Is Your Resume Too Generic?
A generic CV / resume can be accurate and still forgettable. The fix isn't more words. It's more specific ones.
Check how specific my CV / resume is for a jobFirst check is free. No account. Your CV / resume isn't stored.
Signs it's too generic
- Your summary could describe almost anyone in your field
- Bullets start with "Responsible for" or "Helped with"
- There are no numbers, tools or named results
- You send the same version to every job
- Soft skills like "team player" take up space without proof
How to make it specific
1. Name the role in your headline
Use the type of job you're applying for, not a vague title.
2. Replace duties with results
What did you do, with what, for whom and what changed?
3. Use the employer's terms
Where you've done the work, describe it the way the ad does.
4. Show soft skills through actions
Instead of "good communicator", show a presentation you gave or a process you explained.
Generic versus specific
Weaker
Stronger
Only write the stronger version if it's true for you.
Check one job you didn't hear back from
Paste your CV / resume and the job description. You'll see your match score, which requirements your CV / resume doesn't show, and what to change.
Run a free checkWorks for CVs and resumes in English, German, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian.