The Advantages of Using Keywords When Writing a Resume
- Many employers use computerized scanning systems that detect keywords in a resume. If your resume includes keywords that are specific to the job you are applying for, then you will be singled out with potentially dozens to hundreds of other applicants. The employer may go through a first batch of applicants, then re-scan all other resumes for a second round of hiring. The advantage to using keywords is that you can get noticed by the hiring personnel, no matter how poorly written and lackluster your resume appears. However, you at least want to make an attempt at a well-written resume, so pay attention to grammar, spelling and structure, in case the employer wants to do a complete read-through.
- Job banks often scan documents for keywords. Local career assistance centers at the unemployment office have databases that store resumes. You can also post a resume on sites likes CareerBuilder, Monster and Yahoo! HotJobs. The advantage in using good keywords in a resume posted to national job banks is that your document has a longer shelf life and reaches a wider market, based on what companies are looking to hire within your skill set. You can potentially plant a resume seed that grows into a tree, branching off into other avenues of employment.
- Resume experts stress the proper use of font, placement of headings and use of bullets as a few examples of the overall formatting of a resume. However, some employers ask for a "plain text" resume that has little to no formatting, leaving nothing but the keywords and phrases in the document. You have several options for creating plain text resumes, such as using a text editor program, like NotePad in Windows and TextEdit in Apple computers. Your email client might also have a button that disables HTML formatting. The advantage of using keywords in a barely formatted or plain text resume is that you might have less of a chance of immediate disqualification from being considered from a job due to an unprofessional-looking resume.
- Experienced professionals with extensive job and education histories might have resumes that fill up at least two pages. However, multiple-page resumes might turn off some hiring managers, who loathe reading the entire lengthy document just to learn about your core skills and abilities. The advantage of keywords is that if you absolutely must create a long-winded resume, you might not suffer immediate rejection from an employer who does not wish to sift through such a document. Your resume will initially come up after a keyword search, and hiring personnel might be more willing to read a verbose and thorough resume submission.
- Many people struggle with creating the "Objective" heading in a resume. Consider making a section titled "Summary," which only states generalized keywords about your skills, experience and education. You can position this section in place of the objective section at the top of the resume. The summary is very direct, almost terse, but some career industries, such as accounting or the legal profession, prefer that overall tone. The advantage is that if you struggle with making a resume really stand out from a written perspective, you can create a keyword summary that makes a powerful presentation right from the outset.