Using Resume Keywords to Boost your Resume (Keyword List by Industry)

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Catching a recruiter’s or hiring manager’s attention is key to getting to the next round of the hiring process. 

Adding relevant industry keywords to your resume is the best way to do that. 

Not including keywords in a resume is one of the most common mistakes job candidates make. If you’ve ever applied for a job and were the perfect candidate but never received a reply, it is likely because you didn’t include the right resume keywords and phrases.

Hiring managers aren’t the only ones looking for keywords. Applicant tracking systems quickly review your resume to see if your qualifications match the positions. 

So, what words do resume scanners look for?

The keywords for your resume should be tailored to the specific job requirements of the position and the industry.

If you don’t include the right words, your job search will last a long time! 

We’ll make sure you can start preparing for an interview instead of sending out more applications.Keep reading to find out:

• Different resume keyword examples
• What are target keywords for a resume
• Industry keywords for resume skill sections

Also, take advantage of our AI resume builder, which generates keywords specific to your sector.

Get more tips below to make sure your resume is ready to beat the ATS and impress recruiters.

ATS and the Importance of Resume Keywords

Employers often receive hundreds of resumes for each job posting. To tackle this, many recruiters use application tracking systems (ATS). 

An ATS acts as a resume keyword scanner, filtering out resumes that don’t contain the right words.

In many cases, resumes without enough of the keywords will never be seen by a hiring manager.

To make sure your resume gets approved by the ATS, you should:

• Include action words throughout your resume
• Tailor your skills to the job description
• Keep your keywords relevant to the industry

Remember, employers don’t want to read through long paragraphs or read your resume line-by-line. Instead, they’ll skim your resume for the words they’ve deemed important for the position.

Which Keywords Should You Use in Your Resume?

You may ask, ‘What keywords should I use in my resume?’. Thankfully, they are easy to identify and work into your resume.

To find the keywords, carefully read the job posting and ensure you understand the job requirements. You can find most of the words by reviewing the required and preferred qualifications sections.

• Hard skills 
• Soft skills 
• Qualifications
• Previous job positions 

Adding a few soft skills is a great way to prove that you’d fit with the company culture.

Deloitte found that 94% of entrepreneurs believe a healthy culture is essential for success.

Here is a list of resume keywords to help demonstrate that you can fit in with any company’s team:

• Collaborative
• Innovative
• Adaptable
• Inclusive
• Mission-driven
• Ethical
• Transparent
• Entrepreneurial
• Community-focused
• Empathetic
• Persuasive

As a tip, look at the words a company uses on its website to describe itself and mirror the language.

How to Include Keywords in Your Resume

Once you’ve identified the keywords in a job posting, the next step is to add them to your resume. However, it’s no good just to write the words. Anyone can say they are a leader or have strong communication skills, but that’s unconvincing.

At the same time, employers don’t want to read through long chunks of text. Here’s how to list your keywords:

• Use concise bullet points 
• Add action verbs
• Create a skills section
• Mention your skills throughout your resume
• Highlight relevant achievements 

Using these strategies will help you convince employers and get past the ATS.

Resume Keywords Tips

Keep the following tips in mind when adding keywords to your resume…

Try to use as many keywords as possible

Whenever possible, try to include as many of the keywords as possible from the job posting. But reign it in. Don’t produce a resume that’s longer than two pages. 

If you’ve identified a long list of keywords, prioritize the most important job requirements.

Use a variety of keyword types

Add in a mixture of hard skills, soft skills, and qualifications. Use industry-specific terminology to show your expertise and describe the terms using more accessible language in case the reviewer doesn’t have the same industry experience.

Use the keywords and synonyms

Try to avoid repetition. You can say the same thing without using the same words by using synonyms and paraphrasing. For example, “content creation” can also be described as “writing,” “editorial,” and “authoring.”

Include resume keywords in each section

Don’t just limit keywords to the work experience section of your resume. Take advantage of every inch of the page and scatter resume keywords in your skills section, education section, resume objective, and any other sections you choose to include.

Edit your job titles

There are often various job titles for the same role. You can change your previous job titles as long as it accurately reflects your duties. 

Let’s imagine you’re applying for a job as a ‘Customer Services Advisor,’ and you previously had a job as a ‘Call Center Agent.’ These roles are effectively the same, so you should chage your job title to match the application to help boost your chances of success (especially with the ATS).

Use resume templates

Tailoring your resume to include keywords can be time-consuming.

The quickest way to edit your resume for each application is to use resume templates, which allow you to quickly produce professional-looking resumes.

Use keywords in your cover letter

You should also include keywords in your cover letter. An ATS can also scan cover letters, so the same rules apply.

Using keywords in your cover letter will give you an even better chance of reaching the interview stage.

Resume Keyword List by Industry

Here is a resume keywords list of words and phrases that typically appear in job postings. 

Remember, you need to identify the keywords for each application by reading through each posting and tailoring your resume.

Here are examples of keywords in different industries that can go on your resume:

Technology sector keywords

Innovation, Software Development, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, User Experience, Agile Methodology, Technical Support, Artificial Intelligence, Programming Languages (Python, Java, C++, SQL, etc.), Scrum, Kaban, Statistical Analysis, Cloud Platforms. 

Healthcare sector keywords

Patient Care, Medical Technology, Health Informatics, Regulatory Compliance, Clinical Trials, Emergency Response, Health Education, Public Health, Telemedicine, Hospital Administration, Patient Care, Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, Community Health, Telemedicine, Medical Billing and Coding, Risk Management

Finance sector keywords

Risk Management, Investment Strategies, Financial Planning, Compliance, Blockchain, Fintech, Wealth Management, Capital Markets, Insurance, Qualitative Analysis, Client Relations, Banking, Insurance, Regulatory Compliance, Cash Flow Analysis, Tax Compliance, Auditing, Forecasting

Education sector keywords

Curriculum Development, E-Learning, Educational Leadership, Student Engagement, Assessment Methods, Special Needs Support, Educational Technology, Literacy Development, Policy Analysis,  Instructional Methods, Learning Management Systems, Individualized Education Programs

Retail sector keywords

Customer Service, Merchandising, Inventory Management, E-commerce, Supply Chain Optimization, Brand Promotion, Sales Analysis, Visual Merchandising, Retail Technology, Consumer Protection Laws, KPIs, Vendor Compliance, Procurement, Order Fullfilment, Upselling/Cross-selling, Strategic Selling

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