The Resume Keyword Encyclopedia: Resume & ATS Keywords

The Resume Keyword Encyclopedia is a reference guide to the words and phrases used to describe a candidate’s job role, skills, qualifications, tools, responsibilities, methods, and industry knowledge in a resume or CV.

What Is a Resume Keyword?

A resume keyword is a term that identifies something relevant to a candidate’s professional background and a particular job.

Examples include:

• Job titles: Accountant, Store Manager, Data Analyst

• Skills: Inventory Control, Financial Reporting, Customer Service

• Tools: SAP, Excel, Salesforce, AutoCAD

• Qualifications: MBA, CPA, PMP

• Methods: Agile, Six Sigma, Financial Modelling

• Industry terms: Supply Chain, Retail Operations, Clinical Research

The appropriate keywords depend on the occupation, seniority, industry, employer and vacancy.

Where Do Resume Keywords Come From?

The job description is the most direct source. Required skills, preferred qualifications, job titles, software, responsibilities and industry terminology can reveal the language associated with a particular position.

A resume should use that terminology only when it accurately represents the candidate's actual experience or qualification.

Resume Keywords and ATS

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to receive, organise, parse, search or manage job applications.

Resume keywords can help make relevant information identifiable within an ATS-readable document. However, ATS platforms differ in how they parse and process applications. There is therefore no single universal keyword formula, percentage or keyword count that applies to every employer or system.

Where Should Keywords Appear?

Relevant terminology can be incorporated naturally into:

• Professional headline

• Resume summary

• Core skills

• Employment history

• Project descriptions

• Education

• Certifications

A keyword is more informative when its context shows how the candidate has used the skill, tool, method or knowledge area.

Keyword Matching vs Keyword Stuffing

Keyword matching means using relevant terminology that accurately describes the candidate's background.

Keyword stuffing means adding excessive, repetitive or unrelated terms primarily to increase keyword frequency.

A resume keyword should communicate information, not merely occupy space.

The Core Principle

The purpose of resume keywords is not to create a separate vocabulary for ATS software. It is to translate genuine professional experience into the terminology used by the target occupation and vacancy.

A well-written resume therefore combines relevant terminology, clear evidence, accurate qualifications and readable context rather than relying on repeated keywords.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are resume keywords?
Resume keywords are terms describing job titles, skills, tools, qualifications, responsibilities, methods or industry knowledge relevant to a target position.

What are ATS keywords?
ATS keywords are relevant terms that may be used when an Applicant Tracking System processes, searches or filters application information.

Where can I find keywords for my resume?
Start with the target job description and identify its relevant titles, skills, tools, qualifications and responsibilities.

How many keywords should a resume contain?
There is no universal number. The appropriate terminology depends on the target role and the candidate's genuine experience.

Should keywords be repeated in a resume?
Relevant terms may naturally occur in more than one section when the context warrants it, but unnecessary repetition adds little information.