How to Use Keywords Properly on Resumes

Using keywords in a resume is a critical step to getting attention. When you are applying for a job, one of the first things that will happen with your resume is that it will be run through a computerized system that scans the application and your resume for keywords. These are specific words that the employer is looking for all candidates to have. In short, it is critical to use specific words on your resume if you want these computer systems to stop on your resume. If they do not, it could mean that your ability to get an interview is limited.

What Keywords Matter?

On resumes, keywords are a key component of the information you include. Yet, you may have no idea what types of words the employer has listed. Keep the following in mind when selecting keywords in a resume.

#1 - Include information about the education you have. Education keywords include the names of the schools you went to, the specific degree you received, and the specific types of courses you took. Look for industry specific education keywords that help you to stand out.

#2 - Include keywords about job skills you have. Job skills keywords include terms commonly used to describe the tasks you know how to do. This may include your ability to work on specific types of programs or job skills keywords could be words that describe the types of tasks you are capable of doing.

#3 - Include information about your accomplishments. Accomplishment keywords include awards you've received, sales records you broke, or words defining the industry-specific achievements you have made.

#4 - Choose power keywords as well. Power keywords are those that are action verbs. You did not just get an award, you earned an award. You did not just work for the company, you gained experience from the company. Look for ways to include power keywords in your resume.

#5 - Other terms that may fit into your job resume should be those that show the type of person you are. Are you honest, reliable, and dependable? Do you have drive, passion, and the right attitude?

When using keywords in a resume, be specific. Be sure that your actual resume reads well but that it includes any specific keywords that your employer may be looking for in a job applicant. When you do this, you reduce the risk of ending up not a candidate for a job opening.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com/.

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Are You Using the Right Resume Keywords?

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5 Tips for Using the Right Keywords for Your Resume

In today's competitive job market, most companies use tracking systems to screen candidates for job openings. Software programs, internet job boards, and resume databases are the ones used most often. If your resume doesn't have the keywords that recruiting managers are looking for, it will most likely fall into the "no" pile, no matter how qualified for the job you may be. Here are some tips for matching the keywords in your resume to the jobs you want:

Match your keywords to the job description. First, search for the job you want on job search engines, such as Indeed, Monster, or CareerBuilder. For example, if the title of the job you want is "Social Media Manager," type these words into the search engine. Take a look at the job descriptions for each search result you come up with. Which specific words are used? Keep an eye on which certain skills are required, such as proficiency in WordPress and HTML. You want to use those same words in your resume. Some good keywords for the position of Social Media Manager are social media, marketing, sales, and project management. But since different job descriptions use different keywords, be sure to tailor your resume for each individual job.
Include your keywords at the very top of your resume. For instance, if your resume has a "Summary of Qualifications" near the top of the page, here's your chance to include all industry-specific keyword nouns and phrases. This ensures that your resume is found faster.
Talk to people in your industry about which ones to use. Go to the websites of the professional associations in your industry. Which keywords are being used in the content of these sites? Also, don't be afraid to ask colleagues, managers, and friends in your industry about what keywords would be of most use to you.
Consider your professional and educational achievements. Use keywords that describe your professional areas of expertise (i.e. web design, blogging, financial planning). Job titles and descriptions of your education (i.e. MBA) are also excellent keywords.
Keep an ear out for everyday jargon used in your industry. What words are professionals in your industry using most often? Putting these words in your resume will get you noticed. The Occupational Information Network, or ONetOnline.org, is also a good resource for finding descriptive words specific to your particular industry. Just do a search for a specific keyword and several job titles will come up in the results.

Nadia Laffan is a SUNY Purchase grad looking for a digital marketing position. She specializes in social media, blogging, and SEO topics. Follow her on Linkedin and Twitter for her professional advice, or send her an email at nadialaffan@zoho.com.

Read more ...

5 Tips for Using the Right Keywords for Your Resume

In today's competitive job market, most companies use tracking systems to screen candidates for job openings. Software programs, internet job boards, and resume databases are the ones used most often. If your resume doesn't have the keywords that recruiting managers are looking for, it will most likely fall into the "no" pile, no matter how qualified for the job you may be. Here are some tips for matching the keywords in your resume to the jobs you want:

Match your keywords to the job description. First, search for the job you want on job search engines, such as Indeed, Monster, or CareerBuilder. For example, if the title of the job you want is "Social Media Manager," type these words into the search engine. Take a look at the job descriptions for each search result you come up with. Which specific words are used? Keep an eye on which certain skills are required, such as proficiency in WordPress and HTML. You want to use those same words in your resume. Some good keywords for the position of Social Media Manager are social media, marketing, sales, and project management. But since different job descriptions use different keywords, be sure to tailor your resume for each individual job.
Include your keywords at the very top of your resume. For instance, if your resume has a "Summary of Qualifications" near the top of the page, here's your chance to include all industry-specific keyword nouns and phrases. This ensures that your resume is found faster.
Talk to people in your industry about which ones to use. Go to the websites of the professional associations in your industry. Which keywords are being used in the content of these sites? Also, don't be afraid to ask colleagues, managers, and friends in your industry about what keywords would be of most use to you.
Consider your professional and educational achievements. Use keywords that describe your professional areas of expertise (i.e. web design, blogging, financial planning). Job titles and descriptions of your education (i.e. MBA) are also excellent keywords.
Keep an ear out for everyday jargon used in your industry. What words are professionals in your industry using most often? Putting these words in your resume will get you noticed. The Occupational Information Network, or ONetOnline.org, is also a good resource for finding descriptive words specific to your particular industry. Just do a search for a specific keyword and several job titles will come up in the results.

