Scannable/keyword resumes

To be the most competitive as an applicant, it s an excellent idea to create a traditional printed resume and then modify that resume into both a scannable (a resume that contains the same basic information as a traditional resume, but focuses on the use of keywords) and an electronic resume. 

Although a scannable or keyword-based resume can follow any of the formats of a traditional printed resume, the wording will be different. After the heading section, some applicants add a section called "Keywords," which is simply a listing of nouns, phrases, industry terminology, and buzzwords you know the computer will search for when it evaluates your resume. 

The biggest rule to follow when creating a scannable resume is to create the content by using nouns and keywords in the text as opposed to action verbs. When it comes to actually printing your resume, consider the requirements of the computer system being used by the potential employer to which you will be sending your resume. 

When creating a scannable resume (after you have determined what content to incorporate into your document) carefully read the ad to which you re responding and the job description the company has written for the position. Any keyword or phrase, industry buzzword, specific job title, years of experience, degrees or licenses required, skills, or personal traits, and so forth, mentioned in the ad or job description should definitely appear within your resume. 

Exhibit 5-3. Sample Keywords Suitable for Scannable Resumes ... 

As you ll soon discover, there are many different resume formats and types of resumes you can create. If you need a traditional printed resume, you can choose to follow a chronological, functional, or combination format there s also a keyword-based resume format, which is becoming more popular as many employers currently use applicant-tracking software to evaluate resumes. As a job seeker, you will also need to determine if your resume should be scannable or if you need an electronic resume so you can easily apply for jobs online. 

The keywords you incorporate into your resume should support or be relevant to your job objective. Keep in mind that employers generally scan online resumes for nouns rather than verbs. Whereas traditional resumes tend to use strong action verbs, a scannable resume should include precise, specific nouns. Also, you should avoid using abbreviations and symbols in scannable resumes Type "Doctor" instead of "Dr." and "percent" instead of "%."... 

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