Tailor a resume for employer job portals

Many employers collect applications through a portal that reads your file and fills in a form. Portals differ, and we haven't tested each one, so this page sticks to things that hold up anywhere.

• Use standard headings. Experience, Education and Skills are easy for software and people to find.
• Send real text. Use a PDF or Word file with selectable text. Check the text a parser reads from yours.
• Check the auto-filled form. Portals often fill fields from your file. Fix dates, titles and employer names by hand when they come in wrong.
• Use the post's wording where it's true. If it says "stakeholder reporting" and you did that, say it that way.
• Keep dates in one format. The same format in every role is easier to read.

Last checked 2026-11-14.