Nadia Laffan is a SUNY Purchase grad looking for a digital marketing position. She specializes in social media, blogging, and SEO topics. Follow her on Linkedin and Twitter for her professional advice, or send her an email at nadialaffan@zoho.com.

Read more ...

Optimizing Your Resume With Keywords

Long gone are the days where employers review all resume submissions manually. And even if there are still a few who are doing that, their eyes are quickly scanning over your resume for keywords that align with their view of the position.

A majority of today's employers rely on scanning technology to go through the enormous volume of resumes that come in to their offices for each open position. It is a process similar to how websites and search engines operate. If your resume contains the right keywords and is "keyword rich" according to what the employer enters for the scanning technology, your resume has a greater chance of getting to the top of the stack for review.

So, regardless of how qualified you may be for the position, your chance at an interview will likely be missed if the scanning technology or human eye does not see keywords that tell them you are relevant for the job.

There are simple ways to figure out what keywords should go on your resume.
Review the job posting. The job posting typically tells you the title or position, specific experiences, skills and education desired or required of a candidate. Highlight all these keywords and work them into your resume in context.
Job description. Conduct searches on career or job board websites for job descriptions of the position you are applying for. You will notice common keywords coming from each of the job descriptions that you can also use in context for your resume.
Company/Organization website. Review its website. You will notice there are field or industry specific terms that are commonly used that should also be applied to your resume in context.

If you are applying for a job as an experienced professional in the same field, your resume may very likely already contain a few of the appropriate keywords. Your relevant experience and the professional lingo you have come to know has helped you apply it to your resume when describing your previous work experiences, but make sure you take the opportunity to optimize every section of your resume with keywords. Consider the following:
Positions/Titles. Employers are searching resumes that contain a matching title for the open position or a level below the position to secure candidates with the relevant experience and skills. Whether you are applying for an "Administrative Assistant," "Marketing Manager" or "Software Engineer" position, detail your previous experience with relevant titles you have held. If you happen to have a title that is unique or a less commonly known term, change it to reflect the common term employers will understand and that is the functional equivalent to the position you held.
Previous experiences and technical skills. While detailing specific achievements and accomplishment with each of your previous positions, include keywords that relate to skills or programs that the employer desires. Employers want to know that you are familiar with certain methods, approaches and programs that are critical to the success of the position.
Education/Training. Certain employers seek candidates that come from specific institutions, earned a specific degree or studied in a particular field. Utilize the "Education" section of your resume to plug in the appropriate keywords. It's also helpful to include specific certifications you have received from training.
Summary of Qualifications. This is a category typically found at the top of resumes to indicate to employers what you have to offer and how you have the experience and skills to qualify for the position. Others may prefer to use "Areas of Expertise" or "Professional Profile." Whatever you choose, it is a section on your resume that provides the opportunity to include important keywords within context. Play with words to include different variations or terms, such as "sales," "business development," "strategic alliances," "channel development," "regional expansion," and "market development". Also use common acronyms as well as the full description, for instance "PR" for "public relations" or "M&A" for "mergers and acquisition."

The more often keywords in your resume match with the requirements of the scanning technology, the greater the chance your resume will be reviewed and considered. Keywords may also be ranked. So even if you have a lot of matches, it does not replace the value placed against higher-ranked keywords. Make sure you give this the focus that is needed to get to the top of the stack. Thoroughly review the keywords that need to be included in your resume before applying for the job.

Also, keep in mind that after the resume is scanned and selected with technology, it goes through a review by the human eye. You don't want to pack your resume with keywords to the point that your sentences do not make sense or effectively demonstrate your qualification for the job. Keep the use of keywords in context. Good writing and overall presentation still counts in making a solid first impression.

Don Goodman, President of About Jobs ( http://www.gotthejob.com/ ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

Read more ...

Optimizing Your Resume With Keywords

Long gone are the days where employers review all resume submissions manually. And even if there are still a few who are doing that, their eyes are quickly scanning over your resume for keywords that align with their view of the position.

A majority of today's employers rely on scanning technology to go through the enormous volume of resumes that come in to their offices for each open position. It is a process similar to how websites and search engines operate. If your resume contains the right keywords and is "keyword rich" according to what the employer enters for the scanning technology, your resume has a greater chance of getting to the top of the stack for review.

So, regardless of how qualified you may be for the position, your chance at an interview will likely be missed if the scanning technology or human eye does not see keywords that tell them you are relevant for the job.

There are simple ways to figure out what keywords should go on your resume.
Review the job posting. The job posting typically tells you the title or position, specific experiences, skills and education desired or required of a candidate. Highlight all these keywords and work them into your resume in context.
Job description. Conduct searches on career or job board websites for job descriptions of the position you are applying for. You will notice common keywords coming from each of the job descriptions that you can also use in context for your resume.
Company/Organization website. Review its website. You will notice there are field or industry specific terms that are commonly used that should also be applied to your resume in context.

