How to Find Resume Keywords From a Job Description

How to Find Resume Keywords From a Job Description

Finding the right resume keywords from a job description can make it much easier to tailor your resume for a specific position. Instead of sending the same resume to every employer, you can identify the skills, qualifications, tools, and responsibilities the company is actually looking for and make the most relevant parts of your experience easier to find.

This is especially useful when an employer uses an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to organize applications. ATS software can help employers search and sort application information, while recruiters also look for relevant qualifications when reviewing resumes.

The key is not to fill your resume with every word in the job posting. The better approach is to identify the important terms, determine which ones genuinely match your background, and use those terms naturally when describing your skills and accomplishments.

In this guide, you’ll learn a simple process for finding job description keywords and turning them into stronger, more targeted resume content.

What Are Resume Keywords?

Resume keywords are specific words and phrases that describe the qualifications an employer wants from a candidate.

They can include technical skills, software, certifications, job titles, industry terminology, responsibilities, educational requirements, and other qualifications connected to the position.

For example, a digital marketing job might mention:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Google Analytics
• Content marketing
• Email marketing
• WordPress
• Social media management
• Performance reporting

If you have experience with these areas, they can become useful keywords for your resume.

However, a keyword is most valuable when it is connected to real experience. Simply placing a long list of skills at the bottom of your resume does not explain how you used them.

Why Do Job Description Keywords Matter?

Employers want to quickly determine whether an applicant’s background matches the position. A well-tailored resume makes that connection easier to see.

Many employers also use applicant tracking systems to help manage and sort applications. Relevant terminology can therefore make your qualifications easier for both software and human reviewers to identify.

Harvard’s career guidance recommends tailoring a resume to the position and using specific, clear, fact-based language that communicates the skills and impact relevant to the employer.

See Harvard’s resume guidance for additional advice on creating and tailoring a resume.

The important point is that keyword optimization should support your qualifications, not replace them.

How to Find Resume Keywords From a Job Description

1. Read the Entire Job Description

Start by reading the complete job posting before extracting keywords.

Don’t focus only on the section called “Skills.” Important qualifications can appear in the introduction, responsibilities, required qualifications, preferred qualifications, or even within individual job duties.

For example, consider this sentence:

“The successful candidate will manage paid search campaigns, analyze conversion data, prepare monthly performance reports, and collaborate with the content team.”

Potential keywords include:

• Paid search
• Campaign management
• Conversion data
• Performance reporting
• Content collaboration

Reading the entire posting helps you understand which terms actually describe the role instead of pulling random words from a skills list.

2. Highlight Specific Skills

Next, look for skills that describe something a candidate must know or be able to do.

Technical skills are particularly useful because they are usually more specific than generic personality traits.

Examples include:

• SQL
• Python
• Financial modeling
• SEO
• Data analysis
• Payroll processing
• Project management
• Quality assurance

When you find a skill that you genuinely possess, consider how you can demonstrate it through your previous work rather than simply listing it.

3. Identify Software and Tools

Software names can be particularly important when tailoring a resume because they identify specific technologies an employer expects a candidate to understand.

Look for terms such as:

• Microsoft Excel
• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• WordPress
• Google Analytics
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Power BI
• Jira

For example, if a job asks for Power BI experience and you have created business dashboards with Power BI, your resume should make that connection clear.

Instead of:

“Responsible for creating reports.”

Use a more specific statement such as:

“Created Power BI dashboards to track monthly sales performance and present key trends to management.”

The second version provides both the keyword and evidence of how you used it.

4. Find Certifications, Degrees, and Credentials

Don’t overlook formal qualifications.

A job description may request:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree
• PMP certification
• CPA
• AWS certification
• Professional license
• Security clearance

If you have a required credential, make sure it is clearly visible in the appropriate section of your resume.

For example, if the employer specifically requires PMP certification, don’t hide it in an obscure part of your resume.

5. Look for Repeated Words and Phrases

Repetition can reveal what the employer considers important.

Imagine a project manager job description repeatedly discusses:

• Project management
• Stakeholder communication
• Project planning
• Risk management
• Project reporting

You don’t need to repeat “project management” in every section of your resume. Instead, the repetition tells you that project management is probably central to the role.

Use that information to decide which relevant accomplishments should receive the most attention.

6. Separate Required and Preferred Keywords

Not every qualification in a job posting has the same importance.

Look for phrases such as:

• Required
• Must have
• Minimum qualifications
• Required experience
• Preferred
• Nice to have
• Preferred qualifications

For example:

“Applicants must have three years of experience with Salesforce. Experience with HubSpot is preferred.”

In this example, Salesforce should receive greater attention if you have that experience because it is presented as a requirement. HubSpot is useful too, but it is described as preferred.

7. Match the Keywords With Your Experience

This is where keyword research becomes useful.

Create a simple comparison table:

This simple exercise prevents one of the biggest resume mistakes: adding skills that you don’t actually have.

