Tip of the Day Tuesday

What are Resume Keywords and Why are they Important?

In today’s job market it is often essential to use appropriate keywords to get your resume through initial screenings. Keywords are also helpful when searching for job openings.

But, what are keywords, and how do you choose the right ones?

Keywords are the specific words and phrases employers use to screen resumes for the best fit among potential candidates. From the employer’s perspective, the more of their specified keywords that appear in your cover letter and resume, the better the chances of a good fit. In most cases, those keywords equate to desired qualifications.

Keywords are really nothing more than search terms, which you probably use all the time.
For example, let’s say you search on Google for a sales position and you enter ‘sales jobs’ as the search term (keyword). You’re likely to be overwhelmed by the generic results and not find anything close to what you’re looking for. However, if you narrow down the scope and put in ‘computer sales manager jobs’ you’re likely to turn up something useful.

The same process is used by many prospective employers. They run resumes they receive through screening software that scans resumes for keywords and phrases the employer has specified. Resumes and cover letters that contain a good number of those keywords are likely to pass this initial screening and be set aside for closer scrutiny.

So, how do you find the right keywords?

Carefully read the job posting and job description.
Look for words and phrases that are specific to that job, the company, and the industry. Pay particular attention to words and phrases that specify the skills, personality traits, experience, software (and other) proficiencies, academic qualifications, job title, management skills, organizational skills and any special expertise that the position requires. Start a list, and be thorough.

Add to your list by visiting industry-trends websites, the sites of industry associations and the website of the company you’re interested in. Cull buzzwords that are unique to the industry, especially those used by industry leaders and the company you’re applying to, and particularly those that apply to the type of position you’re interested in obtaining.

Keep in mind that common descriptive terms, like “team player”, “self-motivated” and “people-person”, appear so often in resumes that they are essentially worthless for screening purposes. Consequently, they are unlikely to be specified by the prospective employer as keywords. However, if the job ad is seeking someone who is “a highly organized and motivated person who can work independently”, cover all the bases by including the key generic words and phrases, such as “work independently”, “organized” and “motivated”, along with the more substantive job-specific keywords you have identified.

Once you have your list of keywords, use as many as are applicable in your resume and cover letter. Any words or phrases specifying the qualifications of the ideal candidate are crucial – use the same wording as you find in the job ad and job description (provided, of course, that they apply to you). With good research, careful writing and a little luck you’re likely to match many of the keywords on the employer’s list, and stand out as having the qualifications they are looking for in the ideal candidate.

http://blog.resumebear.com/resume-cover-letter-tips/what-are-resume-keywords-and-why-are-they-important/