Resume Keywords: Why They Matter (and 500 Examples You Can Use)

When you apply for jobs, your resume needs more than just a list of experiences—it needs the right keywords. Resume keywords are specific terms that highlight the skills, knowledge, and qualifications employers are actively seeking. These words help your resume get through applicant tracking systems and into the hands of real people. By weaving the right keywords into your resume, you improve your chances of standing out and moving forward in today’s competitive job market.

What are resume keywords?

Resume keywords are the specific words and phrases that describe your skills, experience, qualifications, and industry knowledge. They often come directly from job descriptions—think of terms like “project management,” “data analysis,” or “customer service.” These keywords help communicate what you bring to the table in a way employers (and the software they employ) understand. Adding the right ones can make a difference in whether your resume gets noticed.

Why are resume keywords important?

Keywords aren’t just nice to have—they're essential for showing you're a good fit for the job. Your resume might get overlooked if you don’t include them, even if you’re perfectly qualified. When you use the right terms, you speak the same language as hiring managers, making it easier for them to see how your background aligns with the role. More importantly, many companies use software to scan resumes for these exact keywords before a human even looks at them.

What is ATS?

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System—the software many employers use to manage the resumes they receive for every job posting. Before a recruiter sees your resum, it often has to pass through this system. The ATS scans your resume for keywords that match the job description—if it finds a match, your resume moves forward. That’s why using strong, relevant keywords helps you get past the ATS and into the hands of a real person.

How to use keywords in your resume?

How do you know which resume keywords to include? Start by reviewing the job descriptions you're applying to and take note of the terms that routinely pop up on these job listings.

Now, ask yourself these questions:

• How do they define the position and its responsibilities?

• What specific language do they use to state the core requirements for the role?

• Do I have these same skills and experience with the responsibilities?

If you've done that work before or possess those qualifications, describe it on your resume using the exact same wording. Work the terms throughout your resume in the Core Competencies and Work Experience sections. From there, try copying and pasting the job description into a free word and phrase frequency tool like Online-Utility.org's Text Analyzer to identify the most commonly used resume keywords and see how your resume measures up.

Resume keyword examples

The keywords listed below blend common industry terminology, key skills, and competencies frequently used in job descriptions, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles across various job categories. They’re also helpful for ATS optimization because they reflect terms that ATS systems are likely to scan for. Using these keywords throughout your resume will increase your chances of passing the ATS screening process and getting noticed by recruiters.

1. Finance

• Financial analysis

• Budgeting

• Forecasting

• Accounting

• Investment strategies

• Risk management

• Financial reporting

• Tax preparation

• Auditing

• Cash flow

• Portfolio management

• Financial modeling

• Strategic planning

• Business analysis

• Cost reduction

• Profitability analysis

• Asset management

• Financial statements

• Credit analysis

• Regulatory compliance

• Investment banking

• Mergers and acquisitions

• Banking services

• Debt management

• Treasury operations

• Financial planning

2. Healthcare

• Patient care

• Medical records

• Health education

• Clinical research

• Medical billing

• Healthcare management

• HIPAA compliance

• Pharmacy services

• Nursing

• Healthcare administration

• Treatment planning

• Telemedicine

• Electronic health records (EHR

• Medical research

• Disease prevention

• Surgical support

• Infection control

• Medical equipment

• Clinical trials

• Primary care

• Patient advocacy

• Rehabilitation

• Healthcare polic

• Physical therapy

• Patient assessment

• Hospital administration

3. Sales

• Lead generation

• Sales strategy

• Customer relationship management (CRM)

• Negotiation

• Market research

• Product knowledge

• B2B sales

• B2C sales

• Cold calling

• Sales forecasting

• Account management

• Sales presentations

• Client acquisition

• Sales process

• Sales targets

• Territory management

• Closing deals

• Cross-selling

• Upselling

• Contract negotiation

• Team collaboration

• Sales pipeline

• Customer satisfaction

• Product demonstrations

• Relationship building

• Sales metrics

4. Manufacturing

• Lean manufacturing

• Process optimization

• Quality control

• Production management

• Supply chain

• Inventory management

• Equipment maintenance

• Product development

• Assembly line

• Manufacturing operations

• OSHA compliance

• Machine operation

• Six Sigma

• Production scheduling

• Safety protocols

• Continuous improvement

• Industrial engineering

• Packaging

• Quality assurance

• Materials handling

• Manufacturing software

• Cost reduction

• Preventative maintenance

• Workforce management

• Plant management

• Compliance regulations

5. Information Technology (IT)

• Network administration

• Software development

• IT support

• Database management

• Cloud computing

• Cybersecurity

• Data analysis

• Programming languages (e.g., Java, Python)