Automate the Process: Instead of extracting keywords manually, scan your resume against any job description in seconds with our free ATS Resume Checker.

8. Look for Related Terms and Variations

Employers may use different expressions for similar areas of work.

For example:

• Customer service / Customer support
• Client relations / Client management
• Data analysis / Data analytics
• Human resources / HR
• Search Engine Optimization / SEO
• Customer Relationship Management / CRM

If the job posting uses both a full term and an abbreviation, you can often use both where they fit naturally.

For example:

“Managed Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaigns and monitored organic traffic performance.”

Don’t add variations simply to increase keyword frequency. Use terminology that accurately describes your experience.

Deeper Guide: Want to understand how applicant tracking systems parse and match these terms behind the scenes? Read our guide on ATS Resume Keywords.

How to Turn Job Description Keywords Into Resume Content

Finding keywords is only half the process. You also need to use them effectively.

A useful method is:

For example:

Keyword: SEO

Weak: “SEO skills.”

Better: “Managed SEO improvements for company websites.”

Strong: “Improved on-page SEO and content structure, contributing to a 32% increase in organic website traffic.”

The final version gives the employer more useful information because it explains what you did and what happened as a result.

Where Should Resume Keywords Go?

Important keywords can appear in several sections of your resume, provided they accurately describe your background.

Resume Summary

Use your strongest role-specific qualifications in the summary.

Example:

“Digital marketing specialist with experience in SEO, WordPress, Google Analytics, email marketing, and content strategy.”

Skills Section

Use the skills section for concise technical skills, tools, certifications, and other relevant qualifications.

Example:

Skills: SEO, Google Analytics, WordPress, Email Marketing, Content Strategy, Microsoft Excel

Work Experience

This is where keywords can become particularly powerful because you can connect them to actual accomplishments.

Example:

“Analyzed Google Analytics data to identify traffic opportunities and optimized WordPress content to improve organic search performance.”

Education and Certifications

Include relevant degrees, certifications, licenses, and credentials mentioned in the job description.

Harvard’s career guidance recommends keeping resume language specific, clear, active, and fact-based while tailoring the document to the position.

Example: Finding Keywords From a Realistic Job Description

Let’s walk through a simplified example.

Sample Job Description

“We are looking for a Marketing Coordinator to support digital campaigns and content initiatives. The candidate should have experience with SEO, Google Analytics, WordPress, email marketing, social media, and performance reporting. Experience with HubSpot is preferred.”

Step 1: Extract the Keywords

• Marketing Coordinator
• Digital campaigns
• Content initiatives
• SEO
• Google Analytics
• WordPress
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Performance reporting
• HubSpot

Step 2: Categorize Them

Step 3: Compare Them With Your Background

Suppose the candidate has experience with everything except HubSpot.

They should not claim HubSpot experience simply because it appears in the job posting.

Instead, they could tailor their resume like this:

Professional Summary:

“Marketing professional with experience in SEO, WordPress content management, email marketing, social media campaigns, and digital performance reporting.”

Experience:

• Managed WordPress content and SEO improvements that contributed to a 32% increase in organic traffic.
• Created email marketing campaigns and analyzed Google Analytics data to evaluate traffic and engagement.
• Coordinated social media campaigns and prepared monthly performance reports for marketing leadership.

Notice that the keywords are not randomly inserted. Each one is connected to something the candidate actually did.

Should You Use the Exact Keywords From the Job Description?

When a job description uses a specific term that accurately describes your experience, using the same terminology can be helpful.

For example, if the employer asks for “project management” and your resume currently says only “managed projects,” you could use the employer’s terminology where appropriate.

However, don’t distort your experience simply to reproduce the wording of a job posting.

Your resume still needs to be natural, accurate, and easy for a human being to understand.

Indeed’s current guidance also recommends examining the original job posting, identifying relevant terms, and incorporating applicable keywords throughout your application.

Read Indeed’s guide to finding keywords in job descriptions for additional examples.

What If You Don’t Have Every Keyword?

You don’t need to match every word in a job description.

Job postings often contain a mixture of essential qualifications, preferred qualifications, responsibilities, and general descriptions of the ideal candidate.

Focus on the requirements that genuinely match your experience.

If you are missing an important skill, consider whether you have a closely related skill or experience that demonstrates your ability to learn it.

For example, suppose a company asks for experience with one specific analytics platform and you’ve used another platform extensively.

You should not claim experience with the unfamiliar platform. Instead, you can emphasize the analytical skills and related tools you genuinely know.

Should You Put All Keywords in the Skills Section?

No.

The Skills section is useful, but it shouldn’t become a giant collection of disconnected keywords.

Compare these two approaches:

Keyword list:

SEO | Google Analytics | WordPress | Email Marketing | Reporting | Social Media | Content Strategy

Evidence-based resume:

“Optimized WordPress content using SEO best practices and analyzed Google Analytics data to identify opportunities for improving organic traffic.”

The second example shows how the candidate applied the skills.

