Keywords are a vital aspect of your job search

From your resume writer to multiple blog writers on the internet, everyone is talking about keywords. What are these keywords and why are they so important for your job search?

What is a keyword?

A keyword is a word or a concept that is greatly significant for your job search. Keywords are the words that your job search documents must be built around. Did you know that having the right keywords on your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile can boost your chances of landing an interview?

When did keywords become so important for a job search?

Do you remember how jobs used to be advertised in the newspaper? You’d go through the whole section with a Sharpie until you found something you liked. You’d fill in an application with your resume and cover letter and mail it to the employer. Today, we have online job boards and websites for job application submissions. Employers advertise their jobs on job boards where you can find them easily. Since much of the hiring process occurs online today, keywords have risen in popularity.

What do keywords do?

Recruiters and employers receive hundreds of resumes per job advertisement. They need a way to sort through these stacks of resumes fast. That’s where Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) come into play. Companies use ATSs to screen applicants by keywords. When a recruiter creates a job description, they will incorporate a set of skills and experiences their applicants must have to perform the role. These skills and experiences are fed as a string of keywords to the ATS to filter candidates. Those who list the right keywords in their resumes will rank higher on the ATS.

How can you know what keywords to add to your resume and cover letter?

We have talked about this in many of our previous articles. It is important to always send in a tailored resume and cover letter with your job application. Read the job description carefully to find the skills, experience, educational requirements, and other qualifications the employer is looking for. These are the keywords that you must add to your resume.

Where else should you use keywords for a job search?

Your resume and cover letter are not the only two things that must display the right keywords when you are on a job hunt. Your LinkedIn profile is just as important for your job search. Adding the right keywords to your LinkedIn profile will increase your chances of getting discovered by the right employer. Obviously, you can’t know the exact words to use in your LinkedIn profile. This is where job boards come in handy. Refer to a few job descriptions of your target job title(s) on Glassdoor or any other job site. You will notice a pattern of common keywords across them. You can incorporate those keywords into your LinkedIn.

Don’t forget your other job-searching materials

Your social media accounts and portfolios are also useful for your job search. If you are sharing related content via your social media, you can use keywords and hashtags strategically to improve your visibility to employers. Also, if you have a digital portfolio and other marketing materials that promote your personal brand, you can incorporate keywords into those as well for a successful job search.