Writing a standout resume begins with mastering the right keywords. If terms like “resume keywords” and the software that scans for them are new to you, don’t panic—this article covers exactly what you need to effortlessly integrate keywords into your resume.
We’ll explain what resume keywords are, how to find them, and where to strategically insert them into your resume. Plus, we’ve compiled a handy industry keywords list to give you a head start.
Let’s dive in and make your resume shine!
What Are Resume Keywords?
Resume keywords are specific words or phrases that hiring managers look for on your resume to determine if you are a qualified candidate.
Because hiring managers and large companies review hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes for a single role, they use software to search for these keywords. This software is referred to as an ATS.
Recruiters use ATS to search for keywords that will help them find the ideal candidate for the job.
Example
If you’re applying for a position that requires a bachelor’s degree in business and experience with financial analysis, the exact phrases “Bachelor of Business Administration” and “Financial analysis” should be on your resume, as it’s likely the recruiter will type these phrases in the ATS when searching for resumes.
You should also pay attention to your resume format to ensure the ATS can parse your resume in the first place.
Consider trying our online AI resume builder for free. It can help you save time, make sure your resume has the correct format, and guarantee you include all the necessary sections.
How Do You Find Keywords for Your Resume?
While we’ve given you a head start on identifying keywords for a resume with a list of the best keywords for each industry below, you should still review the job posting to align your resume with the language they use.
Here is a quick table to help you understand where to find the required keywords from reading a job posting:
There are a few keywords that you can easily identify from the job posting, so begin by identifying these:
- Job title
- Degree/certificate/training required
- Software
💡tip
Want to make a skills section that helps you stand out from the crowd? You can use our AI skills generator during a trial period to help effortlessly show off how your skills align with the role advertised.
Where To Put Keywords on Your Resume
To make your resume easy to find in the ATS, you’ll also need to think about where on your resume you place the keywords. Below is some advice for each section:
Add job titles and company names to your summary
For the job title keywords, you’ll find it easiest and most logical to include them in your resume summary. You can instantly create a summary that highlights the keywords naturally with the help of our AI resume summary generator.
Place degrees and training in the education section
The degree or training requirements should be listed under the Education section of your resume.
Include skill keywords in both the skills and experience sections
Try to naturally include both hard skill and soft skill keywords in both the skills section and experience section.
Example
If they are looking for someone with CAD experience, you can list “CAD experience” and do not need to expand on the acronym to say, “Computer-aided design experience.”
Use resume keywords together with action words
Powerful action verbs like “led,” “developed,” or “implemented” that describe what you actually accomplished. They can be considered power words for resumes.
Action verbs should be placed at the beginning of bullet points in your Experience section to make achievements stand out.
For example:
❌ “Responsible for managing a sales team.”
✅ “Led and motivated a sales team of 10, exceeding quarterly goals by 20%.”
Using action verbs like led, designed, improved, or resolved makes your contributions clearer and more impactful. Combine them with the keywords you find in the job posting to make a resume that highlights your skills and accomplishments to help your qualifications stand out.
Reinforce keywords in your cover letter
Consider including the most important keywords you find in the personalized cover letter you send with the resume. This shows the recruiter or hiring manager that you’re a match for their requirements.
You can instantly create a perfect cover letter tailored to your industry with our AI cover letter generator.
Be honest with your keywords
If you do not have a skill or the experience that the job posting lists, do not put it on your resume. You must only list resume keywords that apply to you and your professional skills.
The Top Resume Keywords to Use For Different Industries
We’ve compiled a resume keywords list by industry below so you can get a feel for the type of resume keywords to look for in job postings.
Feel free to use some of these as inspiration or to help with writing sections of your resume, but always make sure it fits your experience and the specific job you are applying for.
