Resume Tailor

Transform a generic resume into a targeted, compelling job application package — tailored resume + cover letter — matched to a specific job description.

When This Skill Activates

Use this skill when the user provides:

A resume (text, file, or paste) + a job description/posting
A request to write a cover letter for a specific role
A request to optimize/tailor their resume for a job

If the user hasn't provided both resume and JD yet, ask for them before proceeding.

Workflow

Step 1: Gather Inputs

Collect (or request) the following:

Resume – full text or uploaded file (.docx, .pdf, .txt)
Job Description – full JD text, URL, or paste
Target Role/Company – confirm if not obvious from JD
Optional extras – user's preferred tone (formal/casual), language (EN/ZH), or specific aspects to emphasize

If any of these are missing, ask the user before continuing.

Step 2: Analyze the JD

Parse the JD for:

Required skills – hard skills, tools, technologies, certifications
Preferred skills – nice-to-haves the user can highlight if they have them
Key responsibilities – what the role actually does day-to-day
Culture signals – tone of JD, company values, keywords that suggest what they value
Red flags to address – experience gaps, unusual requirements

Create a mental "keyword map" from these. You will use this to rewrite the resume.

Step 3: Tailor the Resume

Rewrite/restructure the resume with these rules:

Core Principles

Mirror the JD's language: use the exact keywords and phrasing from the JD where the user has relevant experience. ATS systems match keywords literally.
Lead with relevance: reorder bullet points so the most relevant accomplishments appear first.
Quantify everything possible: transform vague bullets into impact statements with metrics.
Cut irrelevant content: if something doesn't support this specific application, trim it or remove it.
Never fabricate: only use skills/experience the user actually has. If a required skill is missing, note it but don't invent it.

Section-by-section guidance

Summary/Objective

Rewrite to mention the target role, company (if desired), and top 2-3 qualifications that match the JD.
Keep it to 2-4 sentences.

Work Experience

For each role, keep only bullets relevant to the JD.
Start bullets with strong action verbs that echo JD language.
Add quantified outcomes wherever possible (%, $, time saved, team size, etc.)
If the user has experience that's tangential but transferable, frame it using the JD's vocabulary.

Skills Section

Reorder to put JD-matched skills first.
Add any skills from the JD that the user has but didn't list.
Remove skills that are completely irrelevant.

Education / Certifications

Highlight relevant coursework, projects, or certifications that match JD requirements.

Step 4: Write the Cover Letter

Structure:

[Opening paragraph]
Hook: mention the role + one strong reason you're excited / a specific thing about the company.
Tie your background to their mission/product briefly.

[Body paragraph 1: "Why me"]
Highlight 2-3 specific accomplishments that directly address their top requirements.
Use metrics. Reference the JD explicitly ("Your posting mentions X — here's my experience with X").

[Body paragraph 2: "Why them" (optional but powerful)]
Show you've done research. Reference a product, initiative, recent news, or company value.
Explain why this role at this company, not just any company.

[Closing paragraph]
Express enthusiasm. State your next step (happy to discuss, available for an interview).
Thank them for their time.

Tone guidelines:

Default: professional but personable, not robotic
Tech startups: more casual, show personality
Finance/law/enterprise: more formal
Follow user preferences if specified

Length: 3-4 paragraphs, max 400 words. Hiring managers skim.

Step 5: Output Format

Present results clearly in this order:

Gap Analysis (brief) — list JD requirements the user's resume currently doesn't address well, and how you handled each
Tailored Resume — full rewritten resume in clean markdown or the user's preferred format
Cover Letter — complete, ready-to-send letter
Quick tips (optional) — 2-3 specific things the user should be prepared to discuss in an interview based on the JD

Output Quality Checklist

Before presenting output, verify:

JD keywords appear naturally throughout resume (not keyword-stuffed)
Each resume bullet starts with an action verb
At least 60% of experience bullets have quantifiable outcomes
Cover letter mentions company by name and a specific role/detail
No fabricated skills or experiences
Cover letter is under 400 words
Tone is consistent throughout

Edge Cases

User has significant skill gaps: Be honest. Note which requirements they don't meet, suggest how to frame adjacent skills, and recommend whether to apply or upskill first.

JD is vague: Ask the user for more context about the company/team. If not available, make reasonable inferences and note your assumptions.

Multiple JDs: If the user wants to apply to many roles, create a "master resume" with all bullets, then a targeted subset for each role. Document which sections to activate per role type.

No resume provided, starting from scratch: Ask the user for their work history, skills, and education. Build a resume from scratch following modern standards, then tailor it.

Non-English job applications: Adapt language, phrasing norms, and CV format to the target country's conventions. See references/regional-cv-formats.md for country-specific guidance.

Reference Files

references/ats-keywords.md — Tips on ATS optimization and keyword matching
references/regional-cv-formats.md — Country/region-specific resume conventions (EU, Asia, UK, etc.)
references/cover-letter-examples.md — Example cover letters for different industries

Resume Tailor — JD-Matched Resume & Cove