How to Use Resume Keywords Effectively
Olivia Attwood
Certified Professional Resume Writer ● Career Coach ● Executive Resume Writer ● MBA, BEng, CPRW, CPCC
Keywords are essential for the modern resume if you plan on making it past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Using the right keywords on your resume will ensure that you get more interview requests.
No matter how thoughtfully you craft your resume, if you don’t use the right keywords to bring out your qualifications on paper and ink, the hiring manager may never consider you a worthy candidate for the position. Hiring managers take only a few seconds for the initial resume scan and they look for specific keywords within that short period. If the keywords don’t pop out of the resume during the scan, your resume might possibly go to the “No” pile.
What are resume keywords?
Resume keywords are certain phrases and buzzwords related to a given job title. These keywords are often specific to the industry and the profession. They can be nouns, action verbs, etc. Let’s look at some common resume keywords for a marketing position:
There is another type of keyword as keyword phrases. They describe personal characteristics and contain action verbs. Adding these keyword phrases to your resume is also important. Here are some common keyword phrases for a management resume:
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Can you skip adding keywords to your resume?
Not if you really want the job. Keywords hold a lot of power when crafting a job application. Without the right keywords, there is a high chance that your resume will get rejected by the ATS as well as the hiring manager. Keywords are your best chance at convincing a potential employer to give you the opportunity for an interview.
What is the importance of resume keywords?
Why do we keep saying that keywords are so important for your resume? Due to a number of reasons. Keywords open the first door for you in the hiring process. Without the proper keywords on your resume, you will not be able to get a foot through the door. Keywords also help you come up in online searches, improving your visibility to potential employers. You can use keywords to attract the right kind of opportunities on job boards and professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn. Keywords also tell potential employers that you have the right qualifications to be their team member.
Where should you display keywords on a resume?
Employers pay a lot of attention to the first half of the first page of your resume. Therefore, you should display a maximum number of keywords within that space. The best thing you can do is to incorporate keywords into the summary, work experience, skills, and achievements sections of your resume. Be sure to display your key skills section toward the top of the resume to ensure maximum visibility of keywords.