Successfully Utilizing Keywords In Your Job Search

One challenge modern job seekers face is the need to balance their resumes and LinkedIn profiles for both human eyes and applicant tracking systems. You want a readable, engaging resume, but it may need to get through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) first. While up to 40% of companies may not use an ATS, using organization keywords is still the best way to get noticed by both digital and human eyes.

What exactly are keywords? Susan P. Joyce excellently defines them as:

“The terms used by searchers to find relevant content in a search engine, social network, applicant tracking system, or other database.”

We always speak about the importance of tailoring your resume, and this is where keywords shine. Discover why keywords are vital in the modern job search and how to make them work for you, and you’ll find the key to job search success!

The importance of keywords

Recruiters spend a short amount of time on each resume, and the ATS may keep your resume from getting to them in the first place. You need to stand out in a limited amount of time and prove you’re the candidate for the job.

Consider your search. You’re using keywords to find the jobs you are interested in, inputting job titles and locations into search engines to find positions relevant to you. If you’re looking to be a warehouse supervisor, just typing in “supervisor” is going to find a lot of unrelated jobs.

Coming up with a plan for your job search is the first step to finding the right keywords to use. Ivy Exec recommends figuring out your goals and conducting thorough research before you start applying. Target your ideal roles and industries, talk with your network, and research specific organizations. This targeted approach will provide clarity on what your dream jobs are looking for and how you can appeal to them.

Utilizing keywords

With this knowledge, you can begin incorporating keywords into your resumes and into your LinkedIn profile, too.

While we’ll recommend, as always, tailoring your resume for each position, there are a few keywords that are always relevant—your basic information!

It may seem obvious, but make sure you’re using the same professional name across all of your job seeker material. Susan P. Joyce says if your business cards use a different name than the one you use on LinkedIn, it will lead to confusion.

You don’t want to use a full address, but make sure your current city or targeted city is clear, as many recruiters search based on location. If you speak any additional languages or have college degrees or certifications, they should be clear as well. Finally, use a job title for the position you seek, and be as specific as possible. Use the version used by the company, if possible, and when in doubt, Susan adds to use a slash between two similar titles (Executive Assistant/Administrative Assistant for example).

With the basics covered, you can get into the finer points. Start by combing through the job description and highlighting all action words. These are the key responsibilities of the position, and your resume needs to show you’re capable of them. If you see a reoccurring word, definitely make a note to incorporate it, writes Mariana Toledo.

The exact word choices matter and you want to be specific. That’s why the easiest way to find relevant keywords is to take them right from the description.

Next, look at the industry on the whole. The terminology may change from position to position, but there should be a few constants. Alison Doyle suggests looking at the difference between job-specific skills and transferable skills and making sure to highlight both. If you’re applying for a programming job, you may need specific software skills, but you’ll also want good communication skills.

“For example, being able to operate a power saw is a job-specific skill for a carpenter, but not for many other jobs.” –Alison Doyle

You can use these keywords and incorporate them through your work history. Not only will this show you have the experience where it matters, but a potential ATS will note the word choice and help you stand out.

If there are any relevant proficiencies, certifications, or courses you’ve completed, make sure to add them as well. These are things like Photoshop, Salesforce, WordPress, programming languages, and even Microsoft Office suite. These can be sprinkled within your work history or on a separate “skills and qualifications” section.

Finally, after incorporating keywords, make sure your resume is readable and truthful. Joseph Rios writes that while it may be tempting to manipulate keywords to your advantage, never lie on your resume. It can bite you in the rear down the road. Susan P. Joyce adds that stuffing your resume with keywords with no strategy will make your resume bloated and unreadable. Make sure to incorporate your keywords in a logical and descriptive manner.

Wrap up

Using keywords may seem daunting at first, but if you do your proper research it will become a natural part of job searching. It’s imperative to stand out in your job search, and using the right keywords will make sure your resume gets seen. Use job descriptions and industry knowledge to your advantage, and incorporate the keywords in an honest and logical manner.

