Keywords help establish the relevance of your résumé and improve the likelihood that Applicant Tracking Systems will interpret your experience accurately.
Applicant Tracking Systems help employers collect, organize, search, and review applications. Once associated primarily with larger companies, they are now widely used across organizations of many sizes. Because these systems may search résumé content for relevant skills, qualifications, and terminology, clear structure, appropriate keywords, and ATS-compatible formatting have become increasingly important.
Relevant keywords can help both Applicant Tracking Systems and human readers recognize the fit between your experience and the position you seek. When a particular job is in mind, language from the posting can be incorporated where it genuinely reflects your background and qualifications. I do not believe, however, that a résumé should have to be rebuilt for every opening. A strong résumé should already contain the terminology that accurately reflects your profession, skills, accomplishments, and experience, while the cover letter can accentuate the qualifications most relevant to a specific opportunity.
My clients often ask how we can be sure that the right keywords will be included in their résumé. I tell them that many of the strongest keywords and skill sets flow naturally as they tell their professional story. A Core Competencies section can identify concrete areas of expertise they have acquired. Terms such as Customer Service Management, Relationship Management, Sales & Marketing, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, and Performance Management can become meaningful keywords because they describe real areas of professional capability. By contrast, phrases such as “team player,” “reliable and dependable,” or “able to work independently or in groups” are generic and offer little differentiation. When we purchase an automobile, we don’t ask whether it has a steering wheel. We assume it does! Likewise, an employer expects a quality candidate to be reliable, dependable, and capable of working with others. The résumé needs to tell the reader something more meaningful—what kind of professional you are, what you bring to the table, and how you have demonstrated those strengths through accomplishment.
While graphics, tables, text boxes, and multiple columns may be visually appealing, they can still create problems for some Applicant Tracking Systems. A clean, readable, single-column format remains the safest approach when a résumé will be submitted through an online application system. Important information should also be kept out of headers and footers whenever possible.
File-format requirements vary, so always follow the employer’s instructions. Both PDF and Word documents are commonly accepted today. If no format is specified, a well-prepared PDF generally preserves the résumé’s appearance, while a Word document may be requested by some systems or recruiters. Whatever format you use, review the uploaded résumé carefully to make sure the text has been interpreted correctly.
In conclusion, I remind my clients not to become overly anxious about keywords. Every profession has its own characteristic language and terminology. As you collaborate with your writer, many of those terms will emerge naturally, and a skillful writer can help integrate the terminology that is relevant to your profession without forcing keywords where they do not belong.
If you focus on telling the best of your professional story, articulating meaningful accomplishments, and using a clear ATS-compatible format, your résumé can be both keyword-rich and compelling to the human reader who ultimately receives it.
Choose your writer well, and he or she can help you tell your professional story in a way that satisfies the technology without sacrificing the individuality, accomplishments, and professional value behind it.
