Blog Post: 3 Reasons to Power Up Your Resume With Keywords

One of the mysteries to résumé writing, keywords are simply skills and concepts that humans AND systems look for in your qualifications.

However, many people skip adding this content when writing a résumé… and then wonder why the phone stays silent.

Take my client Greg, for example.

Greg had a solid sales background and impressive accomplishments. However, when looking at his résumé, I realized keywords were missing. Employers were not able to get a big-picture view of his ability to generate new business.

I recommended adding some targeted keywords, and the next time we talked, I couldn’t BELIEVE the difference! He was weighing offers from several firms. The keywords had pushed his application past that of competing candidates.

Here are some reasons to consider adding keywords to your résumé:

1) You can satisfy dual-purpose requirements. Your résumé will likely be read by BOTH a hiring manager plus an automated system.

2) Keyword content can demonstrate the breadth of your skills. A new account executive might put “relationship management” on a résumé, but a more experienced sales representative could add “revenue improvement” and “profit growth.”

3) Résumé real estate is valuable! Rather than taking up precious space to describe your credentials, keywords are a great way to present a quick overview, while driving home your point.

The bottom line? Show employers that your achievements and success stories are backed by a host of skills that THEY seek—meaning keywords—and watch your results take off!

Laura Smith-Proulx, CPRW, CIC, Executive Director of An Expert Resume and author of “Solve Your Toughest Résumé Challenges to Win More Interviews,” has a 98% success rate landing interviews for fast-track professionals.

For FREE tips on creating a knockout resume and advancing in your career, visit www.AnExpertResume.com .