Number four in our countdown of things not to do on your resume is keyword spam. Modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)—the software that “reads” resumes to save humans work—are aware of context. If you are a chemical engineer, the terms “chemical,” “engineer,” “engineering,” and so on should appear naturally in the description of your career. That is a better way of handling keywords than listing them over and over with no regard for context. Number three is sending your resume… Read More
Free Resume Help: Step Right Up
One of the reasons that I offer this free blog on resume writing is to explain what goes into a great resume. Another reason is to give back where I can: to help people who are trying to write their own resumes. Free resume help is also available from the public library, many high school and college career centers and some nonprofits. If you are a do-it-yourself resume writer: Do not let yourself get befuddled with advice. There are dozens… Read More
Keyword Spam: What It Means on a Resume
Keywords are those critical words that an employer will automatically expect to find on any resume from a job applicant. For example, if you are applying for an accountant position, the employer will expect to see the following words (among others): profit & loss (P&L), accounts receivable and cash flow. When the resume is searched electronically, those words had better show up or the resume will be rejected. Keyword spam (also called keyword stuffing) occurs when your resume contains a… Read More
