Say It Like They Mean It

If you are conducting your job search online (like there's any choice these days), you have to master keywords. As discussed previously, Applicant Tracking Software (ATS), is used by most employers these days and when your information is parsed or imported into the employers computer systems, you employment search will go more smoothly if your resume and the software are speaking the same language.

Wouldn't it be great if the position to which you were applying had a well written job description that adequately expressed the skills necessary to do the job effectively? Odds are, it will not. So you have to channel your inner Sylvia Brown (Did I date myself again?) and try to read the mind of the recruiter. How do you do that? Good question. My current strategy is to use Glassdoor.com as a resource to search job descriptions and try to discern common keywords. I have no idea whether it's working. Guess we'll find out.

ATSs also look for the number of times certain keywords are used to try to get a couple of them in your resume more than once but you'll want to mix up the context they are used in so when your resume actually ends up in the hands of a human being you don't sound like a See n' Say. (There's another one.)

Another hint seems to be that the majority of keywords are nouns. But Shantell, you say, every time I've ever written a resume, I've been told to use action verbs. Yes, that is exactly what you've been told and with ATS, it could very likely be the wrong strategy. Some ATSs have gotten so sophisticated with their use of artificial intelligence (AI), they are rated as 95% "human". However, YOU don't know if the company to whom you are applying is using the good stuff or some low budget software from the 90's. For example, when you write "Designed Microsoft Outlook database for inventory maintenance", the ATS picks up "Microsoft Outlook", "database" and/or "inventory maintenance".

Don't use a "laundry list" of keywords. Keywords used in context are crucial to the post-software phase of the process so put some effort into using the keywords effectively. Also, it is widely held that keywords used in context and attached to a phrase that describes an accomplishment or example of the use of the skill work more effectively.

Off to take another look at my resume and see whether I'm doing this part the right way!