Don't know what to write in your resume? These are the 'buzzwords' employers want to see.

On the hunt for a new job? You're not alone. 

There are thousands of job seekers all across Australia at the moment vying for a new position. So, to stand out from the sea of applicants, it can't hurt to give your resume a bit of a polish. 

Research by SEEK shows that 'buzzwords' or 'keywords' are a great way to spruce up your resume. Plus, many companies and recruiters now use an applicant tracking system to scan resumes, with keywords related to the job front of mind.

But what's important when including buzzwords is that it shouldn't just be about dumping a word into your resume and letting it float on its own. Instead, it's about using buzzwords as a springboard – a way to show what you can bring to the table, as well as implementing the language used in the job description.

Think using active sentences, backing up keywords with solid examples and applying phrases that speak to your work ethic and skill-set – both hard skills and soft skills. 

Watch: Job interviews translated. Post continues below.

Still unsure what skills to highlight in your resume? We've got you covered!

We spoke to five women who are in the business of recruitment and those who have management experience to share with Mamamia the 'buzzwords' employers want to see.

 Here's what they had to say.

TEAMWORK.

Eliza Kirkby is the Regional Director of Hays, a specialist recruitment agency. 

She says that while every job requires a high degree of technical skills relevant to the duties of the role, there are also a range of soft skills that employers universally require in almost every job in every industry.

And at the top of the list of soft skills employers want is teamwork. 

"With effective teamwork, teams are more productive, deadlines are met, staff relationships grow stronger and corporate knowledge is shared," she said. "You can demonstrate your teamwork skills by keeping your team's objectives in mind, understanding your own individual responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of all team members, being supportive and positive, communicating regularly and actively listening to others."

COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

"Strong communication skills allow you to understand others and be understood yourself – that's to ensure a successful outcome for all relevant stakeholders," Eliza said to Mamamia. 

"Effective communicators are skilled at verbal and written communication, and also understand non-verbal communication cues. In addition, we've also noted that employers want to see candidates who are engaged with their current organisation. Candidates who can show that will generally be looked upon favourably."

As the latest Hays Salary Guide shows, 72 per cent of employers say soft skills are equally important to the hard or technical skills required in the job. So communication is key!

Image: Canva.

LEADERSHIP.

Mai Aristoteli is the General Manager of Elevate Communication. She has over 20 years of experience working with some of the world's biggest brands including Pepsi, Adidas, American Express and PANDORA Jewellery.

She says the key skill she always looks for in an applicant's resume is 'leadership'. 

"By this I don't simply mean having been in a leadership position. Anybody can be a leader, regardless of their title. By leader, I mean somebody who inspires others, who leads by example, and who sees an opportunity and makes it happen. 

"I scan resumes for results-based evidence that a candidate thrives in taking responsibility, and can step up to challenges. It could be that they have created and implemented a new system, taken actions that have led to increased revenue for a business, managed or mentored others, or proactively taken on responsibilities outside of work. Buzzwords I might look for are 'led', 'developed', 'built' or 'driven growth'."

ADAPTABLE and COLLABORATIVE.

Being adaptable and collaborative is key to so many businesses.

Narmie Thambipillay has been in recruitment for over 14 years, with a focus on helping candidates land their next role with interviewing techniques. And according to her, a lot of her clients have been wanting to see these two buzzwords in resumes.

"Don't get me wrong they don't just want these words thrown in – they look at how the candidate has been collaborative and/or adaptable in previous roles and what they have achieved because of this," she shared.

"Since COVID, employers are looking for candidates who are adaptable as it shows that when change hits, they can work with it and not have it affect their work ethic and hence delay any projects they are working on. Similarly, given everyone was working from home during COVID and even now, they are looking for collaborative team members to ensure that prospective candidates know how to work as a part of a team. It's an important skill to have even if they are physically isolated."

Listen to 8 Minutes To Change Your (Work) Life. Post continues after audio.

GROWTH.

Shelley Johnson is a HR consultant at Boldside and the co-host of My Millennial Career podcast – and with this in mind, she knows how to make a resume stand out from the crowd.

"Employers want their business to grow. And to do that, they need employees who can grow with them. They want people with a growth mindset. The kind of people who stay curious, learn from failure and see challenges as a chance to grow," she said.

"Use your resume to demonstrate how you've continually grown throughout your career. If you're thinking, 'hang on, aren't I meant to show them how I tick all the boxes?' Nope. Show your commitment to learning new things. Share the learning opportunities you've pursued, and how you've developed new skills on-the-job. Workplaces, teams and roles are changing rapidly. The most valuable skill is your ability to learn and grow."

RESILIENCE.

Nicola Steel is the founder of JJP Talent Solutions, an IT recruitment business. Given she's been recruiting in both London and Australia since 1999, she knows exactly what soft and hard skills employers are looking for. 

"Include examples of resilience by explaining how you overcame personal or professional challenges to demonstrate how you will manage work-related stress, handle challenges and bounce back. Many employers believe that culture fit is even more important than having the right skillset, so this is a good opportunity for you to shine."

As she said to Mamamia, your resume is your key marketing tool to progress to the interview stage and ultimately secure your 'dream job'. She also provided some key resume tips. 

"Always write your CV with the reader in mind – simplicity is key! If you're in need of a basic structure, look to this: list your personal details, career objective, education, skills table, work experience, interests and lastly references. Once you have drafted your CV, ask trusted friends or family members to check it for spelling and grammatical errors," she said.

"Finally, send a tailored cover letter with each application, which highlights why you are suitable and why you are interested in the opportunity."

Do you have some resume suggestions? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Getty/Mamamia.