Resume Key Words - Where To Find Keywords To Use On A Resume
© David Alan Carter
All Rights Reserved
Resume key words... you know you need them. But where to find them? Here's where to find keywords to use on
a resume. Help from a former recruiter. ______
Key words are the jargon of a particular industry, also known as buzzwords, key words (or, keywords) on your
resume speak to who you are within that industry. Are they crucial elements in today's resumes? You bet. Assuming
the job seeker wants that resume to result in an invitation to an interview. Key words are the words employers are
searching for to establish that a candidate has a professional or academic background suitable for a particular job
opening.
A Resume Without Key Words Is Invisible
In the age of the internet, companies have come to rely heavily on resume databases, and dependent upon on key
words and search software to match candidates with job qualifications. Assuming your resume has become one in a
database of resumes (a more likely occurrence than not, in today's world), it needs relevant key words in order to
surface and land on the desk of a hiring official. Without keywords, your resume won't be matched to the
qualifications of an available position. Your resume is invisible.
OK - Where should you begin your search for keywords to use on a resume?
Keywords To Use On A Resume - Look Here First
Start with the obvious spot, and the most overlooked - the company you want to work for. If your target company
is running a classified advertisement, the ad itself is most likely a wealth of information. Does it list the
duties and responsibilities of the position? Does it identify a candidate's necessary qualifications and desired
characteristics? If so, you've now got your hands on keywords already optimized for the position and ready for your
resume.
Additional Places To Look For Keywords To Use On A Resume
Here are seven other places to look for keywords relevant to your industry and to your profession. They
include:
-
Company websites. Most medium to large companies will have a web presence. Google the companies in
your industry, and locate their websites. Pull up their page marked "careers" or "jobs" or "employment
opportunities." Do they have job openings for positions that match your qualifications? If so, you've hit
pay dirt. Indeed, you've not only found a good source of relevant industry keywords, but you've found the
next place to send your keyword-rich resume.
- Quarterly and annual reports from companies in your industry. Read one or two, as well as news releases,
for technical jargon (i.e., keywords).
- Trade magazines and newsletters.
- Recruiters. Talk with one or two. Recruiters know what companies are looking for in terms of specific
language. Besides, it never hurts to introduce yourself to a recruiter during a job search.
- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook. Find it online, or at your local
public library.
- Informational sites on the Web relating to your industry.
- Online forums and discussion groups that cater to your profession or industry.
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Make Sure You 'Own' The Keywords On Your ResumeOnce identified, make sure the keywords you plan to
incorporate into your resume accurately reflect your skills and attributes. The last thing you want to do is
appropriate a keyword with the intent to impress readers, when you haven't a grasp of the terminology. Or when it's
not applicable to your situation. You will get hung out to dry by increasingly sophisticated human resources
professionals. Expect to have to back up your familiarity with – and competency in – a keyword during any
interviews triggered by your resume.
Once you're comfortable that you 'own' your selected keywords, work them into your resume - most notably in the
summary or profile section, but also throughout your work history as appropriate.
___
A Final Thought...
Once you've got your keywords selected, there's still much to do. You've got format
selection; design and layout; prose that promotes your qualifications without making you come across as vain or
arrogant. Writing an effective resume has never been a walk in the park, but in this tough economy, resume writing
is even more challenging. If your resume is going to be fighting for attention in an
extremely competitive field, the services of a professional resume writer might make sense.
If you opt for some help, seek out a certified
professional resume writer. A writer with a good reputation in the industry. A writer who will communicate with you
by phone, and stand behind his work with a guarantee. Yes, they're out there.
In fact, I can help you identify that "pro," that special writer who is qualified to deliver a polished document
that puts your best foot forward in a tough job market. Our home page Top Resume Services identifies 10 or more of the more popular companies out there, and
I rank these writers on values like...
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You’ll find star rankings, mini-reviews, and in-depth reviews on each of these 10 companies. Whether you go it
alone or trust the services of a pro writer, I wish you the best of luck in your job search!
– David
David Alan
Carter is a former technical recruiter (i.e.
headhunter) and founder of Resume One of Cincinnati. For more than ten years, he personally crafted
thousands of resumes for satisfied clients from all occupational walks of life, from entry-level to
senior executive.
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