Incorporating Keywords into a Resume

Experienced recruiter Joe Arrigo shares tips for job applicants on his blog and YouTube channel, JoeRecruiter. Joe Arrigo is also an IT staffing specialist for Modis in Sacramento. Additionally, he offers resume consulting services through his boutique advisory firm, Advisr Enterprises.

In today’s job market, writing an effective resume requires an understanding of the ways recruiters and companies use keywords in the screening process. Many companies now accept resumes only online, where they undergo a keyword scan performed by a software system. This means resumes that fail to incorporate keywords may never be seen by human eyes.

The first place to look for keywords is in the job description. This description includes any credentials, specific skills, or work experience required. Previous job titles should reflect the way roles are labeled by the target organization. For example, a customer service position could be renamed as a client support position or an after-sales representative.