How to Identify Key Words in Job Postings Key words generally consist of words or phrases which describe the skills, personality traits, scope of experience, and credentials hiring managers are seeking in job applicants. Here is content from a detailed job posting with the key words/phrases highlighted in blue (please note that not all job postings are this thorough in listing key words): Are you looking to put your administrative skills to work? Have you had previous experience in a purchasing department as an administrative assistant? Have you supported a buyer and set up purchasing orders in the computer? If so, we are in need of an administrative assistant to assist in a busy purchasing department. Prior experience as an administrative assistant supporting a purchasing/buyer department is helpful. An eye for detail is necessary. This position would require helping to set up accounts, working with purchase orders, setting up purchase orders in the computer and talking to customers. If you are looking for new challenges, and are ready to work today, send us your resume. Requirements: 1-2 years experience as an administrative assistant supporting the purchasing department. Experience supporting a buyer is helpful. Intermediate skill level with Word and Excel is required. Good eye for detail. This position would require talking with customers and setting up purchase orders on the computer. Ability to meet deadlines is necessary. As you can see, even a relatively brief posting includes many key words. To source a variety of key words, review a number of job postings or ads until you have sourced words from 3-4 detailed ones. How to Weave Key Words into Resumes One critical place in your resume to include key words is in your Career Summary. You can do this by using the key words you have sourced as descriptors of yourself (to the extent they are true, of course) throughout the summary. Here’s a sample customer service career summary which utilizes the key words highlighted above: Highly organized and customer-focused Customer Service professional with 2 years of award-winning achievement in purchasing/buyer support, purchase order administration, and administrative assisting. Excel at managing deadlines and details while building and managing exceptionally strong relationships with customers and vendors. Particularly effective at leveraging product knowledge and effective call management techniques to retain customers and resolve client concerns. Consistently promoted career-long for proven high performance. Trained in consultative sales techniques with advanced proficiency in MS Word/Excel. Key words can also be inserted in the form of bulleted nouns. Some examples include: Administrative Support Purchasing/Buyer Support Purchase Order Management Customer Service Detail Orientation Relationship Building You would continue this process of weaving key words into your resume by using them throughout your achievement statements as follows: Ensured fulfillment of up to 25 national training purchase orders through order analysis, project planning, and liaison with purchasing/buyer staff to oversee shipping, contract renewals, and problem resolution. Promoted sales and quality assurance by responding to incoming prospect inquiries and answering customer questions about company products, features, and pricing. Retained customers and facilitated repeat sales by resolving shipping, order, and first-level technical issues promptly and efficiently via in-bound customer calls. Screened/escalated calls as needed. Expedited future client contacts and trend identification through accurate call tracking management. How to Weave Key Words into Cover Letters Once again, you will insert key words into all primary sections of your cover letter by weaving them into your sentences describing your skills, capabilities, and personality. Here is an actual cover letter using the same key words sourced above: Dear Name of or Hiring Manager: With award-winning achievement in customer service, administrative assisting, and purchasing/buyer support, including 2 years of experience in both B2B and B2C customer support roles, I believe my history of high performance is well-matched to your Title of Job posting, code. After recent relocation to the Toledo area due to my husband’s transfer, I am now seeking to share my detail orientation and customer problem solving skills within a new environment. In addition to the credentials described in my attached resume, I offer these qualifications: • Possess results-focused experience in client relationship management and purchase order administration. Highly effective in managing deadlines/details and in applying call management and troubleshooting skills to resolve customer concerns while preventing call escalations. • Excel at multi-tasking, consultative sales, and customer retention. Proficient in developing needs-based relationships with clients and internal staff. Known as a stellar high performer who consistently surpasses achievement benchmarks. Consistently promoted career-long for exceptional team focus and dedication to superlative client relations. • Seeking the opportunity to apply my knowledge, experience, and energy in a team and customer-oriented environment. Honored with three Administrative Assistant of the Year Awards for outstanding on-the-job performance. My customer service and administrative support experience cannot convey to you how much I thrive on leveraging my organization and client relations capabilities into peak purchasing/buyer support performance. I would deeply value putting this commitment to work for a company such as Name of Company. So that we may further discuss the match between my qualifications and your needs, I will be contacting your office the week of date to schedule a time for us to meet. Thank you, in advance, for your time and attention. Respectfully,