Resume Keywords: How to Find the Best Keywords for Your Resume & ATS

Find resume keywords in job descriptions, highlight relevant skills, and explore 500+ industry-specific examples to optimize your resume for ATS tools.

What to Know

Resume keywords are job-related skills, tools, job titles, certifications, and qualifications employers look for.
Find relevant keywords by reviewing the job description and comparing four or five similar postings for recurring requirements.
Use the job posting's exact job title when appropriate, and spell out credentials or abbreviations, such as certified public accountant (CPA).
Include relevant keywords in your resume summary, work experience, skills, and education or certifications sections.
Show how you've used your skills rather than repeating keywords without context. Relevant accomplishments help demonstrate your qualifications.

Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to organize applications and search resumes for skills and qualifications that match a job posting. This guide explains how to find the right resume keywords, where to use them, and how to incorporate them naturally, with 500+ examples by industry.

What Are Resume Keywords?

Resume keywords are specific words and phrases that describe the experience, qualifications, and skills employers want in job candidates. They typically appear in job descriptions and help recruiters identify applicants whose backgrounds match the position.

There are four main types of resume keywords:

Certifications and licenses: Professional credentials, such as certified public accountant (CPA) and registered nurse (RN)
Hard skills and tools: Technical abilities and software, such as data analysis and Salesforce
Job titles: Position names, such as customer service representative and project manager
Soft skills: Interpersonal and workplace abilities, such as problem-solving and communication skills

How ATS Software Uses Resume Keywords

ATS software helps recruiters find resumes with relevant skills, job titles, certifications, and qualifications. Many systems organize application information into searchable fields, making it easier for employers to identify candidates whose experience matches a position.

Some employers also use ATS screening questions, filters, or matching tools to help identify qualified applicants. Not every system, however, automatically ranks or rejects resumes based on keyword matches.

To make your resume easier for ATS software to read:

Choose standard headings. Label sections clearly, using headings such as "Work Experience," "Skills," and "Education."
Keep formatting simple. Use a clean layout, and avoid placing essential information in images, complex tables, text boxes, headers, or footers, which some ATS software may struggle to read.
Spell out acronyms. Include both the full term and abbreviation when relevant, such as customer relationship management (CRM).
Use recognizable job titles. Include the employer's preferred terminology when it accurately describes your experience.
Use relevant keywords. Match important terms from the job description when they accurately reflect your qualifications.

An ATS-friendly resume should also be easy for recruiters to read. Along with relevant qualifications, your resume's appearance matters. Use clear formatting and specific accomplishments to make your experience easy to understand.

How to Find the Right Keywords for Your Resume

The best way to find resume keywords is to review the job description and identify the skills, qualifications, and experience the employer emphasizes. Comparing similar job postings can also help you spot common industry terms.

Use these four steps to identify the most relevant keywords for your resume:

Step 1

Highlight the Requirements in the Job Posting

Read the job description carefully and highlight specific skills, tools, certifications, and qualifications. Pay attention to both the responsibilities and requirements sections.

Separate the qualifications into two categories:

Required qualifications: Skills, credentials, and experience the employer considers essential for the position
Preferred qualifications: Additional abilities or experience that could strengthen your application but aren't mandatory

For example, consider this sample customer service representative posting:

Customer Service Representative – Axiom Solutions

Responsibilities:

Provide customer support through phone, email, chat, and in-person interactions.
Resolve customer inquiries and complaints while maintaining customer satisfaction.
Collect customer feedback and recommend process improvements.
Communicate product information clearly and accurately.

Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent
Two to four years of customer service experience
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency with customer relationship management (CRM) software
Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills
Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment

Preferred qualifications:

Bachelor's degree

This posting identifies CRM software, communication, problem-solving, and customer service experience as required qualifications. A bachelor's degree is preferred but not mandatory. If you meet the requirements, prioritize those keywords when describing your experience, then include any preferred qualifications you also possess.

