Page 16 - Combined KW samples

152 The Best Keywords for Resumes, Letters, and Interviews

QQ Within his Business Management Experience section, the focus is still on the
accounting and financial aspects of his retail career, highlighting relevant key-
words such as Financial Records, Payroll, Cash, Bank Profits, and Forecasts.
You will also notice a few retail industry keywords that round out the resume
and give context to the actual job description.

When you look at this resume, you see a qualified accounting and finance professional,
which is precisely the goal! What we’ve done is highlight the keywords related to his
objectives while downplaying keywords focused on retail sales and store management.

If you are changing careers, try to avoid the use of the words “transition” or “trans-
fer.” You don’t want the focus to be on the fact that you’re changing from one field to
another—with the implication that you don’t have a lot of expertise in your new field.
Rather, you want the focus to be on what you do have—the right skills, knowledge,
and qualifications … the right keywords.

COVER LETTER IDEAS: Cover letters and e-notes are always best when
written in response to a specific advertisement, job posting, or network contact.
However, to give you an idea of what a cover letter for someone in the field of
Accounting looks like, read Marcella Koenig’s cover letter on page 16. If you’re
not in Accounting, review the cover letters in this book that relate specifically
to your field of work.

Keyword Challenge: Military Transition

Your #1 Challenge: To highlight your skills, qualifications, experienc-
es, achievements, education, and more as they relate to your specific career
goals—the profession that you’re targeting and the types of organizations in
which you want to work.

Military transition resumes generally fall into one of three categories:

QQ Job seekers pursuing similar career paths with companies in defense-related in-
dustries and quasi-governmental organizations—companies that will definitely
value their military experience.

QQ Job seekers pursuing similar career paths with commercial companies in indus-
tries that are totally unrelated to defense, military, or other similar markets.

QQ Job seekers pursuing careers in other professions in the commercial and cor-
porate marketplace.