You need to know what resume keywords are and how to use them effectively throughout your resume. Let’s start by discussing what keywords are. These are typically nouns or noun phrases that HR professionals and recruiters use to search internal databases or online sites for resumes that match the requirements of a position opening.
Keywords can include the following:
Job Titles- Niches within an industry or industry names
- Degrees, certifications, training
- Software experience
- Professional affiliations, associates, or organizations
- Regional areas
- The word resume.
It is important to understand that your resume should include keywords rather in electonic or paper form. Resume keywords are designed to signal to employers that you have the skills, talents, and experience to match their job requirements.
How Many Keywords Should You Use?
I’m sure you’re wondering how many keywords you need to use. Well, one survey of recruiters and hiring managers indicates that 67% search for just 3 to 4 keywords. The most common resume keywords searched are: job title, nouns or noun phrases common to the position; location, such as city; and Degrees. A smaller percentage of the keyword resume searches focus on soft skills such as communication and interpersonal skills.
Where to Find Keywords
Job postings/job descriptions you are applying to most likely have keywords included in the text near the top of the posting. Sometimes, those valued words are pointed out clear as day. You’ll find the words “keywords” listed with the actual words you want to include in your resume. Also, check out Job Search Engine. They have an amazing list of resume keywords by job titles.
Positioning Keywords in Your Resume
Nowadays, Software and search engines find keywords quickly. Even so, you want to display yours in prime locations to be noticed. Try placing keywords within the first 20 to 24 lines of your resume. A good place to blend them in is your objective statement.
The really cool part is if you have a hard time incorporating keywords into your resume, you can simply add them to the bottom of your resume as follows: Keywords: accounting, accountant, bookkeeping.
Important Tips
Use action keywords as well. These are verbs that help describe your accomplishments. Selecting the right action words will really make your resume shine. Following is a convenient list of action words you can reference.
| Accelerated | Combined | Diversified | Hired | Monitored | Recorded | Streamlined |
| Accomplished | Commanded | Documented | Honed | Motivated | Recruited | Strengthened |
| Achieved | Communicated | Doubled | Hypothesized | Navigated | Reduced | Structured |
| Acquired | Compared | Drafted | Identified | Negotiated | Referred | Studied |
| Acted | Compiled | Earned | Illustrated | Netted | Regulated | Summarized |
| Activated | Completed | Edited | Imagined | Observed | Rehabilitated | Supervised |
| Adapted | Composed | Educated | Implemented | Obtained | Related | Supplied |
| Addressed | Computed | Eliminated | Improved | Opened | Remodeled | Supplemented |
| Adjusted | Conceptualized | Emphasized | Improvised | Operated | Rendered | Supported |
| Administered | Condensed | Employed | Incorporated | Ordered | Reorganized | Surpassed |
| Advanced | Conducted | Enabled | Increased | Orchestrated | Repaired | Surveyed |
| Advertised | Conferred | Enacted | Indexed | Organized | Replaced | Sustained |
| Advised | Conserved | Encouraged | Indoctrinated | Originated | Reported | Synthesized |
| Advocated | Consolidated | Enforced | Influenced | Outlined | Represented | Systematized |
| Aided | Constructed | Engineered | Informed | Overcame | Researched | Tabulated |
| Allocated | Consulted | Enhanced | Initiated | Overhauled | Reshaped | Targeted |
| Analyzed | Contacted | Enlarged | Innovated | Oversaw | Resolved | Taught |
| Answered | Contained | Enlisted | Inspected | Participated | Responded | Terminated |
| Anticipated | Continued | Ensured | Inspired | Performed | Restored | Tested |
| Applied | Contracted | Entertained | Installed | Persuaded | Restructured | Tightened |
| Appraised | Contributed | Established | Instituted | Photographed | Retrieved | Totaled |
| Approved | Controlled | Estimated | Instructed | Pinpointed | Reversed | Tracked |
| Arbitrated | Converted | Evaluated | Insured | Piloted | Reviewed | Traded |
| Arranged | Cooperated | Examined | Integrated | Pioneered | Revised | Trained |
| Ascertained | Coordinated | Expanded | Interacted | Placed | Revitalized | Transcribed |
| Aspired | Correlated | Experimented | Interpreted | Planned | Routed | Transferred |
| Assembled | Corresponded | Explained | Interviewed | Predicted | Saved | Transformed |
| Assessed | Counseled | Explored | Introduced | Prepared | Scheduled | Translated |
| Assigned | Created | Expressed | Invented | Prescribed | Screened | Transmitted |
| Assisted | Critiqued | Extended | Investigated | Presented | Set | Traveled |
| Attained | Cultivated | Extracted | Inventoried | Presided | Searched | Treated |
| Audited | Customized | Fabricated | Involved | Prevented | Secured | Trimmed |
| Augmented | Cut | Facilitated | Issued | Printed | Selected | Tutored |
| Authored | Debugged | Familiarized | Joined | Prioritized | Separated | Typed |
| Automated | Decided | Fashioned | Judged | Processed | Served | Uncovered |
| Awarded | Decreased | Finalized | Justified | Produced | Set up | Undertook |
| Balanced | Defined | Fixed | Kept | Programmed | Shaped | Unified |
| Began | Delegated | Focused | Launched | Projected | Shared | United |
| Boosted | Delivered | Forecasted | Learned | Promoted | Simplified | Updated |
| Briefed | Demonstrated | Formed | Lectured | Proved | Simulated | Upgraded |
| Budgeted | Designated | Formulated | Led | Provided | Sketched | Used |
| Built | Designed | Fostered | Lifted | Publicized | Sold | Utilized |
| Calculated | Detected | Found | Located | Published | Solidified | Validated |
| Captured | Determined | Founded | Logged | Purchased | Solved | Verbalized |
| Catalogued | Developed | Fulfilled | Maintained | Qualified | Sorted | Verified |
| Centralized | Devised | Furnished | Managed | Questioned | Spearheaded | Vitalized |
| Changed | Diagnosed | Gained | Marketed | Raised | Specialized | Volunteered Weighed |
| Chaired | Directed | Gathered | Maximized | Ran | Specified | Widened |
| Charted | Discovered | Generated | Measured | Rated | Sponsored | Worked |
| Checked | Dispatched | Governed | Mediated | Reached | Stabalized | Proofread |
| Clarified | Dispensed | Guided | Merged | Realized | Staffed | Proposed |
| Classified | Displayed | Handled | Minimized | Reasoned | Standardized | Protected |
| Coached | Dissected | Headed | Mobilized | Received | Started | |
| Collaborated | Distinguished | Heightened | Moderated | Recommended | Stimulated | |
| Collected | Distributed | Helped | Modified | Reconciled | Stored |
Resume Keywords Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid the urge to plant keywords that suggest or indicate experiences you do not have. As previously stated on this Site, never ever, lie on your resume or stretch the truth.
- Make sure the keywords you use in your resume match the keywords included in the job description. You can use the above action keywords to help you identify those action words in the job description.
- Don’t discount geographic keywords.
- Always support your action keywords with specific accomplishments. For instance, Customer Service – Boosted customer satisfaction scores from 62% to 90% over a 10-month period.
Well, there you have it. Use these basics for resume keywords to ensure that your resume is found by employers. Even better, once your resume is found, your keyword usage will spruce up your resume where it’s sure to impress.