Keywords should be an extremely important component of both your online social media profiles as well as your resume.  These keywords can be a difference maker in getting your resume front and center and in front of a recruiter. I had the pleasure of having Jennifer Scott, the President of Hire Effect on my job search webshow every Sunday, at 9:00 PM EST on MomTV.

Keyword Tips for Resume & Online Profile

Jennifer has over 15 years experience working as a recruiter both as a corporate recruiter and third party and human resource professional.  These experiences allow Jennifer some great insight into the world of hiring and talent management.

• Include 20-30 Different Keywords. Use keywords from the job description and job posting in your profile or resume.  These are words that will most likely be used by recruiters to search for on job boards or the company’s applicant tracking system.
• Research. Visit industry white pages, leaders within your field and aggregators like Indeed.com to research common keywords used within your field of choice.
• Acronyms. Jennifer recommends including both the shortened acronym as well as spelling them out.  (e.g. SHRM and Society for Human Resource Management)
• Avoid Text Boxes. ATS and the internet don’t often recognize words or information placed in text boxes on your resume.  If you must use text boxes, I recommend converting your word document to pdf format for easier viewing.
• Don’t Overlook Online Profiles. LinkedIn is the first place recruiters go to to look for qualified candidates.  Make sure to include keywords, skills, and qualifications from your profile on your resume.  The same holds true for your FaceBook and Twitter profiles.  Don’t miss an opportunity to make an impression.

Jennifer has been gracious enough to provide us with a downloadable copy of her Keyword Tips. You can visit Jennifer’s website Hire Effect and don’t forget to connect with her on Twitter.