Resume Keywords For ATS: How To Beat Applicant Tracking Systems in 2024

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Let’s face it. Getting your resume past an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can feel like trying to break into Fort Knox. I’ve been there—both as a recruiter for Fortune 500 companies and as a career coach—and I’ve seen how the ATS can be a blessing and a curse.

You send out resume after resume, only to be met with radio silence. The reason? Most likely, it’s because your resume isn’t optimized with the right resume keywords for ATS.

Here’s the deal: ATS software is used by the majority of companies today to filter resumes before a human recruiter even looks at them.

And while it sounds intimidating, once you know the game and how to play it, you can absolutely beat the system.

Now that we have covered all things resumes, let’s dive into the world of ATS resume keywords and how you can craft a resume that gets past the robots and in front of real, live humans.

What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and Why Does It Matter?

First, let’s break down what an ATS actually is. Think of it like the bouncer at an exclusive nightclub. You know, the one standing between you and the VIP section.

The ATS scans your resume for specific criteria—like keywords from the job description—and decides if you’re worthy enough to get in.

Why do companies use ATS? Well, it’s simple—efficiency. I can’t tell you how many times, during my recruiting days at a Fortune 500 company, I’d get hundreds of resumes for one single job posting. It was overwhelming.

Enter ATS, the hero for time-crunched recruiters. The system helps filter out the unqualified candidates by using algorithms that match resumes with keywords from the job description.

But here’s the thing. This magical, time-saving software has a downside. It can be overly picky, even rejecting resumes from highly qualified candidates simply because they didn’t include the right resume keywords to fit with the job description.

I’ve seen it firsthand—great candidates slipping through the cracks because their resumes didn’t hit the right notes.

The Power of Resume Keywords: Why They Matter

Let’s get into the meat of it. What exactly are resume keywords? In simple terms, resume keywords are the words and phrases that match the skills, experience, and qualifications in a job description. The ATS is programmed to search for these terms to determine if you’re a fit for the role.

When I was recruiting, I used to sift through resumes for hiring managers after the ATS did its first round of filtering.

It wasn’t just about what was on the page; it was about how those qualifications were presented, especially in the resume summary section.

The resumes that caught my eye had strategic resume keywords scattered throughout. The ones that didn’t have great resume keywords? Straight to the “no” pile.

Here’s the thing—you’ve got to think like the ATS. If the job description is looking for “project management,” make sure your resume keywords reflects that. If it mentions “customer relations,” those exact words should show up on your resume in the resume skills section.

It’s not about tricking the system; it’s about tailoring your resume to what the company is already looking for, especially in the job title.

How to Find the Right Resume Keywords for Your Resume

Now, how do you figure out which applicant tracking system resume keywords on your resume to include? It’s not rocket science, I promise. Start with the job description and the job title.

Seriously, it’s like a cheat sheet that gives you all the answers. The resume keywords you need are sitting right there in front of you, given by the amazing hiring managers.

Here’s a little recruiter secret: Look at the job title, skills required, and responsibilities listed. Those are your resume keywords. Tools like Jobscan are great for helping you match your resume to the job description.

But honestly, you can do a lot of this on your own with a bit of detective work. If the job description mentions “leadership” five times, guess what?

You better make sure your resume keywords mention your leadership experience just as prominently. Relevant keywords will make a hiring manager cry happy tears during the hiring process.

I always tell my clients to think of their resume like a mirror. It should reflect the job description back to the employer. A client of mine, let’s call her Sarah, came to me frustrated after months of job searching.

She had the experience, the skills, the drive—everything you’d think a company would want. But no one was calling her back.

Turns out, her resume wasn’t aligned with the job descriptions she was applying for, and was being filtered out by the resume keyword scanner. After some resume keyword tweaks, she started getting interviews within weeks.

Aligning your resume keywords with a job description is the magic formula for getting that job posting taken down, and landing your dream job.

Tailoring Your Resume for Every Job Application

I know, I know—updating your resume for every job you apply to sounds like a major time-suck. But trust me, it’s worth it. Here’s the truth: One-size-fits-all resumes don’t work in today’s job market for any hiring manager. You’ve got to tailor your resume for each job application, especially when dealing with applicant tracking systems.

You don’t need to rewrite the whole thing from scratch. Just tweak the keywords to match the job description.

Even just updating your resume summary with relevant keywords from a job description can help you get an interview.

I had a client who was applying to marketing roles, and she kept using the same resume. It wasn’t until she started customizing her resume for each role—by adding keywords like “content strategy” and “SEO” for one job, and “brand development” for another—that she started getting calls for interviews.

The key is to focus on the most important resume keywords and integrate them naturally into your resume. Don’t force it, but make sure they’re there.

And remember, you don’t want to overdo it. Keyword stuffing—where you cram as many resume keywords as possible into your resume—is a sure way to get rejected by resume scanners.