Step 2

Compare 4–5 Similar Postings

Review four or five job postings for similar positions to identify skills and qualifications that employers consistently request. Repeated terms can help you distinguish widely valued skills from requirements specific to one company.

For example, several customer service postings might mention conflict resolution, product knowledge, and customer satisfaction. If you have experience in these areas, they're strong candidates for your resume.

Prioritize the requirements of the specific job you're applying for, even when other postings emphasize different skills.

Step 3

Use the Exact Job Title

Use the job posting's exact title near the top of your resume when it accurately reflects your experience and qualifications. This helps recruiters quickly recognize the type of position you're targeting.

For example, if you're applying for a customer service representative position, you could include "customer service representative" in your resume summary.

You don't need to change your previous job titles to match the posting. Keep your employment history accurate and use the target title to describe the role you're seeking.

Step 4

Check the Company’s Careers Page for Repeated Terms

Visit the employer's careers page to identify skills, tools, and qualifications mentioned across similar openings. These repeated terms can reveal what the company values in candidates.

For example, a company hiring several customer service professionals might consistently mention conflict resolution, product knowledge, and customer satisfaction.

Include company-specific terms only when they accurately reflect your experience. As you update your resume for each application, prioritize the qualifications that matter most to that employer.

Where to Put Keywords on Your Resume

Include relevant resume keywords in your summary, work experience, skills, and education sections. You don't need a separate resume keywords section. Instead, place keywords where they help employers understand your qualifications and how you've applied them.

If you're writing a resume from scratch, build each section around your most relevant qualifications rather than trying to fit keywords in afterward.

Resume Summary

Include two or three of the most important keywords in your resume summary. Focus on your job title, relevant experience, and strongest qualifications.

Example of a keyword-rich resume summary:

Customer service representative with four years of experience providing customer support, resolving complex inquiries, and using CRM software. Skilled in conflict resolution, customer satisfaction, and process improvement.

This summary uses relevant keywords from the sample customer service representative posting above while giving employers a quick overview of the candidate's qualifications.

Work Experience

Use keywords in your work experience section to show how you've applied your skills and contributed to previous employers. Start each bullet with a strong action verb and include specific accomplishments when possible.

Examples of keyword-rich work experience bullets:

Resolved an average of 40 customer inquiries daily using CRM software, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rating.
Improved customer support processes by identifying recurring service issues and collaborating with team members to reduce response times by 20%.

These examples combine relevant keywords with measurable results. Replace the sample figures with your own verified accomplishments.

Skills Section

Your skills section is one of the easiest places to include keywords that match the job description. List relevant hard skills, technical tools, and soft skills without adding unnecessary descriptions.

Example of a keyword-rich skills section:

Conflict resolution
Customer relationship management (CRM)
Customer satisfaction
Customer support
Multitasking
Problem-solving
Process improvement
Written and verbal communication

Choose skills you can demonstrate through your experience, education, or training. Avoid copying every skill from the job posting.

Education & Certifications

Include relevant degrees, licenses, and certifications in your education section or a separate certifications section.

Example:

Bachelor of Arts in Communication
University of Miami | 2022

Certified Customer Service Professional (CCSP) | 2026
Direct Contact Service Professional (DCSP) | 2025

Include only credentials you've earned, including the year you earned them, and use their official names.

How Many Keywords Should a Resume Have?

As a general guideline, aim to include 10 to 20 relevant resume keywords across your summary, work experience, and skills sections. There's no required number for passing an ATS, so prioritize the employer's most important qualifications over hitting a specific count.

For example, if a job posting emphasizes project management, budgeting, and Microsoft Excel, those qualifications deserve more attention than less relevant skills.

How to Use Keywords Without Keyword Stuffing

Use resume keywords naturally by connecting them to your skills, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Keyword stuffing happens when you repeat terms excessively or add qualifications that don't fit your experience.

Avoid generic resume buzzwords such as “hard worker” or “go-getter.” These phrases don't tell employers much about your qualifications. Instead, focus on job-specific skills and accomplishments that show what you can do.

