Hey,
Your resume is competing against 100+ others for the same role.
Hiring managers spend about 7 seconds scanning it before deciding to keep reading or move on to the next one.
7 seconds. That's it.
If yours looks like everyone else's, you're getting skipped. Here's how to make those 7 seconds count.
What hiring managers actually look for
Harvard Business Review studied what makes resumes stand out. Here's what actually matters:
1️⃣ Show results, not just responsibilities
Don't tell them what your job was. Show them what you accomplished.
Instead of: "Managed social media accounts"
Write: "Grew Instagram from 2K to 15K followers in 6 months, generating 50+ qualified leads"
Use numbers everywhere: percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, people impacted. Hiring managers want to see what you actually achieved, not just what your job title was.
2️⃣ Customize for each job
Hiring managers don't want to see everything you've ever done. They want to see you can do THIS specific job.
The "one resume for everything" approach doesn't work anymore. You need to customize - but there's a smart way to do it without starting from scratch every time.
3️⃣ Make it scannable
Those 7 seconds need to count:
- Clear section headers
- Bold job titles and company names
- 1-2 readable fonts
- Proper spacing between sections
- 1 page if you have under 10 years of experience
Make it easy for busy hiring managers to quickly see your value.
The smart way to customize your resume
Here's the process that actually works:
Step 1: Build a master resume
Create one comprehensive resume with everything you've ever done:
- All jobs and responsibilities
- Every achievement (with numbers)
- All skills and certifications
- Side projects and relevant work
This becomes your source document. You'll never start from scratch again - just pull the most relevant pieces for each application.
💡 Pro tip: Look at job descriptions for similar roles at companies you're applying to. This shows you what they value and often reminds you of achievements you forgot to include.
Step 2: Analyze each job description
For every application, spend 10 minutes understanding:
- The 3-5 key requirements they actually care about
- Their exact keywords (if they say "project management," use "project management" not "project coordination")
- What problem this hire is supposed to solve
Step 3: Customize strategically
Pull from your master resume to create a targeted version:
- Lead with your most relevant achievements for this specific role
- Use their exact language where possible
- Only include skills that matter for this job
- Remove anything that doesn't serve this application
This takes 20-30 minutes per application if you do it manually. But 5-10 well-customized applications get way better results than 50 generic ones.
Using AI to speed this up
If you use ChatGPT to help modify your resume, make sure you give it detailed context - the job description, your target role, what you want to emphasize.
Or use tools like LockedIn that automatically research the job and company, then give you specific resume tips for that role. No prompt engineering required - just paste the job URL.
Tools that actually help
Manual approach: Read job descriptions, highlight keywords, rewrite your resume yourself. 20-30 minutes per application.
AI-assisted options:
- 💬 ChatGPT - Free or $20/month. Write detailed prompts with the job description and your experience. Good if you know how to prompt well.
- 📊 Teal - All-in-one platform. Upload resume, match to jobs, get AI suggestions. Free with limits, $29/month for unlimited AI.
- 📝 Kickresume - AI resume builder with 2M users. Templates and AI-powered suggestions. $19/month or $7/month annually.
- 🎯 Rezi - AI resume builder for 1.7M people. Keyword optimization focus. $29 one-time or monthly subscription.
- 📋 Huntr - Job tracking plus resume tools. Free tier limited, $40/month for unlimited AI.
- ⚡ LockedIn - Paste job URL, get specific resume tips based on automatic company research. Organized with your cover letter and outreach messages per job.
Stay organized
Track your applications so nothing falls through the cracks.
Teal and Huntr offer detailed boards where you can manage your entire pipeline. LockedIn automatically organizes by job - each application is saved with its cover letter, resume tips, and outreach messages together.
Follow up after applying
Don't just apply and wait. Modern networking is about building real relationships:
- Week 1: Submit your application
- Week 2: Connect with people at the company on LinkedIn
- Week 3: Follow up with the hiring manager via email
Find the recruiter or hiring manager's email. Send a brief intro. Mention why you're interested and that you're looking forward to hearing from them.
Most people don't do this. Which is why you should.
The reality
Generic resumes don't work. The job market is brutal right now - hiring managers want to see quantifiable achievements and clear proof you can do the specific job they're hiring for.
A well-customized resume with the right keywords and real results helps you stand out from the pile.
Whether you do that customization manually or use tools to speed it up is your call. But you can't skip it.
For job seekers: Tired of manually customizing your resume for each job? Try LockedIn free. Get specific resume tips for each role based on automatic company research.
For students: Not sure how to translate your coursework and internships into resume achievements? LockedIn helps you tailor your experience for each role. Get started free.
For career switchers: Repositioning your experience for new industries takes work. LockedIn researches each company automatically so you can focus on highlighting transferable skills. Try it free.