What are Keywords?

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Ask the Resume Writer

Q: I keep hearing about resume keywords. What are they, and why are they important for my resume?

A: Keywords are a crucial aspect of today's resume. Whether you're posting your resume on LinkedIn or Monster -- or sending it directly to an employer or recruiter -- it will most likely go into an applicant tracking system (ATS) with thousands of other resumes. The hiring manager will plug in keywords that match the requirements of the position, and the search engine will look for resumes that contain those words. Candidates who get the most "hits" will appear higher on the list, and their resumes have the greatest chance of being read.

But keywords and buzzwords have another important place. Once your resume is read by a real live human being, keywords will demonstrate that you have the right skills for the position!

Many people believe there is one magic list of keywords. But the truth is, it varies from profession to profession and job to job. For example, a recruiter seeking a person to fill a finance position might look for keywords such as: P&L, Financial Audits, Forecasting, Tax Planning, Asset Management, Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance, or MBA. (These are just examples -- there are hundreds of keywords for each profession.)

How do I incorporate keywords into my clients' resumes? After seven years of researching keywords, I've developed customized skills assessment forms for over 130 different professions - and I'm constantly updating them. These Skills Profile Forms contain most common and essential keywords and buzzwords for all of the fields.

After my client completes the profile, I do an in-depth telephone consultation to gather more information about his skills, responsibilities, strengths, and accomplishments. This process helps me identify additional keywords for his resume. Finally I analyze job openings that interest him, to see which keywords match his qualifications.

Having the right keywords will get your resume noticed, but it is only the first step in a standout resume. Read here about the Six Keys to an Outstanding Resume, and 12 Fatal Resume Flaws.

Since your resume is probably the most important document ever written about you, I recommend getting a professional to help with the process. Read more here about Choosing a Resume Writer.

Deborah Schuster is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of The Lettersmith, a resume writing and career marketing firm in Southeast Michigan. She can be reached for a telephone consultation at 248-828-1699, or on the web at www.thelettersmith.com.

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The Lettersmith Career Marketing
Deborah L. Schuster, CPRW

Phone: 248-828-1699

Fax: 810-592-8431

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55 E. Long Lake Rd., # 484, Troy, MI 48085

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