The Best Resume Words Are Lurking in Job Descriptions

 

Get a better understanding of what exactly an employer is looking for, and use those insights to put some extra shine on your job application.

If you've been searching Monster job postings for a golden career opportunity, you don't have to look too far for a helping hand. Job descriptions themselves offer valuable guidance on which resume words to use to best position yourself as a strong, competitive candidate.

Job descriptions can vary from company to company—even if you're searching for one particular job title—so you have to know how to interpret the information in front of you. Primary tip: Note the keywords used and be sure to use the same words in your application materials.

Why? Because many recruiters and HR professionals use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to pre-screen resumes for applicable words related to the job's requirements. They do this to narrow down the number of applicants, which can grow to be in the thousands depending on the popularity of the open position. A recruiter doesn't have time to look through all those resumes one at a time, so they rely on ATS to pull the most relevant for (human) review. By using the same words in your resume that you see prominently displayed in a job description, you're increasing the odds that you'll pass the screening test and move on to the next round.

Obviously, this entails that you customize your resume words to each position you plan on applying to. This is key. You can't use one resume for each job because the keywords will differ from job to job according to what you uncover in each job description.

For more, we broke down the parts of the job description that are most likely to contain the best words to use on a resume so that it leads to a signed offer letter.

Resume Words: Where to Find Them in Job Descriptions

1. The Company Description

How this can inform which resume words you use: The description of the company helps you learn more about the company culture and how well it syncs with your personality.

A company describes itself as it wants to be seen, and from that, you can get clues as to what the company values, what you should research, and what kinds of questions you should ask in an interview.

For example, if a company describes itself as "a rapidly growing athletic brand for busy young professionals," you can infer that the company sees itself as energetic, youthful, and poised for success. If that matches your personality, then describe yourself similarly in your cover letter.

On your resume, you could incorporate the phrases "rapidly growing" and/or "busy young professionals" to establish that alignment.

Then, once you score an interview, investigate the financial health of the sporting goods industry, design trends, the current generation's buying habits, and competitors. In general, it's smart to research the following

• the industry
• the particular position
• the company's customer base
• challenges
• interests
• goals

Use what you learn to write up some interview questions that demonstrate you've done your homework. This research also helps you understand the business better from the perspective of the company.

2. The First Few Bullet Points

How this can inform which resume words you use: They usually map out the bulk of your duties.

Hiring managers frequently front-load job descriptions with the most crucial responsibilities of the job. As you get further down the list, the bullets more than likely represent a smaller percentage of the job duties and requirements.

To stand out to potential employers, make sure your resume elaborates on your skills that mirror the duties mentioned in the top bullet points; you can simply list your skills that align with the job description's lower-level bullet points.

For example, if a job description's top bullet requires "advanced knowledge of medical terminology" or "the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders and the public," those exact phrases should appear in either your career summary or work history.

3. Required Experience/Skills

How this can inform which resume words you use: They tell you what to highlight on your resume and cover letter.

As with required duties, job descriptions will list the most valuable skills and experiences at the top of the list. Your resume and cover letter should follow suit. Why? Because most employers will try to hire the person who will need the least amount of training.

It's smart to use your accomplishments to address each of the required skills and/or work experiences and to put this information on your resume first. For each major accomplishment, create bullet points that describe:

• the challenge presented to you
• the actions you took
• the results of your strategic efforts

For example, if the job description says you need "extensive experience in staffing," you might use that exact phrase and mention that you researched and implemented the launch of a new applicant tracking system that helped accelerate hiring times by 25%.

Interview follow up email or letter

 

How to write the perfect interview follow-up email that will keep you front of mind for the hiring manager.

How to say thank you for the interview (with examples)

So you’ve just come out of an interview, you’re pretty sure you nailed it, and now you’re planning what to wear for your first day at your new job. But before you get carried away, there’s something you need to do to keep yourself at the front of the hiring manager’s mind: the thank you email.

We show you how to write the ultimate ‘thank you for the interview’ email, explaining why it’s important and how it can help you secure the job.

Why write a thank you email after an interview?

When you write a follow-up email after your interview, you give yourself another opportunity to influence the hiring manager’s decision. No matter how well the interview went, people are busy and can forget key things. A thank-you email puts you back in their minds and can swing things in your favor.

A thank-you email also offers a personal touch. It shows that you care, and could set you apart from other candidates who haven’t bothered.

Be sure to send your thank-you email no more than 24 hours after your interview. It’s a little thing that can make a big difference.

