Mine Job Descriptions for the Right Keywords to Use in an Application

Thanks for the comments. @D.L. you should always strive for that next gold ring - that higher level job. Taking a lateral move is okay but your ultimate goal, from the time you first step foot in that company, is to strive for that corner office. You may not get there but it won't be from lack of trying.

There's a lot of really great information in this article, thank you! I wouldn't have thought to examine the job description of the job above the one you're applying for. I also think the suggestion of using at least 50% of the keywords in the specific job description is really great, and is one I'll be keeping in mind in the future.

It never crossed my mind to try and look at the job descriptions for higher level positions. This is a powerful suggestion that I can use to plot a career trajectory and show the hiring manager that I want to grow and take on more responsibility when the opportunity presents itself. I can see how keyword research can be fruitful no matter what level of job I’m applying for.

I like the advice about looking at the requirements for the job that is one level higher than the one in which you are applying. In my experience, that's always where you should aim. Many people who are successful in getting the job have skills that are above and beyond the job of which they originally applied. Most companies like to hire people whom they think are going to move up in the organization.

Keywords in your resume are just like any other job. When you get the hang of putting keywords into your resume, the easier it becomes. Having to get past applicant tracking systems may seem hard at first because you're just not used to it. Applicant tracking systems have only been around 10 to 15 years, so this technology is still relatively new and growing.

Thanks for your comments. @Cory I have found the same thing to be true. If I print out several job postings for the same job title, I can quickly go through and find words that are contained in several, if not all, job postings. That helps you to determine what the ATS might be looking for. But as @Delaney pointed out, having keywords are great, but they need to actually fit - not just being there. Even though the resume might pass the ATS, once it gets into the hands of a hiring manager, it's going to be tossed. Balance is truly the key.

This is good advice! In my experience, a lot of job descriptions use the same batch of keywords from fairly repetitive copy. Not only do they give you a good idea of what the company is looking for, it helps weed out an euphemisms to figure out exactly what some of the more... vague phrases mean.

I feel like it's important to point out that you still need to avoid stuffing your resume and cover letter with keywords, especially when they aren't relevant to your experience or when they don't flow naturally with the rest of your text. Making sure you call attention to certain relevant keywords is critical to catching hiring managers' attention, but you also don't want to sound insincere or as though you're trying too hard. so there's still a balance you want to maintain.

Thanks again for your comments. @Jacob I understand how you feel but the ATS is the reality today. The reason that it has become so popular is that, starting in about 2007 when the market tanked, companies have been inundated with resumes. For every position posted, a company will receive at least a thousand resumes. It would be impossible for a hiring manager to go through a thousand resumes each day and try to pull out the ones that might be a good fit. This is ATS came into being. The hiring manage can give HR a list of keywords to input so that when the resumes start coming through, they can quickly weed out the ones that are not a good fit and only pass on the ones that are a possibility. Keywords have become the prominent feature at most companies today. If you are applying to a very small company - like a Mom and Pop type company - you might still get away with sending your resume and cover letter by snail mail or even dropping it off in person. For the larger companies, ATS is the way they roll. Best of luck to all of you.

It really does feel like keywords within the resume are just a fantastic way to use some kind of algorithm to save hiring managers from having to peruse every resume submitted. I do understand the need to ensure the applicant is engaged and has thought through the application, but really, a sterling resume or background, with or without keywords still ought to carry some weight.

Keywords have become an important aspect of marketing, even the marketing of onesself to employers, in the attempt to obtain employment. It's really smart, when you think about it, If you pick keywords from job listings and you incorporate those into your resume, it is extremely helpful, because the prospective employer will know that you understand what is expected in this job description.

Keywords have become very prominent in all aspects of the hiring process and business processes/promotion as a whole. As a former hiring manager, I always appreciated when applicants used keywords because it showed me that they were not only in tune with what our company was looking for but also that they understood the importance of keywords in general. This says a lot about how thorough an applicant is when researching companies. Thanks for such an insightful article!

