Your CV doesn't always go right to a person in today's competitive employment market. The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is the first thing that current hiring technology sees. To get your resume in front of hiring managers, you must know and use the right keywords.
This tutorial will teach you what resume keywords are, why they matter, and how to find and use them, and it will give you examples of strong keywords for your field and job. Upon completion, recruiters will be able to see your resume beyond ATS filters.
What Are Keywords for Resumes?
When companies and ATS software filter resumes, they look for certain words, phrases, job titles, abilities, and credentials. These are called "resume keywords." They work like Google search terms: if they're in your CV, your profile is more likely to match what an employer is looking for.
You can frequently find these terms right in job descriptions, and they show what the employer cares about most. They can have:
- Job titles (like Project Manager)
- Skills in technology, such as Python and Excel
- Tools and software, like Salesforce and SQL
- Certifications, like PMP and CPA
Even if you're perfectly qualified, a resume without the correct keywords might never be seen by a real person because most ATS systems automatically filter out resumes that don't meet particular criteria.
Why ATS Keywords Are Important for Resumes
Applicant Tracking Systems are made to save time by scanning hundreds of resumes and finding the ones that best fit a job opening. The ATS is like a search engine that only shows results for resumes that include the right keywords.
This is why keywords on your resume are so important:
1. The first filter between you and an interview.
Before a recruiter even looks at them, ATS often filters away most of the applications. Some estimates say that more than 70–75% of applicants are screened out before a person looks at them.
2. Exactly What Employers Want
Using the same words as in a job offering lets the ATS know that you have the abilities and experience the firm is looking for. Not all synonyms count as matches.
3. It increases your chances of securing an interview.
Adding relevant keywords will greatly improve your chances of getting an interview because recruiters often search for candidates in ATS databases using terms that are particular to the role.
How to Choose the Right Keywords for Your Resume
It's not enough to just look at the first job description you encounter to get excellent CV keywords. Here's a plan to follow:
1. Take a closer look at job descriptions
Read three to five job ads for the same job and underline or highlight words and phrases that come up often. These are the best candidates for resume keywords.
Check out parts, like
- Duties
- Skills needed
- Requirements
- Tools and tech
- Certifications
ATS systems generally look for exact matches. If the job description says "project management," "managing projects" might not receive the same score. The text must use the same words as the posting.
3. Put Demanding Skills First
ATS normally assigns higher weight to hard skills, which are specific, measurable talents like programming languages, software skills, or technical knowledge.
4. Balance with the situation
Don't stuff keywords. Instead, use keywords in a natural way throughout your resume, such as in the overview, work experience, and abilities sections. This makes sure that people can still read your resume.
Where to Put Keywords on Your Resume
It's just as important to know where to add keywords as it is to know which ones to utilize. Here are the greatest areas to put resume keywords so that they have the most effect on ATS:
1. Professional Summary or Resume Title
People look at the first few lines of your resume first. To make a favorable first impression, put your main talents and job title here.
2. The part about skills
This part is crucial for technical terms like tools, software, frameworks, and unique approaches.
For example:
Skills:
- Python
- SQL
- Google Analytics
- Managing Projects
- Agile
3. Experience in the workplace
Include keywords in your job descriptions to highlight how you used those skills to make a difference.
For example:
- For instance, you may have developed Python data analysis models that enhanced the accuracy of reports by 20%.
Include any credentials or tools mentioned in the job offering. For instance, you could list credentials such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect or PMP.
Groups of Keywords for Resumes and Examples
Let's now look at some strong resume keywords in different categories. You can change these to fit your field.
Skills that are technical and demanding
Soft skills can be beneficial when they are linked to measurable results:
There are a few things that can ruin all the hard work you put into your keywords. Be careful with these:
❌ Stuffing with keywords
Adding too many keywords to your resume without any context won't help; it could even undermine your credibility with both ATS and human readers.
❌ Not Paying Attention to Job Titles
You can miss out on basic matches if your resume doesn't include the job title you're looking for (where it's appropriate).
❌ Using Buzzwords That Are Too General
Using words like "hardworking" or "team player" won't enhance your ATS score. Instead, present concrete accomplishments that can be measured.
An example from the real world
This is how someone might use resume keywords in their employment history:
Before (Weak):
I was responsible for managing social media campaigns for the company's clients.
- Python
- SQL
- AWS
- Excel from Microsoft
- Salesforce
- Looking at data
- SEO and SEM
- Cloud Computing
- Scrum/Agile
- Design for UX (Examples taken from well-known ATS lists)
Soft skills can be beneficial when they are linked to measurable results:
- Being a leader
- Working together
- Talk
- Thinking Critically
- Managing Your Time (Use these only when you have proof that they work)
- Manager of the Project
- Analyst for Business
- Specialist in Digital Marketing
- Engineer of Data
- Specialist in Customer Support (Use the precise job names from the job description wherever you can.)
- PMP
- CPA
- Developer with AWS certification
- Certified by Google Analytics
- CompTIA A+ (Always write out entire names with acronyms.)
