If you truly want to have a chance at landing the job, then you certainly need to learn which
keywords employers look for.
We asked a couple career and HR experts to help produce a guide of the types of must - have
keywords employers look for.
«
Include keywords the employer will expect to see, or the resume won't be picked up by the computerized applicant tracking systems that scan the resumes,» says Miriam Salpeter, career coach and CEO of Keppie Careers.
Using the «skills» section inside your LinkedIn profile will help you determine which
industry keywords employer's and recruiters search the most.
But unless «cold - calling» is a
specific keyword the employer is seeking in the database search, search software seeking «sales» experience may not flag your resume.
The core proficiencies you need to highlight are usually
also keywords the employer and the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) look for to find the most relevant applicant.
These are
the keywords employers use in their searches.
Here are 3 areas you can use this technique so recruiters find your resume (and LinkedIn profile) online... and all three start with researching
the keywords employers use most...
It's simple: We look at
the keywords employers use in their job postings and job descriptions.
Get a good resume that includes a clear statement about your value proposition, your experience, and
the keywords employers are looking for.
The search engine might select your resume based on
the keywords an employer has used to find the perfect candidate for a job you haven't even thought of.
Does your resume contain
the keywords employers will be looking for in 2012?
If your resume contains
the keywords the employer wants, then the Applicant Tracking System will rank you higher in search results.
Your resume will be skipped by the computer if it does not contain at least some of
the keywords the employer is using, even if you meet all of the qualifications required.
By including
the keywords an employer will be looking for it will heighten interest.
If you are missing
the keywords the employer is seeking your resume will not get past the scanning software.
Once you see a pattern, highlight and list
the keywords employers mention and be sure to include them in your resume and cover letter.
These are
the keywords employers search for most often.
No Keywords: Think about
the keywords employers would use to find good resumes in a job database.
Keep your resume to the point and include only relevant information and
keywords an employer is seeking.
Applicants should pay close attention to
the keywords an employer uses in the body of a job posting, and mimic them in their resumes.
The software program will then «look» at all of the resumes stored in its database, and bring back a list of all of the resumes that have
the keywords the employer specified.
Different from a usual resume, a management resume from Resume Pundits is specifically designed to showcase the skills and
keywords employers are looking for in leadership positions.
It's very likely that the person who wrote the ad is the same person who will be scanning the resumes, so the ad will provide good insight into
the keywords the employer may use when scanning resumes.
That's a good start, but having
the keywords employers want to see and having your resume the order they want to read it is just as important, says resume writer Traci D. Thompson with Resumes by Traci.
If your resume lacks
the keywords employers are looking for, the ATS will toss it out.