How To Optimise Your CV Using Keywords
08.01.2016The CV that you spent hours working on to get just right may only receive a few seconds attention from a recruiter.
Good recruiters are always busy and it is typical for them to sift through up to a hundred CVs as part of their daily routine. Sometimes they will file CVs away after an initial look, and will then flip through a large number at once because they are looking to find suitable candidates for a specific vacancy that they have.
The importance of keywords on a CV...
The key to making your CV stand out is to use the right words to tell the recruiter that your CV contains what they are looking for, and that it should go into the 'to contact' pile for the vacancy they are looking to fill. You do this with what are called keywords, and these are just as useful - if not moreso - online than they are offline.
... and for web search
When you post your CV online on job boards, or when you update your LinkedIn profile, it is keywords that play the biggest role in making sure that you get found when people search. Search engines like Google (and search facilities on social media websites and job boards) use keywords to return results for a search.
When a recruiter types in words describing their ideal candidate, if you want your CV or profile to be returned among the search results you need to make sure that it contains those words.
This is called optimisation
Here are some tips on optimising your CV.
Make sure you choose the correct keywords
It might sound obvious, but you need to have keywords in your CV that do two things: first, match the jobs that you want to apply for; second, match your personal statement and the jobs you have done.
So look at the adverts and descriptions for the jobs that you want to apply for. You should find that similar words keep cropping up, particularly in job title and within the descriptions themselves. Write these down. Now look at what's on your CV and make a second list. You want to see similar words in both lists.
Be specific with your choice of keywords
This is why tailoring your CV to each type of job - or even to each application - is a good idea. The more focused your keywords are, the more likely it is that a recruiter with that same requirement is going to find your CV useful.
Emphasise the keywords on your CV
You want these to stand out, even if your CV only gets a few seconds' attention. You can use a larger font or bold type to help them stand out, and you can also create a small summary box at the very top of your CV to make use of the main keywords you wish to highlight.
Check your job titles, and look closely at the descriptions of jobs that you want
There are often many different ways to describe the same responsibilities or role, so do be aware of this. You have to use the job title that the recruiter is likely to be searching for; now is not the time try and expand on the job title or rephrase it to try to impress people. Stick to what you can see in similar job advertisements, as long as it matches what you've done. Then make sure that your CV also contains words in your job descriptions that closely match those in the advert for the job(s) you are applying for or want.
Use 'power words' to influence the recruiter
Verbs are 'power words' that subtly convey ability. Make sure that you use them when describing your past achievements, because they create the impression that you are someone who gets things done.
So, for example, if you want to show that you have experience in managing a team, then begin the sentence with that very wording. It's a subtle difference, but 'Managed a team' has more impact than 'I used to manage a team'. Not only that, verbs in the past tense also give the effect of 'proven' performance: this is something you have done rather than something you can do.
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