Cliche as it sounds, keywords are key to your online resume. But when you consider the entire recruiting spectrum, "keyword" has two different meanings depending on its audience.
When composing your online resume, you may think of such keywords as hard worker, punctual, works well with others, etc. This is a mistake, and I'll tell you why: they're not always keywords an employer is looking for; that is physically looking, not "hopes to find" in a potential candidate.
A high majority of job boards provide their clients (employers) what's called, in basic terms, a Resume Database, which is where registered job seekers' resumes are stored. These databases allow employers to search for candidates. They can search resume by category (health care, skilled trades, retail; a.k.a. your field of expertise), zip code and a zip code radius, state, education level, and so on. Similar to how job seekers can search for jobs. One of the goals of your online resume should be to show up on these candidate searches.
If you register for a job board and post your resume, make sure you fill out all the fields not just the required ones. These fields are options for employers to search and if you leave them blank you're hurting the chances you'll show on candidate search results. Recruiters will also combine the selecting of such fields with their keyword search for results more accurate to their opening.
With unemployment so high - yes, I know it recently dropped nationally, but it's still 9.4% - you have more competition out there. This means there will be more resumes in a Resume Database on a job board. While you still want to keep the traditional formatting and information of your resume, there is nothing wrong with adding a section for keywords and enter about 20 you possess.
Here's an example for graphic designer may hold:
Keywords:
Experienced, Adobe Creative Suite 2, Photoshop, InDesign, QuarkXpress, Illustrator, Design, Research, Development, Bachelor's, Fine Arts, Degree, College, Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, PC, Mac.
An administrative assistant may hold:
Keywords:
Experienced, Diploma, Microsoft Office, PC, FilemakerPro, QuickBooks, 120 WPM (words per minute), Certified, Medical Transcritpion.
Adding a keyword section to your resume will not only help you show in candidate search results online, it can reinforce your qualifications and provide an area to quickly list other qualifications you may possess but were worried about your resume being "too large".
