Resume Keywords: List of 270 Keywords to Use in a Resume

Adding keywords to your resume is an important step to building a strong job application. The right keywords show employers (and the HR software they use) that you have the skills needed to succeed in the role.

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What are resume keywords?

Resume keywords are specific words or phrases that describe the skills and experience employers are looking for in their ideal candidate.

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Including relevant keywords in your resume ensures it’s optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and increases your chances of landing an interview because it indicates to employers that you have the basic skills needed to do the job.

How to use keywords in your resume

Follow this guide to help you identify, select, and incorporate the right keywords into your resume.

1. Identify which keywords employers are looking for

To identify keywords that employers and ATS software are looking for, carefully analyze the job description. Pay attention to the words and phrases used in the “preferred qualifications” and “responsibilities” sections.

Make a note of all of the hard skills, repeated phrases, and industry-specific terminology you find.

Here’s a job description for a communications writer position at Apple, with keywords highlighted in yellow:

2. Reflect on your own skills

Once you’ve identified the keywords from the job description, take time to reflect on your own skill set. Consider how your background aligns with the requirements of the position.

Make a list of your relevant skills, achievements, and qualifications that match the keywords you’ve identified. This process will help you determine which keywords you can incorporate into your resume and how to best demonstrate that you’re qualified for the role.

3. Incorporate keywords throughout your resume

Integrate keywords naturally throughout your resume to show employers that you’re an excellent fit for the job.

In your skills section, list the keywords you’ve identified that match your skill set. Here’s an example using the keywords from the job description above:

Then, in your work experience section, provide examples of how you’ve applied these skills in previous roles. This is also a great place to incorporate soft skill-related keywords and provide context for them. For example:

You can use our AI bullet point generator to find common keywords associated with your job title:

Resume keyword practices to avoid

While strategically using keywords in your resume is important, some common tactics risk alienating potential employers.

Keyword stuffing

Keyword stuffing refers to the practice of cramming too many keywords into your resume to get it past ATS software.

People do this because they believe that ATS software gives applications a higher ranking when it detects more of the keywords it’s programmed to look for.

However, this tactic makes your resume difficult to read and can flag it as suspicious by both ATS software and human readers. Instead of forcing keywords where they don’t belong, focus on incorporating them organically and in the right context.

Here’s an example of a work experience entry from a resume that engages in excessive keyword stuffing:

Hiding keywords in your resume

Some job seekers attempt to hide keywords by making them invisible (e.g., using white text on a white background). Here’s an example of a resume with hidden keywords that are only visible when highlighted:

This practice is considered unethical and can result in your application being rejected if discovered. Always make sure that all content on your resume is visible and relevant.

Adding keywords that don’t match your skills

Including keywords that don’t accurately reflect your skills is dishonest and can backfire during the interview process.

Only use keywords that accurately reflect your abilities and background. If you’re lacking in certain areas, consider ways to play up the qualifications you do have rather than lying on your resume.

Neglecting human readers

While it’s important to optimize your resume for ATS, remember that ultimately, a human will read your resume if it passes the initial screening.

Make sure that your resume sounds natural and tells a compelling story about your career. Focus on creating a document that is easy to scan and understand for human readers, while still incorporating relevant keywords.

Misusing buzzwords

Resume buzzwords and industry jargon can be effective when used correctly, but overusing them or using them incorrectly can make your resume seem insincere or demonstrate a lack of understanding.

Here’s an example of a resume that uses too many buzzwords:

Instead, use industry-specific terms thoughtfully and in the appropriate context to show your expertise.

Best keywords for your resume (listed by industry)

Below is a list of 270 common industry-specific keywords to put on a resume and cover letter:

Accounting and finance

• Account management
• Business volume
• Client accounts
• Budgeting
• Financial reports
• Risk analysis
• Quantitative analysis
• Qualitative analysis
• Auditing
• Forensic accounting
• Forecasting
• Tax preparation
• Compliance
• Quickbooks
• SAP

Administration and office support

• Data entry
• Microsoft Office
• Office supply inventorying
• Typing
• Scheduling
• Filing
• Call screening
• UKG
• HR (human resources) policy
• Google Calendar
• Records management
• Office management
• Inventory management
• Bookkeeping
• Event planning

Business and management

• Business analysis
• SQL
• Client outreach
• Budget management
• Negotiation
• Market insights
• Public relations
• Strategic oversight
• Six Sigma
• Project management
• Team leadership
• Business development
• Process improvement
• Stakeholder engagement
• Agile methodologies

