Your resume has just one function: to get you invited to a job interview.
So how do you create a resume that gets you on the short list and in the door? Optimize it for the software that more and more employers are using to identify their best prospects — the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
ATS software prioritizes applicants for each specific job by looking for keyword matches. It’s just like a Google search. Resumes that include the keywords that ATS is seeking rise toward the top of the candidate list. Resumes that lack these keywords sink to the bottom.
To get near the top of the hot prospect list, review the job description and identify the most commonly used terms that describe the position and its duties/responsibilities. Then make sure your resume includes those keywords and terms. Pepper it with them. Don’t worry about repetition/redundancy, like using the term “drive” or “transport” if you are a Truck Driver. Use all the relevant terms.
Remember, keywords are key to success. Rise, don’t sink. Now, go get ‘em!
