Be Careful What You Say

You Are What You Say
by Carole Martin

The words you use to express yourself send a strong message about the person you are and what you know. Your vocabulary and how well you use it can say more about you than the message you're trying to communicate.

In the job search, the right words are essential to your success. Whether you're creating your resume or preparing interview answers, being aware of and using industry jargon is important. Industries use keywords or lingo. You will sound more knowledgeable and in-the-know if you use these words.

Wendy Enelow, who has written books to help job searchers as well as articles for Monster, has a passion for words and appreciates the power of keywords. In Best Keywords for Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews, Enelow says, “Keywords are used to explain what is required by the employer. They are the buzzwords -- the hot words associated with a specific industry, profession or job function.”

Enelow gives four good reasons why you should use keywords:
1. To get noticed -- with electronic resumes, they're critical.
2. To demonstrate your knowledge of the industry and profession.
3. To talk the talk; be able to use the words with your interviewer.
4. To make interviewers' jobs easier. They can extrapolate information from the words you use.

“Most searchers don't know the keywords, how to use them or where to find them,” says Enelow.

Which Words Are Key?

Each industry uses common words to describe what's required for a job. Descriptions are a list of qualities and skills employers are looking for in a candidate -- the wish list. By using this information and keywords, you can reveal yourself as the ideal candidate.

Lingo differs from industry to industry. In the sales industry, words such as “territories” and “quotas” are used. In healthcare, the words are medically directed: diagnostic tests, therapeutic procedures, patient management plans, etc. Use the industry's lingo in your cover letters, resumes and interviews.

Where Are These Words?

A good place to start is with job postings. Print out and review multiple job postings for a specific position, and you will begin to see the keywords repeated over and over.

The Occupational Information Network -- O*NET OnLine -- is a complete list of occupation keywords along with related positions. This site also lists skills requirements and could give you a feel for a field's specific lingo.

Don't Be a Showoff

Researching words will pay off when you begin to write your resume or prepare your interview script. Of course, don't use a word solely to impress your interviewer. Fitting keywords in at appropriate times in the conversation is what will help your cause. Knowing the definition behind words is what will convince the interviewer that you know what you're talking about.

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Work with words wisely, while whispering, wailing, whimpering, or watching wonderful women wonder and wander wilfully with wistful writings :)

Fran Watson
www.franwatson.ca