How to Find the Best Resume Keywords & Work With the ATS  [+ Examples]

Your perfectly crafted resume might never reach human eyes without the right resume keywords.

Resume keywords are specific words and phrases drawn directly from job descriptions that act as a bridge between your qualifications and what employers require. With recruiters using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to organize hundreds of resumes, these words are vital to your job search—they're the parameters employers when finding the most qualified candidates in an ATS to interview.

By strategically incorporating keywords into your resume, you can align your job applications with requirements, improve your chances of being found during ATS searches, and demonstrate your fit for the role. Below you'll learn how to get it right.

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Want to find the right resume keywords fast? Use Teal’s AI Resume Builder to identify and incorporate the best keywords for every application.

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What are resume keywords?

Resume keywords are specific words or phrases that an employer uses in a job listing and their internal systems that describe the skills, qualifications, and experiences they're looking for in a candidate. Applicants add these words to their resume (and cover letter!) to align their skills and qualifications with each unique job.

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Why are resume keywords important?

Resume keywords play a crucial role in making sure your application gets noticed. These specific words and phrases help highlight your skills and qualifications in a way that aligns with the job description.

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Beyond that, resume keywords:

• Help recruiters determine if a candidate is the best fit for a job
• Increase your visibility in applicant tracking systems (ATS)
• Relate to the skills, qualifications, and experience required for a position
• May include industry-specific jargon, software and tools, and other relevant terminology
• Often include both types of resume skills—soft and hard

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How applicant tracking systems check for resume keywords

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a tool—like a digital filing system—employers use to organize and manage applications. It helps streamline resume sorting, filtering, and storing, allowing hiring managers and recruiters to handle large volumes of applications more efficiently.

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When you apply through a job portal, the ATS parses your resume. Within the system, recruiters can then search for ATS keywords—specific terms that reflect the skills, qualifications, and experience relevant to the job posting. The system acts like a resume keyword scanner, identifying applications that include these targeted keywords a human hiring professional is searching for, making it easier for a recruiter or hiring manager to find and prioritize the most qualified candidates for a role quickly.

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What impact do resume keywords have on ATS

Despite the LinkedIn hot takes, the ATS doesn’t make decisions or filter out resumes on its own; recruiters manually search for specific keywords like skills, qualifications, and experiences. If your resume includes the right keywords and speaks the same language as the JD, it will surface.

The impact is clear: keywords increase your visibility in the system. Without them, even a highly qualified candidate may be overlooked simply because the resume doesn't align with the terms a human hiring professional is searching for. It’s not about “beating the AI robots;" it’s about understanding how recruiters look for candidates and making sure your resume is set up to reflect what the job demands.

For example: If a job posting lists a required software like Salesforce, the recruiter may search the ATS for that keyword. If your resume doesn’t mention it—even if you have the skill—it won't show up in the recruiter’s results.

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How to find resume keywords from a job description

Identifying resume keywords from a job description (JD) is an essential step in tailoring your resume to stand out to recruiters and land a job interview.

Here's how you can easily spot the key terms and phrases that employers are looking for:

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1. Start with the job title and requirements

The job title contains relevant keywords more often than not. In fact, the target job titles on your resume should always align with the unique position you're applying for.

For example, if you're applying for a "Marketing Manager" role, “marketing manager” should appear in your resume alongside related terms like “campaign management,” “content marketing,” or “strategic planning.” Review the job title, responsibilities, and qualifications closely for recurring terms.

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2. Focus on skills and qualifications

Read through the “required skills” or “qualifications” section of the JD. Even if you're applying for the same job title over and over, the skills and qualifications might be different.  

Look for both hard and soft skills like "data analysis," "project management," or "team collaboration." These keywords should be woven into your resume summary, work experience, and more.

Keep in mind the skills you list in your Skills section should also be found in other parts of your resume to show how you used those proficiencies to have impact.

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3. Highlight tools and technologies

Many job descriptions mention specific software, tools, or technologies like "Salesforce," "Google Analytics," or "Python." Including these keywords ensures that your technical expertise aligns with the job requirements and catches the attention of recruiters.

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4. Look for action verbs and job-specific language

Note any action verbs that describe what you'll be doing in the role, like "develop," "implement," or "lead." You can use these in your experience section to show how your previous accomplishments align with the tasks in the new role. Also, watch for industry-specific jargon or terminology and incorporate that into your resume where relevant.

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Automate resume keywords

While finding resume keywords on your own is effective, it takes a lot of time. Teal’s AI Resume Builder can help you speed up the process.

When you upload a JD, Teal highlights the most important keywords. It also has a Job Matching so you can see just how well your resume aligns with every unique position. Then, use the suggestions to integrate more job-related skills into your resume to improve your alignment.

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How to include keywords in your resume

Now that you understand how to get the right keywords from job postings, it’s time to incorporate them into your resume strategically. Each section—from your summary to your work experience—provides an opportunity to naturally embed these terms and demonstrate your fit for the role. Here's how you do it.

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How to add keywords to a resume summary

Your resume summary is an ideal spot to include the top keywords showcasing your core skills and expertise. By using relevant job description keywords, you can immediately show employers that your qualifications align with the role. Keep it concise and focused, ensuring the keywords fit naturally within your professional overview. However, avoid stuffing too many keywords and always strive to maintain a natural and engaging tone.

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How to add keywords to a professional headline

When listing your desired job title (also known as a target title), align this as closely as possible with the title you've identified from the job posting.

