Behind the Scenes

Maybe you've heard that you can make your resume rise to the top of the electronic pile by cleverly placing keywords throughout its text before sending it in. As Sarah Needleman writes in this oldie-but-goodie from CareerJournal, it's a bad idea:

But because of recent advances in resume-search technology, some of the sneakier tactics applicants have developed no longer work. What's more, the new technology can reveal the use of these methods, potentially sabotaging a candidate's chances of securing interview invites.

Even if you're not being sneaky, putting too much emphasis on searchable keywords can work against you:

Resumes with an overabundance of keywords are a turnoff for Jolie Downs, a partner at recruiting firm Paradigm Staffing of Santa Cruz, Calif. She recently received a resume via email from someone seeking a senior account executive position at a public-relations agency. A string of keywords was listed in plain view at the bottom. "It's unprofessional," she says. "I didn't call them."

This is an article that's pretty on the back-end - meaning there's a lot about how hiring managers think and how their software works - but those aren't bad things to know when you're crafting a resume for a job you really want.

Why Sneaky Resume Tactics May No Longer Aid Job Hunters [CareerJournal]