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The Pros And Cons Of One-Click Apply

For job seekers, technology can be a wonderful thing. You can apply to jobs almost anywhere from the comfort of your home, you can stay in touch with your network easily through social media, and, thanks to the rise in remote work, you can even do a job from home.

But because of the ease of access, it can be much harder to stand out thanks to the high levels of competition. Experts say it can take 100-200 applications to get just one job offer, and your average job search could take up to nine weeks. To get a job in the traditional way, you’ll need to send a high volume of resumes.

That’s why job search websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter offer “easy” or “one-click” apply options. For someone looking to get as many resumes out as possible, these features are a massive boon!

Or are they? Despite the convenience, using these features may not make you stand out from the crowd. We’ll cover what easy apply systems actually do, their faults, and when they can help your search.

What do they do?

The name sells the basic function well enough—an easy or one-click apply skips through much of the traditional application process to quickly get your documents into the hands of recruiters. They may or may not offer the chance to attach relevant documents like a copy of your resume or cover letter.

In most cases, this allows you to quickly submit a generic, multi-use resume. In LinkedIn’s case, you’ll instead be submitting your LinkedIn profile. This allows you to quickly scroll through online job boards and apply to anything that strikes your fancy.

The problem

Bypassing the conventional application process, which is often time-consuming and tedious, is an amazing idea, but it has its drawbacks.

“As with all quick fixes, the easier option has its drawbacks. Primarily, you’re trading customization for simplicity.” – Jaclyn Westlake, The Muse

This convenience leads to a lot of applications being submitted. In spite of this volume, you may think having the right keywords will get your generic resume picked by the applicant tracking system, but Mac’s List says that may not be the case. Around 40% of companies don’t use ATS, and if your resume isn’t tailored it will struggle to get noticed by the person reading it.

Data shows using one-click apply methods doesn’t have an impact on whether or not you’ll hear back from the employer, according to SmartRecruiters. Your resume will be added to a large pile of applicants regardless, and your content will have to speak for itself.

In LinkedIn’s case, the Easy Apply puts a lot of pressure on your profile. Regardless of whether you attached a resume and cover letter, your profile is the first thing the hiring manager will see. If you’ve been neglecting your profile or hoping your resume will carry you, you may be disappointed when your application is quickly discarded.

You can help alleviate this by having a well-developed LinkedIn profile, which is good to have regardless. Lewis Parrott says having a professional photo, strong headline, relevant details in your job history, and interesting personal details can help alleviate some of the issues with using Easy Apply.

When can it help?

While network connections and carefully customized resumes are a superior job search strategy, one-click applying does have its place and can help lead to a well-rounded search.

Volume does matter in your job search, especially for entry-level roles. The application process is often tedious, and constant rejection after spending significant time applying is discouraging. Quick applies can help you cast a wide net. You may not always bring in the best jobs this way, but it can help build momentum. Career Sidekick does recommend at least tailoring your resume for a specific industry if you choose this route.

If you’ve already tapped your network and carefully applied to your dream companies, then using easy apply functions can be a way to supplement that search. Use them to compliment your job search, not to be the heart of it.

Relying on one-click apply is NOT recommended if you’re looking for your dream job, but sometimes you just need a job. Whether you need a source of income, you need to learn a skill, or you’re just looking to get your foot in the door, these functions are a great tool to find a low-stakes job.

Kindra Cooper believes if you have a top-notch LinkedIn profile already their method can work. In fact, if you’ve spent time adding URLs, displaying endorsements, highlighting your skills, and you have a strong summary, your profile may be even better than your resume. But this requires you to have done all the work beforehand, and it’s best not to put all your eggs in one basket.

Wrap up

Job searching can be a long and arduous process, and any tool that can make the journey easier is appealing. But while they offer additional assistance, it’s imperative to understand the pros and cons of using one-click apply methods. There are times to use these features, and they can complement a thorough job search, but they shouldn’t be relied upon as your only job-searching strategy. For more in-depth job search strategies, check out our other great articles!

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Stand Out In Your Next Interview With These Insider Tips

Following the Great Resignation, companies are looking to refill positions while job seekers look for new positions that align with their values. While that means there are a plethora of job openings, there is a significant amount of competition for those top openings. As a job seeker, how can you stand out in your interview?

We’ve previously covered some of the best interview practices, but it pays to keep innovating and adapting. Forbes’ Jack Kelly took a look at the hiring trends from Spring 2022 and provided an insider’s view on how to stand out in a challenging hiring cycle. We’ll look at Jack’s findings and provide some of our own to help you land your next career.

Clearly express interest

We’ve previously analyzed the similarity between dating and job searching. One common technique in dating that you should NOT add to your job search playbook is playing hard to get. If hiring managers are going to invest time, money, and effort into hiring and training you, they want you to be invested in the company and its culture.

Jack explains there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes in a hiring cycle, including multiple departments being looped in, preparing a compensation offer, and planning onboarding and training. A candidate that rejects an offer or prefers to wait for a better one is wasting a lot of the company’s time.

This is why you want to reiterate that you want the job. Make that desire shine through your body language and in your responses. Reference what you like about the organization and the position. Your sincerity will keep you in their minds when they make their decision.

Be prepared

Jack’s next suggestions, asking smart questions and proving you did your homework, fall into a similar category. The more knowledge you possess before you enter the building (literally or metaphorically), the better of a candidate you’ll be.

“Being prepared and being someone that can show you are prepared provides the interviewer with the impression you are interested in the potential job, took the time to plan ahead, and care about the outcome.” –Biron Clark, Career Sidekick

The more you know about the organization, the more invested you’ll seem in the position, helping with the previous point. It will also help you relate your skills and experiences back to the role you’re interviewing for. The more deeply engaged you can be, the better your rapport with the interviewer will be, and you’ll prove yourself a capable candidate.

Michele Mavi of Fairygodboss stresses the importance of leaving generic responses at home. Take time to thoughtfully and specifically answer a prompt rather than rushing to throw out a quick response. And make sure to actually answer a prompt. Don’t force the interviewer to hunt for value in your answer.

Meanwhile, the more you prepare, the better your follow-up questions will be. Every interview should end with a chance to ask your questions, and preparing meaningful questions in advance show foresight and a desire for deeper knowledge.

Make the interviewer’s life easy

Depending on the position, interviewers may be talking to dozens of applicants, and before they even get to that point they must go through even more resumes and schedule time to talk to all of their prospective clients.

Work with the interviewer to schedule a time that works for them, especially if you’ve got flexible time yourself. That extra bit of courtesy from asking “when is a good time for you?” shows you value their time and you’re willing to be a team player. It may not seem like much, but these types of traits are valuable and not always ubiquitous. You don’t have to be a push-over to succeed, but some basic courtesy and willingness to be a team player go a long way.

Use a call to action

Every persuasive speech should end with a call to action, and an interview is no exception. Your desired outcome should be “hire me”, or at the very least, “bring me in for the next round of interviews.”

Jack says to make sure to ask for next steps and to even go as far as to ask “Could you please share what the next steps are and who I’ll meet with for the following rounds?” This exudes confidence while reiterating your interest in the role. Express that you want the role, reference a few topics discussed during your interview, ask about next steps, and make sure to thank your interviewer before you leave.

Show some personality

This isn’t in Jack’s piece, but showing off your uniqueness in a professional manner will help you stand out, too.

James Philip, founder of Heavy Hitter Holdings, suggests a little humor and levity go a long way. You want to appear to be someone capable of putting in the hard work, but you also want to look like someone fun to work with. Striking that balance can be a rewarding challenge.

Indeed suggests wearing bold colors to make your professional attire pop. As long as it matches well and isn’t an eyesore, a brightly colored tie or dress shirt can help you stand out visually. You may not want to emulate Saul Goodman’s actions, but the man knows how to wear colorful suits!

Wrap up

All of your previous interview advice applies as well, but these particular tips should give you the extra edge to stand out in your next interview. A fully engaged, well-prepared, courtesy candidate is a hiring manager’s dream. Let your personality come across and your sincerity will surely be noted.

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How To Heat Up Your Summer Job Search

The weather is starting to heat up, but what about your job search? Summer is associated with many things, but new career beginnings usually aren’t one of them.