A strong resume can use a concise Skills section while also demonstrating important skills in the Experience section.

Common Resume Keyword Mistakes

1. Adding Skills You Don’t Have

This is one of the most serious mistakes.

If you haven’t used a particular software program or performed a specific task, don’t add it simply because it appears in the job description.

2. Repeating Keywords Too Many Times

Keyword repetition can make your resume sound unnatural.

Use important terminology where it genuinely belongs and prioritize useful evidence over repetition.

3. Using Only Generic Skills

Words such as “hardworking,” “motivated,” and “team player” are broad and don’t tell an employer much about your actual capabilities.

Specific technical skills, tools, certifications, and measurable accomplishments usually provide more useful information.

4. Ignoring the Job Title

The position’s title can help you understand how the employer describes the role.

If your experience genuinely corresponds to the role, make sure your resume clearly communicates that connection.

5. Creating a Keyword Dump

A resume shouldn’t look like a list of search terms.

Use keywords as part of meaningful statements that explain your responsibilities, skills, and results.

6. Using the Same Resume for Every Application

A master resume is useful because it gives you a complete collection of your experience. But the version you submit should emphasize the qualifications most relevant to the position.

Tailoring your resume to the employer’s needs can make the document more relevant and easier to evaluate.

A Simple 10-Minute Resume Keyword Method

If you don’t want to spend a long time analyzing every job posting, use this quick process.

1. Read: Read the entire job description.
2. Highlight: Mark skills, tools, qualifications, and responsibilities.
3. Categorize: Separate technical skills, software, credentials, and responsibilities.
4. Prioritize: Identify the most important required and repeated terms.
5. Match: Compare them with your actual experience.
6. Tailor: Update your summary, skills, and relevant experience bullets.
7. Review: Remove anything inaccurate, repetitive, or unnecessary.

This process gives you a practical way to tailor your resume without rewriting your entire career history for every application.

Use a Master Resume to Save Time

If you apply for multiple positions, maintaining a detailed master resume can make keyword tailoring much easier.

Your master resume can contain your complete work history, accomplishments, technical skills, certifications, education, and projects.

For each application, select the experiences most relevant to the job description.

This approach is more efficient than starting from a blank page every time.

You can also explore our resume and career guides for additional job-search resources and practical advice.

How to Check Your Resume Before Applying

Before submitting your application, perform a final comparison between your resume and the job description.

Ask yourself:

• Does my resume clearly match the position?
• Did I include relevant technical skills?
• Did I mention important software I actually know?
• Did I include relevant certifications or credentials?
• Are the most important qualifications easy to find?
• Did I use job-specific terminology where appropriate?
• Did I demonstrate important skills through actual experience?
• Did I avoid claiming skills I don’t possess?
• Is the resume easy for a person to read?
• Can I explain and defend every qualification on the resume?

For more help improving your overall resume, visit our career guides or explore our resume tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find keywords in a job description?

Read the entire job posting and identify specific skills, software, certifications, qualifications, responsibilities, and industry terms. Pay special attention to requirements and terms that appear repeatedly.

How many resume keywords should I use?

There is no universal number. Use the keywords that are genuinely relevant to the position and your experience. A smaller set of highly relevant terms is better than a large collection of unrelated words.

Should I use the exact wording from the job description?

When the wording accurately describes your experience, using the employer’s terminology can make the connection clearer. Don’t copy entire sentences or add qualifications you don’t have.

Where should resume keywords appear?

Relevant keywords can appear in your professional summary, Skills section, work experience, education, certifications, and project sections. The most important skills should also be supported by evidence where possible.

What if I don’t have all the keywords?

That’s normal. Focus on the requirements that genuinely match your background. Don’t add unfamiliar skills simply because they appear in the posting.

Do keywords help with ATS systems?

Relevant keywords can help an ATS or recruiter identify information that corresponds to the job requirements. However, there is no single universal ATS system or guaranteed keyword formula. Your resume should remain accurate, readable, and appropriately formatted.

Can I use a resume keyword finder?

Yes. Keyword extraction tools can help you identify terms in long job descriptions, but you should review the results yourself. A tool may identify words that are frequent without being important to the actual position.

Final Resume Keyword Checklist

Final Thoughts

Finding resume keywords from a job description is not about trying to fill your resume with as many matching words as possible.

It is about understanding what the employer needs and making the relevant parts of your real experience easier to recognize.

Start by reading the job description carefully. Extract the skills, tools, qualifications, responsibilities, and industry terms. Then prioritize the requirements that genuinely match your background.

Finally, use those keywords naturally in your resume while showing what you actually accomplished.

A strong resume doesn’t simply say, “I have this skill.” It gives the employer a reason to believe you can use that skill successfully.

If you’re ready to improve your resume further, explore our resume tools and career guides for additional resources.

Remember: The goal isn’t to create a resume that contains every keyword. The goal is to create a resume that clearly connects what the employer needs with what you can actually deliver.