Include These Elements on Your Resume

If you are writing a resume, it is important to include the right information. Now that many companies use automated applicant-tracking systems, you either must have the right resume elements in place or risk a human never seeing the resume you spent so much time perfecting. Follow these tips to ensure your resume makes it past the initial screening and into the hands of the hiring manager or recruiter.

In the age of electronic resume screening, keywords are one of the most important resume elements. Keywords are the terms used to identify candidates with specific expertise. A company looking for an accountant, for example, might ask the applicant-tracking system to find resumes with the words "accountant," "accounts payable," "auditing," "accounts receivable" or "budget management."

You need to be strategic about choosing keywords and other resume elements. If you have a job that can be abbreviated, make sure you include the full job title as well as the abbreviation. An example would be a nurse who uses "RN" and "registered nurse" to ensure her resume shows up if the hiring manager searches for either term. If your job title is interchangeable with other titles, include all variations of your title in your resume. Some companies refer to database analysts as business analysts, so be sure to use both terms.

Be sure to include soft skills as some of your resume elements. Once the hiring manager identifies people who meet the minimum qualifications for the job, she might decide to narrow the candidate pool even further by searching for resumes that contain soft skills. Examples of soft skills include communication, adaptability, flexibility and time management. By using these resume elements, you can prevent hiring managers from passing you over during the initial screening process.

Including the right resume elements is important, but the placement of those elements is also important. Don't be tempted to copy and paste chunks of the job description in your resume. Some applicants do this thinking they can trick the applicant-tracking software into thinking their resumes are a perfect match. Unfortunately, this tactic can backfire on you. Some tracking systems are set up to penalize candidates who do this. Use the job advertisement to determine which keywords should appear at the top of your resume and which keywords should appear closer to the bottom. If an advertisement mentions the same keyword 10 times, there's a good bet that keyword should be one of the first ones you mention.

Because many employers now use automated screening systems, writing a resume is more than creating a list of past job titles and achievements. You must also include resume elements that make it more likely the applicant-tracking system can identify you as a good candidate for the job.

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