Great resumes employ both active, storytelling language and key terms that align with the job posting. We’ve written several blog posts and compiled as many comprehensive word lists in hopes to arm job seekers with a bank of resume words. We want to help candidates display their unique skills and experience in the most compelling way possible. To that end, we’ve gathered all of our resume words resources below so our readers can find them in one place.
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Resume Keywords
Recruiters look for position-specific keywords whether they’re skimming resumes or employing software to do the job for them. Many of these keywords can be found in the job description and should absolutely be included on your resume.
Most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for relevant skills and experience. Some systems can even weed out resumes that are not a match and rank others based on the job description. This means that even highly qualified candidates can slip through the cracks if their resumes are not optimized.
We’ve compiled a list of keywords that appear most frequently in the Jobscan database. These are the top resume keywords recruiters, hiring managers, and ATS algorithms are looking for when vetting applicants.
Note that these keywords are job-specific. Job seekers should identify keywords that are relevant based on the job description.
| .NET | fashion | process improvement |
| account management | FDA | process improvements |
| accounting | field sales | procurement |
| accounts payable | filing | product design |
| accounts receivable | finance | product development |
| acquisition | financial analysis | product knowledge |
| acquisitions | financial management | product line |
| administrative support | financial performance | product management |
| admissions | financial reporting | product marketing |
| Adobe | financial reports | product quality |
| Adobe Creative Suite | financial services | program development |
| advertising | financial statements | program management |
| affiliate | financing | programming |
| agile | fitness | project delivery |
| algorithms | Flex | project management |
| alliances | forecasting | project management skills |
| analysis | forecasts | project plan |
| analytical | frameworks | project planning |
| analytical skills | front-end | proposal |
| analytics | fulfillment | prospecting |
| analyze data | fundraising | protocols |
| analyzing data | GAAP | prototype |
| android | general ledger | psychology |
| annual budget | German | public health |
| API | GIS | public policy |
| APIs | governance | public relations |
| architecture | graphic design | publications |
| architectures | hardware | publishing |
| assembly | health | purchase orders |
| asset management | healthcare | purchasing |
| audio | help desk | Python |
| audit | higher education | QA |
| auditing | hing | quality assurance |
| AutoCAD | hospital | quality control |
| automation | hospitality | quality management |
| aviation | hotel | quality standards |
| AWS | hotels | R (programming language) |
| banking | HRIS | raw materials |
| benchmark | HTML | real estate |
| beverage | HTML5 | real-time |
| BI | human resource | reconcile |
| big data | I-DEAS | reconciliation |
| billing | IBM | recruit |
| biology | immigration | recruiting |
| brand | in-store | recruitment |
| branding | InDesign | regulations |
| broadcast | industry experience | regulatory |
| budget | industry trends | regulatory compliance |
| budget management | information management | regulatory requirements |
| budgeting | information security | relationship building |
| build relationships | information system | relationship management |
| business administration | information systems | repairs |
| business analysis | information technology | reporting |
| business cases | installation | research |
| business continuity | instructional design | research projects |
| business development | instrumentation | researching |
| business intelligence | internal audit | resource management |
| business issues | internal communications | retail |
| business management | internal controls | retention |
| business planning | internal customers | revenue growth |
| business plans | internal stakeholders | RFP |
| business process | international | RFPs |
| business requirements | internship | risk assessment |
| business stakeholders | intranet | risk assessments |
| business strategy | inventory | risk management |
| business systems | inventory management | root cause |
| C (programming language) | investigate | root cause |
| C# | investigation | routing |
| C++ | investigations | SaaS |
| CAD | invoices | safety |
| call center | invoicing | sales |
| case management | iOS | sales experience |
| cash flow | iPhone | sales goals |
| certification | ISO | sales management |
| CFA | IT infrastructure | sales operations |
| change management | ITIL | Salesforce |
| chemicals | Java | SAP |
| chemistry | Javascript | SAS |
| circuits | JIRA | scheduling |
| Cisco | journal entries | SCI |
| client relationships | journalism | scripting |
| client service | key performance indicators | scrum |
| client services | KPI | SDLC |
