200+ ATS Resume Keywords by Industry (2026 List)
ATS resume keywords for tech, finance, marketing, healthcare and engineering, plus how to add them without keyword stuffing.
Keywords are the words recruiters type into the ATS search bar. If they are not on your resume, you don't show up. Below are 200+ common keywords by industry and a simple method for using them honestly.
Hard skills vs soft skills
Hard skills are teachable and testable: Python, financial modelling, IV therapy, AutoCAD, Google Ads. They are what recruiters search for most.
Soft skills are behaviours: communication, leadership, problem solving. They matter, but recruiters rarely filter by them. Show them through results instead.
Tip: The best keyword list is always the job ad itself. Use the lists below as inspiration, then paste the real ad into our ATS resume checker to see what you are missing.
Tech and software keywords
- Languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C#, Go, SQL, Kotlin, Swift, Rust
- Frameworks: React, Next.js, Node.js, Django, Spring Boot, .NET, Angular, Vue.js
- Cloud and DevOps: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD, GitHub Actions
- Data: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Snowflake, dbt, Apache Spark, ETL, data modelling
- Practices: Agile, Scrum, test-driven development, code review, microservices, REST APIs, GraphQL, system design
- Security: OWASP, IAM, penetration testing, SOC 2, ISO 27001
Finance and accounting keywords
- Financial modelling, forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, FP&A
- IFRS, US GAAP, month-end close, reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable
- Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, Power Query), Power BI, SAP, Oracle NetSuite, DATEV
- Audit, internal controls, SOX compliance, tax compliance, VAT
- Valuation, DCF, M&A, due diligence, risk management, KYC, AML
- Cash flow management, treasury, cost reduction, stakeholder reporting
Marketing keywords
- SEO, SEM, Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, paid social, programmatic
- Content strategy, copywriting, brand positioning, go-to-market, product marketing
- Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Looker Studio, A/B testing, conversion rate optimisation (CRO)
- HubSpot, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Marketo, email automation, lifecycle marketing
- Customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value (LTV), ROAS, attribution, funnel analysis
- Social media management, community management, influencer marketing, PR
Healthcare and nursing keywords
- Patient assessment, care planning, medication administration, IV therapy, wound care
- Electronic health records (EHR), Epic, Cerner, clinical documentation
- Infection control, patient safety, triage, discharge planning, telemetry
- BLS, ACLS, PALS certifications, registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN)
- HIPAA, GDPR in healthcare, quality improvement, multidisciplinary team
- Patient education, family communication, ICU, ER, paediatrics, geriatrics
Engineering keywords
- AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CATIA, Revit, MATLAB, finite element analysis (FEA)
- Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, root cause analysis, FMEA
- Project management, PMP, PRINCE2, risk assessment, budget control
- ISO 9001, quality assurance, quality control, compliance, health and safety
- PLC programming, SCADA, process optimisation, commissioning, maintenance planning
- Technical drawings, specifications, tendering, site supervision
Sales and customer success keywords
- B2B sales, SaaS sales, account management, pipeline management, quota attainment
- Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, lead generation, cold outreach, negotiation, closing
- Customer onboarding, retention, churn reduction, upselling, NPS, QBRs
How to add keywords without keyword stuffing
- Put the top skills in a Skills section. Group them: "Cloud: AWS, Docker, Terraform".
- Use them again in context. "Migrated 14 services to AWS using Terraform" proves the skill.
- Match the job title. If the ad says "Data Analyst" and you were "Reporting Specialist", add "Data Analyst" in your summary where it's honest.
- Write both forms of acronyms once.
- Never hide keywords in white text. Parsers show it in plain text and recruiters see it.
Warning: Only list skills you can talk about in an interview. A keyword gets you shortlisted; the interview checks it.
Strong verbs make keywords read naturally — grab some from our resume action verbs list. And if you are not sure your layout parses well, read our guide on the ATS resume format that works.
Extract keywords automatically
Skip the highlighter. Paste the job description into the free CvPrais CV builder and it pulls the keywords out, compares them to your resume and rewrites your bullets to include the ones you genuinely have. Start on a clean ATS-proof resume template and check the result with the ATS score checker. Everything is free on the CvPrais homepage.
Frequently asked questions
How many keywords should a resume have?
There is no magic number. Cover the 8–15 most important hard skills from the job ad, each used naturally in context at least once.
What is keyword stuffing?
Repeating keywords unnaturally or hiding them in white text. Modern ATS and every human reader spot it, and it can get you rejected.
Should I include soft skills as keywords?
Yes, but prove them. 'Led a team of 6' says leadership better than the word 'leadership' alone.
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Written by the CvPrais Team
We build free tools that help job seekers get past ATS without inventing experience. Questions or corrections? Email hello@cvprais.com.