hard skills first, followed by transferable essential skills. This ensures your resume reflects the role’s core requirements.

Skills and Training: Review the job description for specific training or skills the employer seeks. Include any relevant certifications, training, or skills you possess. If applicable, provide links to verified credentials to strengthen your application.

Formatting Techniques: Position your headline, professional summary, and areas of expertise at the top of your resume. Then, organize other sections such as training, experience, skills, and education based on their relevance to the position. Highlight your strongest qualifications prominently.

Review and Refine: Compare your resume with the job description to verify they align. Add any details that demonstrate your suitability, and remove irrelevant information. Use data-driven accomplishments to clearly emphasize your direct impact.

Leveraging Technology and AI Tools

Technology can support your tailoring efforts. Tools like Jobscan.co and LinkedIn Premium offer features to optimize resumes for specific job postings. Jobscan compares your resume with the job description to identify keyword gaps, while LinkedIn’s AI tools can suggest tailored resume improvements and highlight jobs where you would be a top applicant.

Additionally, AI tools like ChatGPT can help you:

  • Identify gaps in your skills and experience.
  • Extract keywords from job descriptions.
  • Generate accomplishment statements that align with the job requirements.

However, these tools are not infallible. Always review the AI’s suggestions to ensure accuracy and authenticity. Ask yourself:

  • Is this information correct?
  • Can I support these claims with my experience?
  • Am I prepared to discuss these points in an interview?

Tailoring your resume remains one of the most effective ways to stand out in 2025. By combining proven strategies with advanced tools, you can create a resume that captures the attention of both ATS and hiring managers. Remember, your tailored resume is often your first impression—make it count.

If you’re unsure where to start, Hire Heroes USA offers resources and guidance to help military spouses and veteran jobseekers refine their resumes and land their dream roles. Visit our website to learn more!

Kelly Kelly, the Serving Spouses Program Manager at Hire Heroes USA, draws on over a decade of business management experience. As a veteran military spouse herself, she understands the challenges of finding meaningful employment. Having been a client of Hire Heroes USA, Kelly witnessed firsthand the organization's mission in action. She played a pivotal role in creating the Serving Spouses program and currently oversees its specialized Transition Specialists, workshops, and webinars designed to meet the unique needs of military spouses. Kelly is dedicated to mentoring veterans and spouses, helping them define and achieve their professional goals. Since joining Hire Heroes USA in 2016, she has helped over 1,500 veterans and military spouses find employment.

If you would like more information or need assistance getting in contact with your Transition Specialist, log into MyTrak or register at www.hireheroesusa.org to be assigned a Transition Specialist.