Undoubtedly, there is now much more competition for each job. The recession has been exceptionally hard on certain professions, especially civil engineering. The number of new jobs has been low compared to the number of job seekers. In this environment, you need an edge to set yourself apart. One of the best strategies is to use industry-specific keywords or buzzwords in both your cover letter and resume.
After taking care of the basics, grammar, and spelling, the next step is to write or modify your cover letter and resume specifically for the job position. This is achieved by embellishing the content with keywords and keyword phrases. Filling documents with buzzwords is just as important as action verbs. Keywords and keyword phrases are typically nouns that are job, profession, and/or industry specific. Buzzwords can be related to skills, technology terms and descriptions of technical expertise (including the hardware and software you master), job titles, certifications, product and service names, and industry buzzwords and jargon. They may also include types of degrees and names of universities and company names. The awards you have won and the names of the professional organizations you belong to can even be used as keywords.
A list of keywords and keyword phrases can be created using various techniques. Some of the most common techniques are:
- technical boomerang – Bounce the keywords and phrases used in the job posting to the employer. Too many resumes are written for the general public and not specific to the job. This doesn’t mean you have to rewrite your resume every time, but rather that you need to tweak it by adding specific terms and phrases. Read the job offer carefully and you will find the verbs and nouns you are looking for. Most job postings are filled with industry and position specific buzzwords. Take your cues directly from the source and include those very words on your resume.
- Industry Specific Terms – The engineering profession has its own unique terms that few outside of the field would know or understand. Even within the various fields of engineering there are specific terms. One of those terms is Building Information Modeling (BIM), which is a building design and documentation methodology that creates a reliable, coordinated, and consistent digital representation of a building for design decision-making, building documentation production, and construction, performance testing, and the actual construction process. Computer-aided design or CAD software, another industry keyword, is critical to maintaining the BIM model. Another term is low impact development or LID, also specific to engineering, but also specific to some fields of engineering. The same goes for LEED certification, which is important in renewable and green or eco-friendly design. To find more keywords, research industry trends and visit professional association websites to discover current buzzwords, especially those used by hiring company or industry leaders.
- Your own – Again, you can list your own keywords that may or may not appear in company literature or industry sources. One of those phrases can be Project Management. Project management means that you have the knowledge, skills and experience to manage all aspects of a project.
There are two main areas to use these keywords; written and oral.
- Written – This includes your cover letter, resume, thank you letter, career profiles, and other job search communications. The keywords used here are specifically tailored to the job by letting the employer know that you are the “right” candidate for the job.
- Oral – This is mainly done at the job interview, but also includes any other oral communication you may have with the prospective employer. The goal is to reinforce the employer’s perspective that you are the right person for the job.
The key strategy that could win you that next job is keywords and phrases in your cover letter and resume. Review the keywords used by the job posting and industry, and then repeat them back to the reviewer.