ATS resume keywords are the terms employers use to describe a role: skills, tools, qualifications, tasks and certifications. Some recruitment systems can index these terms, but different employers use different search and screening processes. There is no universal ATS score.
Which keywords should you look for?
Start with concrete, verifiable requirements. Common categories include:
- Role and discipline: product manager, customer service representative, financial analyst.
- Technical skills: SQL, Excel, Salesforce or a particular programming language when relevant.
- Methods and responsibilities: budget forecasting, incident management, stakeholder communication.
- Credentials: licenses and professional certifications specifically requested by the employer.
Generic terms such as “motivated” and “team player” are less useful without context or outcomes.
A practical method for finding missing keywords
- Copy the full job description into a working document.
- Highlight required skills, duties and certifications; separate the “nice to have” items.
- Locate each requirement in your resume. An equivalent term might be acceptable if it describes the same skill accurately.
- For absent but genuinely held skills, add a concrete example in Experience or Skills.
- For abilities you do not possess, leave them out rather than presenting them as acquired.
- Review the final document for natural language, clear headings and accurate details.
Example: match concepts, not just words
Job requirement: “Investigate production incidents and deliver root-cause analysis.”
Weak resume wording: “Worked on technical issues.”
More informative (only if true): “Investigated production incidents, documented root causes and coordinated fixes with engineering teams.”
That wording is more valuable because it describes evidence. Repeating “incident” or “root cause” ten times adds little.
Formatting issues worth checking
Use readable text, standard headings and consistent chronology. Check that your contact details are correctly extracted when you copy the resume text. If the entire document is an image, a text-based reader may fail to interpret it. Avoid hiding a block of keywords in white text, the footer or unrelated job descriptions.
What an ATS checker can and cannot do
A checker can compare two supplied documents and point out possible gaps. It cannot know how every employer has configured its applicant tracking software, whether a recruiter uses a search filter, or whether you will receive an interview. Use CareerPilot’s ATS resume checker as a review tool, then tailor a job-specific resume using your real qualifications.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the exact words from a job advertisement?
Include recognizable terminology when it accurately describes your experience, but do not sacrifice clarity just to repeat the wording verbatim.
What is a good ATS match percentage?
There is no standardized score across employers. Consider the underlying requirements and evidence instead of optimizing for a particular percentage.