Employers look for words in a resume that show skills relevant to the vacancy. They look for hard and soft skills, so include both when writing your resume.
Adding keywords to your resume is important because hiring managers read quickly. If reviewers don’t see relevant terms on your resume within a few seconds of scanning, they’re likely to stop reading.
Also, companies regularly use computer programs called applicant tracking systems (ATS) to review application documents. If the program doesn’t find keywords related to the job, it automatically rejects your application.
Below are words that employers often look for when reviewing job applications. Read them for reference, but remember to use keywords specific to your target job.
- Problem solving
- Results oriented
- Teamwork
- Self-motivated
- Computer skills
- Language skills
- Organizational skills
- Interpersonal skills
Finally, don’t fill your resume with repeated keywords. An ATS might pass a resume stuffed with keywords, but human reviewers won’t appreciate the unnecessary repetition. Instead, use keywords naturally and honestly.
