Using Keywords in Your Resume
Posted in Resume Writing
If you are searching for a job, you have to remember that having your resume and cover letter is not enough. There are several things you have to take note of when making a cover letter or resume. And that is using keywords.
But what are keywords? These are phrases or words that job searchers use in looking for the jobs and employers in finding the right candidates.
If you use the word "wholesale", for instance, you will get several job descriptions. But if you tend to be specific, like typing "merchandising manager", you will only get fewer results. Therefore, the more keywords used, the more you will find a match for the job that you are looking for.
Keying up
Usually, job postings are filled with words that are specific in terms of industry and position. Thus, it is best that you take your keywords from the source itself. Also, you have to use those words in your resume. For you to find more keywords, do your research on industry trends and search professional association websites. Most importantly, go for the ones that hiring companies and industry leader use.
Passing through the gates
Several companies use an applicant hiring software. This scans the resumes for keywords in relation to the skills, training, degrees, experience and job titles. Ensure that yur resume gets beyond the gate. Present the qualifications that you have as though the reader is comparing your resume on the list of desired qualifications.
Knowing the right words
If you know what are the right words, especially the most popular of them, it may provide an assurance that your resume will be frequently seen. Here are some of the right keywords specific to the industry that you are looking for: strategic planning, performance and productivity enhancement, infrastructure development, organizational design, new media, Internet and e-commerce, change management, and team-building.
Other most commonly used keywords are: leadership, competitive marketing, investor and board relations, product positioning, written and oral communications, problem-solving and decision-making, MBA, customer retention, project management, corporate vision, long-range planning, business development, and cost reduction.