What to include in a thank-you-for-the-interview email

What you say, and how you say it, can make all the difference in your interview follow-up email. Here are a few key sections worth including:

• Subject line

• Personalized introduction

• Appreciation

• Experience recap

• The next step

An engaging subject line

The subject line is the thing people will see first in their email inbox. You should use this to convey the meaning of your message, so something simple like, “Thank you for your time today,” or, “It was lovely to meet earlier,’ can do the job in a quick, succinct way.

There are a few ways you can get people to click on your subject line.

• Make it personal
. Using someone’s name in a subject line makes them pay attention.

• Use verbs
. Saying something like, “Read more about why I’m right for this role” gives the reader an action to take.

• Keep it short. 
A subject line should be a quick, catchy call to action. Don’t overcomplicate it.

A personalized introduction

Don’t go straight into the meat of your email. Start with a quick hello, keeping it as friendly or formal as the interview was. If they used their first name, you should use it too. If they wore a suit and insisted you call them Sir or Miss, that’s the route to follow.

The same goes for the salutation you choose. ‘Hello’ might work for most people, but others will prefer a ‘Dear’.

A little appreciation

Now for a tiny bit of sucking up. Only a touch, we promise. Start your emailing by expressing how grateful you are for the interviewer’s time. Be sure to include the job title so they can put two and two together. Something like, “Thanks for your time earlier. It was great to discuss the position of <job title> with you face to face and get the chance to explain why I think I’m right for the job,” would be perfect.

Remind them of your experience

Recap what makes you so good for the job. This could just be a few lines that go over what you discussed in the interview, or even link to some examples of work that would back your experience up.

Try something like: “As mentioned, I believe my experience in running multiple financial projects would make me a great fit for the role. Having led teams of accountants in the past and overseen highly successful auditing procedures, I am confident I have what it takes to succeed in this position and am looking forward to helping your business continue to grow.”

A nudge to take the next step

Time to wrap things up. Let the hiring manager know that you’re open to further communication and that you’re ready to start work. If you have a notice period to work though at your current job, it could be worth mentioning that too as the quicker they hire you, the quicker you’ll be ready to rock.

Go for something like, “Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. I’m excited about what we can do together and look forward to hearing back from you.”

Don’t forget to include your contact information such as your email address and phone number.

21 best ways to make extra money from home

 

Earn extra money from home the easy way with our top 21 tips, from selling on eBay through to getting paid to watch TV.

We’d all like to earn a little extra money, and if you can earn that extra money from home it’s even better. With the rise of sites like Fiverr, eBay and Etsy, turning your downtime into dollars has never been easier.

One in three Americans earn money on the side

Side hustles are big business in the US. Around 34% of Americans are already earning extra money from home, and that number is only expected to rise. According to research, a further 61.1 million workers plan to start a side hustle by the end of the year, and there’s nothing stopping you from being one of them.

Reasons for having a side job:

• 46% need to earn more money
• 38% say they do it mainly for enjoyment
• 16% are testing out a new business idea.

It goes to show that making money at home doesn’t have to be hard work; it can also be fun work, imaginative work, and work that sets you up for a future of business success.

Take a look at our 21 top tips to earn money from home. These aren’t get-rich-quick schemes, and we can’t guarantee you’ll make millions. But they could help you top up your wages and maybe, one day, help turn your side hustle into a full-time business.

The best ways to make money from home

Making extra money from home can be as easy as clearing out your loft, or as fulfilling as setting up your own side business. We look at the different ways that have been proven to work, and offer our tips on how you can make the most of them.

Earn extra money by clearing out your home

1. eBay
eBay is a great site for turning your trash into someone else’s treasure. Whether that’s something small like old clothes or clutter, or something potentially lucrative like a piece of furniture or some collectibles, eBay could quickly help you make money out of things that you no longer need.

2. Facebook Marketplace
If you want to sell things locally, Facebook Marketplace is the option for you. There are no fees for selling here, so you get to keep all of the profit you make.

3. Trade-in sites
There are lots of product-specific sites where you can earn money by trading in your old items. Things like CDs, old phones, old clothes and even old books have a market value online. Just do a search to find the best fit for you.

4. Cash in on accessories
Things like old iPhones, cables, remote controls and power packs can all be worth money to the right person. If they’re in good condition and in full working order, someone will want them. Sites like Gumtree are a good place to start.

5. Turn a profit
If you’ve got an eye for a bargain, there are plenty to be found at yard sales. It’s always worth checking the market value on sites like eBay before you buy; if you’re savvy, you could turn that bargain into big bucks.

6. Give old clothes a new home
Don’t wear it anymore? Someone else might. Register on sites like Vinted or Depop and list your old clothes. So long as they’re not damaged, they could be looking great on someone else in no time.

