How to Keyword Optimize Your Executive Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) & Tailor It to Target Roles
In today's competitive job market, resume keyword optimization for applicant tracking systems (ATS) is critical, especially if you are targetting roles at Fortune 500 companies or other large organizations.
A recent ATS research study by Jobscan found that 98.8% of Fortune 500 companies use applicant tracking systems to streamline hiring.
As a result, even executive resumes need to be ATS-compliant to make it past automated filters and reach decision-makers.
This comprehensive guide will explain how to strategically optimize your executive resume using ATS keyword tools and techniques - without sacrificing the high-impact language that recruiters expect from senior candidates.
In this article, we cover:
1. Free ATS Resume Keyword Scanner for Executives
2. Why Executive Resume Optimization Matters
3. ATS Optimization Checklist for Executive Resumes
4. Step-by-Step Guide to Tailoring Your Resume to Target Roles
5. Tips for Avoiding Keyword Stuffing on Your Resume
Free ATS Resume Keyword Scanner for Executives
We recommend using Jobscan's resume optimization tool provided below to assess whether your resume effectively incorporates keywords that recruiters commonly search for when filtering applications using applicant tracking systems.
Using the tool below, paste your resume and target job description into the relevant boxes to generate a percentage match score.
The score provided serves as a benchmark of whether your document is sufficiently highlight both hard and soft skills, enabling you to better focus on the qualifications that matter most to hiring managers.
If you are unfamiliar with how an ATS works, we encourage you to read this article, which explains how recruiters utilize these systems in more detail.
The tool provided serves as a valuable tool for executives targeting highly-specific roles, offering the following benefits:
1. Customized Feedback
By using the tool, you'll receive feedback on the keywords that are most relevant to your target industry and role.
2. Tailored Optimization
The scanner also allows you to refine your executive-level language and avoid common resume clichés.
3. Gap Analysis
Identify missing keywords you need to include for ATS compatibility, focusing on the language used by recruiters.
Once you receive your results, review 4 the key areas of feedback you should pay close attention to below. You don’t need to get caught up in achieving a perfect score!
1. ATS Findings
Check that your Education, Section Headings, and Date Formatting align with the requirements provided in the ATS Findings section of the report.
While some of these checks do not affect your percentage match score, they ensure key information on your resume is properly formatted and will correctly import into the ATS.
2. Recruiter Findings
While keyword optimization is important, your resume ultimately needs to leave an impression on the recruiter or hiring manager who reads it.
Because recruiters want to see specific examples of the value you added in each role, the Measurable Results section of the report can help you benchmark whether you are incorporating enough metrics into your resume.
You can also use our resume metrics tool to dive into this category in more detail and brainstorm additional ways to showcase the tangible impact you made on an organization.
We also recommend carefully reviewing the Words to Avoid section, which outlines overused terminology and resume clichés that make recruiters cringe.
Why Executive Resume Optimization Matters
While executives may face less direct competition during the application process, application tracking systems can still play a major role in the hiring process.
In addition to serving as a tool for filtering applications based on specific keywords, applicant tracking systems may also be used to format resumes into a standard format for recruiter review, which helps ensure they can easily compare profiles.
It is important to note that while keyword optimization is helpful, you should focus on integrating keywords in a way that resonates with high-level hiring managers.
For example, avoid using terms such as "seasoned executive" or "visionary leader" without context. Instead, describe how you "led a $500M business unit to 20% revenue growth year-over-year through strategic expansion and operational efficiency."
ATS Optimization Checklist for Executive Resumes
To create an effective ATS-optimized executive resume, be sure to strike the right balance of formatting and content.
Follow the strategies on the checklist below to ensure your resume’s content gets imported into an applicant tracking system correctly:
1. Formatting Simplicity
Avoid images, graphics, and tables that may not be readable by ATS.
2. Standard Section Headings
Use conventional section titles such as Professional Experience, Education, and Skills.
