Resume keywords are like green flags that reassure recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS) that you’re the perfect candidate for the role. This guide will teach you all about resume keywords, how to identify them and where to add them to your resume.
by Gabriela Hernandez, CPRW, Career Advice WriterLast Updated: March 01, 2026
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What are resume keywords?
Resume keywords are words or phrases, usually skills or qualifications, that recruiters identify as requirements for landing a job. You can find resume keywords on most job advertisements under the “Requirements” section. Resume keywords are mainly professional skills or qualifications; you should include them throughout all your sections when writing a resume.
If you haven’t added keywords to your resume, you can apply to jobs nonstop and not see results. Why? Automated recruiting might be to blame. Companies increasingly use AI recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter candidates, leaving job seekers in the dark about how to update a resume.
To make you familiar with resume keywords, here are some examples:
Project management
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)
Diversity and inclusion training
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Java, Python, C++
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
Excellent customer service
Experienced in WAN/LAN routing
Proficient in financial statement preparation and analysis
As you can see, resume keywords range from simple soft skills to highly technical hard skills. However, choosing the right ones requires paying particular attention to the job’s requirements.
Fortunately, our Builder saves you the time of perusing dozens of job descriptions by suggesting resume keywords uniquely selected for your desired job title. Access hundreds of industry-specific keywords for all your resume sections in our Resume Builder!
When choosing keywords for your resume, you should know that the right ones will vary depending on each job posting. There isn’t a predetermined list of words to make you a super-candidate for any job you apply to. Like much of great resume writing, the key lies in customizing your resume to each role. We’ve developed simple step-by-step instructions with practical examples to help you choose the right resume keywords. Let’s begin!
Step 1
Browse the job ad for resume keywords.
You should first carefully read the job ad and pinpoint the skills, qualifications and experiences the employer emphasizes. As we mentioned, you’ll quickly find keywords under the job requirements section, but they can appear all over the job ad, so take your time with this. Look for the two types of resume keywords: job-related skills or qualifications and action verbs—much different to the filler, trendy resume buzzwords that can hurt your resume.
Job-related keywords will include skills and qualifications such as web development, JavaScript, testing and debugging or Certified Scrum Master (CSM). You can easily add these keywords throughout various resume sections, particularly your skills or resume summary.
Action verbs can be equally valuable resume keywords because they provide information about your capabilities and achievements. For example, collaborating, training, managing, implementing, innovating. You should include these keywords in your work experience section describing your accomplishments.
Step 2
Identify resume keywords that apply to your experience.
Now that you understand the types of keywords you’re looking for, pinpoint the keywords that relate to your skills and experience. Use this visual example to see how you can highlight potential resume keywords in any job advertisement.
Customer Service Representative
Axiom Solutions — Miami, FL
As a customer service representative, you will interact with customers via various communication channels to address inquiries, resolve issues and provide product information. This role requires a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, excellent communication skills and the ability to handle complex customer interactions.
Responsibilities:
Provide courteous and professional customer support via phone, email, chat and in-person interactions.
Identify and resolve customer inquiries, concerns, and issues promptly and efficiently, ensuring customer satisfaction.
Gather and relay customer feedback to the appropriate teams for product/service improvement.
Identify opportunities for streamlining and improving customer service processes.
Requirements:
High school diploma or equivalent (Bachelor’s degree preferred).
2-4 years of prior experience in customer service or a related field.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
Proficiency in using CRM software and other customer service tools.
Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
Strong interpersonal skills and a customer-centric attitude.
Attention to detail and organizational skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Pro Tip
When selecting resume keywords, only pick the ones that most accurately reflect your knowledge and experience. Never lie about your qualifications for the sake of getting an interview.
How to add keywords to your resume
After identifying potential resume keywords, it’s time to add them to your resume sections.
Including keywords in the resume summary
Your resume summary serves as a brief personal introduction where you showcase your most relevant qualifications. Here’s how to tie them all into a neat resume summary.
Including keywords in the work experience
Your work experience should showcase your most impressive and relevant accomplishments and include those action verb keywords. The following keywords fit perfectly in a work experience section:
Address inquiries
Resolve issues
Provide product information
Customer support via phone, email, chat and in-person interactions
Gather and relay customer feedback
Ability to work independently
Multitask
Prioritize
Fast-paced environment
Here’s an example of a work experience section with these resume keywords:
Including keywords on the skills sections
A straightforward way to include keywords on a resume is by listing them in the skills section. Those job-related keywords that consist of soft or hard skills should go in this section. For example:
Including keywords in the education section
You can also include keywords in the education section, mainly whenever the employer requires specific educational achievements. For example, this employer noted that a high school diploma was the only educational requirement but that a bachelor’s degree was preferred. Including your high school diploma is perfectly acceptable if that is your highest level of education. However, if you possess a bachelor’s degree or are obtaining one, you should mention that keyword in your education section.
Pro Tip
When it comes to how your resume should look like, don’t try to stuff it every possible keyword. Recruiters don’t want to see a copy-paste of the job description on your resume. Stick to the keywords that best represent your abilities.
Once you’ve put everything together, you’ll have a keyword-optimized resume that looks like this:
We’ve compiled a list of common resume keywords for various roles and industries. These keywords can help you draft strong resume sections by focusing on in-demand qualifications.
Find over 500 resume keywords for the following industries:
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About the Author
Gabriela Hernandez • CPRW, Career Advice Writer
Gabriela 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. Gabriela holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Puerto Rico and offers more than four 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.
