Those All-Important Keywords in Resumes

It wasn’t too long ago that action verbs meant everything in resume development. Action verbs are still important, but nouns and noun phrases are the buzz with resume development — mainly because of the increased use of employer “applicant tracking systems” that place resumes in keyword-searchable databases. Because most employers use these databases — either their own or a job site’s — to select candidates to interview, it becomes increasingly important for the job-seeker to know the most effective nouns and noun phrases (keywords) that employers will use to search the databases to pull applicants. Where do you find the nouns? Look at job descriptions and job profiles for the requirements. Look at the industry’s use of jargon. Look at the skills that are in demand. Read our articles, Tapping the Power of Keywords to Enhance Your Resume’s Effectiveness and Researching Keywords in Employment Ads