The Importance of Keywords in Job Searches

You applied to 100+ jobs but no interviews? Here's what's actually happening. Your experience is valuable. You're just invisible. Let me explain why, and how to fix it. When you apply online, your resume goes into a database called an ATS (Applicant Tracking System). Think of it like a massive filing cabinet. Now here's the key: Some recruiters don't read every resume. They search. Just like you search Google, they search their database: "Python AND data analysis" "SAFe AND agile transformation" "Tableau AND dashboard" If your resume doesn't have their exact search terms, you’re making it harder to get discovered. You're not rejected. You're just not found. But here's the secret: The job description often tells you EXACTLY what keywords they'll search for. It's like having the answer key. Example from a real job posting: If they say "Experience with Snowflake required"... → They'll search "Snowflake" → Make sure you write "Built data warehouse in Snowflake…" Not "cloud database" or "modern data platform." Use their exact words: Snowflake. I've mapped out 80 keywords that get candidates noticed in 2025: Top searches happening right now: • Python, TensorFlow, LangChain (AI roles) • Kubernetes, Terraform, Docker (tech leadership) • Power BI, Tableau, SQL (data leadership) • SAFe, Agile, DevOps (transformation roles) Your action plan: 1. Read the job description carefully 2. Circle every tool, platform, or methodology mentioned 3. Add those EXACT terms to your resume (if you have that experience) 4. Use them naturally in your accomplishments Example: Instead of: "Led team through digital modernization" You say: "Led SAFe agile transformation using ServiceNow and Jira, reducing delivery time by 40%" You have the experience. Now make it searchable. Your next role isn't rejecting you. It just hasn't found you yet. You’ve got this! 💡 Save this cheat sheet of 80 searchable keywords ♻️ Share to help someone in your network Follow me for more insider recruiting insights

How many times have you heard you have to "add the right keywords to your resume?" A lot of people tell you that you *need* to do it. Not many actually show you how to do it. Let's fix that. Here's a simple 4-step process for adding keywords to your resume for any new role you want to apply for. It'll help you boost your chances of landing the interview without spending hours on resume updates: Step #1: Finding The Right Keywords For Your Job Description To start, we're going to find the keywords that we want to focus on with our updates. I'm going to use this Senior Account Executive role that I found on LinkedIn, then do the following: 1. Pull up a copy of my resume and the job description 2. Head to ResyMatch.io, paste my resume on the left and the job description on the right, then hit scan. 3. Note my score, then scroll to the Hard Skills and Soft Skills Match sections 4. Identify the top 5-10 keywords that appear more than one time on the resume Step #2: Preparing Your Resume For Updates Next, we want to prepare our resume for updates. Here's how I'd do that: 1. Keep your ResyMatch scan results handy in one tab 2. Open a new tab and head to ResyBuild.io 3. If you have a resume saved, load it up. If not, choose the "Import" option to import your existing resume 4. Review your resume to make sure all of the content is up to date and ready to go besides your new keywords Step #3: Weave Your Target Keywords Into Your Resume Now that your resume is ready for edits, it's time to incorporate your keywords! Here's how to do it: 1. For the first keyword in your ResyMatch scan, identify the Skill Gap (this is how many times you'll want to add it to your resume) 2. Next, review each bullet on your resume from top to bottom. Look for places where you can naturally insert the keyword, then add it into that bullet 3. Repeat until you've closed the skill gap for the first keyword, then repeat again with the next keyword on the list Note: When adding keywords, we want to infuse as many as we can without losing the "natural" feel of our resume. We never want to feel like we're "forcing" keywords into our resume. Step #4: Run A Final Scan To Verify Updates Once you've woven in as many keywords as you can without losing the natural feel of the content, it's time to run one last scan. The goal of this scan is to verify the updates we made and ensure our match score is a in a good place before applying: 1. Export your updated resume from ResyBuild 2. Head back to ResyMatch and re-run the scan using your new resume and the target job description 3. Verify that your score has increased in proportion to the keywords you added Now you're all set to apply for that role! I hope this helped provide some clarity around how to actually do what everyone is telling you to do with your resume. Good luck out there :)