Despite this, job searching continues, especially for fresh college graduates entering the workforce. If you need a job, you need a job. We’ll brave the heat and look into the pros and cons of a summer job search and provide tips on how to make this your most productive summer yet.

Is summer a good time to search?

Just as with the holiday season, experts are mixed on whether summer is a good time to apply or not. With less seasonal work available in most industries and many employees taking summer vacations, Valerie Streif, senior content at Pramp, viewed summer as one of the two worst times to seek employment.

“During the middle of summer, the least amount of vacancies are posted, not only for seasonal jobs but also regular positions, since teams are usually juggling many different employees taking time off for summer vacation. It’s also an awkward time to get started – right in the middle of the year.” – Valerie Streif

Meanwhile, The Muse’s Kat Boogaard suggests that summer is a good time to keep the search moving despite what others may say. Hiring managers have a full-year job and will always be looking to fill open positions. There may be less competition as others slow down their search, and hiring managers may be less busy as a result.

According to NACE, employers are expected to hire 27% more recent graduates this year compared to 2021. So even if summer is often viewed as a poor job to search, the market is currently in your favor.

Your mileage will vary based on the industry and type of position you seek. But if you need a new job, there’s no reason you have to wait until fall. So how can you make the most of your search?

Start strong

Summer means more daylight and an earlier start, and your search should follow suit. If others believe this is the time to slow down their search, zig while they zag. Before you start getting your applications out, however, you’ll want to come up with a plan.

Research the companies you’re interested in working for to start getting an idea of what they are looking for. You will never regret doing too much research. This allows you to prepare your documents accordingly.

Many fresh graduates or athletes transitioning to the business world will commonly use a “one size fits all” methodology with their resume and cover letter, but a set of documents tailored to the position you are applying for is much more likely to catch a recruiter’s attention. Margaret Steen of Stanford Report acknowledges that recent grads will need to send out more applications than someone established in an industry, so it may not be practical to start from scratch with every application. She says a hybrid approach, creating one main resume and tweaking it as needed, is a helpful strategy.

Don’t forget about networking

No matter if you’re newly entering the workforce or you’re a seasoned veteran, networking is always crucial to career development. With warm weather, people are looking to make the most of it by going to social events, and this applies to the professional world as well.

If you’re a recent graduate, your school or department may have alumni events that can be the perfect opportunity to get your name out there. CNBC’s Katie Hopsicker suggests using any resources your college can offer to your advantage.

“Most universities and colleges have career centers, and these centers are there to help you. Resources like resume workshops, job hunt seminars and even email newsletters detailing job openings may open the door for you to find your next opportunity.” –Katie Hopsicker

But networking doesn’t have to be completely formal, and opportunities aren’t limited to graduates. Take time to reach out to those you already know for a cold beverage to check-in. Go out of your way to interact with new people at any barbeques or other fun events you attend. Networking happens all year, but summertime often puts people in a social mood.

Enhance your skills

Your growth doesn’t have to be put on hold while you search. There are many avenues available to increase your skills while expanding your network.

For example, you’re never too cool for summer school! Harvard University suggests summer classes can teach or hone new skills in a controlled, often more relaxed environment. These classes don’t have to be official, and you don’t have to take out loans. Search for free, online options or audit classes on sites like MasterClass or Coursera.

Volunteering is another underutilized way to grow your network and your skill-set. Just because you aren’t getting paid doesn’t mean the skills you learn don’t have value, and you’ll have a chance to connect with others you may not meet otherwise.

Wrap up

Many will use the summertime to focus on vacations, but that doesn’t mean employment opportunities aren’t out there. With a good strategy in place, you can take advantage of the slower hiring cycle. No matter where you’re at in your career, it always pays to keep networking and honing your skills while you search. Most of all, be patient! Communication may be slower due to managers on vacation, but if you put in the work and stay cool, you should get results!

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Watch Out For These Red Flags On Your Next Job Search

In wake of the Great Resignation, many organizations are rapidly trying to attract talent. It’s a good time to be a job seeker, as experts believe 2022 is a year favoring employees. But while many companies are hiring and job seekers have a plethora of options, not all of those options are good. Navigating the job market can be like walking through a minefield as you try to avoid questionable organizations.

