Word Choice Matters What you say and how you say it can impact your résumé.

Everyone knows you only have a few seconds to make a first impression when meeting somebody in person. Job seekers can be confused by that rule as it applies to résumés, often spending a lot of effort fine-tuning them, yet missing the full benefit of all the changes.

Outside of interviews based on a recommendation by a current employee, companies use résumés as the basis for the first cut when determining who should be invited into the screening and interview process. An important reason for editing a résumé is to make sure it creates interest and gives the right impression. Someone is going to take 30 seconds to review a résumé and decide if that applicant is in or out. You want your résumé to be in the "in" pile.

Incorporate the same phrases or keywords advertised within the job posting into your résumé. Keywords are the terms used to search for the right applicants. Without the right keywords, your résumé may not be found or read.

Be sure your résumé leaves the impression that you are just right — not an exaggerated superhero, and not too weak or passive. You want to inspire confidence that you are the right person for the job. Use the job posting to determine how to edit your résumé and craft the best impression of your skills and experience.

You don't have to be a perfect fit to make it to the "in" pile. Rarely does a company hire someone who has every single item on its wish list. Companies hire the person who is the best match (typically an 80 percent match), not the perfect match.

When applying to positions that may be beyond your skills and experience, avoid using a passive tone. Use strong, action-oriented words. Who sounds more impressive, the candidate who states he "helped with project X," or the candidate who says he was a "key contributor to project X"? Examine your résumé for opportunities to replace weak words with something stronger. Create an impression that you are ready for the next step in your career and inspire confidence that you can do the job.

Be sure your résumé leaves the impression that you are just right — not an exaggerated superhero, and not too weak or passive. You want to inspire confidence that you are the right person for the job. Use the job posting to determine how to edit your résumé and craft the best impression of your skills and experience.

Excerpted from Word Choice Matters