resume_565x364_june09You only have 15 seconds to grab your resume reader’s attention, but what if it’s a machine?

Because employers are inundated by responses to job ads, they must rely on scanners to help them sort through the tons of applications. The job of these electronic spiders is to snag resumes containing preprogrammed key words.

So how can you figure out what the key words are?

In the majority of cases, they are nouns. I know, you’ve been told to use action verbs in your resume and that information is still valuable. But the “what” that you performed is just as important. For example:

• Consistently achieved at least 100% of sales goals.
• Led cross-functional meetings and special events.
• Captured over $6M in revenue over the past four years.
• Negotiated with the highest level of officials.
• Reduced operating costs 91%.

Other nouns are those that relate to the skills and experience the employer is seeking, like job-specific and profession-specific skills. Also, industry buzzwords and jargon, types of degrees, names of colleges, company names, technical expertise, awards and professional organizations are among those words most preprogrammed.

These key words, imbedded in phrases, can be inserted in a section near the top labeled “Summary of Qualifications”, “Professional Profile”, or simply “Profile”.

Keywords should also appear in the rest of your resume because most scanner software not only looks for keywords but also ranks them on a weighted basis according to the importance of the word to the job criteria.

Use keywords in your cover letter too.

To determine the keyword health of your resume, highlight all the words in it that, based on your research of ideal positions in your field, would probably be considered keywords. Electronic resume guru Rebecca Smith says a good goal to shoot for is 25-35 keywords, so if you have fewer than that, try to beef up every section of your resume with keywords, varying the forms of the magic words you choose.

Darlene Cook is a Certified Transition Coach located in Canton. For a limited time, receive a FREE RESUME EVALUATION! Call today, 410.342.6336. www.resumesandbeyond.com