ATS Resume Keywords: The Complete Guide

If your resume keeps getting rejected and you never hear back from employers, ATS keywords are likely the reason. Studies show that 75% of resumes are filtered out by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before a human ever reads them. The #1 reason? Missing keywords.

This guide covers everything you need to know about ATS keywords: what they are, how to find them, where to put them, and how to check if your resume has them.

What Are ATS Keywords?

ATS keywords are the specific terms and phrases that an Applicant Tracking System looks for when scanning your resume. These are pulled directly from the job description. If your resume doesn't contain enough of these keywords, the ATS ranks it as a low match and it gets filtered out.

There are several types of ATS keywords:

1. Hard Skills

Technical skills specific to the job. These carry the most weight.

• Software/tools: Python, Salesforce, Figma, Excel, JIRA
• Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, DevOps
• Certifications: PMP, CPA, AWS Certified, CCNA
• Platforms: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Shopify

2. Soft Skills

Interpersonal and communication skills. Less heavily weighted but still scanned.

• Leadership, communication, collaboration, problem-solving
• Time management, adaptability, teamwork

3. Job Title and Industry Terms

The exact job title and industry-specific terminology.

• If the job says "Software Engineer," don't write "Coder" or "Developer"
• If the job says "Account Executive," don't write "Sales Rep"
• Industry terms: "SaaS," "B2B," "GTM strategy," "ARR," "churn rate"

4. Qualifications and Credentials

Degrees, certifications, and specific qualifications mentioned in the job posting.

• "Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field"
• "PMP certification preferred"
• "5+ years of experience in B2B sales"

How to Find ATS Keywords in a Job Description

The best source of ATS keywords is the job description itself. Here's a systematic approach:

Step 1: Read the entire job description

Read it once for understanding. What is the core role? What are the main responsibilities?

Step 2: Highlight all nouns and noun phrases

Go through it again and highlight every skill, tool, methodology, and qualification mentioned. These are your keywords.

Step 3: Check for repeated terms

If a term appears multiple times in the job description, it's a high-priority keyword. ATS systems often weight keywords by frequency.

Step 4: Check the "Requirements" section carefully

The requirements/qualifications section is the most keyword-dense part of any job description. Every bullet point is a keyword cluster.

Step 5: Use a free ATS scanner

Instead of manually highlighting, you can use a free tool to automate keyword extraction:

Where to Put ATS Keywords on Your Resume

Finding the right keywords is only half the battle. You need to place them strategically:

1. Professional Summary (Top of Resume)

Your 2-3 line summary at the top should include 3-5 key terms from the job description. This is the first thing ATS scans.

2. Skills Section

List your hard skills as a simple, comma-separated list. This is where most ATS systems look first.

• Use exact terms from the job description
• Don't abbreviate (write "Amazon Web Services" not just "AWS" if the job description spells it out)
• Group by category (Languages, Frameworks, Tools, Cloud)

3. Work Experience Bullet Points

This is where keywords carry the most weight because they're in context. Each bullet point should naturally include 1-2 keywords.

4. Certifications and Education

If the job description mentions specific certifications or degrees, make sure they appear in the right sections. Use the full official name.

Common ATS Keyword Mistakes to Avoid

1. Keyword Stuffing

Don't paste a block of keywords at the bottom of your resume or hide them in white text. Modern ATS systems detect this and will auto-reject your resume.

2. Using Variations Instead of Exact Matches

If the job says "project management," don't write "project manager." ATS systems do exact matching first. Use the exact form from the job description.

3. Forgetting Acronyms and Full Forms

If the job description uses both "AWS" and "Amazon Web Services," use both in your resume. You don't know which form the ATS is searching for.

4. Not Customizing Per Job

Every job description has different keywords. Sending the same resume to every job is the #1 reason for ATS rejection. Customize your resume keywords for each application.

5. Using Creative Job Titles

If your title was "Code Ninja," the ATS is looking for "Software Engineer." Use the standard industry title, not a creative one.

How to Check Your ATS Keyword Match

Before submitting any application, check your ATS keyword match score:

1. Copy your resume text
2. Copy the job description
3. Paste both into a free ATS scanner
4. Review your match score and keyword gaps
5. Add missing keywords naturally to your resume
6. Re-check until your score is 70%+

FAQ: ATS Resume Keywords

How many keywords should my resume have?

There's no magic number, but aim for a 70%+ match rate with the job description's keywords. Our free scanner shows you your exact match percentage.

Do ATS systems read PDFs?

Yes, most modern ATS systems can parse PDF files. However, avoid complex formatting (tables, columns, graphics) that can confuse the parser. Simple, single-column resumes parse best.

Should I use the exact wording from the job description?

Yes. If the job description says "JavaScript," don't write "JS." If it says "project management," don't write "project manager." ATS systems do exact string matching.

What's a good ATS match score?

70% or above is generally considered good. Below 40% means your resume is likely being filtered out. You can check your score for free with TailoredFit.

Take Action Now

Don't send another resume without checking your ATS keyword match score. It takes 10 seconds and it's free: