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The Importance of Key Words in A Resume
Often employers look at resumes to see if
they have key words expressing the specific position the applicant wants.
Often key words increase the chance on getting an interview.
Pretend you are the employer for a few
seconds. Make a list of key words describing the position you want. What
key words would identify the experiences you have had? Managers do not
want to be told how good an employee you are. They want to be shown how
good of an employer you are. This can be done through the use of key words
in a resume.
The best way to show an employer how great
an employee you are is to use active verbs describing your strengths and
special abilities. A great way to find these key words is to look up the
positions on the Internet and see how they are described. What key words
can target the position? Begin by starting a notebook with new words or
descriptive words identifying the position you are wanting.
Look at different want ads. How is the
position described in these? What important competencies are used to
describe this position? Write these down.
Look at different trade magazines to see
how they discuss the position wanted. Scan over these magazines to find
“buzz” words describing employees working for different companies. Add
these to your notebook.
What words are used to describe the “next level up job” as well as the
“one level up” for competitors? Write these in your notebook. Add
words and experiences listed as the preferred skills of the company. Add
these to the notebook. Find words that describe leadership, team skills,
communication skills, and etc.
The next step is taking the key words in
the notebook and expressing them in a resume. List your past experience,
education, and abilities by using these key words to describe them. Be
sure to describe any accomplishments, awards, or recognition that you have
received.
Remember the quantity of words on a resume is not as important as the
quality of words used. The resume should market your skills using key
words. Writing the resume should sell “yourself” as a worthy future
employee. The resume tells the employer why he should give a specific
person an interview and that is where the key words in the notebook will
help you convince the employer of how valuable you are.
Check the resume to see if you have used at
least 50% of the words listed. The next step is having a friend scan the
notebook for key terms for the employer might want as well as checking for
accuracy.
While employers do not resumes that are
padded with key words without the experience to back it up, they are
looking for key words that describe a valuable future employee. Using key
words will attract the attention of the employer and give you the
interview you wanted.
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