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Resume Keywords: What You Need to Know

Learn how to identify the keywords and skills that matter for a specific job and how to use them naturally in your CV.

Resume keywords are words and phrases in your CV that describe your skills, experience, qualifications, tools, technologies, and other relevant attributes.

When applying for a job, the most useful keywords are usually closely related to the requirements and terminology used in the job description.

Why are resume keywords important?

Recruiters and hiring teams often review large numbers of applications. Applicant Tracking Systems can also parse and organise resume information as part of the recruitment process.

Relevant terminology makes it easier for your experience to be understood in the context of the position you are applying for. It can also help demonstrate that your background is relevant to the requirements of the role.

Where should you use resume keywords?

Skills section

Your skills section is an obvious place to include relevant technologies, tools, methodologies, and professional skills that you genuinely have.

Work experience

Keywords are often more useful when they appear in the context of your actual experience. Instead of simply listing a technology, explain how you used it where appropriate.

Professional summary

A concise professional summary can contain important terminology that describes your experience and specialisation. Keep it natural and make sure every claim is accurate.

How do you find the right resume keywords?

The best starting point is the job description itself. Look for repeated or particularly specific terms describing the skills, responsibilities, technologies, qualifications, and experience required for the role.

For example, a software development position might mention Python, Django, PostgreSQL, REST APIs, Docker, Git, and automated testing. These terms provide useful information about what the employer considers relevant to the role.

Should you add every keyword from a job description?

No. Your resume should accurately represent your experience. Adding a keyword simply because it appears in a job description can make your CV misleading and may create problems during interviews.

Instead, look for requirements that genuinely match your experience. If you have used a particular technology or performed a particular type of work, make sure that experience is represented clearly.

Keywords versus keyword stuffing

There is an important difference between making relevant terminology easy to find and filling a resume with repetitive keywords.

A good resume uses keywords naturally. The surrounding context should explain your experience rather than simply repeating the same terms throughout the document.

A better approach to resume keywords

  1. Read the job description carefully.
  2. Identify important skills and requirements.
  3. Compare those requirements with your experience.
  4. Add relevant keywords where they accurately describe your background.
  5. Review the finished resume to make sure it still reads naturally.

Find the keywords in your next job

Compare your resume with a job description and see which skills and keywords match.

Check My Resume
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