Thankfully, a well-prepared job seeker can avoid these “mines” by recognizing the red flags these organizations put out. Whether in the job description itself or based on statements you hear in an interview, there are telltale signs you’re heading for an unpleasant role. We’ll cover six of these major red flags to avoid during your next job search.

Vague or problematic language

Before you even interact with someone from the company, the job post alone can tell you a lot about the company’s culture. Just as in dating, there are plenty of words and phrases that should immediately set off warning lights.

Being described as a wizard, ninja, or rockstar might be cool in a video game, but avoid companies seeking these fantastical titles. Dice writes that many tech companies used these titles to jazz up descriptions, but now they are commonly used as a vague, catch-all term to describe someone that checks every single box they want. These terms are also often gendered and can indicate a workplace lacking diversity.

Meanwhile, avoid companies that claim to be “like a family”. Families can often be dysfunctional, and while that may be okay for you and your loved ones, it isn’t how you want a company to run.

“Workplaces that claim to be a family can come with the downsides of family—poor boundaries and guilt trips. No thanks.” –Hcareers

Vague descriptions, or conversely overly long descriptions, can be a bad sign, too. The company may not know exactly what they’re looking for, or they may have unrealistic expectations for the position.

Finally, pay attention to words that imply the position will come with lots of extra work or lead to burnout. If the job description mentions “work hard, play hard”, “fast-paced”, “must be a self-starter”, or “unlimited earning potential”, you could be heading for a bad time, writes Forbes. While these terms don’t need to be immediate deal-breakers, feel free to ask the recruiter what exactly they mean when they use these terms.

Avoiding discussing pay

Even if you’re passionate about your career, you’re still getting paid for your work. Ideally, you’ll make a comfortable living. If a job is vague or dances around the subject of salary, it can be a bad sign.

Some companies may use vague language like “based on experience” or “competitive salary”, but when asked, they should be able to provide a range.

“It’s just basic human choice. We would never accept a job without knowing how much money we’d get in it. We cannot make a decision without that core information.” –Katrina Kibben

Lots of turnover

You may need to do extra research on this tip, but if you see the same position in your search multiple times, it may mean the organization has a high turnover rate. Jennifer Parris suggests you may need to dig deeper to find out why this position is constantly open.

It can be worth asking the hiring manager but don’t be afraid to look outside the current organization. Look at reviews on Glassdoor, check LinkedIn to see how long people remain with the company, and if you know anyone that worked there, get the inside scoop.

Lack of communication

If you’ve started the process of applying and the communication between you and the hiring manager is sporadic, this may be a sign of a dysfunctional organization. While both job seekers and hiring managers can be guilty of ghosting, if you’re having communication issues this early in the process it’s a bad look. We all have bad days, but if you’re consistently being ghosted or the manager feels unprepared, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Long hiring process

Glassdoor’s research team found the average hiring process is 23.8 days, though obviously, this is industry and position-dependent. But the longer the process takes, the more skeptical you should be.

Some organizations may ghost you completely after your interview, but if it takes weeks to hear back even when you’ve got the job, it can be another sign of disfunction, writes Jennifer Parris. The position may not be a priority, meaning you won’t get the support you need once you start the job. Or there could be communication breakdowns between different departments.

Expecting unpaid work

For some positions, you may need to provide some extra examples of your work. If you’re a content creator, for example, a company may want to see writing samples. And while skills assessments are frustrating, they do have value. But if it feels like a prospective employer is asking for too much, it’s a bad sign. This can also apply to the phrase “mandatory overtime”.

If it feels like you’re doing free labor, approach the interviewer. Their response can be telling, believes Fairygodboss. Your time is valuable.

Wrap up

Armed with this knowledge, it should be easier to spot job openings that might not be for you. While you should watch out for these potential red flags, it’s always worth asking the hiring manager about them. Extenuating circumstances happen, and some managers may not know why certain phrases can be problematic. Do your research, ask necessary questions, and ultimately, trust your gut.

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