Get mileage through the keyword trick

Sanjay Arora

Microsoft conducted a major study a few years ago that concluded the average adult human attention span is now 8 seconds — less than that of a goldfish. It is now a fact that no one can focus anymore too long. This is true for all areas of business and life, from 140-character tweets to the idea that no one will read long-copy sales letters or watch a video on their computer longer than perhaps 3-4 minutes. 

If you are looking for a job, there is just one more amazing fact you need to know: recruiters spend just 6 seconds scanning your resume before deciding whether you are qualified for a role. So, what does a someone who is looking for a job need to do to make an impression in such a short window of time? This article talks about few points that will be worth considering especially now more than ever when a part of recruiter’s job is done by artificial intelligence.

1 Your social media reputation matters

Are you aware that you have a brand? The truth is that whether you created it or not, it exists. Your online identity can be a benefit or a curse, depending upon the type of image that it presents to the world.  It is one of the hottest trends three years back and it remains still. Hiring managers’ standard operating procedure is to scan candidates’ online social media pages as they assess their fitness for hire. The point is that we need to spend time and effort designing it to our advantage. Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other sites combine to create your personal brand. 

One needs to cautious and careful. Scan your social media presence and remove what comes in way of the image that you are trying to project. The objective is to present a professional face to the world. In a nutshell, search your name and clean up your social media to ensure that you present a professional image possible

2  Tweaking keywords to build the best resume for each job

Don’t make the mistake of answering each job posting with the same generic resume. You’ll be much more likely to make it to the next round of hiring, especially if an Applicant Tracking System (ATS, a computer program designed to shortlist through keywords) has anything to do with it. 

When a hiring manager manually looks through a pile of resumes, he or she scans each resume to find these keywords. One way an ATS works is to eliminate resumes that are missing certain keywords. 

When the software or the hiring manager does not come across any of the keywords in your resume or cover letter, your application gets thrown out. By ensuring availability of the keywords in your resume or cover letter, you will demonstrate, at a glance, that you fit the requirements of the position. In summary, keywords of Job Description and your resume need to match for your application to cross first level.

3 Highlight your impact in your resume

Employers want to see employees who can achieve solid results, and results are best stated in terms of reportable numbers. Make a Resume that shows impact To prove you're worth a hiring manager's time, take time of double click on recent examples of what you bring to the table. Statistics that build upon your skills section are most impactful and you will certainly get bonus points if they show a track record of measurable growth, revenue, and profitability. Do take time to make an achievement-oriented resume and it will certainly help you land more interviews.

4 Creating targeted resumes

The term targeted resume refers to a document that is created in response to a specific job opening.  While creating a specially targeted resume for a job is more time consuming, it significantly increases chances of being called for a job interview. They are also known as customised resumes. Unless you’re only interested in being considered for one specific job at one specific company, sending out the same resume to every job posting is an exercise in futility. When job-seeking, most people look for opportunities in one or two general areas of employment consisting of hundreds of different job titles, which means a one-size-fits-all resume just won’t cut it. Customizing your resume by studying the job ad and writing a resume that speaks directly to the requirements it outlines will increase your chances of scoring that all-important interview. 

Think of your resume this way

You are the product and the resume is an advertisement targeted towards your future organisation. Your goal is to convince the organisation especially the hiring managers to buy into what you are selling which should convert into getting an interview call. The only perfect resume is the one that gets you to the interview stage.  Be prepared to tweak and update your resume, even when you are comfortably employed. Keep a watch on changing nature of keywords by scanning job descriptions. Sooner or later, you’ll land that job and gain that much-coveted experience.

— The writer is Chief-Mentor , Maven