Where to Place Resume Keywords in Your Resume

When it comes to resume keywords, it’s not just about what words you use, but where you place them. Strategic placement of keywords is essential for getting your resume noticed by the ATS and making sure it reads naturally to a recruiter.

Let’s break down the best areas in your resume to integrate these keywords for maximum impact.

1. The Job Title and Headline

Start at the top. If your resume includes a headline or job title, this is one of the first places you should use keywords. For instance, if you’re applying for a project manager role, make sure the job title in your resume reflects that.

Instead of a generic title like “Experienced Professional,” use something like “Experienced Project Manager Specializing in Agile Methodology.” This not only gives the ATS what it’s looking for but also immediately signals to the recruiter that you’re a strong fit for the position.

Job titles hold significant weight in ATS scans because they directly align with the roles you’re applying for. So, make sure your current and previous job titles reflect the specific keywords from the job description.

For example, if your role was “Sales Specialist” but the job description asks for “Sales Manager,” consider using the more relevant title, as long as it accurately reflects your experience and aligns with the job listing. Find the best keywords that fit with job postings and can beat out all the resume packets a recruiter looks at.

2. The Skills Section

The skills section is a goldmine for ATS resume keywords. Most ATS systems prioritize the skills section when scanning resumes, so be sure to pack it with relevant, job-specific terms.

For instance, if the job description lists skills like “budget management,” “client relations,” or “SEO,” you want those exact phrases in your skills section.

Keep this section clear and concise. Create a list of your core competencies, and don’t be afraid to adjust them slightly for each job you apply to, ensuring they reflect the most important resume keywords from the posting.

But remember, you should never lie about your skills or qualifications. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree please for the love of God don’t say you have a bachelor’s degree on your resume.

This is a chance to showcase what you actually bring to the table in a way that matches the employer’s needs for a job opening.

3. The Work Experience Section

Here’s where you can really bring those keywords to life. Don’t just list your job duties—explain how you applied those skills in action.

For example, instead of a vague description like “Managed a team,” you could say “Led project management efforts for a cross-functional team using Agile methodology, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity.”

Not only are you incorporating resume keywords like “project management” and “Agile,” but you’re also showing how you used those skills to make a measurable impact.

This is also the place to integrate job title-specific keywords. For example, if the job description calls for “data analysis,” be sure to mention “data analysis” as one of your key responsibilities in previous roles, especially if you’ve used similar skills under another name, like “data evaluation” or “business intelligence.”

4. The Summary or Objective Statement

If your resume includes a summary or objective statement, this is a great place to incorporate a few high-impact keywords.

This section usually appears at the top of your resume and gives the recruiter and the ATS a quick overview of who you are and what you offer.

Keywords like “results-driven,” “experienced,” and role-specific terms like “digital marketing strategist” or “operations manager” should be used here to align your qualifications with the job description.

For example, your summary could read something like: “Results-driven digital marketing strategist with 5+ years of experience in SEO, content marketing, and social media management, seeking to leverage expertise to drive growth at [Company Name].”

This sentence packs in multiple ATS resume keywords while still sounding natural and tailored to the role.

5. The Education Section

While the education section isn’t the most critical for keyword optimization, it’s still worth mentioning. If the job description emphasizes specific educational qualifications, certifications, or technical skills, make sure those are listed clearly.

For instance, if the posting highlights “Bachelor’s in Computer Science” or “Google Analytics Certified,” make sure those keywords are included.

Final Thoughts on Keyword Placement

The key to keyword placement is balance. You want to ensure that your resume is optimized for ATS without turning it into a robotic-sounding document.

Sprinkle resume keywords naturally throughout your resume in all the key sections: job title, skills, work experience, and summary. Think of your resume like a story where the keywords play supporting roles—they should enhance your message, not overwhelm it.

Remember, the goal isn’t to just beat the ATS. Once your resume makes it through the system, a real person will be reading it, and you want them to be impressed by both your skills and how seamlessly you’ve aligned your experience with what they’re looking for.

Avoiding Keyword Overload

It’s tempting to want to throw every resume keyword you can think of into your resume, but here’s the hard truth: overloading your resume with keywords can backfire.

While the goal is to make your resume stand out to the ATS, cramming it with too many ATS resume keywords can make it feel robotic, unnatural, and hard to read when it finally lands in a recruiter’s hands.

Remember, after you pass the ATS, a human still needs to review your resume, and if it feels like keyword soup, it won’t impress anyone.

Even if you went to Harvard business school with a computer science degree and a minor in data analysis, if you don’t have ats resume keywords that apply to a specific job posting, it won’t impress hiring managers.

One of the most common mistakes I see is what I like to call “keyword stuffing”—when candidates fill their resumes with too many repetitive words in an attempt to beat the ATS. Sure, you want to match the job description, but repeating the same keywords over and over isn’t the answer.

Instead of helping, keyword stuffing often works against you, making your resume sound unnatural and robotic.

