By Heather Seiden, Career Services Manager, and Stacy Winner, Job Readiness Instructor

Happy 2022! We made it…last year was full of twists and turns, ups and downs, and now, as we enter the new year, we can pursue new goals and achieve more than we thought possible. If one of your resolutions is to find new or better employment, keep reading! You will strengthen your career documents by adding targeted keywords throughout. Keywords are the specific words, skills, and phrases outlined in the “Required Skills” and “Preferred Qualification” sections in the job description. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), recruiters, and hiring managers all seek out these valuable words as they review your job applications.

First, identify clearly written, comprehensive job posts that speak to you, pique your interest, and make you want to apply!

Second, locate the keywords within that job description by highlighting the skills, action verbs, traits, and duties that are repeated throughout the post. A few examples include organizational skills, problem solving abilities, and strong interpersonal relations and communication skills. A terrific new, free online tool to help you identify keywords in job posts can be found at https://www.tealhq.com/job-tracker-b.

Next, after you have identified the important keywords, highlight them in the job description and connect what the future employer is asking for with your previous experiences.

Lastly, plug these exact words and phrases into your resume and cover letter, hit “Submit,” and get ready to interview! By adding these specific words to your career documents, you show future employers how YOU can best fit their needs and solve their problems.

To gain more career advancement expertise in either a workshop, one-on-one coaching session, or both, visit our Employment page or call 720.704.8464.