Resume Key Words

In an article posted about a year ago, Resume Bear explains to its readers what resume key words are and why they are important. It explains that they are basically a technique that recruiters use to screen applicants based on a few "key" words that are searched for within a resume. The article highlights how an applicant might use key words to their advantage in an effort to increase their chances of getting an interview.

I think this articles points out one of the follies with using key words to screen resumes - they are easily manipulated. The article advises that all one needs to do is to evalute the job posting for what they think the employer might be using as their key words and then to use those words as many times as possible in their resume and cover letter.

It shouldn't be supprising to most of you that this idea bothers me. It should bother most people. However, it doesn't bother me that unqualified people can use this technique in order to gain an interview. I feel that this is the goal of most everyone when they are writting their cover letter and resume - they feel that even if they are unqualified that, somehow, if they fluff up their resume they will some how, miraculously, get the job. What bothers me most is that this technique might systematicly block out an otherwise qualified applicant.

Let's say that an applicant mentions that they have a certain skill set once and feels that once it has been written this should be enough. They believe in the wisdom of the hiring manager and that an applicant should be truthful and let their experiences speak for themselves. In the case of using key words to screen applicants, the best applicant could be completely ruled out, thus ending the company's hope of filling the job with the perfect employee.

The goal of recruiters should be to get the absolute best talent available, not to try to make their own job as easy as possible. If key words are used, it should be used merely as a secondary piece of information that a recruiter might use to fill out a picture of a resume - but not as a filter.