What are the best keywords to put on a resume?

The best keywords come directly from the job description you're applying to. Extract the most frequently repeated terms — especially in the requirements section — and mirror their exact phrasing in your resume. Hard skills, tools, certifications, and job titles are the highest-value keywords.

How many keywords should a resume have?

There's no fixed number, but a well-optimised resume typically contains 15–25 relevant keywords spread naturally across the summary, skills section, and experience bullets. Avoid repeating keywords artificially — use each one where it genuinely fits.

What are ATS keywords for a resume?

ATS keywords are the specific words and phrases an Applicant Tracking System looks for when scanning a resume. They are drawn from the job description and typically include hard skills, software tools, certifications, methodologies, and job-specific terminology.

Do soft skills count as keywords?

Yes, but they carry less weight than hard skills and technical terms. Include relevant soft skills (such as leadership, cross-functional collaboration, or stakeholder management) in your summary and experience section, but prioritise hard skills in your skills section.

Resume Keywords List: By Job Type and Skill

Keywords are what ATS software scans for. If your resume doesn't contain the right terms, it can be filtered out before a human ever reads it.

The lists below give you a starting point. The most effective keywords, however, are always pulled directly from the specific job description you're applying to — use the free keyword extractor tool to do this automatically.

Hard-skill resume keywords

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that can be verified. These are the highest-value keywords for ATS because they're unambiguous and directly tied to job requirements.

Technology and software: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, SQL, HTML, CSS, React, Node.js, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Git, REST API, GraphQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Tableau, Power BI, Excel, Salesforce, HubSpot, Jira, Figma, Photoshop, Google Analytics

Data and analytics: Data analysis, data modeling, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, data visualization, ETL pipelines, A/B testing, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, business intelligence, Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, BigQuery, Snowflake, Spark, Airflow

Project and operations management: Project management, Agile, Scrum, Kanban, PMP, PRINCE2, budget management, risk management, stakeholder management, process improvement, Six Sigma, Lean, operational excellence, resource allocation, program management, vendor management, procurement

Finance and accounting: Financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, GAAP, financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, audit, compliance, P&L management, cash flow management, variance analysis, cost analysis, QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle ERP

Marketing: SEO, SEM, Google Ads, Meta Ads, email marketing, content strategy, demand generation, lead generation, marketing automation, copywriting, social media management, conversion rate optimization, digital marketing, brand management, campaign management, HubSpot, Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Sales: Account management, business development, CRM, pipeline management, B2B sales, enterprise sales, SaaS sales, solution selling, revenue generation, quota attainment, Salesforce, client relationships

HR and people operations: Talent acquisition, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, HRIS, workforce planning, learning and development, compensation, benefits administration, organizational development, diversity and inclusion

Soft-skill resume keywords

Soft skills are interpersonal and organizational abilities. They matter less to ATS than hard skills but are read closely by recruiters.

Leadership and management: Leadership, team leadership, people management, coaching, mentoring, strategic thinking, decision-making, change management, cross-functional collaboration

Communication: Written communication, verbal communication, presentation skills, public speaking, stakeholder communication, executive communication, technical writing

Problem-solving: Critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical thinking, root cause analysis, data-driven decision-making

Organisation: Time management, project coordination, prioritization, multitasking, attention to detail, deadline management, organizational skills

Collaboration: Teamwork, cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder management, relationship building, partnership development, conflict resolution

Resume keywords by industry

Technology and software engineering

Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Node.js, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, REST APIs, GraphQL, microservices, test-driven development, Agile, Git, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, cloud infrastructure, system design, code review, DevOps, full stack, frontend, backend, scalability, software development lifecycle

Data and analytics

SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Power BI, Excel, data modeling, ETL pipelines, machine learning, statistical analysis, A/B testing, Google Analytics, BigQuery, Snowflake, data warehousing, business intelligence, predictive modeling, data visualization, Spark, Hadoop, Kafka, Airflow, dbt

Marketing and growth

SEO, SEM, Google Ads, Meta Ads, email marketing, HubSpot, Salesforce, conversion rate optimization, content strategy, demand generation, lead generation, marketing automation, brand management, campaign management, copywriting, social media management, growth hacking, affiliate marketing, customer acquisition

Finance and accounting

Financial modeling, Excel, QuickBooks, SAP, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, GAAP, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, cash flow management, audit, compliance, P&L management, cost analysis, valuation, DCF, M&A, due diligence, CPA, CFA

Nursing and healthcare

Patient care, clinical documentation, EMR, EHR, HIPAA, medication administration, triage, wound care, IV therapy, clinical research, regulatory affairs, patient assessment, care planning, nursing supervision, case management

Teaching and education

Curriculum development, lesson planning, classroom management, student assessment, differentiated instruction, special education, IEP, Google Classroom, Canvas, Blackboard, e-learning, instructional design, adult learning, facilitation

Sales and business development

Account management, business development, CRM, pipeline management, B2B sales, B2C sales, enterprise sales, SaaS sales, solution selling, revenue generation, quota attainment, cold calling, Salesforce, upselling, cross-selling, territory management, partner sales

IT and cybersecurity

Network administration, system administration, Linux, Windows Server, Active Directory, cybersecurity, penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, SIEM, incident response, endpoint security, identity management, firewall, VPN, cloud security, CISSP, CompTIA, ITIL

How to choose the right keywords for your resume

A keyword list is only a starting point. The keywords that actually get you interviews are the ones that:

Appear in the specific job description you're applying to
Match your genuine skills — ATS gets you past the filter, but interviews will verify your claims
Use the exact phrasing from the JD — not synonyms. If the JD says "project management" use that term, not "managing projects"

The fastest way to find the right keywords for any role is to paste the job description into the JD keyword extractor — it pulls out the must-haves automatically.

Complete Resume Keywords Guide

How to find, place, and use keywords throughout your resume — including strategy, action verbs, and what to avoid.