If you are applying for a job in the near future you might want to consider this tip around job descriptions.

When writing your resume for specific jobs consider analyzing the job description from the company for keywords that you can plant in your resume.

More and more companies are using a keyword search method to screen the first batch of resumes before they even consider looking at a resume in greater detail.  In larger organizations the hiring manager will never see the stack of resumes until the have been pared down to a manageable number using the keyword search method.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF KEYWORD SEARCH METHOD

SAMPLE Job description

Job Summary The Application Integration Engineer is responsible for the overall function and success of customer deployments. This includes planning, coordinating, and supervising all activities related to the integration of third-party systems for medSages products and the deployment of medSage systems. Activities include requirements gathering, design, implementation, test, and deployment of the integration solution. Duties & Responsibilities - Identify technical requirements and customizations to medSage systems based on customers business requirements and needs. - Analyze and document custom database applications and interfaces. - Ability to communicate well with clients and project managers to gather information and also present the solution. - Use requirements and designs to implement a solution, defining test plans and methods, executing testing, and deployment of the integration solution. - Review computer operating logs to identify processing errors. - Must be accountable and responsible for working on business critical products that operate 24/7/365 and are distributed nationwide to many clients. - Develop documentation including test plans, installation instructions, internal release notes, and design documents. - Provide technical support. - The ability to work in a team environment - Attention to detail and quality required. Education - Bachelors degree or equivalent experience. Business Experience & Specialized Knowledge/Skills - Proven experience with system integration and integration best practices. - Experience working directly with customers. - Thorough knowledge of databases and SQL. - Knowledge in Java. - Knowledge in Access. - Experience in software testing. - Practical experience with Linux/Unix. - Practical experience with Windows. - Technical writing, system documentation, document-management skills. - Demonstrated self-starter, interpersonal skills, creative problem solving skills. - Knowledge with HME/DME billing systems a plus. Travel - 5%-20%.

What might some of the keywords be when combing this job description?

KEYWORDS

• Engineer
• Application integration engineer
• Customer
• Planning
• Coordinating
• Communication
• Database
• Time management
• Flexible (24/7/365 business environment)
• Technical writing
• Technical support background
• Bachelor’s degree
• SQL
• JAVA
• Access
• Microsoft office
• System documentation
• Management skills
• Self starter
• Creative
• Problem solving ability
• Etc…

As you can see the list of keywords from this relatively short job description can be long.  I am sure if you analyze this description more you will find more than I listed above.

Once you have made your list of keywords be sure to try and incorporate these keywords into your resume and cover letter.  In all reality you may not be able to incorporate all of them but be sure to try and get as many as possible into those two documents.  That way when the recruiter or screener is looking for resumes and cover letters with these keywords yours will be one of the few that get selected.

And you thought Google was the only one obsessed with keywords!