You’ve embarked on your job search and you’ve identified several job openings that appeal to you.

BUT: Have you actually read the requirements listed in those job postings?

As an executive resume writer, my process begins with a gap analysis of a client’s resume against the requirements listed in the job description. All too often, there’s no alignment between the candidate’s experience and what the employer is looking for.

When I recruited for my company – whether in financial services, telecommunications, or SaaS – I worked with hiring managers to develop the requirements for the role they needed me to source. I then turned those requirements into a job description and posted the job opening on LinkedIn.

While we didn’t expect candidates to hit every requirement, there needed to be a significant number of matches. Requirements such as education credentials are often negotiable IF the candidate can demonstrate experience doing what the employer believes is necessary to be successful in the role. Other requirements, not so much.

One client wanted to apply for a role for which the first requirement was 7+ years experience in digital entertainment operations, although he had none. Another client had applied for a HR generalist role based on having been an office manager who scheduled job interviews and wondered why she never heard back.

Read the job posting thoroughly. Then match as many of the requirements against your actual experience, and make sure your resume not only includes that experience, but more importantly that it provide specific evidence of how well you suceeded and how your employer benefited from it.

If you want to avoid rejection, focus your job search on positions where you meet most of the requirements, but don’t stop there. At the top of the resume, right after your Summary of Qualifications, curate a short list of 5-8 specific examples of your accomplishments and achievements at doing what your target employers need you to do.