QUESTION: Should I stuff my resume with keywords at the bottom in white text?
Laura Smith-Proulx, An Expert Resume
Never use white text on your resume for anything! Keywords represent your strongest skills and should match the content of the job postings you are pursuing. These terms have the best impact when used throughout your resume to describe achievements related to your ideal roles. You can add a Skills section for keywords, but be aware some employers prefer to see them primarily in your experience.
Cheryl Minnick, University of Montana
Deirdre Rock, Composed Career, LLC
Simply, NO! Applicant Tracking Systems have become more sophisticated and recruiters are savvy to these tactics, which can result in your application being flagged as deceptive. A more effective approach is to incorporate the relevant skills from the job post and back them up with results. This is proven effective in passing ATS screenings while ensuring your resume reads well to human reviewers.
Alison King, Copyedit Queen
Don’t do it–the white text won’t fool anyone! Recruiters and hiring managers need to see the keywords in context. If you don’t have a certain skill, leave it off your resume, and focus instead on the skills you do have. Incorporate the keywords into your accomplishments to prove that you have actually used those skills/tools with the required degree of competency to produce positive results.
Brenda Mariah, Push Career Management, LLC
No. This would be the equivalent of cheating on a test. You will be discovered, and it will reflect poorly on your candidacy. Tread carefully! The text actually shows up when employers see your profile in their ATS. This never ends well. Just include an actual keyword sections that reflect all that you can do. No need to be deceptive.
Mary Jo King, Alliance Résumé & Writing Service
Keyword stuffing is an old technique of which HR authorities are well aware. It is viewed as a kind of cheating that may immediately kill your candidacy. Rather, keywords and keyword phrases should be artfully written into descriptive content throughout your document. Such content would naturally be included if you are qualified, and it should never be included if it is not true.
Tanya King Floyd, Alliance Résumé & Writing Service
To stand out in today’s competitive job market, your resume must cater to both ATS algorithms and the hiring managers who will review it. Using white text may pass the first round, but your resume needs to also demonstrate your qualifications to the human reader who decides whether or not you move forward in the process. I suggest integrating relevant keywords throughout.
Emily Christakis 1
This “keyword stuffing” trend that resurfaced on social media can end up hurting you. Applicant tracking systems will read the white font and make it visible on the scanned resume that the recruiter will see. The recruiter will know you are trying to game the hiring process and get turned off. Pasting keywords without quantifiable achievements doesn’t make you more qualified for the job.
Scott Gardner, Vitae Express
No, stuffing your resume with keywords in white text is a bad practice. Instead, focus on naturally incorporating relevant keywords throughout your resume in context, aligning with the job description for better results.
Tammeca Riley, Infinite Potential Resumes
Please don’t stuff your resume with white text. Instead, you could showcase your skills by demonstrating your competence in your accomplishment stories. You may even opt to label each accomplishment with a major keyword or two. You are also welcome to highlight a few skills in a Core Competencies section, but make sure the words are visible to the naked eye.
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