Recruiters don’t spend all their time sitting in interviews or on the phone scheduling phone interviews (even though it seems that way). We first work with managers and create a job description that will be used to hopefully attract the best candidate for the job.

Candidates need to realize that job descriptions are very important. Most people read job postings and think it’s only use is to tell the candidate the name of the company and the job title that needs to be filled. Job postings are actually filled with keywords that are used when describing the responsibilities of the role and the qualifications of the candidate. It’s these keywords if used correctly can land you an interview.

What Are Keywords?

Most recruiters only take a few seconds, approximately 15-20 to read a resume and decide if that person should be invited to an interview. How do they decide so quickly? They look for keywords in resumes.

Keywords are words that hiring managers and recruiters look for when searching through hundreds of resumes.
They are words that are used in the job posting to describe the qualifications and experience such as:

• A minimum of 3 years experience in accounting
• Experience of managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Background within an IT/Telecommunications company would be an advantage

Recruiters look for resumes that contain these keywords. Using these keywords increases your chances that your resume matches or fits the job posting and the recruiter will pass it on to the hiring manager.

How To Find And Use Keywords

In order for your resume to stand out from hundreds of others it will need to have keywords that directly targets the job you are applying for. This means you will have to change your resume for each job you apply to.

Before updating your resume you need to look at some job postings. Once you find a few that interest you, you need to find the keywords and use them in your resume.

You can find keywords under the responsibilities section of the job posting and the requirements section. You want to highlight skills, knowledge of specific computer programs, certificates/degrees and of course past work experience.

I’m using this YMCA job description to illustrate some keywords, which are highlighted in red, that can be used in a resume.

Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Program planning and curriculum development
• Workshop development and facilitation
• Group Management
• Program related administration
• Reporting to funder and assisting with grant writing
• Relationship building with ethnocultural communities
• Community outreach and participant recruitment

Qualifications / Requirements
The person in this position should be/have
• A post-secondary degree or certificate in a related discipline or equivalent work experience
• A minimum of 2 years of experience working with youth
• Experience with curriculum and workshop development
• Excellent group management and facilitation skills
• Previous experience working in a summer residential camp an asset
• Knowledge of the YMCA an asset
• Outstanding organizational skills
• Demonstrated intercultural competence
• Excellent communications skills, including verbal and written fluency in English
• Excellent computer skills
• Able to work independently and take initiative
• A valid driver’s license
• Fluency in languages other than English an asset
• First Aid Training an asset

All you need to do now is to take these phrases and expand on them in your cover letter and resume. Highlight them so the company can easily see that you do have the exact qualifications that they are looking for.

Be Specific

When you are looking at a job posting it’s important to pick the keywords that are the best fit for your skills and qualifications. The more specific you are the better chance your resume will be found by the recruiter, passed onto the hiring manager and then you’ll be invited to an interview.

Photo by: janetgalore

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