Bypass Resume Filters By Using Keywords From Your Job Listing

Bypass Resume Filters By Using Keywords From Your Job Listing

Filling out a job application often involves getting past filters and routine procedures. To get inside the first barrier, use keywords from the job listing you’re replying to in order to get in the door.

Photo by Flazingo Photos

Whether the company you’re applying to uses scanning software or simply has a recruiter sorting their way through a stack of documents, the first round of read throughs will generally focus on how well you fit the job as listed. To conform a bit better, use the terminology your potential employer used:

HR is the first line of defence for hiring at most large organisations, but HR people aren’t all that great at judging qualifications for specific jobs (e.g. A person with a Master’s in HR doesn’t know what makes for a good nuclear safety inspector). This leads them to filter out resumes using keywords and jargon as an indicator of abilities. Paid resume development tools have figured this out. They essentially populate your resume with the keywords that they have found effective at getting interviews, but you can do this yourself if you know your industry well and research the job.

Ideally this tactic wouldn’t be about keyword stuffing (which can actually be counter-productive), but adapting your resume to its reader. Your employer is going to assume you’ll be able to come on board without a huge knowledge gap. Tailoring the words you use just eases that transition.

LPT: When applying for jobs (especially to large organisations), look through the job description and add any keywords they use to your resume [Reddit]


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