"Keywords" is a slightly misleading term. It sounds like a trick, but it simply means the words that describe the work: skills, tools, job titles, certifications, and methods. Recruiters search for these terms in applicant databases, and people skimming a resume look for them too. Using the right ones, honestly, makes you easier to find and easier to understand.
Where to find the right keywords
- The job posting itself. Read the responsibilities and requirements sections, and note terms that repeat.
- Several similar postings. Compare three to five postings for the same kind of role. The terms that show up across all of them are the standard vocabulary of that job.
- Industry standards. Certifications, software names, and recognized methods in your field, such as a specific accounting standard or a project management framework.
Hard skills vs. soft skills
Hard keywords are specific and verifiable: Python, SQL, Salesforce, payroll processing, CPR certification. They are what recruiters most often search for. Soft skills such as communication or leadership are better shown through what you've done than listed in a skills section. "Led a team of five through a product launch" says more than the word "leadership".
Where to place keywords
- Summary: two or three of the most important terms for this role.
- Skills section: a clean list of the tools and abilities that apply.
- Experience bullets: the most convincing placement, because a keyword used in context shows you actually used it.
- Certifications and education: the exact names of credentials.
Match the wording, and include variants
If the posting says "project management", use that phrase rather than something close to it. People also search using acronyms and alternate names, so include both once: "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" or "customer relationship management (CRM)". Don't repeat the same term over and over; once or twice in context is enough.
What not to do
- Keyword stuffing. Pasting long lists of terms makes a resume hard to read for the people who eventually review it.
- Hidden text. Putting keywords in white font or tiny type is widely regarded as deceptive and can get an application discarded when it's noticed.
- Claiming skills you don't have. You'll be asked about them in the interview.
A simple process
- Paste the job posting into a document.
- Highlight the nouns and verbs that repeat or appear in the requirements.
- Write down the top ten.
- Mark which ones you can honestly claim.
- Work those into your summary, skills, and bullets, in context.
The posting says: "Manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts."
A resume bullet (illustrative): Managed relationships with six suppliers and renegotiated two contracts, reducing annual costs by 8%.
The bullet uses the posting's language, but it only works because it describes something real. For the formatting side of getting found, see how applicant tracking systems read resumes.
Try it on your own resume
TailorFit reads the job posting and reflects its language in your resume wherever your own experience supports it, without adding skills you don't have.
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