Resume Keywords and How to Use Them

Did you ever wonder why you did not receive that interview call, even if you had the right career track and education? The difference here is being made by the presence of the right resume keywords in your resume and using them to perfection. And if you have no idea what resume keywords are here’s the perfect guide what resume keywords are and how they should be used.

Not using the right resume keywords in your job application is one of the most common mistakes people are doing when writing a resume. Learning how to effectively make use of resume keywords and resume action words in your resume can be an important skill that will improve the writing of all your documents and emails.

Hence, it is specifically recommended to make use of an Online Resume Builder or CV Maker which can assist you in making use of resume keywords in your resume which will help your resume get pass through the resume scanner or an Application Tracking System(ATS).

CV Owl helps you with this cause with its free Online Resume Builder / free CV Maker and helping freshers by providing free professional resume writing services, Also, you can get a free CV review by the experts as well. And for the ones confused about what content to put in your resume, we’ve got some predefined professional resume samples comprising of resume keywords as well.

Why Should I Pay Attention to The Resume Keywords I Include on My Resume?

There are many resume keywords which, if placed precisely in your resume, will highly increase your chances of landing in that interview, while other keywords will send your resume  directly to the “No” pile.

Your resume will often be screened by an ATS (applicant tracking system) or resume scanner that will search for relevant resume keywords within your job resume application in order to find the best possible match between the job requirement and the job applications. Hence, it is always recommended to study the job description very carefully while applying for any job and accordingly placing the resume keywords.

Not only do the ATS look for specific keywords in the application, but they are equally important when your resume is being reviewed by a human who will try to assess as fast as possible if you are the missing piece in their company. Here’s why you should include resume keywords in your resume and how do they work in your resume.

What Are the Resume Keywords Recruiters Are Looking For?

The two specific types of resume keywords that recruiters or hiring managers look for when first screening your resume are:

• Job related Keywords: these keywords explain what are your primary characteristics (hard skills and soft skills) and qualification for this particular job.
  
  
• Action Verbs: they show that you can accomplish and succeed in your position.

An applicant that has a close match of keywords used in their job application with the ones used in the job ad will have a higher chance of getting hired.

One of the most important things to remember from the beginning is to “NOT” use the keywords for the sake of having them in your job application or in any other application. They shall always need to be used in context and reflect your skills/achievements you’ve achieved in your past. Sooner or later, the recruiter or employer will find out you have lied, and it will result in both you and the company losing precious time. Here’s a guide on resume keywords and how to use them in your resume.

How and Which Resume Keywords Should I Include in My Resume?

And now you may ask “How should I know which resume keywords are to be included in my resume? And which ones should I leave out of my application?”

Examples of Specific Resume Keywords Industry wise for Your Resume

• Marketing Manager keywords examples: Social Media, Email Marketing, Hubspot, Digital Marketing, Google AdWords, Google Analytics, Storytelling, Verbal and Written Communication.
  
  
• Software Developer keywords examples: Design Patterns, Distributed Systems, Databases, SQL, NoSQL, Testing, Service Oriented Architecture, Machine Learning, SCRUM, UML, (Programming Languages: Java, Scala, Javascript, Golang, Elixir)
  
  
• Multimedia Designer keywords examples: Visual Ideation, Typography, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, InDesign, Print Design, Web Design, HTML & CSS, Color Theory.
  
  
• Hotel Manager keywords examples: Leadership, Customer-Service, Organization,  Interpersonal Skills, Problem-Solving, Verbal and Written Communication.
  
  
• Electrical Engineer keywords examples: Circuit Design, Physics, Critical Thinking, Instrumentation and Electrical Measurements, Active Learning.
  
  
• Nurse keywords examples: Emotional Intelligence, Stamina, Critical Thinking, Adaptability, Flexibility, Effective Communication, Stress Management.
  
  

When selecting and writing your keywords in your job application, make sure you are not using jargon and words that are too specific. In some cases, it can happen that the recruiters do not have extensive knowledge in your field. Therefore, your job application needs to be written so it can be easily understood by someone from outside your industry as well.

After adding the job specific resume keywords to your resume, don’t forget to start all your accomplishments/achievements with an action verb or phrases instead of only listing your tasks with bullets. The value of your resume will highly increase by focusing on your achievements and mentioning the resume keywords as per your achievements.

Always start with an action verb whenever, wherever possible, and try using numbers/percentages or any quantifiable figures which will highly increase the value of your job application, because, firstly recruiters/ATS are searching for these keywords and secondly they are analysing exactly what value you created at your last job and if you can add the same value in that company as well.

