The five keyword categories that matter
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Hard/technical skills | SQL, Figma, financial modeling, Python, Salesforce |
| Certifications & tools | PMP, Google Analytics, AWS Certified, Six Sigma |
| Soft skills (used sparingly, with proof) | Stakeholder management, cross-functional collaboration |
| Job titles & seniority terms | Senior, Lead, Associate, Manager — match how the industry labels the level |
| Industry/domain terms | SaaS, fintech, B2B, healthcare compliance, e-commerce |
How to pull the right keywords from a specific posting
- 1Copy the full job description into a document
- 2Highlight every noun phrase that describes a skill, tool, certification or responsibility
- 3Cross-check which of those you genuinely have experience with
- 4Use the employer's exact phrasing for those, not a paraphrase
- 5Work them naturally into your Skills section and relevant bullets — not as a separate hidden list
Soft skills need evidence, not just the label
"Strong communicator" as a standalone phrase is close to meaningless to both recruiters and screening software — it appears on a huge share of resumes with no supporting detail. Pair the soft skill with what it produced:
Weak vs strong soft-skill framing
Weak: "Excellent communication and leadership skills." Strong: "Led weekly cross-functional syncs between design, engineering and marketing to keep a 6-week product launch on schedule."
Keyword examples by common role type
| Role | Common keywords to check for |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | Java, REST APIs, Git, Agile, unit testing, CI/CD |
| Data Analyst | SQL, Excel, Power BI/Tableau, data cleaning, A/B testing |
| Marketing Associate | SEO, campaign management, Google Ads, content calendar |
| HR/Recruiter | Applicant tracking system, onboarding, HRIS, sourcing |
| Customer Support | Ticketing systems, SLA, CSAT, escalation handling |
Skip the guesswork — see exactly which keywords from a real job posting your resume is missing.
Check Your ATS ScoreAvoiding keyword stuffing
Repeating the same keyword unnaturally, listing skills you can't speak to in an interview, or hiding keyword lists in white text on a white background all create problems: the first two hurt you in the interview, and the third can get flagged by more advanced systems as manipulation. Use keywords the way you'd naturally describe your own work.
