4 Getting Rsum Recognition The average online job applicant can be invisible to potential employers, hidden among the rsums crowding their databases and in-boxes. Online job boards have greatly increased organizations' pool of potential applicants. However, technology has also resulted in an exponential increase in the number of rsums flooding human resources departments. In response, many companies now use special software programs that filter out all but those rsums containing specific keywords. Tailoring your rsum to match specific jobs is critical today, especially when applying for a position online. You need to research your potential position carefully so that you can include relevant details and keywords. General-purpose boards may provide an overview of employment opportunities, but you're more likely to find a job on niche boards and employment sites operated by organizations, colleges and universities, and professional organizations. Identify two job postings for two different entry-level jobs that interest you. Ensure that these postings include detailed descriptions of the position, required skills, and hiring company. These types of postings are relatively easy to find on online job search engines such as LinkedIn.com, Indeed.ca, and Monster.ca. Review the job postings and draft a paper rsum for each, customizing it to the specific employer. Consider the following as you compose each rsum: What are the keywords in the posting? What specific information, if any, does the posting highlight about the company, its industry, or its products or services? What are the specific skills required for the position? Assume that one of the employers uses an electronic job-applicant tracking system. Adapt your rsum for that employer to create a scannable rsum. As the instructor directs: Depending on the class time, the instructor can also ask the students to write and revise one section of their rsum to a specific job posting and ask the student to explain, either in writing or verbally, how and why the rsum is adapted in a certain way.