Regardless of how a resume is being submitted, it must be keyword rich to be effective.
Keywords and phrases reflect skills and experience necessary for the type of position and industry you are targeting. While an effective resume will include action verbs (e.g., develop, negotiate, analyze) for a human reviewer, keywords and phrases will play a crucial role when technology is used to select candidates.
Following are a few examples of keywords:
After resumes are scanned into applicant tracking systems, they will be searched and ranked. A hiring manager decides which keywords best identify the skills needed in a candidate for a particular position; typically the reviewer will have several keywords that are mandatory, and others that are desirable. Based upon those keywords, the system performs a search.
Resumes are ranked according to the number of keyword matches. Of those, resumes that have more of the desired keywords rank higher. Therefore, in addition to placing relevant keywords and phrases throughout the resume and cover letter, an extra Keyword Summary may maximize the effectiveness of your documents.
Note that it is not necessary to have a Keyword Summary if care has been given to using keywords in the Summary of Qualifications and throughout the resume. Also, as applicant-tracking technology becomes smarter (and more employers upgrade to smarter technology), different variations on keywords will not be as necessary. For example, one would not need to include Bachelor of Arts degree as well BA degree.
Keep in mind:
Follow these easy steps to create a Keyword Resume:
In summary, focus on nouns in the Keyword Summary but combine nouns with action verbs in the rest of the resume. Beyond the Keyword Summary, which is simply a list of keywords, use additional keywords in other parts of your resume that contextually make sense . Also include keywords in your cover letter. (For more information on cover letter content, visit Expert Advice on Resumes.)
Next, you need to prepare your keyword resume for the submission method.
* If you would like to submit your resume via an online database or e-mail, you will need an ASCII Resume.
Note: Some online databases provide a means to upload a MS Word document. Also, you may attach an MS Word document to an e-mail; however, some employers may not be able to receive attachments due to potential viruses.
* If you would like to build your personal brand, you will want to optimize your social media profile.