If you are applying for a job as an experienced professional in the same field, your resume may very likely already contain a few of the appropriate keywords. Your relevant experience and the professional lingo you have come to know has helped you apply it to your resume when describing your previous work experiences, but make sure you take the opportunity to optimize every section of your resume with keywords. Consider the following:
Positions/Titles. Employers are searching resumes that contain a matching title for the open position or a level below the position to secure candidates with the relevant experience and skills. Whether you are applying for an "Administrative Assistant," "Marketing Manager" or "Software Engineer" position, detail your previous experience with relevant titles you have held. If you happen to have a title that is unique or a less commonly known term, change it to reflect the common term employers will understand and that is the functional equivalent to the position you held.
Previous experiences and technical skills. While detailing specific achievements and accomplishment with each of your previous positions, include keywords that relate to skills or programs that the employer desires. Employers want to know that you are familiar with certain methods, approaches and programs that are critical to the success of the position.
Education/Training. Certain employers seek candidates that come from specific institutions, earned a specific degree or studied in a particular field. Utilize the "Education" section of your resume to plug in the appropriate keywords. It's also helpful to include specific certifications you have received from training.
Summary of Qualifications. This is a category typically found at the top of resumes to indicate to employers what you have to offer and how you have the experience and skills to qualify for the position. Others may prefer to use "Areas of Expertise" or "Professional Profile." Whatever you choose, it is a section on your resume that provides the opportunity to include important keywords within context. Play with words to include different variations or terms, such as "sales," "business development," "strategic alliances," "channel development," "regional expansion," and "market development". Also use common acronyms as well as the full description, for instance "PR" for "public relations" or "M&A" for "mergers and acquisition."

The more often keywords in your resume match with the requirements of the scanning technology, the greater the chance your resume will be reviewed and considered. Keywords may also be ranked. So even if you have a lot of matches, it does not replace the value placed against higher-ranked keywords. Make sure you give this the focus that is needed to get to the top of the stack. Thoroughly review the keywords that need to be included in your resume before applying for the job.

Also, keep in mind that after the resume is scanned and selected with technology, it goes through a review by the human eye. You don't want to pack your resume with keywords to the point that your sentences do not make sense or effectively demonstrate your qualification for the job. Keep the use of keywords in context. Good writing and overall presentation still counts in making a solid first impression.

Don Goodman, President of About Jobs ( http://www.gotthejob.com/ ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University's Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.

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What's the Buzz on Keywords?

If you are on the hunt for a new job, you have probably heard the reminders to make sure you have "keywords" included in your resume. So, what exactly are keywords and where do you find them?

If you have applied for a job online, your application is typically stored in a resume database or applicant tracking system. When a new position becomes available, Recruiters will pull a subset of candidate resumes/applications that they deem qualified based on a database "keyword" search.

So, you know you need to insert keywords into your resume so you can get "found" by the recruiter, but, how do you come up with the keywords?

Keywords and key phrases are typically nouns (person, place, thing) and noun phrases that describe and relate your experience to the job opening. Keywords are created by combining words contained in the advertised job description/job posting and your professional experience:

WHERE KEYWORDS COME FROM: Possible Keywords

JOB TITLES: Accountant, Graphic Designer, Artist, Realtor, District Manager, Senior Publisher, Typesetter, Teacher, Research Assistant, Dispatcher

SKILLS: Budgeting, Supervision, Strategic Planning, Organization, Web Design, Word Processing, Training, Facilitation, Purchasing, Presentation, Sales Management, Reporting

EDUCATION: GED, High School Diploma, Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES: Welding Certificate, CPR Certified, Teaching Certificate: Early Elementary Education, ISO 9000 Certification, MCSE Certification, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Dental Hygienist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Commercial Drivers License (CDL), LEED (Green Building Certified)

SPECIFIC TOOLS OR PROCESSES USED: Backhoe Operator, 3D Printing Press, Pneumatic Nail Gun, Interactive Whiteboard, Emergency Operations Center, SWAT Team, Hazardous Material Response, Greens Aeration Process, Onsite Recycling Initiative, Process Mapping, CAD Drafting

TECHNOLOGY: Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Skype, GoTo Meeting Blackboard, Dreamweaver, WordPress, Adobe PhotoShop, Macintosh

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS: SHRM - Society for Human Resources Management, HFMA - Healthcare Financial Management Association, AICPA - American Institute of CPA's, IAFF - International Association of Firefighters, HSMAI - Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, AIGA - Professional Association for Design

Once you have your keywords identified, make sure you incorporate them in your resume. You need to ensure you are loading your resume with keywords that are searchable, readable and actionable by the recruiter. Spend your time carefully when crafting your resume, taking time to match your history to the targeted job you are applying for. Be descriptive and specific so you can get FOUND in the crowd!

