Why one CV is not enough
The same career can look very different to two employers. An NGO wants donor reporting and compliance at the top. A fintech wants systems and volume. A generic CV forces each reader to dig, and most will not.
Tailoring fixes this. It changes emphasis, order and wording for one job. It never changes facts.
What tailoring allows
- Reordering. Put the most relevant role, bullet or skill first.
- Selecting. Drop bullets that do not matter for this job. Keep all roles and dates.
- Rewording. Use the posting's term when it genuinely describes your work.
- Adding. Include relevant work your generic CV left out.
- Reframing. Highlight the part of a broad job that matches this role.
Where tailoring becomes lying
- Claiming tools, qualifications or experience you do not have.
- Changing dates, titles or employers.
- Presenting volunteer or academic work as paid employment.
- Using the posting's words for work that was only related.
- Inflating your scale or authority.
These are not tailoring. They are fabrication, and verification often exposes them.
The interview test
For every tailored line, imagine a panel member asking you to explain it. If your honest answer starts with "Well, actually...", the line is stretched. Soften it or remove it. Kenyan panels are often small and expert, and they probe.
Do not stuff keywords
Some advice suggests pasting keywords from the posting, even in hidden text. This often backfires with screening software and human readers alike. Use the posting's terms only where they are true, inside bullets that prove them.
If you have a gap, leave it visible. A cover letter can address it honestly.
Keep track of versions
Save each tailored CV with the employer's name and the date in the file name. Before an interview, reread the version you sent.
How KaziMatch helps
KaziMatch's AI writes a CV for a specific job from your real experience. It never invents experience. You still decide what to keep, so review every line yourself.
In the full lesson
- Worked examples of reordering and rewording for different employers
- A clear guide to telling related work from matching work
- Why keyword stuffing fails, and what to do instead
- A simple system for tracking every tailored version