After I announced my new role, a lot of people asked how I landed something so fast. Instead of answering one by one, I figured it’s time to start posting what’s actually helped, especially in this tough job market. For job seekers out there, I empathize with your frustration, and I see you. Alright, enough intro, let's get into it: What if I told you that most recruiters aren’t reading every resume that crosses our desk? Shocking? Maybe not to some of you. Instead, we’re searching for them using something called Boolean logic. Think of it as a smart keyword search that uses phrases from the job description and hiring manager chats. Here's a quick example of what a really simple Boolean search actually looks like (in this case, for customer success, but apply this to any industry as needed): ("𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳" 𝘖𝘙 "𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳") 𝘈𝘕𝘋 (𝘚𝘢𝘢𝘚 𝘖𝘙 "𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮") 𝘈𝘕𝘋 (𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘖𝘙 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘖𝘙 𝘰𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨) 𝘈𝘕𝘋 ("𝘏𝘶𝘣𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘵" 𝘖𝘙 𝘊𝘙𝘔) If those keywords aren’t on your resume, we probably won’t find you. It's a sad truth, but it's worth stating. So what can you do? ⏺️ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (I know you've heard this before and that editing every resume is a PAIN, but it's more important than ever in this market. I recommend having a couple of different resumes for each industry you can reuse to make this an easier lift) ⏺️ 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 (ex: Grew retention from 72% to 91% by redesigning onboarding workflows.) You'd be shocked how many resumes I see that don't have this. It truly will set you apart in the market. ⏺️ 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 (𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘆𝗺𝘀). Not every recruiter has deep industry knowledge, so make your experience easy to understand at a glance. ⏺️ 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 (You want to show ownership always. Think: Directed, Spearheaded, Launched vs. Helped) I'm here if anyone needs their resume reviewed or has questions. As someone just off the job market, I know how frustrating these searches can be over time! And it’s not about stuffing your resume; it’s about making your impact easier to discover by telling a good story with measurable facts. And transparently, I'm sharing this again because I think people need it right now. I posted it yesterday with a spicier title…and it quietly disappeared. (Shadowbanned? Maybe. Still worth sharing? Absolutely.)

Many resumes get rejected before reaching a recruiter! Why? Here’s how I made mine stand out. When I began job hunting, I didn’t realize the importance of keywords. My resume had all the right skills, but it was too vague—teamwork, resilience, the usual. I thought that would be enough. But it wasn’t. ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) filtered me out. Fast rejections showed: no human saw my resume. Companies now use bots to screen applications. They need something quick and relevant—something tailored, not just buzzwords. Generic skills won't work. You need job-specific keywords. That’s what helps you get past the bot. Your takeaway? Tailor your resume. Use keywords from the job description. Google them if needed. A well-placed word can make a big difference. Are your resumes aligning with the job description, or are you sending the same one repeatedly? Stop waiting for luck—find the right keywords and get noticed! Type a YES if you find this helpful #ResumeTips #JobSearchHacks #ATSOptimization #CareerSuccess #GetHired

These 3 job search strategies worked really well in 2024, but they’re failing badly in 2025. (Don’t use them anymore, if you actually want a job.) 1. Mass applying on every job you see In 2024, people were still landing interviews by applying to 50–100 roles per week. The market was just beginning to tighten, and volume occasionally paid off. Why it’s failing now: → Recruiters are receiving 800+ applications per role. → ATS systems are filtering resumes ruthlessly. → Companies want perfect alignment, not generalists. Do this: → Apply to 8–12 roles/week — but tailor deeply for each. → Match your top skills to what’s asked in the JD. → Mirror keywords (job titles, tools, certifications). → Add a short 2-line “why you’re applying” blurb in your cover letter or intro email 2. Using the same resume for every role In 2024, candidates got away with general resumes that listed tools and responsibilities. But that’s no longer enough. In 2025, companies aren’t just hiring for experience. They’re hiring for precision. → Can you solve this team’s problem? → Do you speak their language? → Will you hit the ground running? Do this: → Make your resume a mirror of the JD. → Your summary should name the role you’re targeting. → Top skills section should be keyword-dense, not generic. → Every bullet should show: Action + Context + Result. 3. Cold DMs like: “Hi, can you refer me?” In 2024, this sometimes worked. But now that message gets ignored 95% of the time. Here’s why: → Everyone’s sending the same message. → It adds no context or value. → It sounds transactional and lazy. Do this: → Build context before the ask. → Comment on their posts meaningfully for a few days. → Read their background. Mention a shared connection, interest, or something they’ve worked on. → Then DM with clarity: "Hi [Name], I’ve been following your work on [project/post/topic] and admire how you [specific compliment]. I noticed an opening for [Job Title] on your team and would love to learn more about your experience working there. Would it be okay if I ask a few quick questions?" What 2025 really demands: → More depth → More intention → Less noise The candidates who are still using last year’s playbook are wondering why they’re not getting callbacks. If you want results now, you have to play a sharper game. Repost it to help others up their job search game. P.S. Follow me if you are an Indian job seeker in the U.S.  I talk about job search, interview prep, and more.

