Resume keywords that match what recruiters search
Curated keyword lists by role. Drop the ones that match your experience into your resume verbatim.
Resume keywords for data analysts
Data analyst job descriptions lean heavily on SQL, BI tools, statistics, and business storytelling. The 50+ keywords below are the ones that show up across LinkedIn, Indeed, and Workday postings for analyst roles - drop the ones that match your real experience into your resume verbatim.
Resume keywords for project managers
Project manager postings reward keywords that prove you can scope, ship, and recover from chaos. Below are the terms employers ask for most in PM roles across industries.
Resume keywords for software engineers
Engineering JDs are dense with stack keywords. Recruiters search their ATS by language, framework, and infra terms - so spell out every tool you've actually shipped with.
Resume keywords for product managers
Product manager keywords sit at the intersection of strategy, data, and execution. The strongest PM resumes show outcomes (revenue, retention, NPS) attached to a specific product surface.
Resume keywords for marketing managers
Marketing manager JDs vary by channel mix - but the keywords below cover lifecycle, paid, content, brand, and analytics responsibilities that show up across most postings.
How to use these keyword lists
- Open the role page that matches the job you want next.
- Highlight every term you can defend in an interview.
- Weave them into your bullet points - with numbers when you can.
- Run the result through our free ATS Scorer to see your score.
Frequently asked questions
Why do keywords matter on a resume?+
Recruiters search and filter applicants in their applicant tracking system (ATS) by skills, tools and job titles. A resume that names the same work differently - 'a CRM' instead of 'Salesforce' - can be missed in that search, even when the experience is there.
How many keywords should I include?+
Cover the 10–15 terms from the job description that match your real experience. Stuffing keywords you can't defend in an interview hurts more than it helps.
Should I copy keywords verbatim from the job description?+
Yes for tools and skills you actually have - recruiters search for exact names, so use the posting's name for the thing you did. Don't change past job titles to match the posting. Write the rest in your own voice so a recruiter doesn't see a copy-paste job.
Do these keyword lists match every posting?+
No list can. These are the terms that come up often for each role. Postings differ, so run your resume against the actual posting with the free ATS checker, which reads that posting's own requirements.
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