General professional keywords
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Documentation
- Organization
- Adaptability
- Attention to detail
- Leadership
- Motivation
- Teamwork
- Multitasking
- Time management
Administrative resume keywords:
- Office management
- Ordering supplies
- Inventory management
- Scheduling
- Travel itineraries
- Document management
- Customer service
- Reception
- Calendar management
- Meeting coordination
- Customer communication
- Written communication
- Verbal communication
- Stakeholder engagement
- Presentation skills
- Negotiation
- Conflict resolution
- Interpersonal skills
- ChatGPT
- Microsoft Copilot
- AI-powered scheduling
- AI-driven data entry
- Predictive analytics
- Virtual assistants
- AI workflow automation
Computer programming / IT resume keywords:
- Python
- JavaScript
- C++
- Java
- HTML
- CSS
- SQL
- Ruby
- R
- C#
- PHP
- Swift
- Kotlin
- C
- Bash
- Shell
- Web development
- Web design
- Front-end development
- Back-end development
- Full-stack development
- APIs
- Program design
- Mobile app
- App development
- GUI
- Linux
- Unix
- Windows
- macOS
- Server
- Computer hardware
- IT support
- Helpdesk management
- Operating system
- Network security
- Wireless networks
- Cybersecurity
- DevOps
- Command line
- Machine learning
- AI development
- AR/VR development
- Machine learning
- Predictive analytics
- AI-driven data analysis
- AI-powered development tools
Education resume keywords:
- Early childhood education
- Elementary
- Secondary
- Post-secondary
- Lecturing
- Curriculum development
- Instructional design
- Instructional technology
- Distance learning
- Special education
- Individualized education plans (IEPs)
- Positive discipline
- Student-centered learning
- Positive learning environments
- Advising
- Mentoring
- Parent-teacher relationships
- Multicultural awareness
- AI-powered educational tools
- Adaptive learning technologies
- Predictive analytics for student performance
- Automated grading systems
- Instructional technology
Engineering resume keywords:
- CAD (Computer-Aided Design)
- FEA (Finite Element Analysis)
- CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)
- Structural analysis
- Testing
- Stress analysis
- Program design
- Validation
- Aerospace engineering
- Automotive engineering
- Civil engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Chemical engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Computer engineering
- Industrial engineering
- Environmental engineering
- Geological engineering
- Mining engineering
- Robotics
- Mechatronics
- Manufacturing
- Machinery
- Electronics
- Infrastructure
- Packaging
- Software
- AI (Artificial Intelligence)
- Machine learning
- VR (Virtual Reality)
- AR (Augmented Reality)
- Network security
- AI-powered design tools
- Predictive analytics
- Machine learning algorithms
- AI-driven data analysis
- Automated testing systems
- Intelligent optimization systems
- CAD/CAM
- SolidWorks
- ANSYS
- MATLAB
- CATIA
- CNC
- Six Sigma
- Lean manufacturing
- Control engineering
- Materials science
- Avionics
- Propulsion systems
- Flight dynamics
- Thermodynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Combustion
- BS Engineering
- Professional engineer (PE) license
- Relevant industry certifications (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean, PMP)
Finance resume keywords:
- Bookkeeping
- Accounts payable
- Accounts receivable
- Bank reconciliation
- Invoicing
- Adjusting and closing entries
- Journal entries
- Financial analysis
- Budgeting
- Cash flow
- P&L management
- Forecasting
- Financial modeling
- Valuation
- Business planning
- Corporate finance
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&As)
- Strategic planning
- Financial reporting
- Financial statements
- Auditing
- Compliance
- Internal controls
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
- Risk management
- Regulations
- Tax accounting
- Tax compliance
- Tax planning
- Spreadsheets
- SAP
- Financial software
- Database management
- AI-powered financial analysis tools
- Predictive analytics
- Automated financial reporting
- AI-driven data analysis
Healthcare resume keywords:
- Patient care
- Patient advocacy
- Patient satisfaction
- Empathy
- Active listening
- Cultural humility
- Health team collaboration
- Healthcare operations
- Inventory management
- Prescription management
- Medical records
- Critical thinking
- Health analytics
- Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
- Electronic Health Records (EHR)
- AI-powered health analytics tools
- Predictive analytics for patient outcomes
- Automated medical records management
- AI-driven patient care optimization
- Intelligent scheduling systems
- Surgery
- Operating Room (OR)
- Emergency Room (ER)
Human resources resume keywords:
- Recruitment strategies
- Employee retention
- Employee engagement
- Exit interviews
- Employee handbook development
- Employee survey development
- Performance management
- Succession planning
- Talent development
- Training and development
- Onboarding
- Coaching
- Mentoring
- Payroll
- Compensation and benefits
- Pension administration
- Salary reviews
- Total rewards
- Change management
- Organizational development
- Business reengineering
- Culture management
- Strategic HR planning
- Workforce planning
- Conflict resolution
- Labor relations
- Contract negotiation
- Regulatory affairs
- Health and safety programs
- Occupational health and safety
- Employee relations
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Multicultural awareness
- AI-powered recruitment tools
- Predictive analytics for employee retention
- Automated performance management systems
- AI-driven employee engagement platforms
- Intelligent onboarding systems
Legal resume keywords:
- Trial law
- Family law
- Injury law