Worried about finding a job? Last week I met an amazing young gentleman Who is looking to find a job in data science. As I talked with him and shared the steps That worked very well for me in the past, I realized that these might help many Folks who are actively job-seeking. So, I wrote this Friday #GetHired2025 post. It might help folks who are: 1. About to graduate in the #Classof2025. 2. Been job searching for a few months. 3. Recently affected by various layoffs. You're probably getting worried and stressed About finding a steady position, and soon, So that you can get on with your life! News stories like these can affect your momentum. Pessimism in careers: https://lnkd.in/gtGdRN7e Hiring holds up: https://lnkd.in/gwGkg2w6 First, let go of all fears and refocus on your purpose. If finding a job and growing your career matters, You will need to approach it with a strategy. Random applications are perfectly fine, But they often create a false sense of Security in having done "something." Follow my "Take FIVE Strategy" Actionable Insights for Every Weekday: 1. Write down 5 job titles that pertain to you. --> Focus on why and how you qualify. --> Job titles can be generic so specificity matters. 2. Find 5 job postings for each job title --> If you can't find 5 openings, the job doesn't exist. --> Look for alternative job titles to seek out. 3. Identify 5 keywords in each job posting. --> You will see many keywords repeating. --> Embed these words in your resume. 4. Reach out to and network with 5 professionals --> Connect with and follow 5 leaders in your field. --> Do this everyday - that's 25 people a week! 5. Create 5 customized Job Applications --> Use #AI tools or LinkedIn tools to add value. --> Try to reach out to recruiter if you can. Quantity or bulk applying are not sufficient In a competitive job market to stand out. You need to demonstrate the quality & The value that you bring along when You apply to any organization. It takes work to find work! Follow Dr. Kruti Lehenbauer & Analytics TX, LLC for #PostitStatistics #DataScience #Economics tips. P.S.: What is your biggest fear about jobs right now?

We all know that the first step of looking for a job is having a resume that passes the #ATS! Did you think I was going to say one that expertly and succinctly illustrates the value and impact you created throughout your career? Yes, that is important too, but first you need to think about how you will get your impactful resume past that dreaded ATS! To help you check if your resume is ATS-worthy, here are a few tips: 1. Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description 💎 Tip: Customize your resume for each job application. (I know it’s annoying!) Carefully review the job description and include relevant keywords and phrases that match the role. This increases the chances of passing the ATS filters. 🔥 Action: Highlight specific skills, experiences, and accomplishments that align with the job requirements. Use exact keywords from the job posting. 2. Use a Clean & Professional Layout 💎 Tip: A well-organized resume with a clear, professional design can make a strong impression. Avoid overly complex formatting, graphics, or unusual fonts, as they can confuse the ATS. 🔥 Action: Stick to standard resume formats (chronological, functional, or combination). Use bullet points, consistent headings, and a readable font (e.g., Arial, Calibri). 3. Focus on Achievements, Not Just Responsibilities 💎 Tip: Highlight your accomplishments rather than just listing job duties. Quantifiable achievements demonstrate your impact and value to potential employers. 🔥 Action: Use action verbs and metrics to showcase your achievements. For example, "Increased sales by 20% through strategic marketing initiatives." 4. Include Relevant Keywords 💎 Tip: Incorporate keywords related to the job and industry throughout your resume. This helps the ATS identify your resume as a good match for the position. 🔥 Action: Use keywords naturally in your skills, experience, and summary sections. Avoid keyword stuffing, as it can make your resume difficult to read. 5. Proofread and Edit Thoroughly 💎 Tip: Spelling and grammatical errors can make a negative impression and potentially disqualify your resume. Proofread carefully to ensure it's error-free. 🔥 Action: Use tools like Grammarly for initial checks, but also manually review your resume. Consider having a friend or mentor review it as well for a fresh perspective. Bonus Tips: 💎 Use a naming convention that is memorable for others: Malik_resume_LD_CompanyX.pdf 💎 Use PDF formats when sharing your resume via email or ATS – this preserves your fonts and formatting. If you have any other resume tips, please feel free to share in the comments – let’s support each other in landing those dream jobs! But first…let’s get past that ATS! You got this! #ResumeTips #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #ATS #JobHunting #InterviewTips #CareerGrowth #ATStips #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthMindedConsulting GrowthMinded Consulting LLC