Resume Writing For A Positive Computer Scan!

In writing a computer searchable resume or a profile on a social networking site like LinkedIn, you must include keywords that closely relate to your job or career.

Since your resume will be scanned by a computer that is looking for relevant keywords to identify your possible qualifications, how many of the keywords that are used in your resume are critical. You only have to use the keyword once, but be crafty and use synonyms when appropriate.

The required keywords should naturally flow with the writing of the profile or resume. Even though the computer scanning the profile or resume isn't concerned about sentence syntax the profile or resume will intimately be read by a person so it must be readable and make sense.

Finding the proper keywords is somewhat of a mystery so here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Job boards are full of job descriptions. Usually companies will include keywords that they look for in screening resumes. Copy out a dozen or more job descriptions.

You are looking for nouns. Keep track on those that seem to be common over a maximum number of jobs. You now have the start of a keyword list.

2. Search for other job announcements. The local newspaper, government sites like USAjobs.gov can be good sources. Go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational Outlook Handbook," for additional career information.

Again pull out the nouns that describe the job and add them to your keyword list.

3. Keyword hunting can at times be frustrating. You get one word and nothing pops out at you to follow the first keyword. One method to break this word block to go to Google's keyword tool.

Once you're logged in to the keyword tool put in one of the keywords. Whiz bang out comes a list of related words. Go down the list and pull out the nouns. Continue this exercise until you've exhausted you keyword list. Keep track of the popularity of each word: how many times in a month the specific word is searched.

4. Edit your keyword list. As a guide use the Google keyword tool, your job related experience, and if the keyword is a more recent addition to describe the job.

Cluster the keywords by function, skill or qualification. You should now have three to five major functional areas with their listing of noun keywords.

Edit your keyword list down to the major three or four keywords in each functional area. Or the keywords that appear most often across your sources should definitely be used.

Now in writing your resume or profile you have the keywords that should be placed in appropriate sentences describing your accomplishments. You resume or profile will generate high marks in the computer scan.

The next step should be the information is read by a recruiter or hiring manager. Hopefully, you work on keywords will generate a positive contact from the recruiter or hiring manager.