Follow these tips to keep your resume readable and relevant:

Avoid unnecessary repetition. You don't need to include the same keyword in every resume section.
Don't copy the job description. Describe your own experience using relevant terminology.
Never hide keywords. Don't use white text, invisible formatting, or other tricks to add terms that aren't visible to recruiters
Provide context. Show how you've used a skill instead of simply listing it.
Use natural variations. Include phrases such as "project management" and "managed projects" when they fit your experience.

Example of keyword stuffing:

Experienced in customer service, customer support, customer satisfaction, customer relations, and customer service management.

Improved example:

Provided customer support to 50+ clients daily, resolving service issues and maintaining a 96% customer satisfaction rating.

The improved example uses relevant keywords while showing how the candidate applied those skills.

Action Verbs to Pair With Your Keywords

Strong action verbs help you describe your accomplishments while incorporating relevant resume keywords. Pair a verb with a specific skill or responsibility and, whenever possible, a measurable result.

Choose action verbs that accurately describe your contributions. Here are common examples:

Leadership Action Verbs

Coordinated
Delegated
Directed
Led
Managed
Mentored
Supervised
Trained

Results-Oriented Action Verbs

Accelerated
Achieved
Generated
Improved
Increased
Optimized
Reduced
Streamlined

Technical Action Verbs

Analyzed
Automated
Configured
Developed
Implemented
Programmed
Tested
Troubleshot

Example:

Streamlined customer support workflows using CRM software, reducing average response times by 25%.

This bullet combines an action verb ("streamlined"), a relevant keyword ("CRM software"), and a measurable result ("reducing average response times by 25%").

500+ Resume Keywords by Industry

The best resume keywords depend on your industry, job title, and the skills employers value most. Use this list of resume keywords to identify relevant qualifications, technical skills, and professional abilities for your next application.

Browse the examples below, then compare them with the job description to choose keywords that accurately reflect your experience.

Accounting
Administrative
Customer Service
Education
Food Service
Healthcare Support

Information Technology
Marketing
Nursing
Retail
Sales

Accounting Resume Keywords

Accounting resumes include keywords like financial reporting, auditing, tax preparation, and accounting software. Use terms that match your experience and the job requirements. Here are examples:

Accounts payable (AP)
Accounts receivable (AR)
Accounts receivable aging
Accounts reconciliation
Asset management
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Audit procedures
Auditing
Balance sheet
Bank reconciliation
Budgeting
Cash flow management
Certified management accountant (CMA)
Certified public accountant (CPA)
Cost accounting
Cost control
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
Excel (Advanced Excel, Excel Macros, Excel Formulas)
Financial compliance
Financial forecasting
Financial management
Financial modeling
Financial planning
Financial reporting

Financial statement preparation
Financial software (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)
Financial statement analysis
Fixed assets
Forensic accounting
General ledger
Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
Income statement
Internal controls
International financial reporting standards (IFRS)
Journal entries
Month-end closing
Payroll
Process improvement
QuickBooks
Regulatory compliance
Revenue recognition
Risk management
Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance
Tax compliance
Tax planning
Taxation
Treasury management
Variance analysis

Administrative Resume Keywords

Administrative resumes highlight abilities like organization, scheduling, office software, and records management. Use keywords like these to describe your experience when relevant:

Administrative coordination
Administrative support
Agenda preparation
Attention to detail
Billing and invoicing
Calendar management
Communication skills
Confidentiality
Contract administration
Customer service
Data entry
Database management
Document control
Document preparation
Document review
Email correspondence
Event planning
Executive assistance
Expense management
File management
Inventory control
Mail distribution
Meeting coordination
Meeting minutes
Microsoft Office Suite
Multitasking
Office administration

Office efficiency
Office equipment (copiers, scanners)
Office management
Office procedures
Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Office supplies management
Office technology (VOIP, office intranet)
Organizational skills
Policy compliance
Problem-solving
Process improvement
Project support
Proofreading
Purchase order processing
Reception
Record keeping
Records digitization
Records retention
Report generation
Scheduling
Teamwork
Telephone skills
Time management
Travel arrangements
Travel expense reconciliation
Vendor management
Workflow optimization

