Only a few years ago, personnel departments pored over resumes and sorted them based on how they looked and what they said. No longer. Most organizations now use software to scan resumes submitted electronically or scanned into a computer. These applicant tracking systems look for specific words, which may get you in the door or tossed aside.
According to the National Resume Writers Association, 80 percent of major organizations use this approach to spot promising candidates. Know this: if you're resume doesn't match up, you're persona non grata. You must find words that distinguish you from others.
Typically these keywords center on job-specific skills or knowledge, which may include proficiency in hardware and software, job titles, certifications, names of products and services, industry buzzwords and jargon, language skills, names and types of degrees, names of colleges, company names, and terms that tend to impress (such as Fortune 500). Also, make sure you put the word resume on your resume! Otherwise, it may wind up being filtered out by the spam filter!
Finding the Work You Love offers more insights and information on how to make keywords the key to embracing a new and more meaningful career!
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