Unlock the Power of Keywords for Your Resume

Do you want to stand out in this competitive job market? Then, you need a resume that sparks the interest of hiring managers as well as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs). One of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal is resume keywords. Resume keywords help you stand out from a sea of generic job applications and help portray you as the ideal candidate.

Why are resume keywords so important?

If you look at of our blogs about resume writing, nine of them will mention the importance of resume keywords. Why are professional resume writers so adamant that you use resume keywords? There are many benefits of using resume keywords for your job applications. Let’s have a look at a few of them below:

Helps with ATS optimization

One of the key steps in optimizing your resume for the ATS is to incorporate the right keywords into your resume. Applicant Tracking Systems scan your resume for a predefined set of keywords. If your resume does not mention them in the right frequency and context, your resume may never reach the human eye, especially if you are applying for a job with a large-scale employer. Keywords help you to target your resume to your desired position.

Aids highlight relevant skills

The keywords that the employer has mentioned in the job description help you highlight relevant skills for the job on your resume. They are a key element of a tailored resume. They tell potential employers that you have all the right skills for the job.

Helps with showcasing industry knowledge

Most keywords are specific to an industry. When you use these keywords when writing a resume, you are showing the employer that you are well-versed in the knowledge and technology used in the field. If you want to stand apart from other job seekers who lack experience, strategic placement of keywords will help you a lot.

How can you identify keywords?

There are thousands of keywords out there. How do you choose the keywords that are relevant to the job for which you are applying? You can do several things:

Read and analyze the job description

Carefully read the job description for the role you are applying for. The employer would list many keywords within the job description. You can identify them and mention them on your resume.

Use online tools

There are many online tools that can scan a job description for you and find the set of keywords. Some other tools will help you find keywords by industry and role.

Get the help of industry resources

When doing your keyword research, refer to material authored by professional organizations within your industry. You can also pay attention to industry publications and content shared by industry thought leaders on social media for keywords.

What you should and should not do when adding keywords to your resume

Now, let’s look at a few things that you should and should not do when incorporating keywords into your resume:

Tailor your resume. You must tailor your resume for each job application so that the keywords are updated for each employer. You can change the keywords within the summary, education, work experience, and skills sections of your resume.

Avoid stuffing your resume with keywords. Many job seekers make the mistake of stuffing their resumes full of keywords or using white text to hide keywords within the resume body. These tricks may fool the ATS. But when a hiring manager reads your resume, you are sure to hit the bin.

Add keywords to core sections. Employers will scan critical sections of your resume such as the summary, skills, and work experience sections for keywords. It’s important that you mention a healthy amount of keywords within these sections.