| cloud | KPIs | security clearance |
| CMS | LAN | segmentation |
| co-op | law enforcement | SEO |
| coaching | leadership development | service delivery |
| coding | lean | SharePoint |
| commissioning | legal | six sigma |
| complex projects | legislation | small business |
| compliance | licensing | social media |
| computer applications | life cycle | software development |
| computer science | lifecycle | software development life cycle |
| computer software | lighting | software engineering |
| construction | Linux | SolidWorks |
| consulting | litigation | SOPs |
| consulting experience | logistics | sourcing |
| consulting services | machine learning | specifications |
| consumers | man resources | spelling |
| content | manage projects | sports |
| continuous improvement | management consulting | spreadsheets |
| contract management | management experience | SQL |
| contracts | market research | SQL server |
| controls | marketing | staffing |
| conversion | marketing materials | stakeholder management |
| correspondence | marketing plans | standard operating procedures |
| cost effective | marketing programs | standardization |
| cost reduction | marketing strategy | start-up |
| counsel | mathematics | startup |
| counseling | MATLAB | statistical analysis |
| CPG | matrix | statistics |
| CPR | mechanical engineering | status reports |
| CRM | media relations | strategic direction |
| cross-functional team | medical device | strategic initiatives |
| CSS | merchandising | strategic planning |
| customer experience | metrics | strategic plans |
| customer facing | Microsoft Office | strategy |
| customer requirements | Microsoft Office Suite | strong analytical skills |
| customer service | Microsoft Word | supervising |
| customer-facing | migration | supervisory experience |
| D (programming language) | mining | supply chain |
| daily operations | MIS | supply chain management |
| data analysis | mobile | support services |
| data center | modeling | Tableau |
| data collection | mortgage | tablets |
| data entry | MS Excel | talent acquisition |
| data management | MS Office | talent management |
| data quality | MS Project | tax |
| database | negotiation | technical |
| datasets | networking | technical issues |
| deposits | non-profit | technical knowledge |
| design | nursing | technical skills |
| development activities | office software | technical support |
| digital marketing | on-boarding | telecom |
| digital media | on-call | test cases |
| distribution | operating systems | test plans |
| DNS | operational excellence | testing |
| documentation | operations | therapeutic |
| documenting | operations management | trade shows |
| drafting | oracle | training |
| drawings | ordering | transactions |
| driving record | OS | transport |
| due diligence | outreach | transportation |
| dynamic environment | outsourcing | travel |
| e-commerce | partnership | travel arrangements |
| ecommerce | partnerships | troubleshooting |
| economics | payments | TV |
| editing | payroll | |
| editorial | PeopleSoft | UI |
| electrical | performance improvement | underwriting |
| electrical engineering | performance management | Unix |
| electronics | performance metrics | usability |
| EMEA | pharmaceutical | user experience |
| employee engagement | pharmacy | UX |
| employee relations | phone calls | valid drivers license |
| end user | photography | value proposition |
| engagement | Photoshop | variances |
| engineering | physical security | vendor management |
| ERP | physics | vendors |
| ETL | PMP | video |
| event planning | policies | VMware |
| expenses | portfolio management | warehouse |
| experimental | positioning | web services |
| experiments | PR | windows |
| external partners | presentation | workflows |
| fabrication | presentations | writing |
| process development |
Learn more about resume keywords.
Resume Skills
Resume skills are keywords often sourced directly from the job description. Possessing the right skills and including them on your resume can let recruiters know at a glance that you’re a great candidate for the job.
The first thing many recruiters look for are hard skills that align with the job. To better understand which skills job seekers should be paying attention to, we have parsed millions of job descriptions and found the most in-demand, most common, and most overrated skills for specific industries.
Explore the Jobscan Skills Reports
Learn more about adding skills to your resume.
Resume Action Verbs
Action verbs are the resume words that propel sentences, helping job seekers to tell engaging stories about their experience. We have four pieces of advice when it comes to selecting resume action verbs:
- Avoid generic verbs that recruiters often see. Recruiters may pass right over generic words that they’ve seen time and again, like “participated” or “assisted.”
- Use fresh language instead. Verbs like “spearheaded” and “mobilized” can grab a recruiter’s attention and improve the readability of your resume. Hiring managers also told us that they love to see industry-specific verbs.
- Be specific, carefully selecting verbs that speak to your unique experience. We’ve provided over 400 verbs to help you find the exact word you need.
