Resume Keywords: How to Find the Right ATS Keywords for Any Job

Resume Keywords: How to Find the Right ATS Keywords for Any Job

Recruiters often search their applicant tracking system (ATS) for specific skills, tools and job titles. If your resume doesn't use those words, it may not show up, even if you have the right experience.

The fix isn't stuffing your resume with buzzwords. It's using the employer's language for the skills you really have.

What are resume keywords?

Resume keywords are the specific terms an employer uses to describe the role and the person they want. They usually fall into these groups:

• Job titles: "Account Manager", "Data Analyst"
• Hard skills: "SQL", "financial modelling", "SEO"
• Tools and software: "Salesforce", "Figma", "SAP"
• Certifications: "PMP", "CPA", "Google Analytics"
• Industry terms: "B2B SaaS", "supply chain", "clinical trials"
• Soft skills: "stakeholder management", "cross-functional collaboration"

How to find keywords in a job description

1. Copy the job description into a document.
2. Highlight repeated words. Skills mentioned two or more times are usually priorities.
3. Check the requirements list. "Must have" items matter most.
4. Look at the job title and use it in your summary if it fits.
5. Compare similar job posts. Terms that appear across several posts are core keywords for that role.

Where to put keywords on your resume

• Summary: two or three of the most important keywords. See our resume summary examples.
• Skills section: tools, technical skills and certifications.
• Experience bullets: keywords inside real achievements. This is the most convincing place.
• Job titles: if your official title was unusual, you can add a common equivalent, for example "Customer Happiness Hero (Customer Support Specialist)".

Keyword examples by job area

• Marketing: SEO, content strategy, Google Analytics, paid social, marketing automation, HubSpot, campaign management.
• Data: SQL, Python, data visualisation, Power BI, Tableau, A/B testing, ETL.
• Sales: pipeline management, CRM, lead generation, account management, quota attainment, negotiation.
• Software: JavaScript, React, REST APIs, CI/CD, cloud (AWS, Azure), microservices.
• Finance: financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, IFRS, reconciliation, ERP.
• HR: talent acquisition, onboarding, employee relations, HRIS, performance management.
• Project management: Agile, Scrum, stakeholder management, risk management, budgeting, Jira.

Keyword mistakes to avoid

• Keyword stuffing. Recruiters read the final resume, and a list of repeated terms looks unnatural.
• Hidden keywords in white text. This can be detected and looks dishonest.
• Claiming skills you don't have. It will show in the interview.
• Using only acronyms. Write both once: "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)".

For more on what trips up applicant tracking systems, read 7 resume mistakes that get you auto-rejected by ATS. To put it all together, follow our guide on how to tailor your resume to a job description.

Frequently asked questions

How many keywords should my resume have?

There's no exact number. Make sure the top requirements from the job post are clearly covered.

Do keywords need to match exactly?

Exact matches help, especially for tools and certifications. Use the same spelling as the job post.

Should I change keywords for every application?

Yes. Each job uses slightly different language, so adjust your summary, skills and top bullets.

Put your keywords to work

Build a tailored, ATS-friendly resume for every job with the free JobStacky Resume Builder.