Whether you’re writing your first resume or updating your resume for a career change, you want results. Employers now use high-tech recruiting tools, such as applicant tracking software and online job boards. This has changed how resumes are read and processed, and it demands that we think about writing resumes in a more strategic way. The high-tech job search is driven by the search process. Employers type in their search criteria, and the best matches are found. Today, leaving off specific, sought-after skills, can derail all of your hard work.
But what are these terms that employers are so eagerly seeking?
The secret is that, in most cases, employers want you to know the terms they’re seeking and they’ve already told you! The job listing is often filled with all the key skills and qualifications employers think will result in their dream candidate. They’ll be searching for those terms, and you can use them to write your resume and cover letter.
If you don’t have some of the skills they list, don’t despair. Instead, try to work them into your career planning. For instance, you might be able to find a committee or project in which you can volunteer using one of those skills. As soon as you start using a new skill, you can add it to your resume in an appropriate section highlighting your current experience. Then, carefully spellcheck and proofread your resume, to make sure all those great assets will be found by the robots reading your resume!
Want to know how your resume matches an employer’s wish list, uh, I mean, job listing? Try the tool on Jobscan for scanning your resume and target job listing side by side.