What Keywords Should I Use in My Resume to Pass ATS Filters and Get Noticed by Recruiters?
Ever feel like your resume disappears into a black hole? You’re not wrong, and that “black hole” has a name: the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
It’s not personal. It’s algorithmic. And if your resume doesn’t speak the right language, it may never reach human eyes.
But here’s the good news: if you know how to use the right keywords, you can get through the filter and get noticed.
First: what is an ATS and why should you care?
An ATS is software used by employers to screen resumes before a recruiter ever sees them. It scans your document for:
- 🧠 Specific keywords or phrases
- 📊 Job titles and relevant experience
- 🧩 Skills and competencies
If your resume doesn’t match the job description, it’s ranked low or filtered out completely.
How to find the right keywords for your resume
Here’s how to do it strategically with no guessing, no keyword stuffing.
Start with the job description
This is your blueprint. Look for:
- 🔑 Job title variations (e.g., “Customer Success” vs. “Account Manager”)
- 📌 Required skills (e.g., “CRM tools”, “SQL”, “cross-functional collaboration”)
- 📈 Key action verbs (e.g., “execute”, “analyze”, “lead”, “improve”)
Pro tip: Copy the job description into a word cloud generator to see which terms are repeated most often.
Mirror the language of the employer
Use the exact phrasing from the job post, don’t paraphrase. ATS filters aren’t smart enough to detect synonyms in most cases.
Example:
Job description says “stakeholder engagement”? Don’t write “client communication”. Use “stakeholder engagement”.
Focus on hard skills first
Hard skills are the strongest keywords. These include:
- 💻 Tools and software (Excel, Salesforce, Figma, Python)
- 📊 Techniques or frameworks (Agile, UX Design, SEO, Budgeting)
- 📚 Industry knowledge (compliance, data protection, user research)
Include soft skills carefully
Soft skills like “team player” or “adaptable” can be keywords but only if they match the job post.
Where possible, show the soft skill through your achievements rather than just listing it.
Common ATS Keywords by Role
| 🎯 Role | ✅ High-Value Keywords |
|---|---|
| Marketing Assistant | Content creation, SEO, campaign tracking, Google Analytics, brand voice |
| Project Manager | Agile, stakeholder management, risk assessment, resource planning, Jira |
| UX Designer | Wireframing, user research, Figma, usability testing, design systems |
What Not to Do With Keywords
- ❌ Don’t copy-paste entire blocks of text from job ads
- ❌ Don’t keyword-stuff in unnatural ways
- ❌ Don’t use graphics or icons to represent skills (ATS can’t read them)
Your keywords must flow naturally in your achievements and responsibilities.
Use keywords with strategy
You don’t need to guess. You need to listen to the job description, echo the language, and use your resume as proof that you understand what matters.
Remember: keywords aren’t tricks, they’re signals. Use them with intention, and the right doors will open.
Don’t just write your resume. Translate it for the system that reads it first.