Words Really Do Count

Word choice on a resume and LinkedIn profile still matters in terms of a job search, and it's not necessarily because you have to get past an applicant tracking system that measures your resume keywords. When companies try to find the best fit for a candidate, hiring managers may try to weed out people who appear too generic. Stand out from the crowd by avoiding some verbiage that may hurt your chances.

Resumes and profiles that lack specifics, have too many skills and contain poorly written accomplishment statements reveal someone who cannot get to the heart of what it means to work for a business. How your word choice describes your work experience remains an essential part of whether a hiring manager determines if you're a fit for the company or not, so make some relevant decisions about resume keywords before you turn in your vital document.

Manage

Come up with a more specific word choice than "manage" to describe how you ran a team. Did you control every aspect of day-to-day tasks with respect to 15 people? Did you run daily meetings to get the feel of your teammates before setting them up with a list of tasks? Show your managing style by giving concrete examples of what your typical day was like at your previous employer.

Leadership

Similar to "manage," the word "leadership" has thousands of definitions. A better word choice simplifies your leadership style with a concrete example from the business world. Do you ascribe to "Modeling the Way" philosophy, or do you implore you team to "Make it so, Number One" on a regular basis? Your leadership style likely has some inspirational model, so use that on a resume.

Team

The word "team" can mean many things. For example, a basketball team differs greatly from a soccer team or a water polo team. In the business world, a team of five individuals that sold 10,000 units per month probably has a different operational paradigm than a group of 20 people who oversaw technical support operations. A different word choice here presents a perfect example to show specifics with just one or two sentences on a resume. Expound on this team concept in more detail in a LinkedIn profile.

Create and Develop

Both "create" and "develop" don't say much, but specific numbers tell a better story. Did you create 10 websites per week as a freelance Web developer or five per week? How many pages was each website? How much content did you create? These details give hiring managers a better overall picture of your daily workload and everyday work ethic.

How to Handle Keywords

Keywords that catch the attention of applicant tracking systems remain a vital part of the hiring process, so you must include certain verbiage found on a job description within your vital document. However, add specific words that enhance your keywords and give supervisors a more complete picture of your personality before you get to the job interview.

Word choice remains a vital way to stand out from the crowd from the beginning of the hiring process. Go over your resume several times, and have others examine the document before submitting it so you get a better idea of how you're telling your story.

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