Imagine a resume where every other line says “project management” or “leadership”—it’s not only a turnoff for the recruiter, but it can also hurt your chances with the ATS, which may flag it as spammy.

Avoid using terms like search engine optimization specialist and process improvement specialist. These are very common in the hiring process, and don’t give great context on specific skills.

So, what’s the right approach? Use keywords strategically. Find a balance by placing them naturally throughout your resume, focusing on the skills and experience sections.

And make sure every keyword you include tells a story about your capabilities. It’s better to use fewer, well-chosen keywords that highlight your strengths than to overwhelm the system—and the recruiter—with too many.

Less is often more when it comes to keyword optimization during the hiring process.

Resume Keywords Examples: How to Choose the Right Ones

Now that we’ve covered the importance of resume keywords and how to strategically place them, you might be wondering, “What keywords should I actually use?” Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered.

Choosing the right resume keywords depends on the job you’re applying for, but I’m going to walk you through some examples and give you tips on how to identify the best ones for your specific situation.

Industry-Specific Keywords

Let’s start with industry-specific keywords. These are terms that are common in your line of work, whether you’re in marketing, finance, healthcare, or IT.

For example, if you’re applying for a marketing position, the job description might include terms like “SEO,” “content marketing,” “social media strategy,” or “email campaigns.” These are your industry-specific ATS resume keywords—they need to be on your resume if you want to make it through the ATS filter and over to hiring managers.

Here are some examples of industry-specific keywords by job field:

Marketing

SEO, content strategy, PPC, social media management, Google Analytics, email marketing, branding.

Finance

Financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, GAAP, financial reporting.

IT/Tech

Software development, Python, JavaScript, cybersecurity, cloud computing, database management, network administration.

Healthcare

Patient care, EMR (electronic medical records), clinical procedures, healthcare administration, HIPAA compliance, patient advocacy.

When choosing industry-specific keywords, always make sure they match the skills and qualifications listed in the job description. If the company is looking for someone with experience in “Google Ads,” make sure that specific term is on your resume—don’t just say “advertising.”

Job Title and Role-Specific Keywords

Next up are job title and role-specific buzzwords that will be the right resume keywords. These refer to the actual duties and responsibilities associated with the job you’re applying for in the job ad.

For example, if you’re applying for a project management role, the job description might mention responsibilities like “leading cross-functional teams,” “budget management,” or “risk assessment.” These phrases should be included on your resume because the ATS is going to be looking for them.

Job Title and Role-Specific Keywords:

Project Manager

Project planning, risk mitigation, stakeholder management, Agile methodology, team leadership, budget management.

Sales Manager

Sales forecasting, lead generation, account management, CRM (Customer Relationship Management), sales pipeline, business development.

Human Resources

Talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, benefits administration, onboarding, HRIS (Human Resources Information System).

Think about your previous roles and how they align with the job description. If the job calls for “cross-functional collaboration,” include an example of how you’ve worked across teams in the past.

Soft Skills Keywords

While soft skills might seem less important than technical ones, they’re still key for many roles, and ATS systems often scan for them, and consider them job related keywords.

For example, a job description might mention the need for “communication,” “problem-solving,” or “leadership” skills. Make sure your resume keywords reflects these, especially in your job descriptions and personal summary. A hiring manager will look for job applicants who have technical skills, hard skills, and soft skills on job seekers resumes for a particular job.

Soft Skills Keywords:

Communication

Leadership

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Adaptability

Critical thinking

Use these skills to complement your technical abilities. For instance, instead of just listing “leadership” as a skill, say something like, “Led a cross-functional team to achieve project goals 20% ahead of schedule.”

Bonus Tip: Use Variations and Synonyms

Another great tip? Don’t forget to use synonyms and variations. ATS systems often scan for different versions of the same skill.

For example, “customer service” might also be listed as “client relations” or “customer support.” Make sure you’re using multiple versions of resume key terms to cover your bases.

Final Thoughts: Your Resume, Your Keywords, Your Career

Here’s the bottom line: Beating the ATS isn’t about tricking the system. It’s about aligning your resume with what the employer is already looking for.

It’s about tailoring your resume with the right resume keywords so that it reflects the job description—and does so naturally.

At the end of the day, while the ATS is a powerful tool, it’s not the final decision-maker. Once your resume makes it past the system, a human is going to look at it, and that’s where your experience and skills will shine.

As a career coach and former recruiter, I can help you navigate this tricky process. With my Master’s degree in Human Resources from Texas A&M and my experience in the trenches of Fortune 500 hiring, I’ve seen what works—and what doesn’t.

And trust me, with the right strategies, you can beat the ATS and land that dream job.

Call to Action

If you’re feeling stuck and need help fine-tuning your resume to beat those ATS robots, reach out! Let’s work together to get your resume in front of the right people.

With my background in Fortune 500 recruiting and career coaching, I’ll help you tailor your resume so it doesn’t just get past the system but stands out to recruiters.

Let’s turn those job applications into interviews!