Resume Help Blog

It’s often been said that saying the right words at the right time is the key to success in the business world. If you have a line in your presentation that really captures attention…or if you say something particularly clever in a job interview…you may be able to achieve a career higher you ever dreamed possible.

It’s also no secret that a resume needs to be worded quite carefully if it is to accomplish the job applicant’s hoped-for results. While you’re drafting the wording for your career highlights, job duties, and other essential information for your resume, you should give some serious attention to keywords.

How the High-Tech Revolution Changed Resume Reading

With the advent of sophisticated technology, the resume reading process has changed dramatically. As a result, an increasing number of employers are digitizing the resumes that pour into their offices. The documents can then be placed into keyword-searchable databases in order to isolate those resumes that contain “the magic words.”

Getting Noticed

You will need to craft your resume so that it contains the keywords that a manager is searching for with regard to a particular position. While job titles often serve as keywords, you cannot change the titles you’ve held, so instead focus on job skills. If you’re applying for an IT job, you’ll want to list specific technological skills in your resume. You’ll also want to be sure to include the names of software and hardware that you’ve worked with (This is true, even if you are not applying for a job that does not require a BA in computer science).

If you are searching for a position as a business executive, the term “Fortune 500″ can be an incredibly helpful keyword to have in your resume. Some large firms recruit exclusively from other large corporations. Therefore, if you do not include “Fortune 500″ in the text of your resume, you could be missing out on an incredible opportunity.

Key Things to Consider About Keyword Placement

It’s very important to recognize the fact that including critical keywords in your resume copy is not enough to secure an interview for the job you desire. You’ll also need to place keywords appropriately within the text. While you should try to place keywords near the beginning of your resume rather than at the end, it’s best if you incorporate keywords throughout the body of your document.

By crafting your resume in this way, you will achieve two important goals:

1.) keyword-searching software will pick up all relevant keywords within your text and

2.) you will be able to attract and hold the attention of a company manager who might be bored by a long list of keywords headlining your resume.

Also, don’t forget about the often-overlooked synonym. While you can make an educated guess about the types of keywords an employer is looking for, you’re not a mind reader. Therefore, in addition to a generous use of one of your keyword favorites, be sure to include synonyms for the word as well. This way it’s more likely that your resume will have the keywords the employer is actually searching for.

How Many Keywords Are Enough?

Once you begin the process of selecting keywords, make sure that you include a sufficient number. The keywords should be used naturally in the flow of words so not to make a dull read. Probably 15 – 20 keywords should be enough if you use the right keywords. Also use some variations of these words. Nothing looks and sounds worse than something that is forced and doesn’t sound natural.

Once you’ve devised a keyword-intensive resume, think of the document as being subject to change. After all, in your conversations with your colleagues, you may discover that new keywords have come to the fore in your field. It’s also a wise idea to refresh your resume for each position you’re applying to…since different companies—and different jobs—may require a different list of keywords. A highly customized resume is often a successful resume.

Should You Avoid Certain Keywords?

While you may think that you’ve developed a comprehensive list of resume keywords, you might be wondering if there are certain keywords that you shouldn’t use? Don’t use words that may point in the wrong way. If you are not seeking a position in sales don’t use “sales” in your resume keywords.