AGCAREERS.COM FOOD & AGRICULTURE CAREER GUIDE 5 If you have ever applied for a job, internship, or co-op or gone to a career fair, odds are you have a resume on file. And if you don’t, well, it is probably time to start one! The job application process can sometimes seem intimidating. You have to find the jobs, apply, send in a resume and sometimes even a cover letter, have the interview, and so on. Well, sit back and relax because we are here to help you with all of that! This article will break down resume keywords. Think of it as the survival guide for getting your polished, tailored resume on the hiring manager’s desk. OK, ready? Because here we go! THE BREAKDOWN OF KEYWORDS We hear “Make sure you have keywords in your resume” all the time. But what are these people even talking about? We all know general keywords, words we typically use to search for something in a search engine. For example, if you want to Google something, the odds are that you will type only part of the sentence or question. If you want a recipe for banana bread, you will probably type in “banana bread recipe.” Not typically typing in “What are the ingredients for banana bread?” Keywords in a resume are like this, recruiters and ATS systems look for similarities between their job description and your resume. Meredith Shepard, Recruitment Manager at De Lacy Executive Recruitment, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this topic. I had the privilege of sitting down with her to get her perspective and insights on resumes, specifically adding keywords. “Keywords are critical. They are how you are pulled into a recruiter search and how you can break through the ATS system,” Shepard explained.” WHAT IS AN ATS SYSTEM? An ATS is an applicant tracking system. Many organizations use this type of electronic system for their recruitment efforts. This software helps sift through resumes and other criteria the recruiter has set up. Your resume is often sent through an ATS system before it gets to an actual human. That is why you must implement keywords in your resume. Today, a large majority of recruiters and hiring managers are using some ATS for their recruitment efforts. It is just a checklist – OK, don’t start getting nervous now. It is simple! Think of using keywords and aligning your resume with the job posting as a checklist. ADJUSTING FOR SUCCESS 1. HAVE YOUR GENERAL RESUME SAVED You must have a general or master resume saved to your computer. Check your resume occasionally to ensure it is up to date. This resume does not necessarily have to look super pretty, as you will never send this form of your resume, but use it as your base for building other tailored resumes. Keywords: How to use them & adjust for success by Clara Taylor, Digital Marketing Coordinator, AgCareers.com Illustration by Zuperia on Canva Pro >>>
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