# Keywords in Resumes-Key them to Job Description, or Requirements?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keywords-in-resumes-key-them-to-job-description-or-requirements/543315>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 15, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keywords-in-resumes-key-them-to-job-description-or-requirements/543315 "2010-06-15T17:12:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keywords-in-resumes-key-them-to-job-description-or-requirements/543315/1 "2010-06-15T17:12:46Z")

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I am doing an online app, and I want to make sure that my keywords are hitting the correct field.  
So, do I force my keywords to match what is in the job description, or the job requirements?

Thanks,  
hh

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**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keywords-in-resumes-key-them-to-job-description-or-requirements/543315/2 "2010-06-15T18:21:42Z")

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I PM’d you, hh.

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keywords-in-resumes-key-them-to-job-description-or-requirements/543315/3 "2010-06-16T14:22:39Z")

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> [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](#):
>
> I PM’d you, hh.

Thank 'ee.

hh

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keywords-in-resumes-key-them-to-job-description-or-requirements/543315/4 "2010-06-16T17:02:44Z")

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I’ve actualy set up a few websites for companies using keywords in H/R.

The thing is in every site I’ve set up or viewed, the keywords are not set in stone.

The H/R manager first puts in the keywords. They change from job to job, so without knowing the job it’d be hard to figure out.

Everyone wants certain things, like “team player,” and “Works too hard” etc etc.

So those type of words or phrases are not likely to be used by an H/R manager.