- Avoid using the passive voice on your resume when possible. Look for places where action verbs can replace passive constructions.
| Accomplished | Elicited | Overhauled |
| Achieved | Eliminated | Oversaw |
| Acquired | Emphasized | Participated |
| Acted | Empowered | Partnered |
| Adapted | Enabled | Patched |
| Addressed | Enacted | Performed |
| Adjusted | Encouraged | Persuaded |
| Administered | Endeavored | Photographed |
| Advanced | Endorsed | Piloted |
| Advertised | Enforced | Pioneered |
| Advised | Engineered | Planned |
| Advocated | Enhanced | Predicted |
| Aided | Enlisted | Prepared |
| Aligned | Enlivened | Presented |
| Allocated | Ensured | Presided |
| Amplified | Entertained | Printed |
| Amplify | Equalized | Prioritized |
| Analyzed | Established | Probed |
| Answered | Estimated | Processed |
| Applied | Evaluated | Produced |
| Appointed | Examined | Programmed |
| Appraised | Exceeded | Projected |
| Approved | Executed | Promoted |
| Arbitrated | Expanded | Proofread |
| Architected | Expedited | Proposed |
| Arranged | Experimented | Proved |
| Articulated | Explained | Provided |
| Assembled | Explored | Publicized |
| Assessed | Expressed | Published |
| Assigned | Extracted | Purchased |
| Assisted | Fabricated | Qualified |
| Attained | Facilitated | Quantified |
| Audited | Familiarize | Raised |
| Augmented | Fashioned | Reached |
| Authored | Fielded | Rebuilt |
| Authorized | Filed | Recognized |
| Automated | Finalized | Recommended |
| Awarded | Fixed | Reconciled |
| Balanced | Focused | Recorded |
| Began | For | Recruited |
| Blocked | Forecasted | Rectified |
| Boosted | Forged | Redesigned |
| Brainstormed | Formalized | Reduced |
| Briefed | Formed | Referred |
| Budgeted | Formulated | Refined |
| Built | Fortified | Refocused |
| Calculated | Fostered | Registered |
| Campaigned | Founded | Regulated |
| Capitalized | Furnished | Rehabilitated |
| Captured | Furthered | Reinforced |
| Cared | Gained | Remodeled |
| Cataloged | Gathered | Renovated |
| Categorized | Generated | Reorganized |
| Centralized | Goals | Repaired |
| Chaired | Grew | Replaced |
| Championed | Guided | Reported |
| Charted | Halted | Researched |
| Checked | Handled | Reserved |
| Clarified | Headed | Resolved |
| Classified | Helped | Responded |
| Co-Authored | Helping | Restored |
| Coached | Hired | Restructured |
| Coded | Hosted | Retrieved |
| Collaborated | Identified | Revamped |
| Collected | Ignited | Reviewed |
| Combined | Illustrated | Revised |
| Communicated | Imagined | Revitalized |
| Compared | Implemented | Rewrote |
| Compiled | Improved | Routed |
| Completed | Incorporated | Saved |
| Composed | Increased | Scheduled |
| Computed | Individualized | Screened |
| Conceptualized | Influenced | Scrutinized |
| Condensed | Informed | Searched |
| Conducted | Initiated | Secured |
| Conferred | Inspected | Set |
| Conserved | Inspired | Shaped |
| Considered | Installed | Sharpened |
| Consolidated | Instilled | Shattered |
| Constructed | Instituted | Showcased |
| Consulted | Instructed | Simplified |
| Contacted | Insured | Simulated |
| Contracted | Integrated | Slashed |
| Contributed | Intensified | Solicited |
| Controlled | Interacted | Solved |
| Convert | Interpreted | Sparked |
| Converted | Intervened | Spearheaded |
| Conveyed | Interviewed | Specialized |
| Convinced | Introduced | Specified |
| Cooperated | Invented | Spoke |
| Coordinated | Inventoried | Standardized |
| Corrected | Investigated | Steered |
| Corresponded | Involved | Stimulated |
| Counseled | Itemized | Storyboarded |
| Crafted | Joined | Strategized |
| Created | Judged | Streamlined |
| Creative | Launched | Strengthened |
| Critiqued | Lectured | Studied |
| Cultivated | Led | Submitted |
| Curated | Lessened | Succeeded |
| Customized | Leveraged | Suggested |
| Debated | Lifted | Summarized |
| Debugged | Listened | Supervised |
| Decided | Lobbied | Supplied |
| Deciphered | Located | Supported |
| Decreased | Logged | Surpassed |
| Deducted | Lowered | Surveyed |
| Defined | Maintained | Sustained |
| Delegated | Managed | Synthesized |
| Delivered | Mapped | Systematized |
| Demonstrated | Marketed | Targeted |
| Deployed | Maximized | Taught |
| Derived | Measured | Teaching |
| Described | Mediated | Technical |
| Designed | Mentored | Terminated |
| Detected | Merged | Tested |
| Determined | Minimized | Tracked |
| Developed | Mobilized | Trained |
| Devised | Modeled | Transformed |
| Diagnosed | Moderated | Translated |
| Diagramed | Modified | Transmitted |
| Differentiated | Monitored | Troubleshoot |
| Directed | Motivated | Tutored |
| Discerned | Navigated | Unified |
| Discovered | Negotiated | United |
| Discussed | Networked | Up |
| Dispatched | Observed | Updated |
| Dispensed | Obtained | Upgraded |
| Displayed | Operated | Utilized |
| Distributed | Optimized | Validated |
| Documented | Orchestrated | Verified |
| Drafted | Ordered | Visualized |
| Drew | Organized | Volunteered |
| Drove | Originated | Won |
| Earned | Outlined | Wrote |
| Edited | Outpaced | Yielded |
| Educated | Outperformed |
Learn more about resume action words.
