Every word in your resume takes up valuable space, so make them count. In fact, selecting targeted and relevant keywords that relate to the role you are seeking can help you get past the resume screening and into your first round of interviews.
Find out how to use resume keywords effectively, the best keywords for a resume, and which words will help your resume pop.
Why Resume Keywords Matter
Importance of resume keywords in the hiring process
Busy recruiters may only spend a few seconds looking at your resume. What are they scanning for? Keywords. Incorporate keywords and phrases related to the job throughout your resume to indicate that you are a good match.
For example, if someone is hiring for a retail manager role, they may be looking for words like “retail,” “inventory,” “product display,” and “scheduling.”
Enhancing applicant tracking systems compatibility
In addition to human readers, often, companies have applicant tracking systems (ATS) do a first pass on resumes that come in. These systems are sometimes programmed to flag resumes that use desirable keywords and filter out the rest.
Picking keywords to get past ATS filters is sort of like the modern-day version of a screening phone call. If you don’t pass through, your resume may never end up in a recruiter’s hands.
Aligning with job descriptions
Matching your resume keywords with keywords used in job postings demonstrates that you meet job requirements. While it’s fine to work off of a master resume, customizing it with keywords for each company you apply to can help you stand out.
For example, an organization might be looking for someone who has experience with a particular software. If it’s not listed on your general resume but is something you’re skilled at, you can add it.
Types of Keywords To Include on Your Resume
Some keywords are specific to the type of work you do, while others might be related to skill sets you have, tools you use, or the impact you’ve had. A resume builder can help you find the best words to describe yourself professionally. Here are a few strategies as to how to find keywords for resumes.
Industry-specific keywords
While your resume shouldn’t be too full of jargon, it is acceptable to use industry terms that a job recruiter or hiring manager would be familiar with. For example, information technology (IT)-related resumes might use terms like “firewall,” “switches,” or “LAN” while project management job seekers might use keywords like “vendor management” or “compliance.”
Read a few job listings in your field to get a sense of the common industry-specific keywords for resumes.
Job-specific keywords
Think about which keywords are related to particular job functions that you may perform. Some examples might be “customer service,” “patient care,” or “troubleshooting.”
The responsibilities section of a job posting can be helpful for generating these kinds of keywords.
Skill-based keywords
Resumes should include a mix of hard and soft skills to demonstrate proficiency in performing tasks and emotional intelligence in working well with others. Hard skills are usually more technical or hands-on in nature, while soft skills involve interpersonal skills.
- Hard skills could be: vital signs monitoring, web page design, or search engine optimization (SEO) analysis
- Soft skills might include: communication, leadership, or empathy
Action verbs and power words
Powerful words can enhance the effectiveness of your resume and inject some energy and excitement into an otherwise bland document. See how these word lists compare to give you an idea.
Certifications and tools
Another type of keyword that employers may look for is specific certifications or proficiency in certain software suites. For example, salespeople may want to list platforms like Salesforce while a financial professional could include a designation like CPA or CFP.
How To Identify the Best Keywords for Your Resume
Analyzing job descriptions
One easy way to find appropriate keywords for your resume is to carefully look over job postings. See if there are any frequently mentioned terms that stand out. You can also read about the company itself to match your resume to its key values, whether it’s innovation, inclusivity, or public service.
Researching industry trends
Other resources that can help you find strong keywords for your resume could include industry publications, reports, or blogs. See which topics are emerging in the field or what’s trending. For example, using AI tools might be more common to your line of work, and therefore, something you can add.
Using online tools for keyword research
Tools like Jobscan, LinkedIn, and Google Trends can also help identify the best keywords for resumes. Take advantage of these tools to help refine your keyword strategy.
How to Integrate Keywords into Your Resume
Incorporating keywords into the resume summary
One of the best places to include relevant keywords is in your resume summary or objective. This section is the top of your resume and the most likely part to be reviewed. Here’s an example of a keyword-optimized resume summary for a financial analyst:
- Methodical financial analyst with over seven years of experience leveraging advanced financial modeling to drive portfolio growth. Conducts rigorous risk assessment to mitigate loss and deliver actionable insight. Known for staying at the forefront of industry trends and best practices.
Using keywords in the work experience section
Within your job history, you can also naturally integrate keywords into your bullet points.
Examples of job descriptions enhanced with keywords:
- Design and implement network upgrades to Cisco 6500-E, including migrating more than 85 WAN connections across five locations
- Manage and troubleshoot more than 450 enterprise-level servers to ensure uptime and reduce help desk requests by 35%
Listing keywords in the skills section
As far as keyword strategy for resumes goes, the skills section is another important place to highlight top keywords. Here are resume keyword examples for a pharmacy technician:
Key Skills
- Assisting pharmacist
- Customer service
- Knowledge of drug classification and medication procedures
- Pharmaceutical calculations and measurement skills
- Regulatory compliance
Including keywords in additional sections
Some keywords will appear most naturally in the education, certifications, and additional information sections if they have to do with formal training you’ve done.
Examples of Effective Resume Keywords
Example keywords for information technology professionals
Sample keywords:
- Cloud computing
- JavaScript
- Network security
An IT professional might list various programs under key skills like this:
- Programming languages: C++, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, Python
An example of a job description bullet could be:
- Mentored junior network engineers to increase their technical skills and knowledge of Cisco’s product suite
Example keywords for marketing professionals
Sample keywords:
- Brand management
- Content strategy
- SEO
Sample resume excerpt with marketing-focused keywords:
- Oversaw the planning and execution of key branding strategies, contributing to a 10% increase in brand awareness in targeted markets within 60 days
- Leveraged data analysis skills to measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, resulting in a 15% improvement in resource allocation
Example keywords for health care professionals
Sample keywords:
- clinical trials
- HIPAA compliance
- patient care
Sample resume summary with health care-focused keywords:
Patient-focused registered nurse (RN) with more than 10 years of experience in post-operative care and rehabilitation for adults, along with neonatal intensive care (NICU) experience. Proven track record for elevating patient satisfaction rates, communicating across medical departments, and driving patient success rates. Known for delivering compassionate care and emotional support in the most complex, traumatic circumstances.
