When writing your resume, it’s very important to make sure you use the right words. However, it’s not always clear what the right words are. One hiring manager may be looking for a specific set of keywords in a resume, while other hiring managers will be looking for different keywords altogether – even if they are looking at applications for the same type of position.
The best approach to solving this problem is to hit the most important keywords. Read the job advertisement carefully and search for any keywords. If they want someone with a typing speed of 80 words per minute, and you have that skill, mention it because that’s clearly a keyword. If the job advertisement mentions other skills, be sure to include those words in your resume.
Of course, you won’t be able to find every keyword you need just from the job advertisement. So, another good tip is to search for strong, general words. There are several online sources that list keywords that hiring directors prefer to see. These lists can be found at:
- Network Services and Consulting Corporation (http://www.enetsc.com/RESUMETIPS26.HTM)
- Resume-help.org (http://www.resume-help.org/resume_action_words.htm)
There are also other tips and tricks for finding keywords at http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_keywords.html. Use all of these resources, and more, when thinking about how to write your resume. Using the right word can mean the difference between landing the job and getting rejected. Take the time to do this right, and you’ll see great results.