Resume Adjectives
Resume adjectives can help describe the nature of your experience and skills. Though adjectives are often the first words that come to mind when writing a resume, it’s best to use them strategically and sparingly. In many cases, descriptive adjectives can be replaced with action verbs to better communicate your potential contribution to a company.
Take these two examples:
- Creative growth marketer with people management experience.
- Conceptualized a social media push and led a team of four writers and designers to implement the campaign, resulting in a 300% ROI.
The first example uses an adjective (creative) to describe the candidate’s ability, while the second example uses action verbs and concrete statistics to illustrate the same characteristic. The second example is far more convincing than the first. This is why job seekers should be careful about leaning too heavily on adjectives.
However, there are places for adjectives on any resume, such as in the resume headline. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of 150 resume adjectives below.
| Accomplished | Economical | Proactive |
| Accountable | Elegant | Productive |
| Accurate | Eloquent | Professional |
| Active | Energetic | Proficient |
| Adept | Enterprising | Profitable |
| Advanced | Enthusiastic | Progressive |
| Alert | Exact | Punctual |
| Amiable | Exhaustive | Purposeful |
| Amicable | Expert | Qualified |
| Ardent | Fast-learning | Quality |
| Articulate | Fastidious | Relentless |
| Assertive | First-class | Reliable |
| Astute | Fluent | Resilient |
| Attentive | Focused | Respectful |
| Bold | Genuine | Revolutionary |
| Businesslike | Groundbreaking | Robust |
| Calculating | Harmonious | Rousing |
| Calm | Honest | Shrewd |
| Charming | Ideal | Significant |
| Cheerful | Imaginative | Sincere |
| Clear | Impartial | Skilled |
| Coherent | Industrious | Skillful |
| Cohesive | Influential | Smooth |
| Collaborative | Ingenious | Sophisticated |
| Committed | Innovative | Spirited |
| Competent | Insightful | Steadfast |
| Complex | Inspiring | Step-by-step |
| Concerted | Instrumental | Strategic |
| Confident | Intelligent | Strong-willed |
| Conscientious | Inventive | Structured |
| Consistent | Investigative | Studious |
| Constructive | Keen | Superior |
| Controlled | Logical | Supportive |
| Cooperative | Loyal | Sustainable |
| Cost-effective | Methodical | Systematic |
| Courteous | Meticulous | Tactful |
| Cutting-edge | Motivated | Team-minded |
| Decisive | Novel | Tenacious |
| Dedicated | Objective | Thoughtful |
| Dependable | Orderly | Timely |
| Detail-oriented | Painstaking | Tireless |
| Detailed | Passionate | Unique |
| Determined | Perceptive | Unprecedented |
| Devoted | Persistent | Vigorous |
| Diligent | Personable | Visionary |
| Diplomatic | Persuasive | Vivid |
| Discerning | Pleasant | Well-grounded |
| Disciplined | Positive | Wholehearted |
| Driven | Practical | World-class |
| Earnest | Precise | Zealous |
We hope our collection of resume words helps you land the job! You can optimize your resume keywords and skills for each job you apply to with Jobscan. And check out our free ATS-friendly resume templates for more help writing your resume.
