The Top 500 ATS Resume Keywords of 2025

Do you find tailoring your resume for each job tedious, time-consuming, and easy to get wrong?

Many job seekers do. But tailoring your resume is important because recruiters use specific keywords when they search applicant tracking systems (ATS) for qualified candidates.

If your resume doesn’t include these keywords, it might not show up in the search results.

This guide includes 500 of the most commonly used resume keywords, plus tips on how to find the right ones and use them effectively throughout your resume.

What are resume keywords?

Resume keywords are the specific words and phrases employers use to search for qualified candidates in their applicant tracking systems (ATS).

These keywords often come straight from the job description and typically include:

If your resume doesn’t include the right mix of keywords, it may not appear in search results, even if you’re perfectly qualified.

In fact, a study by Harvard Business School found that 88% of employers say their hiring systems filter out qualified candidates who don’t precisely match the job description.

Do recruiters actually use keyword filters?

There’s a common myth that recruiters don’t really use keyword searches in their applicant tracking systems (ATS).

But according to Jobscan’s State of the Job Search report, 99.7% of recruiters use filters in their ATS or similar systems to find qualified candidates.

Here’s how they search:

This is why having an ATS-friendly resume is so important. It ensures your keywords get noticed and that your resume doesn’t get lost in the system.

How to identify and add keywords to your resume

Here’s a step-by-step process for finding the right keywords to use when tailoring your resume for a specific job.

1. Read the job description carefully

Start by reading the job posting from top to bottom. Pay attention to words and phrases that appear more than once. These are usually the most important skills and qualifications the employer is looking for.

2. Highlight keywords

As you read, highlight key terms, especially hard skills, tools, and technical qualifications.

Below is a job description with important keywords underlined in red. These are the words and phrases you should try to work into your resume, as long as they accurately reflect your experience.

Also take note of the job title. This is the most important keyword, since it’s one of the first things recruiters search for in the ATS.

You should always include the job title somewhere on your resume, ideally near the top.

According to Jobscan data, candidates who include the job title on their resume are 10.6 times more likely to get an interview,

3. Add the keywords to your resume

Once you’ve identified the right keywords, the next step is knowing where to use them.

Here’s a simple guide:

Never begin a bullet point with the phrase “responsible for.” Instead, use action verbs (also called functional keywords). These are words like led, developed, analyzed, and implemented. They show what you did in each role.

Below is an example of what a tailored ATS resume might look like for the job description above.

Notice how the job title—Accountant—is clearly displayed next to the applicant’s name.

Don’t keyword stuff. Your resume should always be natural and easy to read. Don’t add keywords just for the sake of “pleasing” the ATS. 

Also, try to avoid generic buzzwords like “hardworking,” “team player,” or “go-getter.” These terms don’t tell recruiters anything specific. Instead, focus on real skills and accomplishments that match what’s in the job description.

4. Mirror the language used in the job description.

When it comes to resume keywords, small differences in phrasing can have a big impact.

That’s because ATS don’t always recognize synonyms, abbreviations, or alternative wording.

For example, if your resume says “Adobe Creative Cloud” but the job description says “Adobe Creative Suite,” your resume might not appear in search results, even though you have the exact skill set they’re looking for.

The easiest way to avoid this? Use the exact wording from the job description whenever it accurately reflects your experience.

The same idea applies to job titles. Titles often vary by industry, company, or seniority level, but the meaning is usually the same.

Here are some examples of different job titles that describe the same role:

5. Use an online tool to tailor your resumes faster

Manually customizing your resume for every job is one of the most time-consuming parts of the job search.

Tools like Jobscan’s resume scanner make the process faster—and far more accurate—by showing you exactly which keywords to add or adjust.

It also points out formatting issues that can confuse ATS, like using tables or columns in your resume.

Here’s how it works:

The tool then provides you with a Match Report, including a resume score, that shows how well your resume matches the job description.

Jobscan highlights missing keywords, formatting mistakes, and even provides ATS-specific recommendations based on the company you’re applying to.

Here’s what part of a Match Report looks like:

As you can see, the keywords office management, patient care, and dental care are missing from the resume.

Adding them will increase your score and your chances of getting an interview.

Using this tool can provide immediate results. One Jobscan user said “I went from not getting interviews for months at a time and then I got three or four interviews. It was a definite change.”

Try the resume scanner for free below:

Top 500 ATS resume keywords list

Below is a list of the most common resume keywords, organized by industry, based on Jobscan’s database of real job descriptions. (Note: some keywords appear in more than one category.)

Keep in mind: you should always check the job description to see exactly how these keywords are used. Wording and context matter.

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Customer Service, Retail, Human Resources, Tourism

Education

Health Care, Medicine

Information Technology, Computer Science

Manufacturing, Transportation

Marketing, Media, Publishing, Graphic Design