Thanks for the comments. @Melanie thank you for that viewpoint. We are always asked if hiring managers really care about keywords or if it's just a way to keep the number of resumes they have to read down to a minimum! @Jay so very true that we need to read the entire job description before we apply. This way we know what we are getting ourselves into! @Katharine many of our job seekers do exactly that - just bombard the system with resume after resume whether qualified or not. Then we get emails and comments stating that they applied to 500 positions but not one interview! Numbers are important but it's more than just about the number or resumes submitted - it's about applying to jobs for which we are qualified and for positions that we are interested in working. Companies can tell when a job seeker has really taken the time to research the company and the position and those are the applicants that will get the call for that interview. So we have to remember that, although keywords are important, they are just a way to get our foot in the door.

This definitely makes sense. On a more basic level, it shows that the applicant has a particular interest in the job in question. I'm sure that some job applicants send the same resume out for every relevant open job, and while that makes sense from a numbers perspective, generic resumes probably don't make it past the initial screen.

As a hiring manager, I cannot stress how important keyword selection is in gaining an interviewers attention. The first thing I look at is past work experience. From there, I almost always look at the special skills that the applicant possesses. It is essential that these skills and abilities match the job description. I recommend altering each resume to each individual job application. Keep a template of your resume saved in Word, and simply spend a few minutes popping keywords into the resume that match the job your are applying for. Customization of your resume by utilizing the right keywords can mean the difference in whether or not it is reviewed and selected for further consideration.

It's so important to read through job descriptions thoroughly to ensure that employers actually take a look at your application. In my experience, hiring managers often skim-read applications before really researching an applicant, so it's vital to make your application stand out in a good way. One of the best ways to do that is to include words and phrases contained in the original description: it proves you're the listening type!

@Robert thanks for your comment. Obviously there is a lot more to the story. I have returned items that folks lost and never had any issues let alone being slapped with a felony. Unless, of course, you kept the cell phone and used it for a period of time. @Tammy so sorry you are frustrated with our site. Have you created your account? Create a job seeker account and add your resume. Once you have done that, you can search for jobs. When you find one, you can click on the apply to job link to submit your resume. If you are still having issues, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service during normal working hours (EST) at 610.878.2800. Make sure you check out our FAQ as the answer for your issue is probably listed: http://www.beyond.com/js/content/faq.asp

I am new to beyond.com with limited ability and knowledge of actually applying for jobs on line. I'm getting really frustrated. I'm starting to think this site is a joke and a waste of my time.

Yes I agree I was turned down for a job at Magna Comptech because I ended up having a felony for returning a lost cell phone

Thanks for the comments. @Leiah I do believe that the intent behind ban the box was for non-criminal offenders more so than hardened criminals. No company is forced into hiring someone who has spent time in jail but they shouldn't discriminate against them, either. Common sense here. Of course a pedophile would not be hired for childcare because they couldn't qualify. I think that it's a great idea for those who maybe spent time due to something like a small amount of marijuana in their possession or something equally minor as that. What do you expect an "ex-con" to do? They have to work the same as the rest of the population. Background checks would certainly be conducted prior to hiring anyhow so I am sure that the company would find out the reason for the jail time and then can decide if they want to pursue hiring.

Background checks are still conducted....Don't you have a job to attend to, or are you at work wasting Company time ?

Totally agree with Leiah on this one what's next?

Does the ex-con have to disclose? If not, are you forced to hire a pedophile for child care? A thief for an accountant? I see huge problems coming for this if you can't refuse to hire them in positions which place too much temptation in front of them.

@Damien thanks for your comment. Please check out: http://www.districtchronicles.com/news/view.php/1014948/President-Obama-backs-ban-the-box-to-hel This is a program put into place by our President called "ban the box" where companies can not discriminate against those who spent time in prison. Hope that helps.

check out the expungement process