Resume buzz words?

[charis.]

I wanted to add some buzz words to my resume and cover letter, any advice on which ones to use?

[Bayat]

Depends on what the employer is looking for. Have a master list of what skills you learned. When studying the ads, highlight what words denote skills wanted. Then match up what he/she wants with what you have and, if possible, add the employer's words to your "Skill Highlights" section in the resume if it's your top skill, or in your accomplishment bullet points in the "Professional Experience" section if it's a minor skill but you have done it.

[charis.]

Thanks!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Active Verbs

[Bayat]

Here's an exercise I found by googling "Broome Community College Job Search Guide" and go to page 27 to 33 to help with focus on skills, the checklist on the those pages should be very useful. The best way to use this checklist is:

1. (Column 1) Check all skills which you have used.

2. (Column 2) Determine which skills are used more than others.

3. (Column 3) Pick ten skills with which you are most comfortable.

4. (Column 4) Narrow down to four or five skills that you feel really describe what you have to offer an employer.

Set up a functional résumé, or a hybird résumé I've been showing here, using the seven to ten skills that best represent you and your goals. Remember that each skill used must have a corresponding documentation of how this skill was demonstrated in a work or volunteer situation.

In addition, two excellent things can happen once you complete this exercise:

1. If you are constructing a traditional résumé, you can select several of your final choices and include them under a heading named "Skills Summary," or something similar.

2. During the employment interview, you can be assured of being asked a question like, "what are your greatest strengths?" or "tell me about yourself," or "why should I hire you?" Well having completed this exercise, you now have plenty of positive things to say about yourself!

[StarryEyed, RN]

What i would do is carefully read each hospital's mission statement and values and use their own "buzz words" in my cover letter to them.