3. Clear Dates
Ensure your date formatting is consistent throughout your document so ATS can correctly import your career timelines.
If you are a senior executive, keyword optimization becomes a bit less relevant, as:
- You will generally be competing against a smaller number of applicants
- You may be working with a recruiter, who will ensure your resume gets into the right hands
Step-by-Step Guide to Tailoring Your Resume to Target Roles
Simply put, targeted resumes consistently outperform generic applications. To ensure your resume speaks directly to the job description, follow the steps below:
- Carefully read the job description
- Identify relevant keywords, focusing on hard skills and industry-specific terminology
- Naturally incorporate the relevant terms into your resume
Below, we provide a practical example that shows you how to effectively tailor a resume to a job posting by analyzing the following 2 documents:
- A job description for a hotel development posting
- A sample resume tailored to the specific posting
Step 1: Highlight the most important responsibilities and skills listed on the job description
Below, we evaluated a job description for a Head of Hotel Development position with Sonder and highlighted key terms that would be worth incorporating into the resume.
When reading the job description, remember to focus on 2 key sections:
Responsibilities
When reading this section, specifically look for hard skills such as "data analytics," "M&A strategy," or "project management."
Requirements
Include keywords related to industry expertise, such as "global supply chain" for logistics roles or "digital transformation" for tech executives.
We encourage you to follow a similar approach.
To make the process easier, simply print out the job description on paper and grab a highlighter!
Step 2: Naturally integrate keywords into the resume
Now that we identified key terms, we added them to the resume.
In doing so, we made sure to:
- Incorporate a selection of exact match keywords in a natural manner to avoid the perception of keyword stuffing
- Include related terminology that was not explicitly provided in the job description
- Avoid directly copying and pasting long phrases from the job description
- Avoid discussing any experience that the candidate didn't possess - just for the sake of "optimizing" the resume
We highlighted the key terms on the resume below.
Tips for Avoiding Keyword Stuffing on Your Resume
While it can be tempting to fill your resume with as many keywords as possible to make sure you don't miss anything, ATS and recruiters can easily detect keyword stuffing.
To maintain credibility (and readability) while keeping your resume keyword-optimized, focus on the following areas:
1. Prioritize Hard Skills
When recruiters screen applications using an ATS, they typically search for hard skills that are explicitly mentioned in the job description.
If you find that your Hard Skills score is low and agree with the scan's outcome, review the example below to see how you can naturally incorporate additional keywords into your document.
Keep in mind that while you should effectively optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems, your resume still needs to read naturally and be truthful.
"Keyword stuffing" is very easy to detect when a recruiter reads your resume, and it may leave a negative impression.
2. Limit Soft Skills
Although soft skills contribute to a higher percentage match when using Jobscan’s tool, we don't recommend listing soft skills on your resume.
Soft skills such as the following are best communicated during the interview process. On your resume, they are best demonstrated via examples of how you applied them on the job:
- Effective communicator
- Strong team player
- Results-oriented executive
- Excels in high-pressure situations
- Proven ability to negotiate
- Adaptable, driven, and motivated leader
Without specific evidence to back them up, such phrases can come off as overused resume buzzwords that do little to differentiate you!
In Summary
In today's hiring environment, recruiters are increasingly overwhelmed with high application volumes, and applicant tracking systems help bring order to the chaos.
By taking intentional steps to keyword optimize your resume, you'll help it pass initial scans and get into the hands of a recruiter.
That said, be conscious not to over-optimize by focusing too much on keywords and not enough on human readability.
Also, remember that the most effective ways of finding a job involve networking and human interaction.
About Resume Pilots
Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.
As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.
Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.
Here's how we can help you:
Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Writing Services: If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional resume writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.
Executive Resume Template Downloads: If you plan to prepare your own resume, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly resume templates for Microsoft Word.
To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email team@resumepilots.com.
About the AuthorMatt Glodz
Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.
After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.
At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years.
He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.