• Systems analysis

• IT project management

• Troubleshooting

• Technical support

• System integration

• IT infrastructure

• Data security

• Business intelligence

• Server management

• Virtualization

• Network security

• IT governance

• User support

• Application development

• IT troubleshooting

• Cloud services

• Disaster recovery

6. Marketing

• Content marketing

• Brand strategy

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• Social media marketing

• Campaign management

• Digital marketing

• Market research

• Email marketing

• Lead generation

• Product marketing

• Marketing analytics

• Paid media

• Search engine marketing (SEM)

• Content creation

• Customer engagement

• Conversion optimization

• Public relations

• Advertising strategy

• Event planning

• Influencer marketing

• Mobile marketing

• Marketing automation

• Creative strategy

• Market segmentation

• Data-driven marketing

• Copywriting

7. Customer Service

• Customer support

• Client relations

• Issue resolution

• Call center operations

• Customer satisfaction

• Product knowledge

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

• Troubleshooting

• Problem-solving

• Multitasking

• Technical support

• Service excellence

• Service delivery

• Upselling

• Order management

• Complaint management

• Retention strategies

• Feedback analysis

• Helpdesk support

• Active listening

• Time management

• Escalation management

• Support ticketing

• Conflict resolution

• Customer loyalty

• Communication skills

8. Education

• Lesson planning

• Classroom management

• Curriculum development

• Teaching

• Student assessment

• Educational technology

• Tutoring

• Special education

• Teacher training

• Distance learning

• Educational leadership

• Instructional design

• Educational programs

• Professional development

• Parent communication

• Academic advising

• Student engagement

• Test preparation

• Classroom collaboration

• Early childhood education

• Student behavior management

• School administration

• Diversity and inclusion

• Higher education

• Learning objectives

• Pedagogical strategies

9. Human Resources (HR)

• Recruitment

• Talent acquisition

• Employee relations

• Onboarding

• Benefits administration

• Performance management

• Training and development

• HR policies

• Employee engagement

• Compensation and benefits

• Labor laws

• HRIS (Human Resources Information System)

• Conflict resolution

• Diversity and inclusion

• Succession planning

• Workforce planning

• Organizational development

• Payroll management

• Employee retention

• Job descriptions

• Employee wellness

• HR compliance

• Job analysis

• Career development

• Negotiation skills

10. Retail

• Inventory management

• Customer service

• Sales floor

• Merchandising

• Visual merchandising

• Store management

• POS (Point of Sale) systems

• Stock replenishment

• Product knowledge

• Sales targets

• Store operations

• Loss prevention

• Cash handling

• Customer engagement

• Staff training

• Promotions

• Retail marketing

• Customer satisfaction

• Store layout

• Team leadership

• Product displays

• Sales forecasting

• Order fulfillment

• Retail operations

• Brand ambassador

• Retail analytics

11. Construction

• Project management

• Construction management

• Safety protocols

• Blueprint reading

• Site supervision

• Budgeting

• Scheduling

• Structural engineering

• Quality control

• Contract management

• Construction estimating

• Site inspections

• Cost estimation

• Project delivery

• Regulatory compliance

• Heavy machinery operation

• Materials management

• Team collaboration

• Site coordination

• Electrical installation

• Environmental health and safety

• Equipment maintenance

• Construction software

• Risk management

• Workforce management

• Change order managemen

12. Legal

• Legal research

• Contract law

• Litigation support

• Corporate law

• Compliance

• Legal writing

• Client relations

• Case management

• Legal drafting

• Intellectual property

• Dispute resolution

• Mediation

• Document review

• Legal advising

• Regulatory compliance

• Legal proceedings

• Commercial law

• Paralegal support

• Court filing

• Trial preparation

• Legal briefings

• Legal analysis

• Risk management

• Client counseling

• Arbitration

• Tax law

13. Engineering

• Engineering design

• CAD (Computer-Aided Design)