Earn money by renting out your space

7. Airbnb
If you’ve got a spare room, it could be an easy way to make money from home. It’s simple to list a space on Airbnb, and so long as you keep it tidy, safe, and don’t mind having a lodger around occasionally, you could soon start to see cash come in.

8. Offer storage
Sites like Storenextdoor let you list storage space for people to use. An empty garage, free loft or unoccupied shed could be a quick way to help you make money and help someone else clear out their clutter.

9. Rent out parking
Parking can be a nightmare, but it can also be a dream way to earn some extra cash. Rent out your extra parking space and make money while making someone’s life easier.

10. Rent out your home as a film set
Hollywood, baby! Film producers need places to film, and your home could be one of them. List it on a site like Lavish Locations and you could earn thousands of dollars a day. Don’t expect instant returns though; there are more properties available than films.

11. Share your ride
Not only is carpooling a great way to cut down on your carbon footprint, it can also be a quick way to earn extra cash. Register your car on a ride-sharing site and earn while you’re on the road.

Earn money for your opinion

12. Paid surveys
Businesses will pay you to say what you think of them. Your opinion could help make their website better, their product more usable, or even their customer service friendlier.

13. Watch TV
OK, we know this one sounds too good to be true. But trust us, some companies will pay you to watch TV shows and share your views on them. Get the popcorn ready.

14. Go shopping
Mystery shopping is a multi-billion dollar industry, so get yourself a slice of that pie. Companies will pay you to browse the aisles and engage with the staff. Just don’t spend all your earnings while you’re there.

15. Play games
Games developers need to know if their games are any good; get paid for testing them.

Earn money by being creative

16. Sell T-shirts
Teespring is a site that lets you put your own designs on T-shirts, mugs, hats and all kinds of other things. You create the design and set the price: they do all the legwork, you reap the rewards.

17. Freelance
If you’ve got a skill that people need, you don’t have to limit it to 9-5. Many companies will allow you to freelance on the side (so long as you don’t work for rival firms) and you could earn hundreds of dollars a day on top of your monthly wages.

18. Solve global issues
Sounds like a big challenge, doesn’t it? But it could pay out big rewards. Sites like InnoCentive offer cash rewards for innovative solutions to world issues, meaning you could make good money while making a huge difference.

19. Etsy
Etsy is a creative marketplace, offering a great way to earn money from home by selling crafts, art, fashion, jewelry and more.

20. Fiverr
If you’ve got a creative skill, Fiverr is full of people looking to pay you for it. Just sign up and fill in your details, and you’ll soon be set to start earning.

21. Gig jobs
If you’re handy with a tool, or generally just good at helping out, there's a gig job waiting for you. You could be putting up some shelves one day, and helping someone move the next. Whatever you’re good at, you could get paid for it.

3 ways work has changed — and what that means for jobs of the future

 

Thousands of workers and hiring managers shared their thoughts on jobs right now. What they had to say will shape the future of work.

Ever wish you could read a hiring manager’s mind? Or better yet, take a glimpse into the brains of all sorts of other workers, get a sense of what people expect from this new age of Zoom interviews and unfilled jobs and whatever a “TikTok resume” is?

Well, CareerBuilder can’t give you supernatural powers. But together with our partners at The Harris Poll, we’ve come close. We asked thousands of hiring managers and workers how they’re tackling this wild new world of work, from wages and benefits to hiring practices and the gig economy. It’s as close to an employment crystal ball as you can get — and the insights it contains will shape the way we work for the foreseeable future.

Don’t miss out on the fascinating full breakdown of this data. In the meantime, here are some highlights:

Skills-based hiring is the future

This is going to sound hard to believe, but just about everyone actually agrees on something: 1) your skills matter more than the job titles you’ve held in the past, and 2) since skills are so important, we need more opportunities for learning them. Just look at these numbers:

• 31% of hiring managers say skills-based hiring is their top priority this year.

• 85% will focus less on candidates’ prior titles and more on their skills and experience.
• Just two years ago, only 62% of hiring managers had ever hired someone who didn’t have all the skills required by the job, planning to provide training. But fast-forward to today, and...
• A whopping 88% of hiring managers hire candidates who demonstrate strong “soft skills,” then train them on job-specific abilities.
• 91% of workers say it is important to learn new skills that could advance their career.

So, what’s this mean?

COVID-19 rocked industries and fractured neat, linear career tracks into zigzags, with people using their transferable skills to switch jobs or even fields. (Here’s how to do so yourself.) Where you used to work doesn’t matter as much as what you can do. So don’t hold back on the skills section of your resume, and don’t be afraid to apply to jobs that you might need a little training to do.

