The current market is a very challenging one.
More and more people are going through redundancy meaning unemployment is higher.
People feel unsettled when they see this activity, so they’re actively seeking new roles before they are impacted too.
In January 2026 in the UK, the average time to start applying for a new job and secure one is 14-18 weeks.
Bear in mind that this is the average, so for some it can be shorter and for others, much longer.
The market is changing which means we have to change how we apply for jobs, and if you wish to stand out and have the best chances, you’ve got to tailor your CV.
So what is the best way to do this?
Start with getting your CV in the right format.
This makes it simple for you to make these edits.
A good CV has the following structure.
- Bio/Personal Statement
- Skills section with short description of competency levels
- Work experience section
- Education
If your CV is formatted in this way, not only is it the industry standard, but it makes it easier to tweak it for each job you are applying for.
Thoroughly Review the Job Description you’re applying for.
You might be a Senior IT Project Manager applying for a Senior IT Project Manager vacancy so you think nothing needs to be tweaked,
however,
nothing could be further from the truth…
You need to truly analyse the job description and determine what it is asking for and how you do/do not fit the description.
Do you have the industry experience that this role requires?
For example, the vacancy is in the pharma industry. It would be advantageous to highlight your experience in pharma if you have it, or highlight your ability to adapt to new industries if you don’t.
Is there specific niche experience that the role is asking for experience with?
For example, desirable experience working on HR Software implementations. It would be useful to highlight your experience in that field, or if not HR software, mention software implementations you have done.
What are the desirable and essential skills the role is asking for?
For example, it might be seeking strong PM experience in the tech sector with team leadership experience as desirable.
This helps you to understand that you should prioritise your PM experience and make it known that you have team leadership experience vs a CV that talks a lot about leadership.
Start by editing your bio/personal statement.
Your bio is the first introduction on your CV and it can make or break if people decide to read on.
Based on the key roles and responsibilities in the job description, you should edit your bio so that it is telling the reader that you have the experience they’re looking for.
For example, if we know that the role is for a Senior IT Project Manager for a pharma company that seeks experience with HR software implementations and has team leadership experience,
and you are a Senior IT Project Manager with software implementation and team leadership experience who has worked in multiple industries, your bio could read like this.
A Senior IT Project Manager with over 10 years of experience leading complex, full-lifecycle technology projects across a diverse range of industries. Proven expertise in successfully delivering critical software implementations from initiation to go-live. Adept at leading cross-functional project teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives to deliver projects on time and within budget. Seeking to leverage robust project management skills and specific experience with software implementations to drive impactful HR software implementations within the pharmaceutical industry.
This bio clearly showcases how your experience is relatable to the role and shows how you understand the ask.
The hiring manager is intrigued by your profile, impressed at how you’ve personalised it towards this application and wants to read more.
Reprioritise your skills and experience section.
Your skills section is your chance to show that you have got the key desirable skills and experience for the role.
It enables the reader to determine how you met their needs and ultimately, this will decide if they want to read further and learn more about your work experience.
Review your skills and competency descriptions and check that the following has been considered.
Prioritise the essential skills to the top of the list of skills
You should move the desirable ones towards the bottom and remove any that are completely non-transferable.
Check you and the job description are speaking the same language
If your skill is People Management and the job description talks about Team Leadership, change it to Team Leadership. Simple, but effective!
Document your tools and methodologies all in one place
This showcases your impressive tech stack and/or your ways of working in one place for them to see how you do things.
Amend your work experience section.
The work experience is the story of how you have gained the experience you described in your bio and skills section.
It’s important to prioritise the examples that match the job description so that you have the best chance of showcasing the experience needed for the role.
In this example of the Senior IT Project Manager role in the Pharma industry seeking HR system implementation experience and team leadership experience, you should ensure that the description and bullet points you describe have examples that showcase this experience.
For example,
Tech Solutions Inc. | Global Technology Consulting Firm | London, UK Senior IT Project Manager | January 2019 – December 2023
Led the end-to-end lifecycle of large-scale IT transformation projects for diverse clients across regulated industries (including Financial Services and Healthcare). Responsible for project planning, resource allocation, budget management (up to £5M), risk mitigation, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring the successful delivery of complex software implementations and system integrations aligned with client strategic objectives.
Key Achievements & Responsibilities:
- Drove the successful implementation of a new Information System for a major banking client, migrating data for over 10,000 employees, streamlining processes, and ensuring compliance with stringent data privacy regulations.
- Led and mentored diverse project teams of up to 15 personnel (including developers, analysts, testers, and third-party vendors) across multiple project engagements, fostering high-performance cultures and consistently achieving project milestones.
- Managed the integration of a new payroll module for a healthcare provider client, navigating complex technical dependencies and ensuring seamless data flow between systems post-go-live.
- Cultivated strong C-suite stakeholder relationships, providing regular progress updates, managing expectations, and facilitating key decisions to ensure project alignment with executive vision and business needs.
This demonstrates how the candidate has achieved the transferable skills to do the role, so whilst they are not the perfect match, you can see the complexity of the work they have completed to date.
A hiring manager might decide it’s worth meeting them to learn more and therefore progress them to interview,
and remember,
that is the key goal of submitting your CV!
Does this feel daunting for you?
It’s easy to feel a little bit overwhelmed by this activity so here’s some free resources I have to help you along your way.
👉 Download my free CV Template so you can get yours into the right format before you start to make edits for tailoring.
👉 Try my Job Application Bot on for size. If you upload your CV & the job description, it will give you a % rating on how matched you are to the role and recommendations on how to tailor your CV for each application.
Let me know how you get on with both. I promise it’ll make things easier and increase your chances of securing an interview.
Good luck with your application and if you need any further support, let’s have a chat.