Construction and maintenance

• Power tools
• Carpentry
• Masonry
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance
• Customer service
• National Electrical Codes (NEC)
• Troubleshooting and diagnostics
• Hand tools
• Cleaning
• Machine operation
• Blueprint reading
• Project estimation
• CAD software
• Welding
• Building codes

Creative and cultural

• Accents
• Singing
• Sculpture
• Adobe Photoshop
• Item cataloging
• Handling pressure
• Dean Evans EMS
• Graphic design
• Adobe InDesign
• Graphic design
• Content creation
• Branding
• Video production
• Copywriting
• Social media management

Customer service and retail

• Complaint resolution
• Point of sale (POS) system operation
• Customer satisfaction
• Business administration
• Data entry
• Evacuation procedures
• Technical support
• Product displays
• Customer satisfaction
• Conflict resolution
• Sales techniques
• Inventory management
• Upselling
• Product knowledge
• Visual merchandising

Education

• Lesson planning
• SMART boards
• Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)
• Dewey Decimal
• Archiving
• Classroom management
• Differentiated education
• Child development
• Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA)
• Curriculum planning
• Student assessment
• Special education
• E-learning
• Educational technology
• STEM education

Emergency services

• CPR
• AED
• First aid
• Emergency response
• Fire safety
• Equipment maintenance
• Gang outreach
• Self-defense
• Community policing
• De-escalation
• Surveillance
• Crisis management
• Hazardous materials handling
• Search and rescue
• Disaster preparedness

Engineering

• Altair S-Frame
• Trigonometry
• Hazard assessment
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification
• Bid preparation
• Visual Studio
• Electrical systems
• MATLAB
• Prototyping methodologies
• Technical drawings
• CAD/CAM
• Product development
• Quality assurance
• Prototyping
• AutoCAD

Food service

• Point of Sales (POS) terminals
• Food preparation
• Cocktail preparation
• Salesmanship
• Menu presentation
• Kitchen hygiene
• Reservation management
• Food handling and safety
• Equipment cleaning
• Upselling
• Inventory management
• Cost control
• Customer service
• Nutrition
• Kitchen management

Healthcare

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance
• Patient care
• Hoyer lifts
• X-rays
• Periodontal treatment
• Taking vital signs
• International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) designations
• Physical examinations
• Emergency treatment
• Patient care
• Electronic health records (EHR)
• Phlebotomy
• Medication administration
• Diagnostic procedures
• Infection control

Hospitality and tourism

• Property managements systems (PMS)
• Revenue per available room (RevPAR)
• Yield management
• Occupancy rate optimization
• Event planning
• Guest check-in/check-out procedures
• Room inventory management
• Booking and reservations systems
• Concierge desk operations
• Tour coordination
• Housekeeping
• F&B operations
• Itinerary planning
• Luxury guest service standards
• Global distribution systems (GDS)

Information technology (IT)

• Visual Basic
• WordPress
• Agile project management
• Scrum
• Market analysis
• Data mining
• Data protection
• OmniGraffle
• iOS
• Back-end programming
• Cloud computing
• Network security
• Database management
• Agile development
• Machine learning

Law and legal

• Contract drafting
• Public defender
• Tort law
• Litigation software
• Typing
• Interview techniques
• Intellectual property
• Filing
• Negotiation
• LexisNexis
• Legal research
• Case management
• Regulatory compliance
• Mediation
• E-discovery

Marketing and sales

• Contract drafting
• Public defender
• Tort law
• Litigation software
• Typing
• Interview techniques
• Intellectual property
• Filing
• Negotiation
• LexisNexis
• Legal research
• Case management
• Regulatory compliance
• Mediation
• E-discovery

Personal and child care

• Potty training
• Conflict resolution
• Games
• Safety awareness
• Applying dressings
• Housekeeping
• Driver’s license
• Story reading
• Meal preparation
• Handling pressure
• Child development
• Curriculum planning
• First aid/CPR
• Behavior management
• Special needs care

Spa and salon

• Massage
• Laser procedures
• Hair dye
• Facials
• Skin care
• Balayage
• Color effects
• Theatrical makeup
• Customer service
• Cleaning
• Appointment scheduling
• Product knowledge
• Skincare treatments
• Manicure/pedicure
• Salon management

Transportation and logistics

• Vehicle maintenance
• Route planning
• Commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• Forklifts
• Punctual
• Vehicle inspections
• Account retention
• Interpersonal skills
• Dump trucks
• Teamwork
• Supply chain management
• Inventory control
• Route optimization
• Warehouse management
• Transportation management systems (TMS)

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