The importance of résumé keywords

2011-10-24

Years ago, when reacutesumeacutes were still sent to employers by mail, job seekers hoped details like a high-quality paper stock and unique, professional formatting would catch the eye of an employer. These days, things are a little different.
First of all, it’s rare that employers even accept paper reacutesumeacutes anymore. Second, and more importantly, it’s not even theemployer’seye that job seekers should hope to catchnowadays — more likely, they’re trying to get noticed by an applicant tracking system– essentially a reacutesumeacute search engine– commonly used by employers to screen reacutesumeacutes and separate the qualified candidates from the unqualified ones.
This digitized version of candidate screening brings with it a whole new set of reacutesumeacute rules. No longer arehuman resourcesmanagers scouring reacutesumeacutes looking for intriguing phrases on luxurious linen paper. Now, reacutesumeacutes are downloaded into a database and digitally searched for specific keywords. If your reacutesumeacute doesn’t contain theterms thecomputer is looking for, consider yourself out of the running.
So how can you ensure your reacutesumeacute makes it past square one? Below are a few things that every job seeker should know about reacutesumeacute keywords:
1. Include words from the job description
More than likely, many of the keywords that reacutesumeacute databases will be searching for are the functions that are listed in the job description. For example, if you’re looking for abookkeepingposition and the job description calls for someone with experience managingaccounts receivable,bank reconciliationsandpayroll, then all of those words should appear in your reacutesumeacute.
An even better way to make sure you include relevant keywords is to look at various job postings for positions similar to the one you’re applying for, advises Laura Smith-Proulx, a certified professional reacutesumeacute writer and author of quotSolving Your Toughest Reacutesumeacute Challenges.quot
quotTo maximize your reacutesumeacute’s effectiveness, I recommend looking in detail at several job descriptions … that represent your ideal role. For example, anoperations managermight find productivity,Six Sigma, process improvement andsales operationsin most job postings for a position at their level. Job hunters can also search through LinkedIn profiles of other professionals in their field to gather even more keywords,quot she says.
2. Always assume your reacutesumeacute will be scanned by an applicant tracking system
Companies both large and small are using keyword-search software in their hiring processes these days, so it’s important to make sure you always send out a search-ready reacutesumeacute.
quotWhile applicant tracking systems are more common in large corporations, due to the volume of reacutesumeacutes received and the impossibility of reviewing them all manually, some smaller companies may also have installed these systems to help with hiring,quot Smith-Proulx says. quotMy point is that you’ll never know if your reacutesumeacute actually needs to pass a keyword scan, so it should be ready for this step.quot
3. Don’t rely on a list of keywords
While adding a quotskillsquot section to your reacutesumeacute isan easy way to make sure keywords are included,this list alone is usually not enough to get noticed by the search engine.
quotBe sure that this common suite of keywords is used in your reacutesumeacute, but not merely in a list,quot Smith-Proulx says. quotMany ATS systems look for the frequency of keywords that are sprinkled throughout the text of a reacutesumeacute, rather than listed by themselves. Therefore, ‘Leveraged Six Sigma principles to improve productivity’ or ‘Led process improvement project that resulted in 23 percent gain in sales operations efficiency’ will not only impress the human reader, but fulfill the keyword requirements at the same time.quot
Lastly, Smith-Proulx says, be sure that your reacutesumeacute doesn’t completely abandon the qualities it takes to attract the human eye. quotLike any othermarketingeffort, a job search is most effective when you plan to address the needs of all audiences you might encounter. Your chances of being selected for an interview are much higher when your reacutesumeacute satisfies both audiences — automated and human.quot

Source from Msn