Thanks to the active online job market, employers are flooded with hundreds (if not thousands) of resumes every time they post an open position. To manage the incredible influx of candidates, many large companies employ resume tracking software, which automatically searches resumes for important buzzwords. Later, hiring managers use this data to identify qualified candidates.

As a result, it can be particularly important to use powerful and meaningful keywords when writing your resume and cover letter. How should you determine which words will be most effective? The first place to look is at the language used in the job descriptions you are considering. What types of words do they use to describe the ideal candidate? What skills are they seeking? For example, if a job requests a "detail-oriented team player for a fast-paced sales environment," you might describe yourself using words like organized, detailed, cooperative, or efficient.

In addition to their usefulness in the resume scanning process, you can use keywords to strengthen your resume and highlight your most important accomplishments. For example, when you are outlining a leadership role at your job, use diverse and powerful words like manage, lead, inspire, guide, or oversee. Or, when you are describing a situation in which you demonstrated initiative, think about words like established, created, introduced, or launched. Strong, accurate, action-oriented words will make a resume stronger, no matter who (or what) reads it.

Where should you use keywords? Throughout your resume: in the career summary at the beginning, if you include one; in the descriptions of your former positions; in your list of skills and qualifications; and of course, don’t forget to use keywords in your cover letter. Remember, computer skills can also be picked up by resume scanning software, so admin and office personnel should list any relevant technology, like Outlook or Powerpoint.