ATS keywords
Resume keywords: how to find and use ATS keywords
Applicant tracking systems and recruiters search resumes for keywords from the job description. Here is how to find the right ones and place them so they count — without keyword stuffing.
Find my missing keywordsWhat ATS keywords are
ATS keywords are the words a recruiter types when searching candidates: skills, software, job titles, certifications and industry terms. They come straight from the job posting.
- Hard skills: Python, SQL, financial modeling, SEO
- Tools and platforms: Salesforce, Jira, AWS, Figma
- Job titles: Product Manager, Data Analyst, Account Executive
- Certifications: PMP, CPA, AWS Certified, Google Analytics
How to find keywords in a job description
Look for terms that appear more than once, sit under Requirements or Qualifications, or are named as must-haves. Those carry the most weight in a job match score.
Related: How the job match score is calculated · Scan my resume against a job description
Where to put keywords on your resume
Placement matters as much as presence.
- Summary: your top 3–5 keywords for the role
- Skills section: grouped, plainly written skill names
- Experience: first bullets of each role, tied to a result
- Use both the acronym and full term once, e.g. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Related: ATS-friendly resume format rules
Resume keywords by role: examples
Starting points only — always use the exact wording from the job posting you are applying to.
- Software engineer: Java, Python, REST APIs, microservices, CI/CD, AWS, unit testing, system design
- Data analyst: SQL, Excel, Tableau, Power BI, Python, A/B testing, data visualization, stakeholder reporting
- Marketing: SEO, Google Analytics, content strategy, paid social, campaign management, CRM, conversion rate
- Sales: pipeline management, Salesforce, B2B, quota attainment, prospecting, negotiation, account management
- Project manager: Agile, Scrum, Jira, risk management, budgeting, stakeholder management, PMP
- Customer support: Zendesk, CSAT, ticket resolution, SLA, escalation handling, knowledge base
- Finance / accounting: GAAP, financial modeling, reconciliation, forecasting, SAP, variance analysis, CPA
Keywords only count if the ATS can read them
Keywords hidden in tables, text boxes, headers or images may never reach the ATS. Check your file's parseability before worrying about keyword coverage.
Related: Resume parseability checks · Resume score explained
Why evidence beats keyword stuffing
A skill listed in your Skills section but never shown in your experience is flagged as 'listed but not evidenced'. PlotMyCareer ties every matched keyword to a real bullet and asks you questions instead of inventing experience.
Frequently asked questions
What are keywords in a resume?
Resume keywords are the skills, tools, job titles, certifications and qualifications named in a job description. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruiters search for them to decide if you match the role.
How do I find the right keywords for my resume?
Read the job posting and list the hard skills, tools, titles and certifications it repeats. Paste the job description into the ATS checker to see which ones your resume already covers and which are missing.
Should I bold keywords in my resume?
No. Bolding random keywords does not help ATS parsing and can look cluttered to recruiters. Put keywords in your Summary, Skills and the first bullets of each role instead.
Can I add keywords I don't have experience with?
You shouldn't. Keyword stuffing is easy for recruiters to spot and can fail an interview. Only add a keyword when a real bullet or project backs it up.
How many keywords should a resume have?
There is no magic number. Aim to cover most of the required skills in the job description, each backed by evidence, without repeating the same term over and over.