10 Steps to Write a Tailored Job Application in 2026

If you’ve read anything I’ve written in the past six months, you know that it’s a tough time to be applying for jobs in Canada. The market has tightened – there are fewer jobs with more applicants. In December, the unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.8%. Plus, if you’re a newcomer to Canada, you may be encountering employers looking for “Canadian experience,” who fail to understand the value of your foreign work experience.

In this climate, it’s important to be precise and intentional about your job applications. Instead of sending 20 generic applications, really take the time to adapt one or two applications to really fit roles that you want. Not sure how to do that? That’s what I’m here for!

These are my 10 steps to writing a tailored job application.

Step 1: Make sure the job is actually worth your time

Before you open your resume, stop and read the posting properly.

Look at the job title, the level of the role, and the core responsibilities. Ask yourself whether this role makes sense for your background right now. Is this something you’re qualified for? Or will other applicants beat you out on experience and skills?

Tailoring an application takes time. It’s best to only spend your time on roles where your experience lines up reasonably well on paper. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce burnout during a job search.

Step 2: Research the company

Once you decide the role is a good fit, spend a few minutes learning about the company.

Start with their website: read their ‘About’ page and the careers section. Then take a quick look at their LinkedIn page to see how they talk about their work and what they choose to highlight publicly. You may also be able to find individuals on LinkedIn who are connected to your role of interest – the department manager? Others with your target job title?

Just spend some time digging around to get a sense of the company and what they like in employees. Make a mental note of the tone, priorities, and recurring themes, as these will help you personalize your application.

Step 3: Read the job posting for patterns and priorities

Now read the job posting again, slowly.

Some responsibilities are listed briefly. Others are described in detail or repeated in multiple places. That difference usually tells you what the hiring team actually cares about.

Pay attention to the language they use. Those words should show up again in your resume and cover letter, where it makes sense. This step does a lot of the heavy lifting for the rest of your application.

Step 4: Resume – Update your professional summary for this role

Steps 4–7 deal with your resume. We’re going to start with the professional summary (or career summary) section at the top of your resume. (Ps. For tips on writing a killer Canadian resume, check out our complete resume guide!)

Your professional summary should change for every application.

Adjust it to reflect the job title, level, and focus of the role you are applying for. Keep it short and specific. This is your chance to show, within a few lines, that you understand what the job is and why you are a good fit.

Step 5: Resume – Refocus your work experience

Your work history should mostly stay the same, but the emphasis should change. You may need some minor tweaks here and there to highlight more relevant projects or responsibilities, but you should never lie.

Highlight experience that directly relates to the role and move less relevant tasks lower. Don’t list everything you have ever done. Instead, you need to show why your background fits this job.

Step 6: Resume – Show quantifiable achievements

This is the number one area for improvement for most job applicants.

Instead of listing duties, focus on outcomes. What did you improve, build, manage, or deliver? Use numbers when you can, even simple ones. Team size, timelines, budgets, and results all help paint a clearer picture.

Don’t write: “Oversaw the implementation of a new communication strategy.” Instead, you want to show results. Write something like: “Investigated and oversaw implementation of new communication system, resulting increased productivity and $15K in extra sales in three months.”

Again, be sure to keep it honest. If you are selected for an interview, you need to be prepared to give more details on any of the claims in your resume.

Step 7: Resume – Align your skills and training with the posting

Go back to the job description and review the required skills.

Update your resume to highlight tools, certifications, and training that are genuinely relevant to the role. Use similar wording where it fits naturally – but avoid stuffing your resume with keywords that do not reflect your actual experience.

Many hiring managers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to automatically scan resumes to ensure they include the proper keywords, so it’s important to include them. But – if your resume is too generic and keyword-y, it’ll get filtered out with all the AI slop as soon as a human lays eyes on it.

Step 8: Write a cover letter that actually sounds like you

A good cover letter is focused, personal, and concise.

Open by naming the role and why you are interested in it. Connect your experience directly to what the employer is looking for. Keep it to one page and avoid vague statements that could apply to any company. And – if possible, find a way to inject a little bit of your personality into the cover letter… a way to make the cover letter feel human and you, not just another ChatGPT prompt.

Want more tips on writing a cover letter that stands out? Check out our guide on writing cover letters in 2026.

Step 9: Try to submit your application to a real person

Whenever possible, address your application to an actual person.

Look for a recruiter or hiring manager on LinkedIn. Check the job posting for clues. Even addressing your cover letter to a specific team can help your application feel more intentional. It shows you went out of your way to research the company.

This also gives you a contact for following up, which brings us to our final step.

Step 10: Follow up once, then move on

If you haven’t heard back after a week or two, send one short follow-up message. Keep it polite, mention the role, express continued interest, and thank them for their time. After that, let it go. Following up once shows professionalism, but chasing rarely helps (and is unnecessarily hard on your mental health, too!).

Tailored job applications take more time and effort. But in today’s crowded jobs market, they’re one of the best ways to stand out from other applicants. When you apply to fewer roles with more care, you give yourself a better chance of being noticed and taken seriously. Over time, this approach tends to lead to better conversations, stronger interviews, and more confidence in your job search.

And – as I always say ­– remember that it only takes one ‘yes’ to completely chance your trajectory. Keep your head high, you’ve got this.

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