- Labor law
- Intellectual property
- Copyright law
- Contract law
- Litigation
- Legal writing
- Legal review
- Filed motions
- Electronic filing
- Licensing
- Mediations
- Depositions
- Negotiations
- Case strategy
- Legal research
- Legal analysis
- Document review
- Case management
- Discovery process
- Brief preparation
- Legal research databases (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis)
- Electronic case management systems
- AI-powered legal research tools
- Predictive analytics for case outcomes
- Automated document review systems
- AI-driven contract analysis
- Intelligent e-discovery tools
Management resume keywords:
- Team leadership
- Coaching and developing
- Team building
- Change leadership
- Policy development
- Change management
- Budget management
- P&L ownership
- Asset management
- Financial analysis
- Business strategy
- Operations management
- Workflow management
- Performance reviews
- Business analysis
- Risk management
- Proposal development
- Partnership management
- Account management
- Stakeholder management
- Vendor relationships
- Contract negotiation
- Technical documentation
- Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Trello)
- CRM systems
- SAP
- AI-powered business analysis tools
- Predictive analytics for revenue forecasting
- Automated workflow management systems
- AI-driven performance review platforms
- Intelligent risk management systems
Manufacturing, industrial, and technical resume keywords:
- Building maintenance
- Operations management
- Troubleshooting
- Problem solving
- Quality control (QA)
- Safety management
- Workplace optimization
- Lean manufacturing
- Shipping and receiving
- Warehouse management
- Logistics management
- AI-powered predictive maintenance
- Predictive analytics for equipment failures
- Automated quality control systems
- AI-driven inventory management
- Intelligent process optimization
Sales and marketing resume keywords:
- Account management
- New business development
- Client relationship management
- B2B (Business-to-Business)
- B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
- Campaign management
- Digital marketing
- Content marketing
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- Email marketing
- Social media marketing
- Product launch
- Blog writing
- Article writing
- Sales metrics
- Conversion rate
- Email open rate
- Customer satisfaction
- Customer Relationship Management(CRM)
- Copywriting
- Marketing automation tools
- AI-powered marketing automation
- Predictive analytics for sales forecasting
- AI-driven customer journey mapping
- Automated email marketing systems
- Intelligent CRM systems
- Budget management
- Business direction
- Operations management
- Policy development
- Risk management
- Strategic planning
- Performance reviews
- Proposal development
- Partnership management
- Vendor relationships
- Contract negotiation
Check That Your Resume Is Perfect
Ready to send your resume, optimized for keywords and ATS parsability, but want to ensure it’s perfect? Try our resume checking service. You’ll get personalized feedback to help you tailor your resume to your industry.
Key Takeaways
Understanding and effectively using resume keywords can significantly boost your chances of landing your dream job, regardless of whether you just finished college or have significant experience under your belt.
Just make sure you do the following:
- Identify key terms: Pinpoint crucial keywords from the job posting, like required degrees, must-have skills, and critical software
- Strategically place keywords: Weave these keywords into your resume summary, education section, skills list, and experience descriptions, using language from the job posting.
- Maintain honesty: Only include keywords that truly reflect your skills and experience to present an authentic and honest profile.
Nail these steps, and your resume will not only breeze through ATS filters but also catch the eye of hiring managers, positioning you as the standout candidate.
Best of luck!
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FAQs
Resume scanners are used by recruiters to look for specific keywords to determine a candidate’s suitability for a job. These keywords typically come from job descriptions and include:
- Job-related skills: Specific technical or industry-specific skills (e.g., “project management,” “Java,” “financial analysis”).
- Qualifications: Educational and certification requirements (e.g., “MBA,” “CPA”).
Industry keywords are specific terms and phrases commonly used within a particular field that describe essential skills, tools, technologies, and qualifications.
These keywords help demonstrate your expertise and relevance to the industry. For example, in information technology, keywords might include “SQL,” “Linux,” and “cybersecurity,” while in marketing, they might be “SEO,” “content strategy,” and “market analysis.”
Including these in a job keywords list in your resume can enhance its visibility to recruiters and ATS systems.
Yes, but use them sparingly and strategically. Adjectives like “dedicated,” “innovative,” or “results-oriented” can strengthen your profile, especially in your summary.
However, avoid overused or vague terms like “excellent” or “hardworking.”
The best approach is to pair adjectives with measurable achievements, for example: “Creative marketing professional who increased engagement by 35%.”
Here are a few impactful verbs that are resume power words, and work well across industries:
- Achieved
- Designed
- Managed
- Implemented
- Improved
- Led
- Resolved
- Increased
- Spearheaded
- Developed
These verbs help transform your ordinary job duties into clear results. They can help make your resume sound confident and achievement-focused.
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