How to change your resume for each opening

Change your resume for every opening
to improve your job prospects.

A recruiting friend gave me a great tip when she told me to change my resume every time I apply for a position. 

Why? 

She said recruiters often use keyword search software to select the best candidates from hundreds of resumes submitted for one opening. She explained that if your resume doesn’t include the keywords recruiters are seeking, it could very well end up in the reject pile.

For example, recruiters might look for the following words if they are hiring an administrative assistant:

• Typing 90 wpm
• Dictation
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Reception
• Phone Support

Or they might look for these words when seeking an accountant:

• Tax Accounting
• Reconciliations
• General Ledger
• Profit and Loss Statements

Tips for Impressing the Keyword Search Software

• Revise your resume to include keywords in the job description for each opening. So for example, if the job description says, “Coordinate the development of podcasts and blogs,” your resume better include launching podcasts and blogs (if you have that experience, of course!)
• Update your general resume with the most frequently used keywords so you won’t have to revise it as much each time you apply for a job. 
• Also (briefly) weave the most important keywords into your cover letter.

What ideas or comments do you have about keyword search? Share your comments and let me know if I can be of help to you via the Contact tab.

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