Keywords the secret to a powerful resume

Keywords the secret to a powerful resume Keywords The Secret To A Powerful ResumePosted October 13, 2011, by Josie Chun In a world where resumes are usually sent in electronic form and often stored in databases, keywords are becoming an increasingly important tool that every job seeker should know about, and know how to use effectively. What is a keyword? Keywords are specific words or phrases used in relation to a job role and a persons skills and experiences. They can be general, such as communication skills or consulting, but are often more specific to a particular role or industry, such as B2B communication or strategy management consulting. Employers are becoming increasingly reliant on keywords to find appropriate job candidates apparently more than 80 per cent of resumes are searched for job-specific keywords. Keyword selection and tischordnung in your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile can literally be the key to being found (or not) in a search. Learning how to prep are a keyword-rich resume that makes the most of your skills and experiences will increase your chances of getting an interview and hopefully a job What words are keywords? Keywords are mostly nouns or noun phrases. They can be things like Skills or concepts that are specific to a particular job, profession or industry Technical terms, such as specific software Job titles Certifications, specific degrees or other qualifications Names of products and services Industry buzzwords and jargon Company/college/university names Professional organisations How to find and choose keywords for your resume The best way to find relevant keywords is to scrutinise the job ad for the job youre applying for, as well as other ads for similar roles. The job ad will reveal what skills, experiences, qualifications and other qualities theyre looking for, and its a good idea to mirror the language in the job description to show youre a good match. Highlight each word or phrase that is specific o r significant to the job and make a list of the most important ones. Good sources of keyword ideas include online job ads, newspapers, company websites, trade magazines and books to see what keywords repeatedly come up in relation to a certain job role. Look for the words that appear early in a job ad or description, as theyre likely to be the most important ones. Visit the websites of companies and other organisations in your field to see what the current buzzwords and lingo are. Read their mission statement and see if there are any important words or concepts you can use from that. Read trade magazines, annual reports and relevant news articles to keep on top of whats happening in your industry and how people talk about it. Joining online discussion groups and forums can also help you keep up-to-date and see how other professionals discuss industry issues. Also ask recruiters, HR professionals and other contacts in the industry for keyword tips. How to use keywords When pre paring your resume, use keywords liberally throughout but try to load them towards the beginning, especially in your Summary of Qualifications or Professional Profile. You can use these sections to give your keywords a more general context in relation to your overall professional profile. When describing your