How can you optimize your resume keywords to stand out in a crowded job market?

Use the job description as a reference - get at least 10 job descriptions for similar positions, notice patterns (what reports in all or most of them), ask yourself if you have the skills/experience, and if the answer is yes, get ready to show it on your resume and LinkedIn profile. ChatGPT can help you to optimize this process. The tool TagCrowd is also very helpful. Show is instead of only tell it - listing keywords without any context or powerful examples is doing only half of the job. Go fully in. Use synonyms - once you identified the keywords, place them in different parts of the resume/LinkedIn profile and also use synonyms. You don’t need to guess the keywords, because you might guess wrong.

They are important because: 1. ATS Screening 2. Efficiency 3. Job Description Alignment 4. Relevance 5. Competitive Advantage 6. Visibility

To stand out in a crowded job market, incorporate relevant keywords from the job description. Tailor your resume to match the specific job requirements. Highlight your achievements, skills, and qualifications clearly. Use industry-specific terms and phrases to showcase your expertise. Ensure a balance between keywords and readability for human and automated resume screening.

This is dependent on how the ATS is set up. Often times, it isn’t about key words, but rather how you answer certain questions. For example, if there is a question about “How many years of xxx experience” and it misaligns with the minimum qualifications, then the ATS would potentially disqualify a candidate. Regardless of ATS, best practice is to ensure your resume clearly defines your experience to align to the qualifications required in the job description. Before applying, ensure you thoroughly read those qualifications and make sure your experience and skills align before applying.

I like to start each bullet with the relevant keyword. For instance: Project Management: Led a team of 5 developers to create a new .....

Utilize industry-specific terminology, action verbs, and relevant buzzwords related to your field. Incorporate a blend of hard skills, soft skills, and relevant certifications to showcase your expertise and proficiency. Furthermore, consider tailoring your resume for each application, highlighting your unique strengths and achievements that resonate with the desired role. By strategically integrating these targeted keywords, you can increase the visibility of your resume and capture the attention of potential employers in the competitive job market.

Word clouds are one way of identifying keywords, where you take multiple job postings, paste into the word cloud, and then pull out the most commonly used words and phrases. With the introduction of AI, it’s now much easier to identify keywords. Ask AI what keywords should be included for (insert job title). Or use a free AI resume builder, like arearesume.ai, where you can upload your resume and job description and get real time scoring and suggestions for improvement.

It's one thing to have keywords related to your target role and industry, but if presented properly, they will make a big difference in the eyes of a recruiter or hiring manager. Instead of listing your keywords as previous tasks/responsibilities, convert them into quantifiable accomplishments. For example; Instead of: - Responsible for designing a user interface that includes UX best practices Say: - Designed UI/UX for a mobile application with 50,000 users across 10 countries Providing specific examples of how you've added value will help you better demonstrate what you can do for your potential employer. It will undoubtedly help you stand out among hundreds of other applications.

Incorporate action verbs at the start of your resume bullet points and a few in your career accomplishments. Action verbs can help enhance your resume and make it more compelling. You can tailor to the job description. A few examples: - Accelerated - Adapted - Advanced - Advised - Built - Captured - Championed - Changed - Created - Delivered - Expanded - Improved - Implemented - Selected to do... - Facilitated - Headed - Increased - Influenced - Streamlined - Resolved - Transformed

Absolutely do not follow the viral TikTok advice of putting keywords in white font. It doesn’t work that way, and you will immediately be seen as a liar. When creating a skills section, keep your list to ~15 keywords and adjust based on the varying keywords in each job description. Instead of listing Salesforce only in the skills section, use it in a bullet: Delivered a 30% decrease in onboarding time by deploying Salesforce platforms across 30 new enterprise clients per month.

A "Skills" section with long lists of keywords is an example of keyword stuffing that I see regularly. Instead, choose a small number of relevance skills matched to keywords and provide evidence of how you demonstrated each skill. This will optimize your resume for both ATS and human eyes!

As previously mentioned, there are several tools available to score your resume against any job description. Some of my favorites are arearesume.ai and cvwolf.com. As with any software though, you must use common sense and only include keywords you can confidently speak to in an interview.

Ensure that you share the impact of your skills, knowledge and expertise, not just list things that you have done or can do. If there are gaps, outline transferable talents. Highlight recent learning and link this to enthusiasm to retrain/ upskill.

I always suggest to my clients to first get clarity for yourself on the following - why do you believe you make a great candidate for a particular job. Read the job description carefully and make sure that everything (80%) that is on your resume is geared towards this job. Only then make an ATS check.

In implementing the FLIVS strategy I described above, be aware that: 1. Most Job Descriptions are poorly written, so select them carefully. 2. Sometimes your target keywords will be contained in the company description, if the Job Description uses boilerplate language for the role description. For example, an electric vehicle company may want the person to have experience with EVs, even though the role description does not call it out. 3. Use only recent Job Descriptions since skills, trends and the language in Job Descriptions change rapidly. 4. The resume is going away. LinkedIn is quietly introducing changes that make your LinkedIn profile the resume of record when you apply. Focus on optimizing your profile for your target role.