As technology continues to grow so does the competition of job-seeking technology experts. How do you set yourself apart from the pool of IT pros? When it comes to resumes, there is much more to consider beyond using correct grammar and great action adjectives. TheLadders pointedly writes that "the resumes that are found most often are those that contain the most searched-for keywords in the right places.” That means that today’s resumes must be keyword-smart and SEO friendly. But how do you accomplish this? 

Do your research. When a company is looking to drive traffic to their website, they look to SEO, mega tags and keywords. They research the most popular google searches, the analytics behind each phrase, and how this can better inform their website content and drive traffic. You can use a similar process on a personal level with your resume. What is the language you see being repeated in job descriptions, company websites and relevant media outlets? Research the keywords and phrases or appropriate vocabulary that your ideal job title or career path is using.  

Our own Matt Leighton, a Bluewolf technical recruiter, recommends:

“Be up to date on the most popular jargon for these technologies and databases. For example, Core Java versus JEE: know the different between these terms, where the overlap is and how to utilize and add it relevantly to your resume. Also for a technology such as .net, strive to specify what within .net you specialize in. Is it C#, VB or ASP? This can give a recruiter a much better understanding of your skills and allow you to show up in more specific job searches.” 

Test it out. Paper resumes are becoming less and less relevant. And in their digital form, they must be search friendly. Have you posted your resume on job boards? Make a habit of checking out the options for track-ability on these websites. Many websites like Career-Builder, Monster and Dice have the option of tracking what job and keyword searches your resume has come up in. You can view what type of people have viewed your resume and what search they used to find it. 

Check your work. So your resume reflects the most current keywords from job descriptions and uses the popular wording for specific technologies. Now, check your resume on the job boards. Are the searches that bring your resume up the ones you want? Know that from within a specific applicant tracking system (ATS), technical recruiters use keyword searches when looking for applicants. Are your chosen keywords the ones being searched? Is there a fit between what job you’re looking for and what job searches you’re coming up in? Customize your wording and speciality depending on the job you want. You should also make sure that there are supporting details around your keywords.

Jason Nieves, a Bluewolf technical recruiter for the vendor team, had this to share:

Candidates can get carried away with naming off technologies on their resume. When naming technologies as keywords, be sure to include descriptions of how you utilized these technologies within specific projects. This tells a recruiter a lot more than naming a list of 20 technologies that you may only be familiar with at a distance.  

Keep your technology knowledge and resume relevant. Do your research on, include, and track the right keywords. An SEO-friendly resume will facilitate your job search. You'll stand out from the rest of the competition—in a good way. 

Curious what the going rate is for your ideal IT job? Check out our Annual IT Salary Guide.