If you need help tailoring your resume to include keywords, Regal Resumes can help! You can find us at www.regalresumes.com

Guest Writing for Regal Resumes:
JOLAINE JACKSON, SPHR, IPMA-CP, Owner of "On The Spot Resources, LLC"
FIND ME ON ELANCE: https://www.elance.com/s/onthespotresources/

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What's the Buzz on Keywords?

If you are on the hunt for a new job, you have probably heard the reminders to make sure you have "keywords" included in your resume. So, what exactly are keywords and where do you find them?

If you have applied for a job online, your application is typically stored in a resume database or applicant tracking system. When a new position becomes available, Recruiters will pull a subset of candidate resumes/applications that they deem qualified based on a database "keyword" search.

So, you know you need to insert keywords into your resume so you can get "found" by the recruiter, but, how do you come up with the keywords?

Keywords and key phrases are typically nouns (person, place, thing) and noun phrases that describe and relate your experience to the job opening. Keywords are created by combining words contained in the advertised job description/job posting and your professional experience:

WHERE KEYWORDS COME FROM: Possible Keywords

JOB TITLES: Accountant, Graphic Designer, Artist, Realtor, District Manager, Senior Publisher, Typesetter, Teacher, Research Assistant, Dispatcher

SKILLS: Budgeting, Supervision, Strategic Planning, Organization, Web Design, Word Processing, Training, Facilitation, Purchasing, Presentation, Sales Management, Reporting

EDUCATION: GED, High School Diploma, Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES: Welding Certificate, CPR Certified, Teaching Certificate: Early Elementary Education, ISO 9000 Certification, MCSE Certification, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Dental Hygienist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Commercial Drivers License (CDL), LEED (Green Building Certified)

SPECIFIC TOOLS OR PROCESSES USED: Backhoe Operator, 3D Printing Press, Pneumatic Nail Gun, Interactive Whiteboard, Emergency Operations Center, SWAT Team, Hazardous Material Response, Greens Aeration Process, Onsite Recycling Initiative, Process Mapping, CAD Drafting

TECHNOLOGY: Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Skype, GoTo Meeting Blackboard, Dreamweaver, WordPress, Adobe PhotoShop, Macintosh

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS: SHRM - Society for Human Resources Management, HFMA - Healthcare Financial Management Association, AICPA - American Institute of CPA's, IAFF - International Association of Firefighters, HSMAI - Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, AIGA - Professional Association for Design

Once you have your keywords identified, make sure you incorporate them in your resume. You need to ensure you are loading your resume with keywords that are searchable, readable and actionable by the recruiter. Spend your time carefully when crafting your resume, taking time to match your history to the targeted job you are applying for. Be descriptive and specific so you can get FOUND in the crowd!

If you need help tailoring your resume to include keywords, Regal Resumes can help! You can find us at www.regalresumes.com

Guest Writing for Regal Resumes:
JOLAINE JACKSON, SPHR, IPMA-CP, Owner of "On The Spot Resources, LLC"
FIND ME ON ELANCE: https://www.elance.com/s/onthespotresources/

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Why You Should Use Keywords in Your Principal Resume

Employers and hiring managers are posting more and more jobs on the internet every day all over the world with the hope of getting the best possible candidate to fill the open positions. The internet has indeed changed the way the world works and this has come to include job searching as well. An integral part of 21st century job and resume placement is keywords. The system is designed to match resumes with the job postings that contain the right keywords.

Job Search and Internet Dynamics

Most people do not know this, but the application procedure is much more complex and goes far beyond the application page the candidate is seeing. After filling out the form and uploading your resume, the process is taken over by special software designed to filter out irrelevant resumes. Buzzwords or keywords are the major determining factor as to which resumes stay and which are dropped. Knowing where and how to use these keywords will also determine which resumes are pushed up the pile. All of this is done automatically, even before a human sees any resumes.

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Demands Professionalism

As an education professional seeking the position of school principal, the competition will be quite serious and you will be expected to be at your best in order to secure the job. The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software will scrutinize your resume and determine if it is well written enough to earn you an interview. For this reason, many potential principals hire the services of professional resume writers because they have in depth experience on how to properly use keywords.

Multiple Options

Note that this software not only recommends you to one institution, it also puts your resume in front of different hiring professionals at the same time, giving you a leverage of choice. This is excellent because you only need to put in your effort once and the rest is taken care of for you. All you need to do is write a powerful resume with the right keywords included and place the paper in strategic places like your social networking sites, blogs, websites, job search engines, etc. The idea is to get your resume into the right avenues so that when institutions do a random search for a principal, the ATS software will pick out your name, even in your absence.

Some useful tips:

Include relevant associations or professional groups you belong to in your resume.Highlight your keywords (when possible) in bold, italics, in the headers, etc. Search engines easily pick these up over other places.Utilize the tag option on social networking sites.Spell out all acronyms.Use your keywords in your cover letter.Always make sure your keywords are not too scattered and that they flow well, making for an interesting reading.Use keywords in the job responsibility section as well as in the profile summary.Be careful not to overuse keywords; the software will tag your resume as spam if you do.Research industry keywords and use only those relevant to securing the job you desire.

Candace Davies, Owner of A+ Resumes for Teachers is a Global Career Management Professional dedicated to assisting educators worldwide leverage their strengths, accomplishments, and unique selling points to capture their dream career. Her team has successfully assisted 3500+ education professionals by transforming their talents into concise documents that secure numerous interviews.