For example, if the job ad is asking for a 'Graphic Designer' with 'branding' and 'digital marketing' experience, make sure 'Graphic Designer' or a very similar title is listed as your target title and that those keywords appear in your professional summary and work experience bullet points if they align with your skills and experiences.

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How to add keywords to your work history

The Work Experience section is your opportunity to showcase how you've used your skills in practice in a previous job. When detailing your past roles, integrate keywords into the descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements. Aim to showcase impact and demonstrate how you used the skills represented by the keywords to bring about tangible results.

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How to add keywords to a skills section

In the Skills section, directly include the keywords that highlight your relevant abilities. If 'project management certification,' 'AirTable,' or 'Webflow' are keywords for your targeted role and they’re part of your skillset, make sure they're clearly listed in this section.

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How to add keywords to an education section 

Finally, the Education and Certifications sections. Include any degrees, courses, or certifications that are relevant keywords. For example, if 'MBA' or 'Certified Public Accountant' are keywords that popped up in your research and you have these qualifications, make sure they're included.

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Resume keywords list by industry

Different industries prioritize various skills, qualifications, and experiences, which are reflected in the keywords they use in job descriptions and ATS searches.

In this section, you'll find curated ATS keyword lists for various industries. These keywords are some of the most commonly sought after by employers and recruiters searching ATS databases for qualified candidates.

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Sales resume keywords 

• Sales management
• Business strategy
• B2B/B2C sales
• Customer service
• Negotiation
• Account management
• Customer acquisition
• CRM
• Pipeline management
• Lead generation

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Marketing resume keywords

• Digital marketing
• Social media
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Content marketing
• Branding
• Marketing strategy
• Marketing research
• ROI
• Marketing analysis
• PPC

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Engineering resume keywords

• Software development
• Java
• SQL
• Agile methodologies
• Python
• Design
• CAD
• Troubleshooting
• SaaS technologies
• MS Office Suite

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Customer service resume keywords

• Customer relations
• Problem resolution
• Customer satisfaction
• Multitasking
• Communication skills
• Customer retention
• Complaint handling
• Conflict resolution
• Time management
• Relationship building
• Technical support
• Empathy
• Active listening
• Troubleshooting
• Customer experience

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Project manager resume keywords

• Project planning
• Risk management
• Time management
• Quality assurance
• Task prioritization
• PMP
• Agile (scrum) methodologies
• Budget management
• Problem solving
• Stakeholder management

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Business analyst resume keywords

• Data analysis
• Process improvement
• Requirements gathering
• SQL
• Tableau
• Business intelligence
• Stakeholder management
• SWOT analysis
• Agile methodologies
• Financial modeling

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Healthcare resume keywords

• Patient care
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• HIPAA compliance
• Clinical documentation
• Medical coding
• Infection control
• Vital signs monitoring
• Medication administration
• Care coordination
• Quality assurance

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Finance resume keywords

• Financial reporting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Risk management
• Investment analysis
• Accounting principles
• Regulatory compliance
• Financial modeling
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Auditing
• Cost analysis

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Education resume keywords

• Curriculum development
• Classroom management
• Student assessment
• Differentiated instruction
• Educational technology
• IEP development
• Behavior management
• Professional development
• Learning strategies
• Parent-teacher communication

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Human resources resume keywords

• Talent acquisition
• Employee relations
• Performance management
• Benefits administration
• Workforce planning
• HRIS systems
• Diversity and inclusion
• Labor laws
• Onboarding
• Compensation analysis

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How to identify and include ATS keywords in your resume with Teal

The most effective way to find the best keywords for your ATS resume is to review each job description carefully. While this skill improves with practice, tools like Teal can simplify and speed up the process. Here's how to do it in Teal:

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Step 1: Save a Job:

When you find a job posting you're interested in, save it to your Teal Job Tracker.

Just click "Add a New Job" at the top right of the Tracker screen and fill in the appropriate fields. You can also do this from the free Teal Chrome Extension in just one click from 40+ job boards.

(If you don't have a Teal account, you can sign up here—this will let you test the tools to see if they're a good fit for your needs.)

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Step 2: Review the keywords

Once you hit "Save" your keywords will populate on the next screen. Here, you'll see the hard skills, soft skills, and other important language that matters most to the prospective employer.

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Step 3: Check your resume

Now, it's time to see how your resume content aligns with the job.

Head to the Teal Resume Builder and select the resume that aligns most with the role, followed by the "Job Matching" tab. Then, attach a job description to automatically compare your resume to the JD with a Match Score.

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Step 4: Review and incorporate

Check your score. Is it below 70%? If it is, look at the highlighted keywords and consider how to integrate them into your resume naturally to improve your score—and your alignment with the job.

Teal comes with the top five hard skills for every JD. Teal+ is 9/week and offers unlimited skills (and other tools like unlimited, customizable AI and Advanced Resume Analysis) for a more comprehensive application strategy.

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Start using resume keywords today

The right resume keywords can mean the difference between your resume being found in the ATS or overlooked. By incorporating relevant language, you're not just playing an ATS game—you're speaking the language of your potential employers and demonstrating your fit for the role.

While manually identifying and incorporating keywords for every application can be time-consuming, Teal's AI Resume Builder can streamline this process.

Teal helps you:

1. Quickly identify key skills and qualifications from job descriptions
2. Compare your resume against job requirements
3. Save time by automating much of the keyword optimization process with suggestions for improvement

Don't let risk opportunities because of missing keywords.