Hiring managers want competent professionals who are ready to level up, and workers want opportunities for professional development. Read the full breakdown to dig deeper into the era of skills-based hiring.

Oh, and speaking of what workers want…

Workers have the power

It goes without saying that the pandemic pushed employees into precarity. Frontline workers risked exposure to the virus and millions across industries lost their jobs. But now, workers have something that’s been in short supply: leverage.

As companies claw their way back toward pre-pandemic levels of production and profit, they need workers — the same workers who faced agitated customers, a potentially deadly virus and ultimately unemployment as we all learned the terrible phrase “COVID-19.” They’re not going to go through all that again without better incentives. Put another way: labor makes that paper, and if companies want to succeed, they’re going to have to pony up with higher wages and enhanced benefits.

Over a third of current workers expect more than a 5% salary increase each year; nearly twice as many look for this when switching jobs. And when they do switch jobs, there are five things they want to see:

1. Ability to work remotely.
2. Flex time.
3. A short commute.
4. Paid leave, especially for parents and caretakers.
5. In-house training.

A lot of those workers might just get what they are hoping for: 80% of hiring managers believe there will be higher employee turnover in the future if they do not accommodate employees’ personal lives. That’s leading to some major changes:

• 62% of hiring managers plan to increase initial job offers for new employees in 2021 compared to 2020.

• Among hiring managers who have minimum wage workers, 56% plan to pay them $15 or more per hour, with the largest companies (5,001+ employees) the most likely to report this (68%).
• 51% anticipate their organization will raise their minimum wage in 2021.

If you’ve been thinking about jumping into a new line of work, now’s the time. Bids for labor are going up and up. Don’t miss your shot at reaping the benefits.

Want more insight into these dramatic shifts? Read the full breakdown.

Side hustles are here to stay

News of higher wages couldn’t come sooner for low-wage workers. An eye-popping 39% of workers rely on gig work and side jobs just to make ends meet. Those most likely to find themselves in this situation:

• Have a household income below $50K (49%).
• Work in a blue-collar role (50%).
• Work in the construction and extraction industry (57%).

The numbers are even starker for the 19% of workers with more than one job; 69% of them say they need gig work to get by.

Learn more about the rise of gig work and the challenges facing low-wage workers in our full breakdown of the data.

There is so much more to learn

All this is just an appetizer. If you want the full feast of the latest information about employment — from how workers expect companies to increase diversity to how hiring managers are trying to help remote workers disconnect at the end of the day — read our full breakdown of the data.

7 Things You Need to Stop Saying During Job Interviews, According to a Career Expert

 On the list of “things we dread,” job interviews are right between scrubbing bathtub grout and going to the dentist. Whether we’re applying for our dream role or the job that’s going to pay the bills right now, it can be easy to psych ourselves out and fumble through the interview. What if we ask a well-intentioned question the wrong way? What if we make a bad impression? What if we have spinach in our teeth? 

So we called on Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster, to talk us through what not to do. Here are the seven things we need to stop saying during job interviews and what to say instead.

1. Don’t say: “I don’t have any questions.”

Even if you’re applying for a company you’re familiar with—you buy all their products, you get their newsletters, etc.—you should be prepared with a few queries on deck, so the interviewer knows you’re as engaged as you say you are. “Saying ‘I don’t have any questions’ demonstrates to the interviewer that either you don’t really care about the job, you’re lazy or most importantly, you did not prepare,” Salemi explains.

 What to do instead: Conduct research prior to the interview

You don’t have to go all Sherlock Holmes and come in with the company’s full business records. You do, however, have to be prepared with enough knowledge about the brand to demonstrate interest.

“Look at the social media feeds of the companies you’re interviewing with,” advises Salemi. “Do a quick Google search, look at the newsroom on their website and create at least two to three questions about the role, the company or something that you read. The whole point of asking questions for you as the job seeker is to get more information, because you’re evaluating them as much as they’re evaluating you.”

2. Don’t say: “My last boss was toxic.”

You may not be entirely happy with your current or former employer, but saying anything negative about them to your potential boss sends red flags about your level of professionalism. “It just shows bad form,” says Salemi. “The employer that’s interviewing you may start to wonder if you’ll eventually bad mouth them or their company.”

What to do instead: Remain factual and don’t call anyone out

Salemi states, “If you’re asked a behavioral question like, ‘Name a situation when you dealt with a difficult [person],’ focus more on how you’re selling yourself and how you rose to the occasion. You don’t have to say that it was your boss. If you’re asked why you want to leave the company, don’t reveal it’s because you have a toxic boss. You can just say, ‘I’ve learned everything there is to learn in this role, I’m growth orientated and that’s why I’m interested in your opportunity.’” In other words, pivot without pointing the finger.

