How to Read Job Descriptions and Tailor Your Resume to Get Hired

Let me ask you a simple question: When was the last time you truly read a job description?

No, not just glanced through the job title and salary expectations… I mean read it line by line like your life depended on it.

You see, many jobseekers treat job descriptions as formalities - as just a piece of information meant to give them a rough idea of what the job is about. They scan it quickly, download a generic resume, and click “Apply.”

Then they wonder why they never get callbacks.

Here’s the truth:
Job descriptions are GOLD. They contain everything you need to know to stand out. But only if you learn how to read them correctly.

Let me teach you.

Job seeker analyzing a job description for a job application

THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS A MAP, NOT A FORMALITY

Think of a job description as a map that shows you exactly how to sell yourself. If you pay attention, you’ll find:

The employer’s priorities
The exact language you should use
Clues on the company culture
The kind of achievements to highlight
And sometimes... hidden job requirements not written in black and white

Let me explain.

LOOK BEYOND THE DUTIES - FIND THE PROBLEMS TO SOLVE

Job descriptions often list tasks like:

“Manage social media channels.”
“Prepare monthly financial statements.”
“Teach and evaluate students.”

But behind those tasks are real problems the employer wants to solve.

They’re basically saying:

“We need someone who can grow our audience.”
“We need someone who will reduce our financial errors.”
“We need someone who can improve students’ exam performance.”

Your job is to read between the lines and ask, “What problem is this employer trying to solve?”

Once you identify the pain point, you can position your experience and achievements as the solution.

STUDY THE KEYWORDS – THEN MIRROR THEM

Recruiters often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before a human ever sees them.

These systems scan your resume for keywords found in the job description.

So if the job ad says:

“Looking for a self-motivated, detail-oriented analyst with strong SQL skills…”

Don’t say:

“Enjoys working independently and can work with databases.”

Instead, say:

“Self-motivated and detail-oriented analyst with strong SQL skills…”

Use their exact phrases. Mirror their language.

This isn’t manipulation - it’s communication. You’re simply showing them you speak their language.

IDENTIFY THE MUST-HAVES VS. NICE-TO-HAVES

Sometimes, job ads contain a wish list of 10 to 15 requirements. Don’t panic.

What you need to do is:

Find the “core” requirements - those mentioned more than once or placed at the top.
Highlight how you meet those ones strongly.
For the rest, just mention transferable skills or your willingness to learn.

You don’t have to tick every box—you just have to tick the right ones.

Read also: 3 smart ways to make your resume stand out

UNDERSTAND THE SOFT SKILLS BEING HINTED AT

Many times, employers won’t directly say, “We need someone who can work under pressure.”

Instead, they say:

“Fast-paced environment”
“Flexible and adaptable”
“Must meet tight deadlines”

All these are code for soft skills.

So don’t just talk about your hard skills (e.g., Excel, SQL, HTML). Talk about how you adapted when your company switched to remote work. Or how you led a team project during a crisis.

Soft skills show how you show up at work. And employers care about that a lot.

YOUR CV SHOULD BE A RESPONSE TO THE JOB AD

Once you’ve read the job description thoroughly, your CV should respond like this:

“You need someone with 3 years of teaching experience? I’ve taught English to senior classes for 4 years, with 80% success in WASSCE.”
“You want someone who can reduce churn? I improved customer retention by 25% within one quarter.”
“You need attention to detail? I managed a project with zero error rate in documentation.”

Every bullet point on your resume should say, “I can solve your problem.”

LET’S TRY A QUICK EXERCISE TOGETHER

Let’s say this is the job ad excerpt:

“Looking for a creative content writer with excellent research skills and the ability to write SEO-friendly blog posts. Familiarity with WordPress and Canva is a plus.”

What can you infer?

The core skill is writing SEO-friendly content
They also want someone with creativity and research ability
WordPress and Canva are bonuses, not deal-breakers

So, your resume bullet point could say:

“Created 30+ SEO-optimized blog posts that ranked on the first page of Google for targeted keywords, using original research and visual designs made with Canva.”

See that? One sentence. Straight to the point. Aligned with their needs.

IN CONCLUSION: STOP SCANNING, START STRATEGIZING

Job descriptions are not there for decoration.

They are your cheat sheet - your insider guide to writing a resume that gets noticed.

So the next time you’re tempted to skim through a job ad, pause.
Print it out. Highlight key phrases. Circle the must-haves. Underline the pain points.

Then write your resume like a response to a business proposal, not a casual list of duties.

You’re not just looking for a job - you’re offering value.

You might also want to read: How to sell your work experience to recruiters and make them hire you

Want to learn how to write resumes that reflect real value?
Get a copy of The Utmost CV Writing Manual at 50% discount and discover the complete method behind decoding job descriptions and tailoring powerful bullet points.

You deserve to stand out. But first - you need to learn how to read between the lines.