Resume Keywords: How to Find and Use Them (2026 Guide)

"Add more keywords to your resume."

You've probably heard this advice a hundred times. But which keywords? And how do you add them without sounding like a robot?

In this guide, we'll show you exactly how to find, prioritize, and use resume keywords that actually get you past ATS and impress human recruiters.

What Are Resume Keywords?

Resume keywords are specific words and phrases that:

• Describe skills, qualifications, and experience
• Match what employers are looking for
• Help ATS systems identify qualified candidates
• Catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers

Keywords fall into several categories:

Why Keywords Matter

For ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

ATS scans your resume for specific keywords from the job description. If you don't have them, your resume may be filtered out automatically—even if you're perfectly qualified.

The stats:

• 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human sees them
• Most rejections happen due to missing keywords
• A 70%+ keyword match dramatically improves your chances

For Human Recruiters

Even after passing ATS, recruiters spend just 6-7 seconds on initial resume review. Keywords help them quickly identify:

• Do you have the required skills?
• Have you done similar work before?
• Are you at the right experience level?

How to Find the Right Keywords

Step 1: Analyze the Job Description

The job description is your keyword goldmine. Here's how to extract keywords:

What to look for:

1. Required qualifications (usually under "Requirements" or "Qualifications")
2. Preferred qualifications (nice-to-haves)
3. Responsibilities (what you'll do)
4. Repeated words (if something appears 3+ times, it's important)

Example job description excerpt:

We're looking for a Product Manager with experience in B2B SaaS. You'll work with engineering teams to develop our roadmap and prioritize features based on customer feedback and data analysis.

Requirements:

• 3+ years of product management experience
• Experience with Agile methodologies
• Strong SQL skills and ability to analyze user data
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management

Keywords extracted:

• Product Manager
• B2B SaaS
• Engineering teams
• Roadmap
• Prioritize features
• Customer feedback
• Data analysis
• Product management
• Agile methodologies
• SQL
• User data
• Communication
• Stakeholder management

Step 2: Use an ATS Keyword Checker

Manual extraction works, but tools make it faster and more accurate.

How to use Jobalytics for keyword extraction:

1. Go to jobalytics.app/resume-checker
2. Upload your resume
3. Paste the job description
4. View the matched and missing keywords
5. Add missing keywords to your resume

This shows you exactly which keywords you have and which you need.

Step 3: Research Industry Keywords

Beyond the job description, include standard industry keywords:

For Software Engineering:

• Programming languages: Python, Java, JavaScript, Go
• Frameworks: React, Node.js, Django, Spring
• Concepts: CI/CD, Microservices, REST APIs, Cloud

For Marketing:

• SEO, SEM, PPC, Content Marketing
• Google Analytics, HubSpot, Salesforce
• Lead Generation, Conversion Rate, ROI

For Finance:

• Financial Modeling, Excel, Bloomberg Terminal
• DCF, LBO, M&A, Due Diligence
• GAAP, SOX Compliance, Budgeting

Pro tip: Look at 5-10 similar job postings and note which keywords appear consistently across all of them.

Step 4: Check LinkedIn Profiles

Find people with your target job title on LinkedIn and note:

• Skills they list
• How they describe their experience
• Industry terms they use

This reveals keywords that might not be in job descriptions but are valued in the industry.

How to Use Keywords Effectively

1. Include Keywords in Multiple Locations

Strategic placement matters. Include keywords in:

Professional Summary (3-5 keywords)

Results-driven Product Manager with 5+ years of experience in B2B SaaS. Expert in Agile methodologies and data-driven decision making. Proven track record of delivering features that increase customer retention and revenue growth.

Skills Section

Skills: Product Management, Agile/Scrum, SQL, User Research, 
Roadmap Development, Stakeholder Management, Jira, A/B Testing

Work Experience (in context)

• Led cross-functional engineering team of 8 to deliver new analytics dashboard, resulting in 40% increase in user engagement
• Created and maintained product roadmap aligned with company OKRs and customer feedback
• Conducted data analysis using SQL to identify user pain points and prioritize features

2. Use Exact Phrases When Possible

ATS systems often match exact phrases:

❌ Paraphrased: "Worked with software teams to build product plans" ✅ Exact match: "Collaborated with engineering teams to develop product roadmap"

If the job says "stakeholder management," use "stakeholder management"—not "working with people."

3. Include Acronyms AND Full Terms

ATS systems vary in how they parse acronyms. Include both:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• SQL (Structured Query Language)
• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

4. Use Action Verbs

Action verbs are keywords too. Strong ones include:

5. Quantify When Possible

Numbers make keywords more impactful:

❌ "Improved sales performance" ✅ "Increased quarterly sales by 34% through new lead qualification process"

Keywords to Include (By Category)

Hard Skills Keywords

These are technical abilities that can be measured:

Tech/Engineering:

• Programming: Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, Go, Rust
• Data: SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Power BI
• Cloud: AWS, Azure, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes
• Web: React, Angular, Vue, Node.js, HTML/CSS

Marketing:

• SEO, SEM, PPC, Content Marketing
• Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta Ads
• HubSpot, Marketo, Mailchimp
• A/B Testing, Conversion Optimization

Finance:

• Financial Modeling, Forecasting, Budgeting
• Excel (Advanced), VBA, Python
• Bloomberg, FactSet, Capital IQ
• GAAP, IFRS, SOX

Soft Skills Keywords

Include these, but demonstrate them through examples:

• Leadership
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Collaboration
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Critical thinking
• Project management

Example of demonstrating soft skills:

"Led cross-functional team of 12 (leadership) to deliver product launch on time, coordinating between engineering, design, and marketing departments (collaboration, communication)"

Industry Keywords

Terms specific to your field:

SaaS:

• MRR, ARR, Churn, LTV, CAC
• Product-led growth, Freemium, Upsell
• Onboarding, Customer success

Healthcare:

• HIPAA, EHR, Patient care
• Clinical trials, FDA, Compliance
• Telemedicine, Population health

E-commerce:

• Conversion rate, Cart abandonment
• Fulfillment, Inventory management
• D2C, Marketplace, Drop shipping

Action Keywords

Strong verbs that show impact:

Leadership: Directed, Managed, Led, Supervised, Mentored, Coached

Achievement: Achieved, Exceeded, Delivered, Accomplished, Won, Earned

Creation: Developed, Created, Designed, Built, Launched, Established

Improvement: Improved, Enhanced, Optimized, Increased, Reduced, Streamlined

Analysis: Analyzed, Evaluated, Assessed, Identified, Researched, Investigated

Common Keyword Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Keyword Stuffing

Bad example:

"Product manager with product management experience in product management roles, managing products and product strategy for product development."

This looks spammy to both ATS and humans. Use keywords naturally, 2-3 times max.

Mistake 2: Using Irrelevant Keywords

Don't add keywords just because they're popular. Only include skills you actually have and can discuss in an interview.

Mistake 3: Only Putting Keywords in Skills Section

ATS values keywords in context. Include them in your work experience, not just a skills list.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Soft Skills

Many job descriptions require soft skills. Include them, but with evidence:

❌ "Excellent communicator" ✅ "Presented quarterly results to board of directors and led weekly stakeholder meetings"

Mistake 5: Not Tailoring for Each Job

A keyword optimized for one job might not work for another. Always customize based on the specific job description.

Tools for Finding Resume Keywords

1. Jobalytics ATS Resume Checker

• Upload resume + paste job description
• See matched and missing keywords
• Get specific suggestions
• Try Free →

2. Job Description Word Clouds

Tools like WordClouds.com can visualize which words appear most often in a job description.

3. LinkedIn Skills Insights

• Look at "Skills" sections of people in your target role
• Note which skills have the most endorsements
• Check job posting "Skills" requirements

4. Industry Glossaries

Many industries publish standard terminology lists:

• Tech: AWS Glossary, Agile Alliance Glossary
• Finance: CFA Institute Terminology
• Marketing: HubSpot Marketing Dictionary

Keyword Optimization Checklist

Use this before every application:

Before You Start

• Read the full job description
• Highlight required qualifications
• Highlight preferred qualifications
• Note repeated words/phrases

Keyword Extraction

• List all hard skills mentioned
• List all soft skills mentioned
• Note job titles and variations
• Identify industry-specific terms
• Check for certification requirements

Resume Update

• Add keywords to Professional Summary
• Include relevant skills in Skills section
• Use keywords in Work Experience (in context)
• Include both acronyms and full terms
• Use strong action verbs

Verification

• Run ATS check with Jobalytics
• Confirm 70%+ match score
• Read aloud to check naturalness
• Verify all keywords match actual experience

Frequently Asked Questions

How many keywords should I include?

There's no magic number. Focus on:

• All required qualifications (must-haves)
• Most preferred qualifications (nice-to-haves)
• Key responsibilities mentioned

Typically this means 15-25 unique keywords, each used 1-3 times.

Should I use the same keywords as the job description exactly?

When possible, yes. ATS systems look for exact matches. "Project management" is not the same as "managing projects" to an ATS.

What if I don't have all the required keywords?

You don't need 100% match. Focus on:

1. Must-have requirements you do meet
2. Transferable skills that relate
3. Willingness to learn (in cover letter)

Apply if you meet 70%+ of requirements.

Can I get penalized for too many keywords?

Yes. Modern ATS and recruiters can detect keyword stuffing. Use keywords naturally, not excessively.

Do keywords matter for internal transfers?

Often yes. Many companies use ATS even for internal applications. Optimize your internal application the same way.

Conclusion

Finding and using the right resume keywords is one of the most impactful things you can do for your job search.

Key takeaways:

1. Extract keywords from the job description (requirements, skills, responsibilities)
2. Include them naturally throughout your resume (summary, skills, experience)
3. Use exact phrases when possible
4. Include acronyms AND full terms
5. Verify with an ATS checker before applying

Remember: Keywords get you past the robot. Your actual qualifications get you the job.

Ready to optimize your resume keywords?

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Last updated: January 2026

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