KEYWORDS & QUALIFICATIONS

PURPOSE OF KEYWORDS

The “qualifications” or “skills” section of your résumé gives you an opportunity to directly show employers what you are capable of doing for them. In order to get noticed, you need to focus on specific points that show how you meet the requirements of the job posting. This means that you should be editing your résumé and making small changes for each new applied position.

Another key reason KEYWORDS are important is because they help your résumé return a “keyword match” when being scanned by an ATS, or applicant tracking systems. This is software that employers use to track application documents, filtering out those that do not meet the posted requirements. Your resume will not make it through this filtering process and into the hands of a hiring manager if you don’t carefully go through the JOB POSTING and include the KEYWORDS from the requirements and from your specific industry.

The best places to find key words are:

  • the job posting itself and listed position requirements
  • the company’s website, mission statement, or employment/careers section
  • (key words of your field and industry)
  • sample qualifications on the next pages

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE QUALIFICATIONS SECTION

Your qualifications section should be on the first page of your résumé, near the top. In a basic résumé, this will be a separate, bulleted section. If you have extensive experience in your industry, you might weave in your qualifications in the form of a career summary in the very first section of your résumé. Here are some recommendations ofthetypes of qualifications you could include:

  • Administrative skills: the necessary and valuable office skills you have that go beyond the basic tasks of running the office copier, filing, etc.
  • Keywords of your field: specific terms considered the “buzz” words of the industry, or practical applications of health care, criminal justice, management, I.T, etc.
  • Computer proficiencies and experience:your computer literacy and efficiency in using necessary computer programs such as Microsoft Office, scheduling software, Outlook, and other specific computer programs used in your field.
  • Transferable skills: key skills that show that you can adapt to any specific job, even if you do not have direct experience in that field. Transferable skills often highlight your abilities in the following areas: communication, research, analysis, organization, planning, leadership, decision-making, innovation, and prioritization.
  • Certifications, special training:particular certifications, special adapted skills, unique abilities. Keep in mind another area you might place these would be in the “education” section or in other end sections of your résumé such as “Professional Affiliations” or “Community Activities.”

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PERSONALIZING YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

It is important todevelop your contentin a way that accurately describes your personal strengths, areas of expertise, and targeted field. Use a neat, bulleted approach for easy legibility and visual appeal. Try to avoid general tasks (running office equipment, filing, faxing) or bland adjectives like “very, excellent, great” which tend to minimize the impact of your skills.

The following qualifications have been developed as examples for specific fields. They are not meant to be cut and pasted in full within your résumé. Use them either as a reference or a starting point in developing your own that will accurately reflect your personal abilities. Also, remember to show these specific abilities by effectively describing your accomplishments in each past position on your résumé (or in a separate accomplishments section).

EXAMPLE: how to “personalize” a sample qualification

Consider the skill “ability to service and support diverse groups of people.” If you believe that you have this skill and have demonstrated it in your past work or volunteer experience, add a definitive element, showing how you’ve demonstrated it. In this way, you are making the sample your own. Consider adding an “earned through” or “gained through” to the bullet, expanding upon your experience.

Starting sample:Ability to service and support diverse groups of people

Personalized sample: Ability to effectively work with individuals with special needs as demonstrated in nursing home experience, caring for patients suffering from dementia.

Starting sample:Excellent communication skills

Personalized sample:Developed communication skills through extensive customer service experience.

On the next few pages you will find qualification samples listed alphabetically by field. Take note of the specific keywords of each field woven throughout these samples. Use them for your own reference and think about how you can personalize them to fit your experience.

SAMPLE QUALIFICATIONS BY FIELD

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE

  • Knowledge of GAAP and the accounting process, including A/P, A/R, and GL, with a solid understanding of how to apply in the Sarbanes-Oxley era
  • Skilled at reviewing financial statements to enhance managerial decision making
  • Experience in tracking and analyzing expenses via Excel, resulting in more accurate recordkeeping and less wasted supply
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Familiarity with computing systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Skill in compiling/ coding/ categorizing/ calculating/ tabulating/ auditing/ verifying information or data
  • Practice in observing and obtaining information from all relevant sources to make informed financial decisions
  • Experience in determining whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Skill in development of specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish company objectives
  • Strong analytical skills in determining underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down data into separate parts
  • Ability to analyze information and evaluate results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

ADMINISTRATIVE HEALTHCARE

  • Experience with appointment scheduling and patient accounts through Medisoft (list any programs of experience)
  • Familiar with all HIPAA laws and practices regarding patient privacy
  • Experience in working with sensitive and confidential documents
  • Ability to work effectively within a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities
  • Extensive knowledge of organizational and administrative skills
  • Advanced organizational abilities: filing, charting, documenting, and other medical office requirements
  • Efficient collaboration practices for ongoing office team development and improvement

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

  • Experience implementing strategies in problem-solving, team-building, coaching and organizational development
  • Knowledge of how to leverage technology for local and global business/economies
  • Ability to conduct professional research and apply to organization to obtain growth

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

  • Strong skills in initial situation assessment and crisis intervention
  • Masteredinterpersonal skills used to create resolutions in tactful and sensitive situations
  • Strong research, analytical, quantitative and investigative skills
  • Familiarity with police department and governmental protocol, policy, and operational guidelines
  • Ability to thrive working both independently and within a diverse team to accomplish goals
  • Ability to handle crises and emergency situations efficiently and effectively
  • Powers of observation, strong memory and attention to detail
  • High degree of physical fitness and ability to perform in situations of high pressure
  • Understanding and respect for the values and workings of the legal system
  • Educational background in humanities and social science

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

  • Skill in examining existing equipment and identifying issues while making amendments to outdated materials
  • Knowledge of how to conduct inspections for quality control
  • Experience in reporting findings and recommendations
  • Skill in analyzing and interpreting inspection findings to resolve design problems
  • Knowledge of how to build, calibrate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair electrical equipment
  • Experience evaluating operational systems, recording results, and making recommendations for improvement

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE

•Ability to service and support diverse groups of people

•Experience in public speaking and motivating groups of people toward a common goal

•Strong communication skills, bothverbal and written formats

•Experience in working with sensitive and confidential materials

•Efficient collaboration practices for ongoing team development and improvement

•Ability to balance and prioritize demanding workload within strict time frames

•Proficiency in Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

  • Experience in information analysis and evaluation to achieve optimal results
  • Skill in motivating members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks
  • Applied knowledge in scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as delegating tasks
  • Proficiency in monitoring/controlling resources and overseeing expenditures
  • Strong communication abilitiesin serving as a company liaison and representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources
  • Experience in adapting and relaying information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates

HUMAN RESOURCES

  • Experience in serving as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems
  • Skill in analyzing and modifying compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements
  • Knowledge in advising managers on organizational policy matters such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommending needed changes
  • Demonstrated performance in difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, mediating disputes, terminating employees, and administering disciplinary procedures
  • Experience in handling complaints, settling disputes, resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others
  • Talent in advising the development of constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time
  • Strength in analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems
  • Knowledge of how to advice policies and inform procedures to comply with federal and state laws, regulations, and other standards
  • Strong individual judgment, tact, and experience in maintaining confidential and sensitive information
  • Strength in resource development and assessment
  • Skill in encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members
  • Applied knowledge of recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/ SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

  • Experience in using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information
  • Practice of keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to job duties
  • Talent in development, design, or creation of new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions
  • Strength in analysis of informationand evaluation of results to choose the best solution and solve problems
  • Identification of complex problems and skill in reviewing related information to develop options and implement solutions
  • Experience in providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person

MARKETING

  • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services.
  • Applied ability in marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services (customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, evaluation of customer satisfaction)
  • Ability to communicate and collaborate with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources
  • Experience in the development, design, or creation of new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions
  • Strong organizing, planning, and prioritizing skills

MEDICAL BILLING & CODING

  • Familiar with all HIPAA laws and ethics regarding patient privacy
  • Knowledge of all pertinent medical terminology and anatomy
  • Strong knowledge of ICD-9, HCPCS, CPT, and DRGs coding techniques and guidelines of medical coding, Quantim Med ( Encoder) and other coding websites
  • Familiarity with ABN, CMS 1500, and UB O4 (CMS 1450) claim forms
  • Current member of American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
  • CCA Certification, Month Year (or date sitting for exam)

PARALEGAL

  • Experience in extrapolating, analyzing, and reporting legal facts, precedents, and case law
  • Proven success in independently managing projects and meeting/exceeding deadlines
  • Hands-on experience in the full range of paralegal functions and activities
  • Dynamic and persuasive communication skills
  • Demonstrated passion for social justice and ethical leadership
  • Record of performance excellence in fast-paced and challenging organizations
  • Strong organizational, project management, time management and prioritization abilities

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

  • Experience in applying logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
  • Knowledge of how to monitor/assess performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action
  • Proficiency in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents
  • Preparation of reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends
  • Effective time management and delegation practices: skill in assigning duties, responsibilities, and spans of authority to project personnel
  • Strength in motivation, development, and direction of personnel, identifying the best people for the job
  • Experience in determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes

PSYCHOLOGY

  • Skill in obtaining and collecting client information, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods
  • Experience in patient information documentation: session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans
  • Expertise in counseling individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans
  • Practice in the development of therapeutic treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, and needs
  • Experience supervising interns, clinicians in training, and other office staff
  • Exceptional interpersonal abilities including open communication and promoting patient comfort and trust
  • Knowledge of data analysis such as interview notes, test results, and reference manuals to identify symptoms and to diagnose the nature of clients' problems
  • Applied practice of consulting with other industry professionals to discuss therapies, treatments, counseling resources or techniques, and to share occupational information
  • Practice in evaluating results of counseling methods to determine the reliability and validity
  • Knowledge of local agents, institutions, and agencies to assist clients in ongoing treatment

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

  • Ability to plan and manage the complete system life-cycle process and sub-processes from commercial industry and government contractor perspectives
  • Experience in selecting and applying modern tools, including operations research, system modeling/simulation/test methods, synthesis techniques, process control and system
  • Knowledge of how to interface systems with related areas of project management, operations, logistics, performance, test, manufacturing, training and support, reliability/maintainability, quality assurance and disposal
  • Experience in selecting and applying appropriate industry/government standards, models, metrics and documentation standards

SOURCES:

CareerOneStop Pathways to Career Success.U.S. Department of Labor, 2013.Web. 28 February 2013.

Colorado Technical University, Career Services Online Division.

O*NET OnLine.National Center for O*Net Development, Employment and Training Administration.U.S. Department of Labor.28 February 2013.