• Project management

• Manufacturing processes

• R&D (Research and Development)

• Problem-solving

• Quality assurance

• Process optimization

• Product testing

• Technical drawing

• Systems engineering

• Mechanical engineering

• Electrical engineering

• Civil engineering

• Structural analysis

• Design specifications

• Innovation

• Materials science

• Engineering analysis

• Quality control

• Prototype development

• Testing procedures

• Construction management

• Sustainability

• Industrial engineering

• Automation

14. Hospitality

• Customer service

• Event planning

• Reservations management

• Catering services

• Hospitality operations

• Food and beverage

• Hotel management

• Event coordination

• Front desk operations

• Housekeeping management

• Guest services

• Staff training

• Budgeting

• Marketing strategies

• Travel coordination

• Conflict resolution

• Inventory management

• Customer engagement

• Team leadership

• Sales forecasting

• Vendor management

• Menu planning

• Upselling

• Health and safety regulations

• Staff scheduling

• Crisis management

15. Transportation & Logistics

• Route planning

• Fleet management

• Supply chain management

• Inventory control

• Shipping coordination

• Distribution

• Warehouse management

• Delivery scheduling

• Logistics coordination

• Freight forwarding

• Transportation planning

• Load optimization

• Fleet maintenance

• Import/export

• Transportation compliance

• Supply chain optimization

• Packaging

• Vendor management

• Warehouse operations

• Inventory systems

• Distribution channels

• Risk management

• Delivery management

• Contract negotiation

• Freight cost analysis

• Time management

16. Real Estate

• Property management

• Real estate sales

• Market analysis

• Negotiation

• Leasing

• Client relations

• Investment properties

• Property valuation

• Contract negotiation

• Real estate transactions

• Mortgage services

• Residential real estate

• Commercial real estate

• Real estate development

• Property listing

• Marketing properties

• Open houses

• Tenant relations

• Real estate law

• Closing process

• Property inspection

• Property staging

• Market research

• Transaction management

• Real estate finance

• Building codes

17. Arts & Design

• Graphic design

• Web design

• Visual communication

• Branding

• Creative direction

• Adobe Creative Suite

• Illustration

• UX/UI design

• Photography

• Typography

• Art direction

• Motion graphics

• Video production

• Photography

• Animation

• Portfolio development

• Print design

• Logo design

• 3D modeling

• Storyboarding

• Digital media

• Design principles

• Sketching

• Creative writing

• Conceptual design

• Color theory

18. Nonprofit

• Fundraising

• Grant writing

• Community outreach

• Volunteer coordination

• Program management

• Nonprofit strategy

• Advocacy

• Event planning

• Donor relations

• Social impact

• Program evaluation

• Project management

• Public relations

• Stakeholder engagement

• Social services

• Budget management

• Campaign management

• Nonprofit governance

• Collaboration

• Marketing communications

• Budget planning

• Social media management

• Stakeholder relations

• Policy analysis

• Corporate partnerships

• Fund development

19. Science & Research

• Data analysis

• Laboratory research

• Scientific writing

• Research methodology

• Statistical analysis

• Experimentation

• Clinical trials

• Research data

• Scientific experiments

• Fieldwork

• Data collection

• Report writing

• Research design

• Scientific communication

• Statistical software (SPSS, R)

• Research ethics

• Technical writing

• Peer review

• Biostatistics

• Innovation

• Hypothesis testing

• Experimental design

• Literature review

• Market research

• Research funding

• Collaboration

20. Media & Communications

• Journalism

• Public relations

• Copywriting

• Editing

• Social media management

• Content creation

• Storytelling

• Broadcast production

• Marketing communications

• Media relations

• Copyediting

• Public speaking

• Press releases

• Media outreach

• Digital storytelling

• SEO writing

• Interviewing

• News reporting

• Campaign management

• Crisis communication

• Media strategy

• Content strategy

• Event promotion

• Brand messaging

• Media planning

• Graphic design

Key takeaways

Using appropriate resume keywords can help you get through the resume black hole and showcase yourself in the best possible light. Hiring managers will appreciate seeing actionable insights from your career experience rather than simply telling them about it. Use the resume keyword tips above to transform your resume into a career-building tool.

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