Keywords can help your resume beat the system.
Companies use this method to help filter the thousands of resumes received into piles for qualified candidates and unqualified candidates. Unfortunately, this separation process isn't perfect. Sometimes, qualified job candidates are filtered into the wrong pile -- ending the job hunt before it even began.
Get Cues from Basic Research
Recruiters strongly suggest your resume includes keywords. Keywords are significant or memorable words that pertain to a subject utilizing bullet points. Recruiters say you can discover a company's keywords with some basic research.
Before structuring your resume, you should cruise through the company's corporate web site and take note of the listed values, mission statement, and objectives. Then, scope out the text of your preferred job listing and take note of specific qualifications, skills, required years of experience, or detailed phrases.
Chances are that the website will have an "about us" and a "careers opportunity" section that will provide clues to help you find what the company is looking for in a new employee.
Some Words Have More Value
If a company continually mentions their business' relationship with a community, add any community service positions that you have held on your resume. Including these activities can help you catch the machine's attention. Odds are those are the words programmed into the company's resume screening databases.
The more words the scanner recognizes, the more value is attached to the resume.
Tips for Adding Value
Don't overdue it. Because so many resumes are being submitted, you want to make sure that your resume is a quick, easy read. Take your time and look carefully while researching a company so that you can filter out what the most important words and phrases are. You can add the strongest keywords into your resume without any excess baggage.
Try bold type, bullets. Once you identify the company's keywords you should find ways to build those words into your bullet points. When resume keyword searches were first introduced, college career services centers recommended listing keywords at the top of your resume. Recruiters tell us those days are history. These days, recruiters suggest bolding your keywords or an entire bullet point to add extra emphasis to your points.
Remember the cover letter. Some companies use keyword scans on cover letters as well, so be sure to add keywords to your cover letter when applying electronically.
Look for variety. Utilize the keywords so that they appear in all the forms that can be written. If you write that you have received a "master's in business administration" and refer to it again later on in the letter, write the acronym "MBA" to cover all the ways the machine may be reading your letter.
