Recruiters search their applicant database and LinkedIn using specific words: job titles, tools, certifications and skills. If those words are missing from your CV, you will not appear in the results — no matter how qualified you are.
Keywords are not a trick. They are simply the language of the job. This guide shows you how to find the right ones and use them naturally.
The four types of CV keywords
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Job titles | Registered Nurse, Financial Analyst, Full Stack Developer, Site Engineer |
| Hard skills & methods | Financial modelling, IV cannulation, Agile, SEO, AutoCAD drafting |
| Tools & software | SAP, Salesforce, Power BI, Figma, Jira, QuickBooks, Epic |
| Qualifications & licences | ACCA, CPA, PMP, NMC PIN, CIPD Level 5, CCNA, driving licence category |
Soft skills like "communication" or "teamwork" matter, but they are rarely searched for. Demonstrate them inside achievement bullets instead of listing them alone.
How to find the right keywords
- 1Collect three to five job adverts for the role you want — not just one. Words that appear in all of them are core keywords.
- 2Highlight requirements in the "must have" and "responsibilities" sections. Note exact spellings (for example "Microsoft Excel" vs "Excel").
- 3Check the company's own language on its careers page and LinkedIn posts.
- 4Look at LinkedIn profiles of people who currently hold the role and note the skills they list.
- 5Note industry acronyms and write them both ways: "Customer Relationship Management (CRM)".
Where to put keywords on your CV
- Headline / job title under your name — use the title from the advert where it honestly fits.
- Professional profile — include the two or three most important skills.
- Skills section — a concise list of hard skills and tools.
- Experience bullets — the most powerful place, because keywords appear with evidence.
- Certifications and education — full names of qualifications.
Weak: Skills — Power BI
Strong: Built 12 Power BI dashboards tracking regional sales KPIs, used weekly by 40 managers to prioritise accounts.
Put this into practice
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Example keywords by industry
| Industry | Common keywords |
|---|---|
| Software | JavaScript, TypeScript, React, REST APIs, CI/CD, AWS, unit testing, microservices |
| Finance | Financial reporting, IFRS, reconciliations, variance analysis, month-end close, audit |
| Healthcare | Patient assessment, medication administration, infection control, care planning, BLS |
| Marketing | SEO, PPC, Google Analytics 4, content strategy, conversion rate optimisation, CRM |
| Education | Lesson planning, differentiation, safeguarding, assessment for learning, curriculum |
| Engineering | AutoCAD, structural analysis, site supervision, HSE, quantity take-off, project scheduling |
Browse our CV examples by job for role-specific skills lists you can adapt.
Avoid keyword stuffing
A good test: read your CV out loud. If a sentence sounds unnatural, rewrite it. Every keyword should be supported by real experience you can talk about at interview.
Frequently asked questions
How many keywords should a CV have?+
There is no magic number. Aim to include every genuine requirement from the job advert that you meet, in natural sentences. For most roles that means 10–20 relevant terms.
Should I use British or American spelling?+
Match the country you are applying in (optimise vs optimize, organisation vs organization). Most search tools treat them similarly, but consistency looks professional.
Do keywords matter if I apply by email?+
Yes. Recruiters often upload emailed CVs into an ATS or search their inbox later, and keywords also help a human see quickly that you match the job.
BuildCVFast Editorial Team
This guide is written and reviewed by the BuildCVFast editorial team using current hiring practices, published employer guidance and official government sources where relevant. We update our guides regularly. Read our editorial policy or send us a correction.