Please visit her at http://resumes-for-teachers.com/ or send an email to candoco@telus.net

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Resume Keywords - Transform Your Resume

First impressions are vital when it comes to reviewing your resume. In a few seconds your chances of securing a call for an interview can be dashed if your resume doesn't showcase your best skills and experience right up front.

A great way to make sure that your resume has what it takes to succeed is to make sure that each of your resume sentences begin with appropriate resume action words or keywords. These words are not difficult to find online at resume help websites or from resume reference books.

They include "action oriented" words such as promoted, facilitated, marketed, developed and managed.

The question I always have to ask myself is why do so many people opt to leave them off of their resume? I believe the answer might be that most job searchers just simply don't take the time to look closely at their resume to see if there are solid resume keywords starting their sentences.

In reviewing numerous resumes I've found that if many of them had added some powerful resume keywords, their resumes could have totally been transformed.

Here's an example of a resume sentence recently reviewed:

- Responsible for taking incoming customer calls.

Not much "wow factor" in that sentence. When I talked with my client and asked her to describe what she actually did, I soon realized that she handled a lot more than just saying hello on the phone. The next sentence out of her mouth was. "I actually had to develop a rapport with our customers and then distribute each call to the right department to make sure that each customer got the help they needed."

Unknowingly, she had just mentioned two great resume keywords in "developed" and "distributed" which certainly do a much better job of creating a strong impression with a resume reader who may be her next employer.

So let's take a look at what would happen if we added a resume keyword to her original sentence and included some of the things she said she actually did.

- Developed positive customer rapport handling incoming calls and ensured proper follow-through by distributing calls to the appropriate department.

Sure does create a much stronger impression that she is a person of action. Employers want their new employees to be able to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact for their bottom line in a short period of time.

Remember, your resume needs to create a sense of urgency when it is being read so that it moves the resume reader to put it at the top of the pile to schedule an interview.

Using resume keywords is just one of the great ways to transform your resume.

So take the time to review your resume and see if there are some sentences that might need a resume keyword and really make your skills stand out!

Here's to success in your job search.

- Scott

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Resume Keywords That Your Potential Employers Will Look For

Making choices about what keywords to choose on your resume can easily lead to frustration. There are words for titles, objectives, education, accomplishments, and all the headings. There are also power words, action words, industry specific words and resume keywords. Many of your resumes can be eliminated simply because of the lack of keywords. There is also a list of negative words that you should never use on your resume.

Employers use resume keywords when they look at job resumes, along with targeted words in your industry or job description. These unique keywords focus in on the skills required to perform the job duties, along with things like the qualities they want to attract, any talents, abilities and knowledge that can help you capture the hiring manager's interest in your application. The reason for this is that recruiters for companies often are inundated with applications for job postings, and they need a way to get through them to the gems rather quickly, so they will use software designed to "weed out" those whose qualifications fall short, allowing them to concentrate on who they are looking for, thereby speeding things up for them. But a caution, even though the software is designed to find these keyword triggers, if you just simply sprinkle them throughout your resume in order to gain attention, without being able to back the claims up, your plan might backfire. The software might like you, but the hiring manager most likely won't. You will need to learn how to use the targeted keywords in the right places, and for the right reasons, on your resume.

To get the right keywords, look to the job description in the post, to identify what keywords are already being used by the recruiters. Look to split up the keywords into two main areas: your skills and abilities, along with what you know into the first area, and the second being helpful/beneficial or attributes desired by employers in the second area. The skills set of keywords can further be split into the skills you have, and the skills you don't have.

Don't leave out any trigger keywords for the skills the employer is looking for out of your resume. Put the keywords related to the most relevant abilities at the start of your resume, typically in the objective section or summary section, followed by your work history or experience section. If you have numerous jobs that you've held, go with the most current ones, then focus on the relevant past jobs that will help support the current position you are looking into now. If there is an unrelated job you held for longer than a year, then definitely add it into your current resume. This will help alleviate any gaps in your history of employment. Just be sure to abbreviate your experience with that unrelated job.

The strategy that you can use to get you through the screening process involving the keywords for abilities, skills and knowledge are to use the keywords about the skills that you don't have in a positive light, such as your desire to obtain these skills through training. Don't just mention that you don't have these skills or abilities just to get them onto the resume. Show in your educational section on your resume your eagerness to obtain the skills that you are lacking, and your willingness to learn them.

Remember to include power words when you talk about your achievements to maximize the use of your resume keywords. Using the right kind of words can cause your qualifications to sizzle. Then, sell the sizzle. Don't say dull things like you are good at math or with numbers. Use words like superior math acumen. This will peak the curiosity of the person reading your resume. But don't go crazy. Peppering your resume with too many power words would be like dumping a whole lot of salt into the stew. It'll kill the flavor and effectiveness of what you are trying to accomplish. You are not there to serve your ego, but to show your prospective employer the power behind your uniqueness.

