Does Your Resumé Have The Right Keywords?

When you hear ‘keywords,’ you likely think of internet search engines chugging away at floating certain information to the top of a Google page. However, they are also vital for job seekers to get on the radar of human-resource scanning software.

Like many other processes, hiring has been overtaken by artificial intelligence to lessen the workload of HR managers. Rather than reading through stacks of resumés, they feed them into a system and those with the right words pop to the top.

Photo by Markus Winkler via Unsplash.com

If you don’t make the cut, you could miss out on a great opportunity.

Some of the words you need will appear in the job ad that caught your attention in the first place. Others will not be shared publicly but are commonly known if you know where to look.

Why resumé keywords a secret?

The gatekeepers who know the magic words don’t hide them on purpose. They may just get busy and not embed them all in the ad. Or the person who will oversee the new hire may think of them after the job posting goes out.

Regardless, if you can weave them into your cover letter and resumé, your odds of being considered so way up.

The next trick is to place the right words in the right places – the right number of times. You don’t want to sound too repetitive but you want to make sure you put your best foot forward.

You’ve not writing a great piece of literature here, but more of an advertisement of what skills and traits you have to offer.

What else can you do to make your resumé stand out?

Don’t be modest but do focus on actual achievements. Active verbs are your friends at this point.

Be specific about changes you’ve made in your current job or a volunteer role where you’ve made a difference.

Be precise with dates and titles. Read it over at least twice to seek out typos then ask a trusted friend or family member to do the same. If you can, print it out since errors tend to show up to the human eye better on paper.

If you don’t feel your presentation pops enough, then ask a professional coach or writer for help. They know the process better than the average person after helping others out. It’s a small investment for a step forward in your career.

Once you have a polished resume, you just need to update it when the next great opportunity comes along. Even if you like where you land, it’s also worthwhile to keep an eye out for other openings. They may make you appreciate the job you have or inspire you to shoot even higher.

You’ll never know until you try. Give it your best shot!