Resume Key Words - Where To Find Keywords To Use On A Resume

© David Alan Carter
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Resume key words... you know you need them. But where to find them? Here's where to find keywords to use on a resume. Help from a former recruiter.
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Key words are the jargon of a particular industry, also known as buzzwords, key words (or, keywords) on your resume speak to who you are within that industry. Are they crucial elements in today's resumes? You bet. Assuming the job seeker wants that resume to result in an invitation to an interview. Key words are the words employers are searching for to establish that a candidate has a professional or academic background suitable for a particular job opening.

A Resume Without Key Words Is Invisible

In the age of the internet, companies have come to rely heavily on resume databases, and dependent upon on key words and search software to match candidates with job qualifications. Assuming your resume has become one in a database of resumes (a more likely occurrence than not, in today's world), it needs relevant key words in order to surface and land on the desk of a hiring official. Without keywords, your resume won't be matched to the qualifications of an available position. Your resume is invisible.

OK - Where should you begin your search for keywords to use on a resume?

Keywords To Use On A Resume - Look Here First

Start with the obvious spot, and the most overlooked - the company you want to work for. If your target company is running a classified advertisement, the ad itself is most likely a wealth of information. Does it list the duties and responsibilities of the position? Does it identify a candidate's necessary qualifications and desired characteristics? If so, you've now got your hands on keywords already optimized for the position and ready for your resume.

Additional Places To Look For Keywords To Use On A Resume

Here are seven other places to look for keywords relevant to your industry and to your profession. They include:

1. Company websites. Most medium to large companies will have a web presence. Google the companies in your industry, and locate their websites. Pull up their page marked "careers" or "jobs" or "employment opportunities." Do they have job openings for positions that match your qualifications? If so, you've hit pay dirt. Indeed, you've not only found a good source of relevant industry keywords, but you've found the next place to send your keyword-rich resume.
2. Quarterly and annual reports from companies in your industry. Read one or two, as well as news releases, for technical jargon (i.e., keywords).
3. Trade magazines and newsletters.
4. Recruiters. Talk with one or two. Recruiters know what companies are looking for in terms of specific language. Besides, it never hurts to introduce yourself to a recruiter during a job search.
5. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook. Find it online, or at your local public library.
6. Informational sites on the Web relating to your industry.
7. Online forums and discussion groups that cater to your profession or industry.

Make Sure You 'Own' The Keywords On Your Resume

Once you're comfortable that you 'own' your selected keywords, work them into your resume - most notably in the summary or profile section, but also throughout your work history as appropriate.
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A Final Thought...

Once you've got your keywords selected, there's still much to do. You've got format selection; design and layout; prose that promotes your qualifications without making you come across as vain or arrogant. Writing an effective resume has never been a walk in the park, but in this tough economy, resume writing is even more challenging. If your resume is going to be fighting for attention in an extremely competitive field, the services of a professional resume writer might make sense.

If you opt for some help, seek out a certified professional resume writer. A writer with a good reputation in the industry. A writer who will communicate with you by phone, and stand behind his work with a guarantee. Yes, they're out there.

In fact, I can help you identify that "pro," that special writer who is qualified to deliver a polished document that puts your best foot forward in a tough job market. The page Resume Writer Reviews identifies 10 of the more popular companies out there, and I rank these writers on values like...

• Quality of workmanship
• Credentials
• Pricing
• Guarantees

You’ll find star rankings, mini-reviews, and in-depth reviews on each of these 10 companies. Whether you go it alone or trust the services of a pro writer, I wish you the best of luck in your job search!

– David

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