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Getting the Most Out of Resume Keywords

There are few issues that jobseekers struggle with more when creating a resume than keywords. What are they? How are they used? And perhaps most importantly, why should you care about including them? In today's crowded marketplace, with hundreds (sometimes thousands) of candidates vying for a particular position, many employers turn to Applicant Tracking Systems such as Taleo and Kenexa to sift out viable prospects. These programs analyze a candidate's resume for industry keywords. That's the first part. The second part consists of DEMONSTRATING these keywords naturally within your resume. Here's how:

1) IDENTIFY IN-DEMAND KEYWORDS

Look through job postings you're interested in submitting to. Which skills get called out time and time again? Which ones have you excelled at? Jot down these skills in a brief list. For example, a Sales Management candidate could end up with a list that contains the following:

New Business Development • Territory Growth • Client Relationship Management • Contract Negotiation

Key Account Management • Cross-Functional Team Leadership • Financial Management, Reporting • Business Liaison • Presentations

2) CREATE AN OPENING PARAGRAPH FOR YOUR RESUME

Now that you've compiled your keywords, develop a 3-4 line paragraph DEMONSTRATING them. Keep the language active and avoid listing specific metrics (that's for the work history section of the resume). Using the example above, we can create an opening along the lines of:

"Proactive professional able to exceed revenue targets through building new client relationships, negotiating contracts, and successfully developing territories. Highly skilled in leading cross-functional teams, managing financial reporting, and identifying untapped business opportunities."

A powerful, keyword-rich opening immediately establishes your suitability for the position and builds reader interest in exploring further.

3) CREATE A "CORE COMPETENCIES" SECTION

A "Core Competencies" section is basically the list of keywords you developed in section #1 inserted directly within your resume. Don't get too creative with wording; after all, the goal here is to have these keywords be instantly recognized. Also, make sure each of the skills inserted are ones you actually possess.

4) EXPAND ON KEYWORDS THROUGHOUT YOUR RESUME

This last section is what trips up most jobseekers. Simply inserting keywords into your resume is not a recipe for success. However, thinking of these skills contextually, and finding new and creative ways to develop them within your work history is a sure-fire way to stand out from the competition and start landing interviews. Using the example above: HOW did this client build new client relationships? WHICH territories did he successfully develop? WHAT bottom-line revenue increases can he point to? This is the secret value of keywords, as it essentially gives you a roadmap in terms of what areas to focus on throughout the resume. Realize its uses, take advantage of them, and best of luck in your job search!

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Owner at Resume Orbit. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee (in writing).

Please submit your existing resume for a FREE CRITIQUE spanning structure, language, and content.

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Resume Keywords - Transform Your Resume

First impressions are vital when it comes to reviewing your resume. In a few seconds your chances of securing a call for an interview can be dashed if your resume doesn't showcase your best skills and experience right up front.

A great way to make sure that your resume has what it takes to succeed is to make sure that each of your resume sentences begin with appropriate resume action words or keywords. These words are not difficult to find online at resume help websites or from resume reference books.

They include "action oriented" words such as promoted, facilitated, marketed, developed and managed.

The question I always have to ask myself is why do so many people opt to leave them off of their resume? I believe the answer might be that most job searchers just simply don't take the time to look closely at their resume to see if there are solid resume keywords starting their sentences.

In reviewing numerous resumes I've found that if many of them had added some powerful resume keywords, their resumes could have totally been transformed.

Here's an example of a resume sentence recently reviewed:

- Responsible for taking incoming customer calls.

Not much "wow factor" in that sentence. When I talked with my client and asked her to describe what she actually did, I soon realized that she handled a lot more than just saying hello on the phone. The next sentence out of her mouth was. "I actually had to develop a rapport with our customers and then distribute each call to the right department to make sure that each customer got the help they needed."

Unknowingly, she had just mentioned two great resume keywords in "developed" and "distributed" which certainly do a much better job of creating a strong impression with a resume reader who may be her next employer.

So let's take a look at what would happen if we added a resume keyword to her original sentence and included some of the things she said she actually did.

- Developed positive customer rapport handling incoming calls and ensured proper follow-through by distributing calls to the appropriate department.

Sure does create a much stronger impression that she is a person of action. Employers want their new employees to be able to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact for their bottom line in a short period of time.

Remember, your resume needs to create a sense of urgency when it is being read so that it moves the resume reader to put it at the top of the pile to schedule an interview.

Using resume keywords is just one of the great ways to transform your resume.

So take the time to review your resume and see if there are some sentences that might need a resume keyword and really make your skills stand out!

Here's to success in your job search.

- Scott

Scott has been writing resumes and cover letters for the past 20 years and has now created a free resume help website. If you would like to know more about how to create a great resume, visit his site at http://www.my-easy-resume.com/.

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Resume Keywords - Transform Your Resume

First impressions are vital when it comes to reviewing your resume. In a few seconds your chances of securing a call for an interview can be dashed if your resume doesn't showcase your best skills and experience right up front.

A great way to make sure that your resume has what it takes to succeed is to make sure that each of your resume sentences begin with appropriate resume action words or keywords. These words are not difficult to find online at resume help websites or from resume reference books.

They include "action oriented" words such as promoted, facilitated, marketed, developed and managed.