There are a few things that can ruin all the hard work you put into your keywords. Be careful with these:
❌ Stuffing with keywords
Adding too many keywords to your resume without any context won't help; it could even undermine your credibility with both ATS and human readers.
❌ Not Paying Attention to Job Titles
You can miss out on basic matches if your resume doesn't include the job title you're looking for (where it's appropriate).
❌ Using Buzzwords That Are Too General
Using words like "hardworking" or "team player" won't enhance your ATS score. Instead, present concrete accomplishments that can be measured.
An example from the real world
This is how someone might use resume keywords in their employment history:
Before (Weak):
I was responsible for managing social media campaigns for the company's clients.
After (optimized with keywords from the resume)
I utilized Google Analytics and HubSpot to conduct social media marketing campaigns, which resulted in a 35% increase in interaction within six months.
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This works because:
The text includes industry buzzwords such as "Google Analytics," "HubSpot," and "social media marketing." , Shows a measurable effect.
Make your keywords fit each job.
One of the most significant mistakes people make is thinking they can use the same resume for every job. That doesn't work frequently. Instead, consider your resume as a document that can be changed. Change the keywords on your resume for each job application based on the specific job description. n. This method makes it much more likely that the ATS will mark your resume as a suitable match.
Want to see a list of the best ATS resume keywords?
Jobscan is a great website that lists the most important resume keywords and groups them by job function and industry.
This guide has actual, high-impact keywords that you may use as a starting point, but please remember to change them to fit your needs!
How to Use Keywords in Your Resume Without Sounding Like a Robot
Many people looking for jobs know how important resume keywords are, but they don't know how to utilize them correctly. The worst thing that may happen is that you sound fake, or your CV is full of the same words. The truth is that keywords in a resume perform best when they fit well with the rest of the material instead of being shoved into every sentence.
The first rule is to think like a recruiter, not merely an ATS. A person will ultimately view your resume, even though the machine is looking for keywords. This means that keywords should always be used in the right way. Instead of just listing talents, show how you used them in real life. Instead of just repeating "SEO" over and over, tell how you employed SEO techniques to get more visitors or higher rankings on search engines.
Another effective way to do this is to use a relevant variation. ATS systems look for exact matches, but they also know when similar phrases are used correctly. For example, if a job description says "data analysis," you can add terms like "data reporting," "performance metrics," or "business insights" to support that keyword as long as the main resume keyword is still there.
You should also put placement ahead of repetition. A resume that has the proper keyword in the right place usually does better than one that uses the same word too many times. It's typically enough to put resume keywords in your professional overview, skills section, and work history. You don't have to make children do things they don't want todo orr that aren't relevant to their interests.
One mistake that many candidates make is not using action verbs. Adding powerful action phrases to your resume keywords makes it more captivating. For instance:
Lastly, keep in mind that the keywords on your resume should change as your career does. Please update your résumé as you acquire new skills, certifications, or tools. Hiring trends and keyword priorities vary all the time, so a CV that succeeded two years ago may not function well today.
In short, resume keywords aren't about fooling the system; they're about making it apparent what you can do for a company in the language they currently use.
Many people looking for jobs know how important resume keywords are, but they don't know how to utilize them correctly. The worst thing that may happen is that you sound fake, or your CV is full of the same words. The truth is that keywords in a resume perform best when they fit well with the rest of the material instead of being shoved into every sentence.
The first rule is to think like a recruiter, not merely an ATS. A person will ultimately view your resume, even though the machine is looking for keywords. This means that keywords should always be used in the right way. Instead of just listing talents, show how you used them in real life. Instead of just repeating "SEO" over and over, tell how you employed SEO techniques to get more visitors or higher rankings on search engines.
Another effective way to do this is to use a relevant variation. ATS systems look for exact matches, but they also know when similar phrases are used correctly. For example, if a job description says "data analysis," you can add terms like "data reporting," "performance metrics," or "business insights" to support that keyword as long as the main resume keyword is still there.
You should also put placement ahead of repetition. A resume that has the proper keyword in the right place usually does better than one that uses the same word too many times. It's typically enough to put resume keywords in your professional overview, skills section, and work history. You don't have to make children do things they don't want todo orr that aren't relevant to their interests.
One mistake that many candidates make is not using action verbs. Adding powerful action phrases to your resume keywords makes it more captivating. For instance:
- "Used CRM tools to make sales work more smoothly."
- "Used Google Analytics to look at campaign data and boost ROI."
Lastly, keep in mind that the keywords on your resume should change as your career does. Please update your résumé as you acquire new skills, certifications, or tools. Hiring trends and keyword priorities vary all the time, so a CV that succeeded two years ago may not function well today.
In short, resume keywords aren't about fooling the system; they're about making it apparent what you can do for a company in the language they currently use.
Last tips for beating ATS.
Take the time to read each job advert attentively. Look for terms that are used over and over again; they are the most important keywords for your resume.
Don't make your formatting too complicated. ATS systems can't read images, columns, or complicated design features.
Use keywords in a way that makes sense. Your resume should look professional and be easy to read, not like a robot.
Use a mix of tools, talents, and accomplishments. Recruiters want to know both what you can do and what you've done.