Power Up Your Resume With the Right Words

Make sure that your resume isn't culled to the discard pile by including key words – the ones that resume scanning software is looking for – in your resume.

More and more, employers are using computerized search programs to wade through electronic and paper resumes to find job candidates whose experience and abilities match job descriptions for open positions.

To make sure you are including the right key words, read job postings carefully. These will provide you with "must have" key words for your resume. If the ad says the position requires a bachelor's degree, make sure your resume notes that. If the ad says you must have Oracle certification, be sure "Oracle certification" appears in your resume. After you have looked over a job announcement, or ad, and have scanned for key words that relate to the position's requirements, it's time to retool your resume. Additional key words or phrases can be found in job announcements for similar positions at other companies.

There are other key words and phrases, though not specific to technical skills or required credentials, that demonstrate your qualifications as a good fit for the company. These key phrases include "business development," "communication skills," "problem-solving," "team work," "leadership," and "resource optimization." Another key phrase, "image and reputation management," applies to an array of jobs.

Also, be sure to use key phrases to identify value, such as "driving gross" and "increased efficiency." Both show value and results.

Your resume's file format (pdf, text, Word, html) can affect the resume scanning software's ability to pick up key words, so we suggest including a plain text file in addition to the other format you generally use.

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