How to Make a Resume With Strong Keywords
Your resume is your first opportunity to impress an employer. Most of the time, this determines your chances of getting contacted for an interview. But did you know that most hirers only skim through resumes for seven seconds on average? This only proves that a good resume needs strong keywords for it to leave an impact on the hirer. Using the right keywords will help you create a resume that proves why you are a suitable choice for the job.
Why keywords are important
Resume keywords are words or phrases that relate to the role you are applying for. You can usually incorporate them under the responsibilities, qualifications, or work history sections of a resume.
Employers look for certain keywords in a resume to quickly identify qualified candidates for the open position. The more relevant keywords the employer finds, the better your chances of moving on to the next stage of your application
Many companies also use an applicant tracking system (ATS) that scans resumes for these keywords. Some organisations rely heavily on their ATS that they tend to disregard resumes that have little to no matching keywords.
To give you an idea of fitting words and phrases to include, here are sample keywords grouped by the soft skills they fall under.
| Critical thinking | Customer service | Communication | Leadership | Positive attitude | Teamwork | Work ethic |
| Analytical skillsAdaptive and flexibleEager to learnCreativeDedicated to improvement | Customer-orientedService-oriented | Interpersonal skillsWritten and verbal communication skills | Leadership skillsMotivation skillsManagement skillsDecision-making skills | Pleasing personalityCan-do attitudeSelf-confident | Team playerTeam-oriented | Meets targetsGoal-orientedResult-orientedSolution-orientedDetail-orientedHandles stress wellDrive to succeedMultitaskerSelf-disciplinedSelf-reliantSelf-controlledSelf-motivatedAble to plan and coordinate |
Additional tipsIt is best to choose keywords that relate to the job. Tailor the keywords to the position you are applying for. To do this, you can read through a job advertisement again to identify keywords you should aim for.
Most job descriptions have specific keywords for relevant job seekers to find. Before submitting a resume, you can make changes to your application to ensure that the keywords fit the role you are applying for.
Do not limit your keywords to soft skills. Hard skills have keywords that are typically specific to the role. For a senior systems analyst position, for example, hard skills keywords can include “monitor and maintain systems,” “conduct program testing,” and “prepare system documentation.” Additionally, certifications and licenses are keywords as well.Keywords are a great tool to take advantage of and utilise. They give your resume the added boost to get you one step closer to landing your dream job. Start by including keywords in your JobStreet profile and uploaded resume. If you are immediately available for employment, add the hashtag #WorkNow so hirers with urgent recruitment needs will be able to find you quickly.
Continue searching for #JobsThatMatter. The more you search, the better JobStreet understands your preferences. Visit the Career Resources Hub for more expert advice to help you develop a rewarding career.
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SEEK is a diverse group of companies, comprising a strong portfolio of online employment, educational, commercial and volunteer businesses. SEEK has a global presence (including Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, South-East Asia, Brazil and Mexico), with exposure to over 2.9 billion people and approximately 27 per cent of global GDP. SEEK makes a positive contribution to people’s lives on a global scale. SEEK is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, where it is a top 100 company and has been listed in the Top 20 Most Innovative Companies by Forbes.
