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Resume Question

This is from a while ago, probably early next year....

I can't remember who posted the link to the words that you should put in your resume to make it stand out (aka, the hot words that HR is looking for).  Anybody remember who it was, or, does anybody have the link?

I'm applying for some things that are a little out of my field so I need to change my resume and wanted to make sure it includes some key words.

Thanks!

Re: Resume Question

  • edited December 2011
    It won't let me edit, but obviously that was supposed to say "early last year".
  • edited December 2011
    Ooh, I think I remember that. Are you talking about the "hidden" words (the list of words you'd post in white so they aren't visible, but that the computer picks up on). I thought KR posted that, or something similar. I could have totally just made that up though.
  • New_to_PGHNew_to_PGH member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Hmm...I'm not sure if someone had posted an article or cheat sheet, but most companies use different words - our HR looks for key words that they've used in their job descriptions in when screening applicants' resumes and cover letters
  • edited December 2011
    Kim, that's exactly what I was looking for!

    I couldn't remember if it was KR or Dori, but I thought it was probably one of them.
  • LaFemmeRousseLaFemmeRousse member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I did a quick google and found two... I used the second one when I helped my mom make her resume for the first time in twenty years this fall!

    http://www.enetsc.com/RESUMETIPS26.HTM

    http://www.resume-help.org/resume_action_words.htm

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  • edited December 2011
    Thanks, Jenn.  I think I want to get away from bench research so I've had to completely revamp my resume.  It's been much harder than I thought it would be to take my 4 page "science" resume and make it into a 1 page "normal" resume. 
  • LaFemmeRousseLaFemmeRousse member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Yikes, four pages!  Yeah, that would be difficult.

    If you ever want someone to look over your draft, I'm happy to do it.  Part of my job is to look over all the resumes (hundreds and hundreds!) that come in to the organization for positions I oversee, and I'm happy to help out if you want :)  Are you looking to transition into more teaching?
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  • edited December 2011
    Thanks, I'll probably take you up on that offer soon.

     No, not really teaching.  Right now, all of the biology positions that are open require you to bring funding with you.  Unfortuantely, the problem is that if you don't have funding right now, it's impossible to get funding because of the decrease in reasearch funds.

    I'm actually looking to move into either a pharmaceutical position (using my science resume), which would pay a ton better than my current position, or, into more of a liaison position, where'd I'd be translating biology literature for the non-scientific community.
  • New_to_PGHNew_to_PGH member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    S - I keep trying to convince DH that his 2 page resume is not doing him any favors. If you've got 20+ years of experience, I would forgive you for having extra pages. But I just can't wrap my head around fairly entry-level applicants with reams of pages. Our HR ropes me into applicant screening for my department, and I can tell you I absolutely tossed someone's resume simply because it was *10* pages long and they were under 30.
  • Er/jerEr/jer member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011

    SoAdmiSo

    Sorry for weird formatting, but I think this was it.


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    Administered Adapted Analyzed Approved Assembled Attained Authorized Carried Out Chaired Compiled Completed Computed Conceived Conducted Consulted Contracted Controlled Converted Coordinated Created Counseled Critiqued Delegated Debugged Developed Designed Diagnosed Directed Edited Effected Eliminated Engaged Enhanced Established Exhibited Expanded Expedited Evaluated Forecast Founded Gathered Generated Guided Illustrated Implemented Improved Increased Influenced Initiated Interpreted Interviewed Introduced Invented Investigated Launched Led Lectured Managed Marketed Maintained Monitored Motivated Negotiated Opened Operated Ordered Organized Originated Overhauled Participated Performed Persuaded Pinpointed Planned Prepared Presented Processed Produced Programmed Proposed Proved Provided Received Recommended Recorded Recruited Reduced Reinforced Reorganized Researched Resolved Revamped Reviewed Revised Revitalized Scheduled Selected Served Set Up Solved Shaped Sold Spearheaded Structured Supervised Supported Surpassed Surveyed Taught Trained Translated Updated Won

  • edited December 2011
    Yep, I think what I posted awhile back was similar to Jen's second link - works to make your resume and cover letter stronger.  I know I got it from the 9-5 Nest board...you could always ask the ladies over there if they had any more resources too. 

    GL, S!  :)
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  • edited December 2011
    New - I completely agree.  I've always hated keeping mine long, but for a bench position they want the list of all of your publications and presentations in your resume, and it takes up too much damn space.  The one page resume is much more concise.  I can write  a sentence saying list of publications available upon request, and that's it.  So much nicer! 
  • edited December 2011
    Thanks, everyone!

    I'm hoping I'll hear from someone soon.  I don't know how much more of my current job I can really deal with.
  • edited December 2011
    Thanks for reposting- I bookmarked it this time to pass on to DH.
  • LaFemmeRousseLaFemmeRousse member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Jenn, 10 pages long?  That's so ridiculous.  I agree with you that even two is pushing it if you've been working for less than ten years in the non-scientific or technical community.

    I have to say that doing all this resume screening has given me a lot of hilarious material- several people have included headshots (which is apparently popular in Europe but just really funny here), I've gotten resumes on scented paper a la Elle Woods, people have emailed html resumes with moving emoticons and smiley faces.  I've seen a couple that come with text-speak, and one cover letter that looked good until the closing paragraph was a six-sentence long tirade about smoking and how it was a sin.... totally unrelated and really bizarre, considering she had no idea whether or not I was a smoker!
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  • edited December 2011
    The text speak is ridiculous.  I screen for our techs and summer applicants.  As soon as I see someone who uses text speak, I don't even bother reading the rest of the resume. 

    My favorite resumes are from the college students who tell me their career ambitions, but don't realize that the position they want does not exist for someone with their credentials.  I hate to admit it, but I made a potential summer intern cry last year when I told them that their "dream" job didn't actually have anything to do with their nursing degree.
  • New_to_PGHNew_to_PGH member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The all-time best resume I've ever screened was for someone our HR had already scheduled an interview for - I was reviewing her resume since the interview got passed to me. Anyhow, she had an "other" section at the bottom with computer skills, etc. The last line said "Excellent oral skills". I still pull that up whenever I need a laugh!
  • LaFemmeRousseLaFemmeRousse member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Haha, S, are you secretly mean IRL?  ;)  The text speak kills it for me.  I'm in a touchy-feely industry, so I've never made anyone cry, but yeah... all that idealism-slash-nonreality from the college students...

    Jenn, LOL!
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  • edited December 2011
    Jenn-Not mean, per se (my IRL friends and my DH would say that I am a nice b!tch), but I just can't stand when people are not willing to be realistic.  I am more than willing to let them know how ridiculous they are being. :)

    New-I don't think I would have been able to keep a straight face during that interview.
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