The question I always have to ask myself is why do so many people opt to leave them off of their resume? I believe the answer might be that most job searchers just simply don't take the time to look closely at their resume to see if there are solid resume keywords starting their sentences.

In reviewing numerous resumes I've found that if many of them had added some powerful resume keywords, their resumes could have totally been transformed.

Here's an example of a resume sentence recently reviewed:

- Responsible for taking incoming customer calls.

Not much "wow factor" in that sentence. When I talked with my client and asked her to describe what she actually did, I soon realized that she handled a lot more than just saying hello on the phone. The next sentence out of her mouth was. "I actually had to develop a rapport with our customers and then distribute each call to the right department to make sure that each customer got the help they needed."

Unknowingly, she had just mentioned two great resume keywords in "developed" and "distributed" which certainly do a much better job of creating a strong impression with a resume reader who may be her next employer.

So let's take a look at what would happen if we added a resume keyword to her original sentence and included some of the things she said she actually did.

- Developed positive customer rapport handling incoming calls and ensured proper follow-through by distributing calls to the appropriate department.

Sure does create a much stronger impression that she is a person of action. Employers want their new employees to be able to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact for their bottom line in a short period of time.

Remember, your resume needs to create a sense of urgency when it is being read so that it moves the resume reader to put it at the top of the pile to schedule an interview.

Using resume keywords is just one of the great ways to transform your resume.

So take the time to review your resume and see if there are some sentences that might need a resume keyword and really make your skills stand out!

Here's to success in your job search.

- Scott

Scott has been writing resumes and cover letters for the past 20 years and has now created a free resume help website. If you would like to know more about how to create a great resume, visit his site at http://www.my-easy-resume.com/.

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Resume Keywords Are Necessary

Everyday hiring managers, recruiters, and business owners spends a lot of time conducting various searches on the career sites. They use specific words to search for possible candidates and job seekers, which are known as keywords. Keywords are important because not including them in your resume means that it cannot be found easily.

The worst part about these keywords is that there are so many of them making it impossible to include all of them in your resume. There are various lists that are available online which tells you the possible keywords searched the most. However, this does not necessarily mean that including these words will match the job position that you are looking for. Just remember, that no one person or hiring manager is searching for the exact same keywords every time.

So, how can you increase the chances of getting your resume to be found more easily? Here are a few suggestions which can help many job seekers find just the right keywords which should be included in your resume.

Think like a Hiring Manager

As a job seeker looking for a particular job, you should think like a hiring manager to decide the best keywords to include in the resume in order to get the best response. Think of keywords that you would search for while hiring someone for the job position that you have applied for.

Another idea would be to ask someone who works in a hiring or human resource department or someone owning their own business. You should ask them what they look for while searching for their potential employee. You can also take help from professional resume writers on how employers think.

Look for Ads

The best way to determine the keywords to get your resume being noticed is by paying close attention to the advertisements.

Most frequently, the person who has written the ad will be the same person doing the hiring. Hence, look at the advertisements for the position that you are applying for and find the keywords which are important right in the advertisement itself. If the advertisement lists specific qualification, software knowledge, or certain experience, then it is a good idea to add these words to the resume where appropriate. Also, do remember to look for similar positions as well, even if you are not applying for them, to find some keywords. Other advertisements may highlight the other important keywords that might be helpful for you.

Resume Banks

Furthermore, if you are looking for a job while putting your resume in the resume banks or employer databases, it is important that you include certain keywords in your resume to make them easily accessible for the hiring managers.

Remember, it does not depend on your qualification but the keywords that allow your resume to pop up in the search lists which the hiring companies conduct. Hiring companies may not know you exist or if you are interested in a job position of their company. Hence, before you send your resume to apply for a specific job, make sure you do research to find as many appropriate keywords as possible to be included.

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The Social Media Resume and Keywords

Keywords and Optimizing Are King

Researching and placing select keywords is vital in ensuring that your paper resume rises to the surface. Media resumes are no different. Here again, it's about creating exposure for you and your background.

Part of this depends on how you structure your social media resume. You might make it a standalone single page like your traditional resume, or you could break it into specific sections (skills, certifications, references, achievements, markets worked in, products sold).

Breaking it into different sections can allow you to target and optimize specific keywords around related content for each page. Conceptually, this is very similar to optimizing individual websites and pages in order to drive traffic and rank high in search engines.

What does optimizing do? When done properly, this type of targeting can help these separate pages rank higher up on search engines when someone searches for you and specific keywords. This can help more employers and recruiters find you, resulting in more potential job opportunities. Try using two to three related keywords per page and its related topic.

Thus, if you have a single-page social media resume, you'll be limited to using just two or three keywords. Also, they'll likely have to be of a more general, broad nature. This can make optimization-and thus visits from interested parties-more challenging.

Make Your Social Media Resume Easy to Share

You have little to no control over which specific people visit your social media resume. However, if they're looking for your skills and have potential interest in hiring you-even if they are only influencers in the hiring process-you want to make it easy for them to spread the good word about you by sending your resume along.

