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Stop Guessing, Start Researching: From Keywords to Skills Gaps

In the last resume writing tip, we wrote about pre-writing to speed up the writing of resumes.

Now, let’s talk about research.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a new or seasoned resume writer. Research must be a critical step to just about EVERY resume you write because job roles and the technologies that go with them won’t (can’t) stop evolving.

The best places to research job descriptions and target employers begin at Indeed and LinkedIn. No surprises there, right? There are also employer websites, industry organizations, oNetOnline, and general search engine searches.

So, what are you looking for?

For starters, you’re looking to get your creative writing juices flowing by immersing yourself in your client’s current and target job role, industry, and so on.

You’re also looking for ideal keywords to make resume content more relevant. At the start of every writing project, the most skilled resume writers don’t know everything. They learn what’s needed.

You’re looking for negative issues in addition to the positives. Your client's success is of the utmost importance, so familiarize yourself with any skills gaps and other missing credentials to alert your client for possible resolution.

This is, in part, why most resume writers can’t answer the simplest question: How long does it take you to write a resume? Writing is only a fraction of what’s involved with producing professional resumes. Skilled writing occurs when the right preparation is taken, which includes research.

Bookmark these links to help you with resume research: