How to Use Keywords in Your Cover Letters

How to Use Keyaber jas in Your Cover LettersHow to Use Keywords in Your Cover LettersWhen you are writing acover letterto accompany your resume as part of a job application, its important to make sure that every word counts. Your cover letter should enhance the employersviewof your qualifications,so you can move frombeinganapplicant toaninterviewee. Types of Keywords Keywords are a vital elementofa persuasive cover letter,astheyrecapable of portraying a candidate as a highly qualified applicant forajob. These words fall into three general categories skill words, results-oriented words, and words which show recognition for achievements. Keywords work in a couple of different ways. First, the keywords you include in your resume and cover letter will be used to match your application with the skills required by the employer in the job advertisement. This matching process is often performed by automatedapplicant tracking systems(ATSs), programmed to identify specific keywords and to rank all resumes accordingly before they even reach a hiring manager. If your cover letter and/or resume lack these keywords, they may be automatically cut from consideration at this stage oftheevaluation. Secondly, keywords that are incorporated into a cover letterwill show the hiring managerhow andwhy you are highly qualifiedfor the job, allowing them to rank you among your competition and, ideally, to offer one of their interview slots to you. Skill Keywords Job seekers should carefully analyze the skills required to excel in their target job and incorporate them into their cover letter. Those keywords should also beincluded in your resume. It will be mora genuine if you paraphrase the skills mentioned in job ads,as opposed to listing them verbatim. Skill words are most effective when connected to a specific role or project where the skills were crucial to success. Examples ofskillkeywordsincludewrote, analyzed, quantified, planned, programmed, designed, created, built, taugh t, and trained. For example, instead of saying Quantitative stock analysis is an asset which I would bring to your firm, you could say I utilized quantitative stock valuation techniques to create a portfolio for high net worth clients, which beat the market for three consecutive years. ExpandTheskills keywordsincluded in your cover letters (and your resume) will help your application get selected by the software employers use to select candidates for further consideration. They will also show the hiring manager, at first glance, what skills you have that are related to the jobforwhichhe or she is hiring. Results-Oriented Keywords All employers are looking for employees who will add value and generate positive results for their organizations. Thats why its critical to integrate results-oriented language into your cover letters. Think about the bottom line for each job on your resume and how you might have made things better in your role. Your cover letter should showcase your acc omplishments, not just your skills or personal qualities. Providing these details will help to set your letter unbekannt from those of other candidates who dont highlight their professional achievements. Examples of results-oriented keywords includeincreased, reduced, redesigned, upgraded, initiated, implemented, reformulated, generated, and produced. Results-oriented words are most effective when coupled with some numbers which quantify your impact, as in I reduced turnover among first-year hires by 20% by implementing a mentoring system. ExpandBy using these types of keywords, you are clearly showing what you accomplished in your previous roles. Recognition Keywords Hiring managerswill be more likely to believe that you will be an outstanding performer if it is clear that previous employers have viewed you in this way. One way to do this is to incorporate language which demonstrates that employers have recognized your contributions. Examples of recognition related keywordsincl udehonored, awarded, promoted, selected, lauded for, received a bonus for, recognized, chosen, and credited. Ideally, recognition phrases will include the type of individual who noted your achievement and the basis for your recognition. For example, you might say I was designated as the team leader for the budget reduction task force by my Division Vice President, based on my previous record of accruing cost savings. ExpandRecognition keywords attest to how you have excelled in your previous jobs and how you have accomplished more than was required. Take the Time to Make a Match When youre choosing keywords to include in your cover letter, an easy way to find the best words to use is to match your qualifications to those listed in the job listing. Highlight your strongest assets, so you can show the employer why youre well-qualified for the job and deserving of an interview.