Example keywords for sales professionals
Sample keywords:
- account management
- lead generation
- salesforce
Sample job description bullets with sales-focused keywords:
- Attracted an average of 500 participants per session in support of a product webinar series launch
- Optimized Google Ads management to maximize reach and contribute to a 20% increase in website traffic and leads over one year
- Partnered with social media experts and grew followers by 25% across platforms with a targeted ad campaign for two years
Here’s a resume example that demonstrates good keyword use:
James Roth
[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Austin, TX | LinkedIn | Portfolio
Professional Summary
Data-driven marketing analyst with five years of experience in digital marketing, data analysis, and customer behavior insights. Proven track record in leveraging Google Analytics and SQL to improve campaign performance and drive lead generation. Skilled in audience segmentation, A/B testing, and conversion rate optimization (CRO) to support customer acquisition and retention initiatives.
Professional Experience
Marketing Analyst
Digital Insights, Austin, TX
August 2019 – Present
- Conducts in-depth data analysis using Google Analytics, SQL, and Tableau, generating insights that improved digital campaign ROI by 30% within one year.
- Optimized lead generation funnels by implementing A/B testing and multivariate testing, increasing conversion rates by 20% across multiple channels.
- Collaborates with cross-functional teams in product development, customer success, and sales to align marketing strategies with business objectives and target customer needs.
- Designed and executed targeted email marketing campaigns, achieving a 25% improvement in open rates and a 15% increase in click-through rates through strategic audience segmentation and personalized content.
- Analyzes customer journey metrics to enhance the user experience on the company website, supporting a 10% reduction in bounce rates and a 5% increase in average session duration.
Digital Marketing Specialist
BrightWeb Media, Austin, TX
July 2016 – July 2019
- Managed SEO optimization efforts, resulting in a 35% increase in organic traffic and a first-page ranking for 10 high-value keywords.
- Utilized Google Ads to create targeted PPC campaigns, reducing cost-per-click (CPC) by 15% and improving ad performance metrics.
- Developed content strategies in coordination with the content team, boosting social media engagement by 25% and brand visibility in target markets.
- Tracked performance metrics for social media campaigns, using data visualization tools like Power BI to present key insights to stakeholders and inform decision-making.
Key Skills
- Data analysis and reporting (Google Analytics, SQL, Tableau)
- Search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) management
- Customer journey mapping and CRO
- Campaign strategy and execution
- A/B and multivariate testing
Certifications
- Google Analytics Certified | 2021
- HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification | 2020
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Marketing | May 2016
University of Texas, Austin, TX
Tips for Using Keywords Effectively
Avoiding keyword stuffing
If you’re concerned about how to choose keywords for resumes, just plopping in keywords in places where they don’t make sense or sound natural will not work. Incorporate the keywords where they fit best, and spread them around. For example:
- Skills can fit into a skills section, but also within a job description or in the summary.
- A certification should be in the education section and can also be in your summary.
- Industry words can be throughout the document.
Balancing specificity and generality
Use a mix of both specific job-related keywords and broader terms for resume keyword optimization. This is important because different people will be reviewing your resume. A human resources (HR) person might be looking for a fit with the company values while a direct supervisor might be more focused on hard skills.
Here’s an example of a good balance:
- Supervised and mentored a team of junior engineers, ensuring quality control and compliance with company standards
- Utilized CAD software to design complex mechanical systems, perform simulations, validate designs through testing, and incorporate industry trends into innovative engineering solutions
Keeping keywords up-to-date
Your resume is a living document, meaning you should be reviewing and updating it frequently. The top resume keywords for job applications are constantly changing. Show that you are keeping current with evolving industry terminology. Especially if you haven’t been a job seeker in a while, your older resume might be outdated. This may be most apparent with mentioning types of software or when listing technology skills.
Look at job listings and browse LinkedIn profiles of people in your field for some ideas.
Keep ATS in mind
Don’t forget that an ATS might be looking for certain keywords, and how you write and format your resume matters. For example, if there is an acronym for certification, you may want to both spell it out and include the acronym (i.e. Registered Nurse and RN).
Try to keep your section headers standard as well. Use “skills, education, experience” rather than “strengths, schooling, past companies,” which are less recognizable.
Tailor keywords for each job application
Customizing keywords for each specific job application is important, and it only takes a few minutes. Simply look at the job description and company description and sprinkle in some of the same terminology they use.
Additional Resources
Links to online tools for keyword optimization
Resume templates with keyword integration
Career Advice Articles and Job Application Tips
What are weak words on a resume?
When learning how to use keywords on resumes, also learn which words to avoid. Limit weak verbs like made, worked, or helped. In addition, avoid empty phrases or generic words like "team player," "hard worker," "responsible for," "great," and "super."
What is resume keyword stuffing?
Keyword stuffing is when you add a bunch of words you think look impressive or try to beat the ATS filters, but they don't accurately describe your accomplishments, or they are out of place. Keywords should be used purposefully.
What words do applicant tracking systems scanners look for?
ATS will scan for specific keywords chosen by the hiring team. The list of words might involve specific skills related to the job or industry, education or training credentials, or certain action verbs.
Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.