That's right: It's about further improving your odds. Doing all the little extra can add up to a bigger competitive advantage for you:
Set up reciprocal links to and from various social media vehicles and tools.Put a small form on your social media resume that allows people to email/forward your resume to interested parties.Get the URL of your social media resume listed on as many networking sites as you can manage. Interest in your skills and experience can come from anywhere. Sometimes leads come from downright obscure and implausible places. Don't knock anything until you give it a try.

Don't Ignore the Stats

The cool thing with web pages-and having your own URL is one of those-means you can capture all sorts of neat information in the form of statistics you can use to your benefit in your search activities.

You can then use this info to help refine your online marketing activities. Are the right people looking for you and finding you? Are the keywords you are optimizing having the desired impact? Are your tactics helping improve your online visibility? The stats will give you plenty of insight here.

The fancy name for this is "website/page analytics." Basically, this mean using a simple statistical package that often comes with web-hosting services to allow you to find out the answers to the aforementioned questions along with other interesting tidbits of information:
Number of visitors who come to your social media resumeWhat pages your social media resume links to and what pages are linking back to itKeywords used to find your social media resume

Web analytics can be complex. But if this is an area that interests you, doing more targeted keyword searching on the topic can help you find educate yourself about it.

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and trainer. Her most recent books include The Social Media Survival Guide (Also available in Spanish), The Online Job Search Survival Guide, and S.E.R.I.A.L.PRENEURSHIP: The Secrets of Repeatable Business Success. She is frequently cited by the national media as an expert in social media. She is Director of Communications, External Affairs, and a Lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

To schedule an individual consultation or group workshop on online job-search, visit http://www.onlinejobsearchbook.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherrie_Madia

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How to Use Keywords in a Resume

By Linda Matias Linda Matias
Level: Platinum

Certified in all three areas of the job search - Certified Interview Coach (CIC), Job & Career Transition Coach (JCTC), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer ...

Keywords are vitally important in your resume. That's because most resumes aren't read by a real life person. Instead, resumes are read by software that searches for the keywords that targeted in your profession.

For the sake of this article, let's use an example of a sales executive. A common list of keywords that a sales executive may use includes the following: account relationships, market penetration, and consultative sales. Though there is nothing inherently wrong with creating a generic keyword list, the resume will have more punch if the keywords are accompanied with results or action.

As an example, replace account relationship with "Maintain Strong Account Relationships," market penetration with "Increased Market Penetration," and Consultative Sales with "Implement Consultative Sales Strategies." Adding a result or an action ensures the hiring manager knows the sales executive included a keyword section because it was an integral part of the resume, and not just a filler for software purposes.

A keyword section isn't the only place a where you should include keywords. Keywords should appear throughout your resume. The challenge job seekers have is not repeating the same keywords in the keyword section and the body of the resume. Variety is key. You have to think of different ways represent the same information.

In the Professional Experience section, the keywords in the sentences need to appear seamless. When keywords are crammed into a sentence, the resume doesn't read natural. Below are three examples where a keyword is nestled into a sentence seamlessly.

Captured a 30% increase in sales following the execution of a multi-layered marketing initiative that included direct mail, radio, and Internet campaigns. (The keyword in this sentence is multi-tiered marketing initiative, and the phrase direct mail, radio, and Internet campaigns.)Grew market share 55% within one month and continued a steady increase of 15% month-after-month. (The keyword in this sentence is market share.)Outperformed performance goals 10% by implementing cold prospecting, competitive analysis, and client services management activities. (The keywords in this sentence are cold prospecting, competitive analysis, and client services management.)

Selecting which keywords to target is important. You should read through job descriptions to pinpoint words that are central to your position. On a final note, don't dismiss the importance of keywords. Take the time to research each carefully.

This article has been viewed 6 time(s).
Article Submitted On: December 14, 2010

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Principles of Using Keywords in a Resume

Keywords are that powerful words in a resume that help highlight the technical skills, special qualifications, and professional area of expertise. These are mainly stated in the form of job responsibilities, tasks performed, achievements, honors, certifications, job titles, and industry-related jargons.

The key purpose of these keywords is to make your resume easily scannable. Most of the employer use database technology to scan hundreds of resumes received by them. This technology catch industry-specific keywords in the resume based on which employers shortlist candidates for an interview. In short, these powerful words help you get a job interview.

Here are some of the basic principles of using keywords in a resume:

? Identify what the employer is looking for.
? Know which keywords to use and which not to.
? All the keywords you use should be industry specific and in line with the profession.
? Use possible keywords in the summary of qualifications.
? The objective should also be rich in keywords.
? Use possible action words to land into the right job.
? Read the job profile again and again to get the perfect set of words.
? Visit the prospective company's website and examine the business market.
? Identify key values of the organization and then select appropriate keywords.
? You can also use magazines and trade journals to get better words to put across.
? Scatter them in your resume in accordance to its relevance.
? If extremely importance, use that twice or thrice in the overall resume.
? Use them to highlight your accomplishments and progress.
? You can also grab employer's attention by incorporating such power words in the professional history or the skill summary.
? Use them to convey your unique talents.
? Do not extend the use of a specific keyword more than twice or thrice in the entire resume.
? If possible also incorporate them in your cover letter.
? Maintain a perfect keyword density because excess of everything is bad. Excess of this can make your resume lose its value.

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