Job hunters today MUST match keywords from job descriptions in their resume. In the first “keyword post” (click here if you missed it) I created a downloadable spreadsheet to help you with matching your skill set to the job requirements keywords. In this post I will help you look at alternative ways to put in more keyword matches.

Most companies use a computerized applicant tracking system that looks for the keywords and the system decides - “yes” (now a human can see it) or “no” (resume goes into the virtual shredder).

If you are wondering why - just ask any human resource executive and they will tell you they get hundreds and sometimes thousands of resumes for a very small set of available jobs. A human cannot possibly read each and every resume. So a little help is employed -- the computer. The other advantage: A computer is not subjective - it just looks for what it is programmed to look for, nothing more.

So how do you get your resume past the computer?

WARNING: Do not "pepper" your resume with keywords that fit the job title, but have nothing to do with your background and previous jobs. You are really doing yourself and the company you are applying for a disservice.

I will use a recent systems engineer job post for the examples below.

A couple of tricks:

Trick #1 - “White Fonting” - this is putting extra keywords in your resume in tiny tiny font and then making the font color white. The computer can read it and it helps you get to the next stage - a human being. Some people actually do this in the body of the resume - others in the header and footer areas of the resume.

However there are some drawbacks to doing this - for a good article about white fonting click here. I have heard good and bad about white fonting - up to you if you use it but you might want to take a look at #2 and #3 and see if they are better options. 

Trick #2 - Probably a better way to achieve the desired result is to have a Keyword Set - nothing hidden just a set as part of the end of the resume. If this makes your resume longer than it should be, then do not do this - or consider putting it in the footer.

Example:
Keywords: Windows CE 6 and 7, Adobe Flash, HTML, C/C++, Lua, JavaScript, SQL, RNDIS, CDC, DUN, PAN, Microsoft Auto, excellent oral and written communication skills, Ford Motor Company Computer Engineering Department, multi-disciplined team work

Trick #3 - Your cover letter. A new trend I see emerging: companies are now requesting that your cover letter be the first page of your resume. So create your cover letter and make sure you have the main keywords in that cover letter.

Tick #4 - When you are emailing the cover letter and resume - especially if you're emailing it to HR@companyname.com (which may feed into an applicant tracking system)- make sure you also send a message in the email that is similar to the cover letter, but different, and reiterate some of the main keywords in that message. No longer than two short paragraphs - keep it simple. Put the job title in the subject line - nothing else.

Example for email:
I have attached my cover letter and resume for the position of Systems Engineer at Ford. I have a background in Adobe Flash, HTML, CSS, Windows CE 6 and 7, C/C++, Lua, JavaScript, SQL, RNDIS, CDC, DUN, PAN, Microsoft Auto and I also worked as a contractor for Ford from 1996-2000 in the computer engineering department. I have attached a reference list of people at Ford that I have worked with in the past that are able to confirm my skill set.

By now you have probably realized - keywords are an essential tool in the job hunt. No keywords, no job!

Kim Kachadoorian is also known as the "Geeky Marketer". She maintains a job hunting blog Ann Arbor Jobs as well as her Geeky Marketer Blog and Web Site (resume web site with fishing analogies). She is currently looking for her next job and found that helping others was a good way to use her talents. She'll be sharing them with readers of AnnArbor.com's Business Review on a regular basis.