365 Resume Keywords to Pass the ATS and Land Your Dream Job

Have you ever wondered why your resume was rejected after countless applications?

It likely comes down to one key factor: your overuse (or lack) of resume keywords. Resume keywords are the secret ingredient to passing the initial screening, whether it’s done by recruiters or an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

The first step of the hiring process is often automated, and recruiters don’t always read your resume word for word.

What is more, a 2023 Jobscan study found that 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS.

In this guide, we'll show you how to ensure your experience stands out with resume keywords.

Discover:

• What resume keywords are and why they matter.
• How to find the right keywords for your resume.
• The types of keywords and 365 examples for various industries.
• Best practices for integrating keywords and passing the ATS.

What are resume keywords?

In today’s job market, having the right amount of experience isn’t enough—companies want to see your industry knowledge as well.

That's why you should use resume keywords–those terms or phrases that help align your expertise with what recruiters are looking for in an ideal candidate. Resume keywords are crucial in modern job searches because they ensure both human reviewers and automated systems see your resume.

While there is no universal set of keywords for every resume, certain ones appear repeatedly as they apply to multiple roles.

Combining these keywords and tailoring them to the job increases your chances of catching a hiring manager's attention and passing ATS filters, which sort resumes based on keyword relevance (but more on that below).

Why are resume keywords important?

​​Did you know hiring managers can tell in roughly seven seconds if you’re a good fit for the role? They do this by scanning for resume keywords–both manually and via the ATS.

However, contrary to popular belief, the ATS doesn’t automatically reject applications. It’s not a gatekeeper but a sorting system that streamlines the hiring process, eliminating the need to read every resume line by line.

Here’s what happens after you submit your resume through a hiring portal:

• Your application is entered into an ATS database.
• Hiring managers search for suitable candidates by typing specific keywords into the search bar.
• These keywords are predefined to match the job requirements and might include job titles, technical skills, certifications, or even action verbs.
• ATS systems prioritize resumes based on specific keywords, and even if you’re highly qualified, the absence of relevant keywords might cause your application to be filtered out before a recruiter even sees it.

Use resume keywords to not only improve your ATS ranking but also to stand out and significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.

How to find the right keywords for your resume

The best place to find the right keywords for your resume is the most obvious one–within the job description itself. Here's how to reverse-engineer your job application to find the right keywords.

Start by carefully analyzing the job posting

Pay close attention to sections like "responsibilities," "qualifications," and "requirements" to identify the core skills, experience, and industry-specific terminology the hiring managers are seeking.

There are two main categories of keywords to look for:

• Job-related skills: Hard skills or technologies and soft skills directly relevant to the role.
• Action verbs: Emphasize what you’ve accomplished.

Stay on track

Copy and paste the job description into a document, organized either via:

• The relevant qualifications and experience you have.
• Resume sections within which you would describe your resume keywords.

Once you've compiled your list, incorporate these terms into your resume, using the exact language from the job description.

Keyword search automation

If identifying keywords manually feels overwhelming, there are online tools that can help take the guesswork out of the process.

Keyword search tools compare your resume to the job description, give you a score based on how well your resume matches, and can give you a list of specific keywords you could include.

Keywords vary depending on the industry or job you’re applying for

So, on top of reading up on the job description, you can:

• Research industry-specific terms: Via industry publications, trade journals, or blogs. These resources can help you identify new skills or emerging technologies that are valuable in your field, and incorporating those into your resume will make you a more attractive candidate.
• Look at multiple job postings for similar roles: So you’ll begin to notice patterns in the language used.
• Check LinkedIn to find similar profiles to yours: You’ll see which technologies and skills are more prominently highlighted.

For example, if you’re applying for a role in marketing, you might want to include terms like "SEO," "content strategy," or "campaign management."

 In IT, relevant keywords could be "JavaScript," "network security," or "cloud computing."

For sales, look for terms such as "lead generation," "CRM," or "business development."

Types of resume keywords

You might wonder what kinds of keywords to include in your resume. Here’s where it gets interesting.

ATS-friendly resume keywords fall into four main categories:

Skills-based keywords: Highlight your primary hard skills and core qualifications, directly related to the job and industry.

Action verbs: Demonstrate your accomplishments and show how you've succeeded in previous roles.

Industry-specific jargon: Use terminology relevant to the field to show your familiarity with industry practices.

Soft skills: Relate to your interpersonal abilities and personal attributes, demonstrating how you'd fit into the company culture.

If you really want to impress hiring managers, you need to strike a balance between using relevant keywords and clearly describing your skills and experience. Learn how to do so in the next section of this guide.

Where to place keywords on your resume

Do you know how to naturally place those words, phrases, personality traits, technical skills, etc.?

If not, find out below, how to spread relevant keywords through the key sections of your resume.

Keywords in the resume summary

Your resume summary is the first thing employers see, making it an ideal place to strategically insert keywords, so make sure to include the job adverts' top keywords like:

• The name of the role you're applying for to reinforce your interest.

• Years of experience to show you have the wanted expertise.
• Use up to two of your most relevant technical or people skills to show you're the ideal candidate.

Check out the example below to see how a candidate has avoided resume keywords in their resume summary and then integrated them correctly.

The resume summary above:

• Isn't specific and uses generic language.
• Is missing job-specific skills.
• Doesn't mention the candidate's years of experience.
• Doesn't answer how their past work aligns with the job responsibilities.

