Most resumes end up in a database of some sort: in the resume database of a job board, in an employer's applicant tracking system, or in a recruiters email inbox.

Regardless of where the resume is stored, use of the "right words" (those used in a search through the database for people meeing a job's requirements) in that resume determine whether or not the resume is selected to appear in the search results. Those right words are typically called "keywords" and appearing in the search results is called "search engine optimization" (or SEO).

So, what are Key Words?

What words and phrases would a recruiter use while searching for someone to fill your next job (as well as your current job)? Include those words and phrases, where appropriate, in your resume so your resume will appear near the top of the page in resume database search results. For an example see our sample ASCII text resume

Think of keywords as the jargon or "buzzwords" used by insiders in a profession or industry. It's how insiders describe themselves and others in their profession. These are the terms they give to the people writing job descriptions as the job requirements.

Keywords are the nouns and noun phrases used by recruiters searching through applicant databases and Web job sites for resumes meeting the requirements on job descriptions. In case you've forgotten 8th grade English class, nouns are the words that represent a person, place, or thing. ["Assistant" and "manager" are nouns. "Administrative assistant" and "marketing manager" are noun phrases.]

Key words are a relatively new requirement. This requirement developed when employers and agencies began storing resumes in applicant databases. Then, Web job sites started appearing in 1994, and keywords became more important. In the past, we focused on "action verbs" in our resumes -- for example: "Managed a P&L..." or "Created and implemented a marketing campaign..." And, they are still very important because they explain what you did and are capable of doing for an employer.

However, now you need more than action verbs in cyberspace. You need the right words, the key words, used by someone searching a resume database for qualified applicants.

So, think of the education and experience you have had and the job you want, and brainstorm the nouns and noun phrases that would be used in the description of the requirements of that job, using the suggestions in the section below. Look through the job postings you find for the skills, experience, professional certifications or organizaitons, etc. that will tell you what keywords will be used. If you can, get a copy of the job description for the job you want, and pick out the noun and noun phrases used. As appropriate (you do have the skills, education, etc.), add those words and phrases to your resume when you apply for that job.

Developing Your Keywords

When developing your list of job-related keywords, be creative, but not inaccurate. Search for the job you want next on a few job boards, and note what unique, job-specific words are used in those job descriptions. Make a list of the following:

• The job title of the job that you want next.
  
  
• Standard job titles that are used for your current and previous jobs, particularly if current (or former) employer(s) used non-standard titles
  
  
• Names of job-specific, profession-specific, and industry-specific tools that you use or are qualified to use because of education and/or experience (e.g. MRI images, etc.)
  
  
• Software and hardware that you use or have been trained to use, particularly if it's unique to your job, industry, or profession (e.g. Microsoft Project, SAP, etc.)
  
  
• Names of techniques that you use or are qualified to use
  
  
• Industry and professional organizations that you have joined (include committee membership or association officer titles, as appropriate)
  
  
• Trade shows and conferences that you have attended and/or where you have presented papers
  
  
• Professional and/or technical acronyms -- the more; the merrier, as long as they are appropriate to your experience and education
  
  
• Classes of employers who offer your services, "national specialty retailers," for example
  
  
• Applicable education that you have (degrees, majors, applicable course work, post-graduate courses, and certifications, etc.)
  
  
• Other jargon (common "insider" words, terms, and acronyms specific to the profession and/or industry) that describe your work, typical products and/or services involved, and the people who do your job

Include the words that are appropriate for you and your target job, but don't be innacurate or deceptive. Marketing "mode" is fine. Scam mode is not a good idea long term.

Adding Keywords to Your Resume

• Include both the acronyms and the phrases that explain each of them in the body of your resume. The acronym and the phrase explaining it don't have to be in the same sentence or paragraph. Just use both versions if you can. It will increase the probability that your resume will appear in the search results whether the recruiter searches on the acronym or the phrase that it represents.
  
  
• Be inconsistent. If you were being judged on your writing skills, this wouldn't be an advantage. In the resume search-ability game, however, it is an advantage. So, without destroying the meaning of the words on your resume, be as creatively inconsistent as you can -- "M.B.A," "MBA," "Master of Business Administration," "Masters in Bus. Admin," etc. so your resume will pop up in the results regardless of the exact term used by the recruiters in their search.
  
  
• Add a section near the top of your resume named "skills" or, even, "keywords," where you concentrate as many of your key words as possible. For an example, check out our sample ASCII text resume. It has a "Skills Summary" section which is really a collection of keywords - the nouns and noun phrases that best summarize the experience and skills as well as education and relevant association memberships.
  
  
• Hot Tip:

  Be sure to include the word "resume" in your resume. "Resume" is a word frequently used by recruiters searching for resumes. Put it in the top line (e.g. "M. J. Smith's Resume"), as well as in the file name (MJSmith-resume.doc., MJSmith-resume.html, or MJSmith-resume.txt). Check out our sample ASCII text resume. HOWEVER, don't use the word "résumé" which is really the proper form. Why? The proper form replaces the letter "e" with a character code ("é") to create the "é". Most search software will not recognize this character as an "e" and will not find your résumé.

Now that you've selected the best keywords for your resume (or for this version of your resume), put them to use. Read Resume SEO for methods of using your keywords to optimize your resume for search.

(See Protecting Your Privacy and Choosing a Job Site for more information.)

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About the author...

Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. Susan is a two-time layoff "graduate" who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. In 1998, her company, NETability, Inc. purchased Job-Hunt.org, and Susan has been editor and publisher of Job-Hunt since then. Follow Susan on Twitter at @jobhuntorg.

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