Key in Those Keywords

If we liken the job search to a game of Monopoly, and compare job applicants to the playing pieces moving around the board in search of prosperity, know this.  Without keywords as well as their proper placement in their resumes, job seekers will not advance past Go.  They will remain in holding patterns while their competition sails on, en route to securing choice jobs. Professional resume writing services are keenly aware of the value of keywords and so should be job seekers.

Keywords and key phrases are those that reflect specific job functions and are industry-specific.  To illustrate, an accountant who labors in or who wishes to target the retail industry could select keywords/key phrases such as Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger Accounts, Financial Statement Preparation, Inventory Analysis and Valuation, and Vendor Discount Programs/Terms.  While the first four phrases can and do apply to accountants in any field, the latter two will resonate further with retailers, whose revenue streams are linked directly to levels and condition of inventory, and who continually jockey for discounts with vendors, either in terms of special promotions or agreements to pay their invoices within stipulated, usually abbreviated, timeframes.

The presence of keywords in your resume is critical if you wish, literally, to be identified as a viable candidate.  The majority of recruiters and human resource professionals employ applicant-tracking software, also known as talent acquisition management software.  Thus, when scanning resumes electronically, those resumes rich with keywords and key phrases immediately pinpoint those applicants possessing the proper skill sets and, if applicable, industry-specific knowledge and background.

We can’t overstate this enough.  Most new employees are found in this manner, through the use of technology.  There are simply too many job seekers, for too few jobs, to allow hiring authorities to peruse each and every resume manually (meaning, a visual review of entire documents).

When employers outsource the applicant identification process to a third party, such as a headhunter/recruiter or employment agency, keywords and key phrases take on heightened significance.  Many third parties, and even some human resource generalists, are not completely knowledgeable in the demands of the open positions.  They rely, therefore, upon locating qualified applicants mainly through keywords and key phrases on their resumes.   For instance, a general recruiter may not understand the purpose or features of RACF, which is a highly specialized computer system, but she will be able to find applicants well versed in this application if the term RACF appears in their resumes.

How and where, then, should keywords and key phrases appear?   The most obvious place is early on in the resume, within the Summary, Highlights, or Professional Profile Section.   However, when writing the resume, candidates should also include the keywords/key phrases in the actual text.

Acronyms are fine to use, but our advice is to spell out their full meaning as well as list the acronym.  Again, the person screening your resume may not understand what the acronym stands for; play it safe, and tell them.

Logic and mathematical principles, of course, drive the creation of computer systems and the development of software applications, including those utilized by hiring managers and recruiters.  Therefore, many employ simple Boolean equations to narrow their searches further.  For instance, if a firm is seeking an account manager to service and expand sales within a particular geographic region, they may prefer the applicant to live within or close to that region.  Their equation (search command) may then read something such as:

“Account/Sales Manager” AND “New York City”.

It behooves you, obviously, to include your physical location in your resume.  If you are leery of hackers finding your personal data, as well as your current employer, you can remove your street address from your electronically-posted resume.  But do leave the town and zip code visible.  If this disturbs you, you can hide all of your personal information via anonymous posting features that are available on most Internet job boards.

If you are unsure of the keywords or key phrases that will have the most relevance for you, access the Internet to scan job postings and actual resumes.  You don’t need to limit yourself to major sites such as Monster.com.  You can also peruse sites such as LinkedIn and Ladders, where you will find your competitors!   Websites that service specific industries (check out our Resources page) are also a good source, and you can also find job listings on such sites.   Pepper your resume liberally with keywords and key phrases and you will have notably improved your chances for job placement success!