Next Chapter New Life

By Anish Majumdar, CPRW

If you’re a jobseekerresearching what makes a resume great online, chances are you’ve already come

Photo: Stuart Miles

across the maxim, “integrate keywords”. But what are keywords exactly, and what does integrating them within the context of a resume mean? In my capacity as a Certified Professional Resume Writer, I have consistently found only 1 surefire way to use keywords that garners more job interviews, regardless of what industry you’re targeting. Here’s the rundown:

1) Gather Relevant Job Postings

What type of position are you seeking? Try to get this job target as specific as possible. Now gather together 5-10 job postings for this target. Analyze them closely. Which skills are mentioned time and time again? Make a list of them. For example, a candidate for a Staff Attorney position could end up with a list that looks like this:

Legal Review & Analysis

Contract Review, Drafting, Negotiation

Legal Staff Coordination

Patent Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Corporate Law Expertise

Legal Memoranda & Documentation

Interpersonal & Organizational Skills

This list will form the core of your resume keyword strategy. Keep it handy throughout the follow steps.

2) Create a “Core Competencies” Section Near the Start of Your Resume

A “Core Competencies” section simply lists all of the keywords you’ve discovered, typically separated by horizontal bullets. Be sure to only include those terms which you actually possess: exaggerating here could prove embarrassing during an interview.

If you do nothing beyond creating a “Core Competencies” section you’ll already be a step ahead of the vast majority of jobseekers out there. However, there are steps you can take to TRULY express keyword mastery and set the stage for a successful interview.

3) Create an Opening Paragraph Demonstrating Important Keywords

Mastering keywords means demonstrating them contextually as well as simply integrating them within the document. With this in mind, create a brief opening paragraph (ahead of “Core Competencies”) that highlights your mastery of 3 or 4 of the keywords listed. Using the Staff Attorney example, we could end up with an opening paragraph such as :

Versatile attorney able to execute in-depth legal review/analysis, negotiate contracts, and clearly articulate legal risks and opportunities. Skilled in addressing client legal issues in full adherence to established protocols and applying specialized knowledge of Patent Litigation, Intellectual Property and Corporate Law.

This approach is designed to not only highlight keywords in a different context but establish a “personal theme” for your resume that immediately differentiates you from the competition.

4) Focus on Keyword Skills First Throughout Your Work History

When describing job responsibilities and accomplishments, particularly within the past 10-15 years, it is important to stress keyword skills first, followed by everything else. This ensures your resume passes muster when scanned by Applicant Tracking Systems such as Taleo and Kenexa, which are designed to look for keywords. It also further underscores the “personal theme” you established in the previous step.

Best of luck in your job search!

Anish Majumdar is a nationally recognized Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and founder of http://www.resumeorbit.com. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days and all work comes backed by a 110% Satisfaction Guarantee. Submit your resume for a free critique at http://resumeorbit.com/free_critique.php today!