150+ Cover Letter Keywords & How to Include Them

Cover letter keywords are words that employers look for when reviewing your job application.

These words typically reflect the skills, qualifications, work experience, and job-related achievements that are most relevant to the position they’re hiring for.

By incorporating industry keywords into your cover letter, you increase the chances of your application passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and catching the attention of hiring managers.

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Action verbs

Action verbs are words that describe your accomplishments and responsibilities in an impactful way, painting a vivid picture of your past experience. Cover letter action verbs:

• provide context to employers
• help you create a lasting impression
• enhance your cover letter’s readability

Here are some examples of what action verbs look like in a cover letter:

Recognition keywords

Recognition keywords highlight your achievements and the positive impact you've made in previous roles. They help showcase your value and potential contributions to a new employer.

Use these keywords to showcase your career milestones, like in the examples below:

Skill keywords

Skill keywords encompass both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for. These words demonstrate your qualifications and fit for the role.

It's important to include a mix of skills that match the job requirements and showcase your unique strengths.

Here are some examples of how to include skills-based keywords in a cover letter:

Results-oriented keywords

Results-oriented keywords focus on the outcomes and impacts of your work. They help quantify your achievements and demonstrate your ability to deliver tangible results.

When using these keywords, try to include quantifiable metrics to provide concrete evidence of your successes.

Here are some results-oriented keywords in action:

Industry-specific keywords

You should consider your industry when choosing keywords for your cover letter. Some action verbs and metrics carry more weight in specific fields. For example, design, leadership, and portfolio-related keywords stand out to employers in creative industries.

Use the table below to identify cover letter keywords for your target field:

5 tips on how to use cover letter keywords

Now that you understand the importance of keywords and have an extensive list to choose from, you’ll need to know how to use them effectively.

The following tips will help you master the art of using keywords in your cover letter, ensuring that your application not only passes through automated screening systems but also resonates with the humans who read it.

1. Avoid buzzwords

Buzzwords and clichés like "hard-working," "go-getter," and "think outside the box" are overused, provide limited information, and don't help your cover letter stand out.

Instead, focus on specific, meaningful words that accurately describe your skills and experience.

2. Use active voice instead of passive voice

Writing in an active voice makes your cover letter more dynamic and engaging. This approach not only incorporates keywords more naturally but also presents you as a proactive and confident candidate.

Here's an example of sentence that uses passive voice:

A team of 7 engineers was supervised by me.

Instead, be direct and show how you've managed a team:

I supervised 7 engineers who built a data analysis program to track the performance of our new product.

3. Find out what the employer is looking for

If you’re not sure which keywords to include, look at the job description or company website for clues about what the employer values most in potential candidates. Then, tailor your cover letter to highlight how your skills and experiences align with these keywords.

Writing a targeted cover letter for each job that uses appropriate skill keywords is the best way to impress hiring managers. The keywords you use in your cover letter should highlight not only your skills and achievements, but also your familiarity with the industry, role, and company.

4. Include different types of keywords

To create a well-rounded cover letter, incorporate a mix of keyword types.

Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments, recognition keywords to highlight your achievements, skills keywords to showcase your qualifications, and results-oriented keywords to demonstrate your impact.

This approach will paint a comprehensive picture of your professional background and help your cover letter stand out.

5. Write naturally and avoid keyword stuffing

While it's important to include relevant keywords, your cover letter should still read naturally and coherently. Avoid forcing keywords into sentences where they don't fit or repeating them excessively.

Most ATS software detects these practices, so keyword stuffing can work against you.

Focus on integrating keywords seamlessly into your cover letter. Remember, the goal is to communicate your qualifications effectively, not to game the system.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some further questions you may have about wording your cover letter.

What are some professional greetings for a cover letter?

The best greeting for a cover letter is a formal salutation that addresses the hiring manager by name when possible, using an appropriate honorific such as Mr., Ms., or Mx.:

Dear Mr. Smith,

Dear Ms. Johnson,

Dear Mx. Taylor,

If a name isn’t available, use a professional general greeting:

Dear Hiring Manager,

Dear Recruitment Team,

How should I sign off my cover letter?

The best way to sign off your cover letter is to use a professional and appropriate closing phrase:

Yours sincerely,

Yours faithfully,

Kind regards,

Best regards,