Now check out the right example:

The resume summary clearly states the job title "Audio FX Technician" and enhances the application by:

• Incorporating relevant keywords, such as "A/V and FX equipment."
• Highlighting specific experience, noting over five years in the field.
• Showcasing job-specific skills, including "operating FX equipment."

Keywords in the work experience

The work experience section is where you can provide examples of how you've applied the key skills mentioned in the job description.

While integrating both your hard and soft skills is important, make sure to also use:

• Action verbs: Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb and pair it with a keyword (e.g., Led [Keyword Skill] team to improve [Outcome]).
• Achievements over duties: Instead of listing job responsibilities, emphasize how you used key skills to achieve specific results. Quantifying achievements with numbers can make them stand out.

Get ready to see an example of how to add resume keywords to the work experience section.

The example above works as it features:

• Strong action verbs: Words like "secured," "led," "spearheaded," and "drafted" make the actions sound more impactful.
• Achievements over duties: Each bullet includes measurable results, like "15+ media placements" and "20% increase in engagement."
• Relevant keywords: Key industry terms, such as "media relations," "influencer campaigns," and "event activations," are used to align with the potential role.

Keywords in the skills section

The skills section allows you to directly list the keywords that match your qualifications. Make sure to customize it for each of your job applications:

• Integrate hard skills & tools: Focus on software programs or tools that align with the job description to pass the initial screening, especially for technical positions.
• Tailor your skills: Prioritize the skills mentioned in the job posting, whether they’re technical or interpersonal.
• Organize your skills section: Put them into categories, such as "Technical Skills" and "Soft Skills," to ensure clarity and relevance to the role.

Check out the skills section below of a candidate, applying for a Mitigation Data Specialist role, which features key technologies.

Keywords in the education section

Your education section can also be optimized with relevant keywords, especially for roles that emphasize academic qualifications.

Include your:

• Degrees and certifications: Include degrees and certifications using the specific language from the job description.
• Relevant coursework: Highlight academic achievements or projects that align with the skills or qualifications the employer seeks.

Here is the resume of a candidate applying for a role as a business development executive, where a degree is mandatory.

Examples of resume keywords for popular industries

Now for the part you’ve been looking forward to–we’ll provide you with a list of 285 resume keywords for some of the most popular industries.

Best practices for using resume keywords

Here are our six tips on how to naturally integrate keywords throughout your resume.

Be honest with your experience

You may not have all of the skills from the job requirements, but you should never misrepresent your experience. Focus on the qualifications you genuinely possess and highlight them using relevant keywords.

Tailor for each job

Customize your resume for each position by incorporating keywords from the job description. Match these keywords to your experience, skills, and summary where they fit naturally.

Don't ignore your soft skills

Alongside technical skills, integrate soft skills that are relevant to the job. These are often equally important to employers showing you can fit into the company culture.

Add your keywords exactly as they appear in the job description

Whenever you can, copy and paste each resume keyword from the job requirements (e.g. the name of the required degree that you have), as some ATS don't recognize word variations. Of course, feel free to use keyword synonyms, to avoid over-repeating.

Keep your resume readable

Avoid cluttering your resume with excessive keywords that can detract from the overall readability. The general rule is to include between 25 to 30 keywords with many naturally appearing as you describe your experience.

Regularly update your resume

Review and update your resume to include current and relevant keywords to keep in line with industry trends and job market requirements.

Here are four things you need to avoid:

• Keyword stuffing: Once again, overloading your resume with keywords can make it hard to read and may be flagged by both ATS and human reviewers.
• Using buzzwords: Avoid generic and overused buzzwords that add little value and may confuse the reader, such as "results-oriented professional" or "passionate to make a change."
• Hiding keywords: Don’t use deceptive practices like hiding keywords with white text, which is considered unethical.
• Bragging: Avoid overly boastful language that may make you seem overqualified or arrogant.

ATS-friendly resume formatting

When formatting your resume, balance it to be easily readable for the recruiters and then the ATS.

Let’s take a look at some key tips to ensure your resume passes through the ATS while remaining compelling for hiring managers:

• Avoid complex elements like tables, columns, and graphics that might confuse the ATS. Stick to a straightforward format with clear headings and bullet points for ease of scanning.
• Opt for professional, easily readable fonts such as Montserrat, Lato, Rubik, in sizes between 10–12 points. Avoid unusual fonts and refrain from using bold or italics for keywords, as this can disrupt the ATS's ability to read your resume correctly.
• Create a clean and organized layout that is easily navigable. Ensure the format is consistent and logical, facilitating both ATS parsing and human review.
• Employ standard section titles like “Work Experience,” "Skills," and “Education” to help the ATS accurately categorize the information.
• Double-check the spelling of keywords and your whole resume, as this will also show your attention to detail.

Tools to help you find and optimize resume keywords

To ensure your resume is tailored with the right keywords, we recommend using a builder like ResumeMentor’s, which can optimize your resume for the job you’re targeting.

Alternatively, you can use these other methods, such as:

• Manually reviewing job descriptions and identifying keywords.
• Scanning LinkedIn profiles of professionals in your field for relevant terms.
• Ensuring your keywords align with the local job market, like adjusting spelling for different geographic locations (e.g. a job in London vs New York).