 3. Don’t say: “How did I do?”

Look, most of us will never leave an interview feeling like we completely aced it. However, asking for instant feedback may indicate a lack of confidence. “The person interviewing you—who may be your potential boss—may assume you’re always going to look for instant feedback on the job,” says Salemi. Translation: No one wants to hire someone they think is going to need constant handholding.

What to say instead: “What are the next steps?”

Essentially, what you’re looking to hear when you ask, “How did I do?” is whether or not they see you as a viable candidate. Instead of positioning yourself as needy, the better thing to do is ask for next steps, so you can adjust your expectations accordingly. “Leave it open-ended and assume you did well,” urges Salemi. “It’s common to leave an interview wondering how you did, but always stay in the moment. Focus on the next step rather than something that you may have missed.”

Oh, and it’s okay to ask for feedback after you’ve been rejected. Sometimes it’s not necessarily about your qualifications, but other circumstances (the company may have decided to hire from within, for example, or the position may have been put on hold). In that case, you can ask the interviewer to keep in touch and consider you for similar positions in the future.

4. Don’t say: “This is a great stepping stone for my next job.”

New grads, listen up. It’s great to be career orientated and most entry-level jobs will help you get your foot in the door of whatever field you’d like to pursue. But a potential employer will be wary about hiring someone who has their sights set elsewhere. They need to know you’re going to perform at the highest level for their company.

“You want to convince the employer that this is a role you’re looking to build longevity with,” explained Salemi. “You don’t want to say, ‘I’m only going to stay here for a year because I want this on my resume.’”

What to say instead: “What’s the growth opportunity within this role?”

Employers want to know that they can depend on you to give your all to the company, so it’s important to leave that impression. Stay focused on the role at hand and ask instead about opportunities for promotions as well as the skills and experiences necessary to succeed in the role.

 5. Don’t say: “How much time will I have off?”

This one is all about timing and how you frame the question. In the wake of the pandemic, a lot of employers are trying to figure out the optimum balance between working from home and going into the office. There is also a bigger focus on mental health. So, it’s not that you can’t ask about PTO, but be strategic about it. “If you ask the person who is going to be your boss [about PTO] in your first interaction, it may come across that you’re not serious about working,” Salemi explains.

What to say instead: “Do you have a benefits sheet?”

The topic of PTO will likely come up as the hiring process unfolds. However, if you happen to be working with a recruiter, it’s okay to ask them for the company’s benefits sheet. It’ll also inform you about health insurance, flexible WFH arrangements and other perks the company might offer.

 6. Don’t say: “How much does this job pay?”

Of course, you want to make sure that you’re getting paid your worth, but just like PTO, asking about salary is all about tact. “People want to be cognizant of each other’s time. So, an employer doesn’t want to go to the end of the interview process only to be told the salary is too low from the job seeker’s perspective.”

What to say instead: “My salary range is X. What is the range for this position?”

Again, it’s important to bring up the salary conversation sooner than later, but instead of giving a hard number, give the potential employer a range. “When you have that initial salary conversation, keep it high level, keep it broad and try to get the employer to say an amount first,” advises Salemi. “An employer wants to make sure you’re not going over theirs because they don’t want to spend the time on one candidate when you’re both not on the same page.”

7. Don’t say: “What role is this for? What does this company do?”

It may seem like an obvious faux pas to avoid, but sometimes a big company contacts you and asks for an interview at the last minute. The first inclination is to, of course, say yes. But unless you’re already at home and are in the right head space for an interview, it’s best to hold off until a more convenient time.

What to say instead: “I’d love to speak with you, but I’m in the middle of something right now. Can we schedule time to speak about the role?”

“You always want to be prepared—whether it’s that first interview or it’s the last—and that includes your mental [state]. You don’t want to be caught off guard,” stated Salemi.

There may also be instances where you’ve applied to different positions within one company and if you’re not sure which one they’re reaching out to you for, ask in a way that doesn’t make you seem clueless. Something like, “I’m really interested in your company, and if I recall correctly, I applied for a job more than once. Which job title is this for?”

Salemi suggests creating a Word document with the job descriptions for the roles you have applied for. That way, if the employer removes the posting off their website prior to your interview, you’ll still have access to it. Having a running document is also helpful because you can rearrange your resume according to what a potential employer is looking for. Hiring managers typically list their desired skills and experiences in order of what’s most important to them. This way, even if they don’t reach out until months later, you’ll have that initial job description handy and still feel prepared.