How to Write a Professional Resume Title Using Resume Keywords?

When drafting a professional title for your resume, always use the title mentioned in the ad or the job description as that will help your resume get pass through the resume scanner. Make sure you only use the title if you have the experience that specific field or industry and qualifies you for it. This is needed and is equally important  in order to avoid any confusion for the recruiter or the hiring manager.

Using general or common keywords such as “Engineering,”“Marketing,” “Graduate,” “Designer” should be avoided since they are too vague and can mean many different things and are almost used by all the job seekers which drops your chances of getting shortlisted.

Examples of Action Verbs and Phrases to Use in Your Resume and Cover Letter

Action Verbs for Resume Writing

• Achieved, Advised, Acted, Accomplished, Adapted, Analyzed.
• Built, Brainstormed, Boosted.
• Communicated, Coordinated, Contributed, Created.
• Developed, Discovered, Documented, Doubled, Directed, Distributed.
• Formed, Focused, Financed, Formulated.
• Guided, Generated, Granted, Gathered.
• Hired, Helped.
• Improved, Innovated, Inspected, Invented, Illustrated, Interviewed, Installed.
• Judged, Joined.
• Lectured, Led, Located.
• Managed, Motivated, Mastered, Minimized, Maximized, Moved.
• Negotiated, Navigated, Noticed.
• Observed, Oversaw, Organized.
• Participated, Placed, Planned, Passed, Processed, Provided, Proposed, Prioritized.
• Researched, Received, Rewarded, Redesigned. Recovered, Recorded, Reduced, Replaced, Reviewed,
• Saved, Stabilized, Supplied, Standardized, Selected, Sent, Sold, Signed, Strategized.
• Transformed, Tested, Targeted, Trained.
• Updated, Utilized, Upgraded.
• Verified, Validated, Visualized.
• Won, Worked, Wrote.

How to Write a Professional Resume Title Using Job Specific Resume Keywords

Remember, when you’re looking to write a professional title in your resume, always use the title mentioned in the ad or job description and place the resume keywords accordingly which will increase the chances of your resume to get passed through the resume scanner.  Only use the title if you have the experience that qualifies you for it. This is important to avoid any sort of confusion for the recruiter or the hiring manager.

Using general or common keywords such as “Engineering,”“Marketing,” “Graduate,” “Designer” should be avoided since they are too vague and can mean many different things and are almost used by all the job seekers which drops your chances of getting shortlisted. Try to be as specific as possible, as in the following examples of professional titles including resume keywords list:

Examples of Professional Resume Titles Using Job Specific Resume Keywords

Ideal

• Digital Marketing Manager, Marketing Student Assistant, Vice-President of Marketing
• Global Business Graduate, MBA Graduate, Biochemistry Graduate, Finance and Investment Graduate
• Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering.
• Fashion Designer, Web Designer, Creative Director, Motion Graphic Designer, UI/UX Designer

Not Ideal

• Marketing, Student Assistant, Manager.
• Global Business, MBA, Finance.
• Engineer, Aerospace, Automotive.
• UI/UX, Fashion, Designer, Director, Creative.

How To Write a Professional Summary Using Job Resume Keywords and Action Verbs

A professional summary is one of the very first things the recruiter or the hiring managers go through when reviewing your job resume application and you won’t believe in many of the cases their decision is made already after reading it. This is how important it is to write your summary so professionally.

Think of your professional summary as a platform where you have to convince and impress the recruiters or the hiring managers in less than 6 seconds that why you are the perfect and the best fit for their opening and what will be their advantages of hiring you.

The first step is to identify your final goal, which in this case is to get the job you are applying for. Then you will need to summarize what you are doing and the USP (unique selling point) that makes you the perfect future employer.

Conclusion

Try and learn as much about Resume Keywords. What Resume Keywords are, how to use them and how do they work in your resume. Once you’re done with the learning part, just sit back and start creating your resume. And now you’d see how changed your resume is once Resume Keywords are placed in it smartly. And there’s no Application Tracking System (ATS) or Resume Scanner now which your resume can’t get passed through.

CV Owl helps you with this cause with its free Online Resume Builder / free CV Maker as we have professional resume samples with predefined content comprising of resume keywords. CV Owl is helping freshers by providing free professional resume writing services, Also, you can get a free CV review by the experts as well. So what are you waiting for, get your resume crafted by experts from CV Owl and get shortlisted for your next job.