Customer Service Resume Keywords

Customer service resumes focus on keywords related to communication, problem-solving, CRM software, and customer satisfaction. These keywords demonstrate how to highlight customer service skills:

Active listening
Adaptability
Bilingual
Billing inquiries
Call center
Client assistance
Client relations
Client retention
Communication skills
Complaint handling
Conflict resolution
Customer feedback analysis
Customer journey support
Customer onboarding
Customer relationship management (CRM)
Customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction surveys
Customer support
Email correspondence
Empathy
Escalation handling
First-contact resolution
Follow-up
Interpersonal skills
Issue resolution
Knowledge base

Live chat support
Metrics tracking
Multitasking
Omnichannel support
Order processing
Order tracking
Problem identification
Problem-solving
Product knowledge
Product support
Quality assurance
Relationship building
Service desk
Service excellence
Service-level agreements (SLAs)
Service quality monitoring
Service recovery
Service ticket management
Teamwork
Technical support
Telephone etiquette
Ticketing systems
Time management
Training and development
Upselling/cross-selling

Education Resume Keywords

Education resumes may include keywords such as curriculum development, classroom management, student assessment, and instructional planning, depending on the role. Here are some examples of education-related resume keywords:

Academic advising
Academic support
Arts education
Assessment data analysis
Behavior management
Blended learning
Classroom assessment
Classroom assessment tools
Classroom engagement strategies
Classroom environment
Classroom instruction
Classroom leadership
Classroom management
Classroom resources
Classroom supervision
Curriculum alignment
Curriculum development
Differentiated instruction
E-Learning
Early childhood education
Education policy
Educational materials
Educational research
Educational standards
Educational technology
English as a second language (ESL)

Formative assessment
Inclusive education
Individualized education program (IEP)
Instructional coaching
Instructional materials development
Learning management systems (LMS)
Learning objectives
Lesson planning
Literacy
Multilingual learner support
Parent-teacher communication
Pedagogy
Professional development
Reading intervention
Social-emotional learning
Special education
Standardized testing
STEM education
Student data tracking
Student development
Student engagement
Student progress
Student-centered learning
Teaching certifications
Tutoring

Food Service Resume Keywords

Food service resume keywords emphasize food safety, customer service, kitchen operations, and inventory management. Here are examples of keywords that show how to describe relevant restaurant and hospitality experience in food service:

Back-of-house
Barista
Bartending
Beer knowledge
Beverage service
Cash handling
Catering
Conflict resolution
Cooking techniques
Cross-training
Culinary creativity
Culinary skills
Customer service
Dietary accommodations
Fast-paced environment
Food allergy awareness
Food cost control
Food handling
Food inventory rotation
Food orders
Food pairing
Food preparation
Food presentation
Food quality

Food safety
Food waste reduction
Front-of-house
Guest satisfaction
Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) compliance
Health and safety regulations
Hospitality
Inventory management
Kitchen equipment operation
Kitchen management
Menu development
Menu knowledge
Order fulfillment
Plating
Point-of-sale (POS) systems
Portion control
Recipe development
Sanitation
ServSafe Certification
Special diets
Sustainable practices
Table service
Temperature monitoring
Wine knowledge

Healthcare Support Resume Keywords

Healthcare support resume keywords include patient care, medical terminology, infection control, and electronic health records. These keywords may appear:

Appointment scheduling
Bedside assistance
Care coordination
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
Durable medical equipment
Elderly care
Electronic health records (EHR)
Electronic prescriptions
Emergency response
First Aid certification
Healthcare administration
Healthcare regulations
Healthcare software (Epic, Cerner)
HIPAA compliance
Home healthcare
Infection control
Insurance verification
Laboratory procedures
Laboratory testing
Medical assisting
Medical billing
Medical coding
Medical equipment operation
Medical ethics

