How to Read a Job Description Like a Hiring Manager (and Tailor Your Resume Fast)

Apr 13

By Lynee Berger, Founder of OpenToWorkNow.com

If you’ve ever applied to a dozen jobs and heard nothing back, you’re not alone. Most resumes don’t get rejected—they just never get seen.

Hiring managers and recruiters are scanning for alignment. They want to know if you have the skills, experience, and style that fits their team. And they’re using software (like applicant tracking systems) to screen for that fit fast.

Here’s how to read a job description the way a hiring manager does—and how to tailor your resume quickly without rewriting the whole thing.

Step 1: Break the Job Description into 3 Main Sections

When reading a job posting, you’ll usually find three types of information. Separate them so you can focus on what matters most.

1. Must-Have Skills
These show up in the “Requirements” or “Qualifications” section.
Look for things like:

Software or technical skills
Years of experience
Certifications or education

Hiring managers read this section first. If you meet 60–70% of the requirements, you’re likely qualified.

2. Responsibilities
This is what the job actually looks like day to day.
Scan for verbs like:

Manage
Lead
Build
Deliver
Collaborate

These are the actions you want your resume to reflect.

3. Culture or Soft Skills
These are more subtle. You’ll find them in the tone and the way the team is described.
Words like:

Fast-paced
Team-oriented
Detail-focused
Independent thinker

These give you clues about the company culture and what kind of person thrives there.

Step 2: Highlight the Keywords

Go through the job posting and underline or copy the key terms from each of the three sections.

Focus on:

Skills or software tools
Action words
Core values or soft skills

This will help you match your resume to what they’re actually looking for.

Step 3: Update the Top Third of Your Resume

Most hiring managers only glance at the top of your resume before deciding if they’ll keep reading.

Update these key sections:

Headline or Job Title
Match the job title you're applying for, or customize it slightly.
Example:
If the job title is “Operations Coordinator,” don’t say “Office Manager” — say “Operations Coordinator | Logistics & Administrative Lead.”

Summary Section
In 2–3 lines, describe your strengths using some of the exact words from the job description.
Show who you are, what you do well, and how you bring value.

Skills Section
Add or move keywords from the job posting into your skills list.
Only include ones you actually know, but make sure they’re worded the same way.

Step 4: Tweak a Few Bullet Points in Your Experience

You don’t need to rewrite your whole resume. Just pick 3–5 bullet points that you can easily adjust.

Look at the responsibilities from the job posting and make sure your resume reflects that kind of work.

Example:
If the job description says:
“Coordinate and deliver weekly project updates to stakeholders”

Then change your bullet from:
“Managed project timelines”
To:
“Delivered weekly project updates to stakeholders to track milestones and timelines”

Small changes like this help your experience look like a match at a glance.

Step 5: Use a Simple Resume Tailoring Checklist

Keep a checklist nearby to make tailoring fast and repeatable.

Tailoring Checklist:

Job title matches in headline
Keywords added to summary and skills section
3+ bullet points updated for the role
Saved with a clear filename like “Jane_Doe_ProjectManager.pdf”
Formatted simply so it’s easy to read and ATS-friendly

Final Thought: Speak Their Language

You don’t need to be a perfect match. But your resume should make it easy for the hiring team to picture you in the role.

By taking 10–15 minutes to tailor your resume for each role, you’re not gaming the system—you’re aligning your experience with what they’re already looking for.

Lynee Berger