Medical front office operations
Medical history documentation
Medical imaging
Medical office procedures
Medical reception
Medical records management
Medical terminology
Occupational health
Patient care
Patient intake
Patient mobility assistance
Patient registration
Patient transport
Pharmacy technician
Phlebotomy
Physical therapy
Prior authorization processing
Radiology
Rehabilitation support
Specimen collection
Sterile processing
Surgical assisting
Vital signs
Wound care

Information Technology Resume Keywords

Information technology resume keywords highlight programming languages, network administration, cybersecurity, and technical troubleshooting. See how these technical skills can support your work history:

Application programming interfaces (APIs)
Cloud computing
Continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD)
Cybersecurity
Data analysis
Database management
Database optimization
Data center operations
DevOps
Endpoint management
Hardware configuration
Identity and access management (IAM)
Infrastructure as code (IaC)
Information technology infrastructure library (ITIL)
IT architecture
IT auditing
IT automation
IT budgeting
IT certifications (CompTIA A+, Cisco CCNA, CISSP)
IT change management
IT compliance
IT compliance auditing
IT consulting
IT disaster recovery
IT documentation
IT documentation tools (Confluence, Jira)
IT governance

IT help desk support
IT infrastructure
IT performance metrics
IT procurement
IT project management
IT risk management
IT service management (ITSM)
IT strategy
IT training
IT user support
IT vendor management
Network administration
Network monitoring
Network security
Operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS)
Patch management
Programming languages (Java, Python, C++)
Server administration
Software development
Software testing
Systems administration
Technical troubleshooting
Version control
Virtualization
Web development
Wireless networks

Marketing Resume Keywords

Marketing resumes include keywords like campaign management, search engine optimization, analytics, and content strategy. Here are examples:

A/B testing
Advertising
Brand awareness
Brand management
Campaign management
Competitive analysis
Content marketing
Content strategy
Conversion rate optimization (CRO)
Copywriting
Customer acquisition
Customer journey mapping
Customer lifetime value (CLV) analysis
Customer personas
Customer retention
Digital marketing
Email marketing
Event marketing
Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Inbound marketing
Influencer marketing
Landing page optimization
Lead nurturing
Market positioning
Market segmentation
Marketing analytics

Marketing attribution
Marketing automation
Marketing budgeting
Marketing campaign optimization
Marketing collateral
Marketing communications
Marketing funnel
Marketing metrics
Marketing partnerships
Marketing planning
Marketing qualified leads (MQLs)
Marketing reporting
Marketing ROI
Marketing software (HubSpot, Google Analytics)
Marketing strategy
Multichannel marketing
Outbound marketing
Pay-per-click (PPC)
Public relations
Search Console
Search engine marketing (SEM)
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Social media management
Social media marketing
User experience (UX) research

Nursing Resume Keywords

Nursing resume keywords focus on patient assessment, clinical documentation, medication administration, and specialized certifications. See how to present relevant clinical experience using keywords such as:

Acute care
Advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS)
Basic life support (BLS)
Care planning
Clinical quality improvement
Clinical triage
CPR certification
Critical care
Cultural sensitivity
Electronic medication administration records (eMAR)
Emergency medicine
Fall prevention
Geriatrics
Gynecology
Hospice care
Infection control
IV therapy
Labor and delivery
Licensed practical nurse (LPN)
Long-term care
Medical records
Medication administration
Medication management

Medication reconciliation
Nurse practitioner (NP)
Nursing assessment
Nursing documentation
Nursing leadership
Nursing research
Obstetrics
Operating room (OR) nurse
Palliative care
Patient advocacy
Patient discharge planning
Patient education
Patient handoff communication
Patient safety
Pediatrics
Pediatric advanced life support (PALS)
Psychiatric nursing
Registered nurse (RN)
Surgical nursing
Team collaboration
Telemetry monitoring
Wound assessment

Retail Resume Keywords

Retail resume keywords highlight sales, inventory management, merchandising, and customer service. Use these keywords to describe your skills in the workplace:

Cash handling
Cash register
Customer engagement
Customer feedback
Customer satisfaction
Customer service
Cycle counting
Inventory management
Inventory replenishment
Loss prevention
Markdown management
Merchandising
Planogram execution
Point-of-sale (POS) systems
Product display
Retail analytics
Retail audits
Retail branding
Retail compliance
Retail inventory software
Retail marketing

Retail merchandise planning
Retail operations
Retail pricing
Retail promotions
Retail sales associate
Retail sales metrics
Retail scheduling
Retail security
Retail supply chain
Retail training
Sales
Sales targets
Shelf stocking
Shrinkage reduction
Stockroom organization
Store layout
Store management
Store opening and closing procedures
Teamwork
Time management
Visual merchandising

Sales Resume Keywords

Sales resume keywords include lead generation, account management, sales forecasting, and customer relationship management. Connect these keywords to revenue and performance results:

Account expansion
Account management
Business-to-business (B2B) sales
Business-to-consumer (B2C) sales
Business development
Client relationship management
Client retention
Cold calling
Competitive selling
Consultative selling
Contract negotiation
Customer acquisition
Customer engagement
Customer relationship management (CRM)
Lead generation
Market research
Networking
Pipeline management
Sales administration
Sales analytics
Sales automation
Sales closing techniques
Sales collateral

Sales conversion
Sales cycles
Sales enablement
Sales forecasting
Sales funnel
Sales metrics
Sales negotiation
Sales presentations
Sales process improvement
Sales prospecting
Sales quotas
Sales reports
Sales representative
Sales strategies
Sales support
Sales targets
Sales team leadership
Sales technology (Salesforce, HubSpot)
Sales training
Solution selling
Strategic account planning
Territory management

Need a hand? LiveCareer's Resume Builder suggests job-specific skills and phrases to help you create a resume tailored to your target role. Find hundreds of keywords tailored to your desired job title with our industry-leading builder.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best keywords for a resume?

The best keywords for a resume are skills, qualifications, job titles, and certifications that match the position you're applying for. Examples include project management, data analysis, customer service, and Microsoft Excel. Review the job description to identify the employer's most important requirements. Choose keywords that accurately reflect your experience and include them naturally throughout your resume.

How do I find the right resume keywords?

Find the right resume keywords by reviewing the job description and highlighting required skills, qualifications, and experience. Compare four or five similar postings to identify commonly requested terms. You can also review the employer's careers page for recurring skills and terminology. Prioritize keywords that match your qualifications, and use the exact wording from the posting when appropriate.

What is an ATS keyword scanner?

An ATS keyword scanner analyzes resume text to identify skills, job titles, and other terms relevant to a position. Some tools compare resumes with job descriptions to highlight missing keywords. Our free ATS Resume Checker also scans for 30+ potential issues and provides a personalized ATS score. Use these tools to identify potential improvements, but don't rely on a match score alone, as it may not reflect how an employer's ATS evaluates applications.

How many keywords should a resume have?

A resume should generally include 10 to 20 relevant keywords, although there's no required number. Focus on matching the job description's most important qualifications rather than reaching a specific count. Include keywords in your summary, skills, and work experience sections where they fit naturally. Repeating the same terms excessively won't necessarily improve your chances of getting an interview.

What are good words to use on a resume?

Good words to use on a resume include job-specific skills, industry terminology, and strong action verbs. For example, project management, financial analysis, customer relationship management, implemented, improved, and coordinated can help describe relevant qualifications. Choose words that match the job description and accurately reflect your experience. Whenever possible, pair action verbs with measurable accomplishments to show employers the results of your work.

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About the Author

Elizabeth Muenzen • CPRW, Career Advice Writer

Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She focuses on helping job seekers improve their professional resumes to highlight their unique skills and experience. Elizabeth holds a BA in English and a Technical and Professional Communication Certificate from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and offers three years of specialized experience helping candidates navigate the complexities of today’s online job market, with a strong focus on resume optimization and effective self-presentation. She has had her work featured on LiveCareer’s resume builder and in these online publications: NASA, Buzzsprout, ZeroHedge, BenefitsPRO, and Stacker.