CV keywords are words and phrases recruiters look for in applications to make sure the candidate possesses the relevant skills and qualifications. As a result, they should always be included; most CVs are rejected precisely because they don’t include these words.
In this article, we will share some of the best CV keywords in 2025, explain why they are significant, and show you how to find the right ones for your industry. Also, we will teach you to incorporate them into your application for maximum effect.
Key Takeaways
CV keywords are words and phrases that describe your qualifications. Their inclusion in your application ensures that it passes ATS scans and reaches recruiters.
To find the right CV keywords, you should analyse the job description, research job industry ads, review your peers’ LinkedIn profiles, and use online keyword checkers.
To add keywords to your CV, you need to identify them in the job description, extract them, determine which section they could go to, and incorporate them naturally.
What Are CV Keywords?
CV keywords are specific words and phrases you should include in your application to pass applicant tracking system (ATS) scans and capture recruiters’ attention. They are, essentially, job requirements that describe your skills, achievements, and expertise.
As a result, these keywords can be found in job descriptions, specifically in the section that outlines the specific job requirements. So, for instance, if you’re applying for a teaching position, strong words for a CV might be “lesson plan development,” “classroom management,” and “communication.”
It’s important to differentiate between CV keywords and weak, generic phrases that can often be found in applications. Describing yourself as “hard-working,” “detail-oriented,” or “experienced” doesn’t say much to recruiters, as these descriptors are very vague and subjective.
Why Are CV Keywords Important?
CV keywords are important for the following reasons:
Keywords are useful for scanners. When you submit your application for a particular position, it is first scanned by an ATS, which searches for specific keywords that recruiters have specified. If you have enough of these, you have an ATS-friendly CV, which moves forward and reaches an actual human being; otherwise, it is discarded before anyone reads it.
Recruiters' attention. Even once your application reaches recruiters, they’re unlikely to read every line carefully. In fact, they spend 7.4 seconds reviewing a CV, mostly looking for the key words and phrases first. Then, if those are present, they may go over the document more thoroughly.
Keywords highlight relevant skills and achievements. With that in mind, it should be natural to use them even without the added incentive of ATS scans. After all, you want to emphasise your capabilities to impress recruiters and secure a job interview invitation.
Types of CV Keywords
Types of CV keywords include skill-based, industry-specific, and job description keywords, as well as action verbs and power words.
Let’s take a look at each category in more detail:
Skill-Based Keywords
Skill-based keywords highlight your abilities and are, therefore, one of the most important categories. They encompass both hard and soft skills and can typically be found in the skills section of a CV.
Common skill-based keywords include:
C++
Python
Leadership
Communication
Action Verbs & Power Words
Action verbs and power words for a CV demonstrate what you’ve accomplished at your previous workplaces and how valuable it has been. As a result, they are used in the work experience section, i.e. in bullet points that elaborate on each entry.
Here are some common action verbs for a CV:
Managed
Designed
Delivered
Developed
Administered
Industry-Specific Keywords
As their name implies, industry-specific keywords are words characteristic of a particular field, usually encompassing hard skills. For instance, if you’re a software developer, they may include programming languages, like Java and Python, or abilities like front-end and back-end development.
Job Description Keywords
Most keywords are included in the job description, as this is where all the requirements are listed. Aside from the ones related to skills and achievements, you should also pay attention to those mentioning required experience (e.g., 5+ years) and include that information in your application.
How to Find the Right CV Keywords
To find the right keywords for your CV, you can take the following approaches:
Analyse job descriptions and identify the most important information: required skills, experience, and responsibilities. Underline any mentioned software, skills, and verbs; these are likely keywords and should be added to your CV.
Research industry job ads to see which words and phrases repeat most commonly. Although each job position comes with its own set of responsibilities, many in the same field share similarities, especially when it comes to keywords.
Use LinkedIn profiles of peers to identify the keywords they use in their professional profiles. Pay attention to their skills and experience sections, in particular.
Try online CV keyword checkers to help you highlight keywords in job descriptions, or rate your application’s keyword density.
Best CV Keywords to Use in 2025 by Industry
Now that we’ve established what keywords are and why they are important, here’s a comprehensive CV keywords list by industry to help you enhance your application:
Education and Training
Active listening
Advised
Assisted
Classroom
Coach
Collaboration
Communication
Coursework
Curriculum
Counsel
Discipline
Education
Goals
Inclusion
Integration
Instruction
Literacy
Lesson plan
Mentor
Multi-class
Networking
Parent-teacher meeting
Program development
Student
Teaching
Tutoring
Training
Information Technology
Access platform
Artificial intelligence
Business support system
Business transformation
C++ programming
Coding
Code testing
Cloud computing
Compliance and security
Customisation and configuration
Data centre operations
Data gathering
Data localisation
Data mining
Database management
Digital marketing
Digital media
E-commerce
Electronic marketing
Encryption
Information security
Information technology
Infrastructure development
Java technology
Machine learning
Multiplatform integration
Network administration
Programming
Quality assurance
Software development
Software engineering
SQL
Law Enforcement
Acquisition
Administrative law
Affidavit
Case law
Clerk
Community engagement
Compliance
Copyright law
Crime analysis
Depositions
Discovery
Intellectual property
Interrogation
Joint affairs
Legal advocacy
Legal research
Limited partnership
Litigation
Mediation
Negotiation
Police surveillance
Settlement
SWAT
Will preparation
Witness protection
Tourism and Hospitality
Attention to detail
Budgeting
Catering
Communication
Client management
Customer service
Competitive analysis
Concierge
Complaint resolution
Event coordination
Facility management
Food and beverage
Food sanitation
Front desk operations
Greeting
Guest relations
Guest retention
Health and safety
Housekeeping
Human resources
Inventory planning
Multitasking
Pricing
Promotions
Property development
Property management
Quality assurance
Reservations
Transportation
Travel and tourism
Vendor management
Marketing and Business Administration
Account management
Administrative support
Adobe Creative Suite
Advertising
Analytics
Branding
Brand awareness
Budget management
Business analysis
Business development
Business plans
Business strategy
Case management
Client relationships
Client services
Consulting
Content
Contract management
Conversion
Cooperation
CRM
Cross-functional team
Customer experience
Digital marketing
E-commerce
HTML
Inventory management
KPI
Market research
Negotiation
Networking
Product marketing
Product quality
Public relations
Resource management
Stakeholder management
Spreadsheets
Traffic
Vendor management
Workflow management
Finance and Accounting
Accounting
Annual budget
Annual reports
Analysis
Asset management
Balance sheet
Benefits administration
Billing
Bonds
Budgeting
Budget control
Capital budget
Cashflow
Cashflow statement
Cash management
Commercial lending
Compliance
Contract management
Corporate treasury
Cost accounting
Cost-benefit analysis
Cost reduction and avoidance
Credit management
Data analysis
Data management
Data quality
Debt management
Depreciation
Expenditures
Equity
Expense analysis
Feasibility
Financial analysis
Financial statements
Fixed assets
Fixed cost
Forecasting
High stress
Interest rate
Inventory control
Investment analysis
Invoicing
Liability
Liquidity
Loan administration
Mergers and acquisitions
Net worth
Overhead
Payroll administration
Portfolio analysis
Profit and loss analysis
Receipts
Revenue growth
Risk management
Shareholders
Statistical models
Tax accounting
Transaction
Treasury
Valuation
Variance analysis
Vendor
Venture capital
Human Resources
Benefits administration
Change management
College recruitment
Compensation
Competency-based performance
Corporate culture change
Cross-cultural communication
Diversity management
Employee communication
Employee empowerment
Employee relations
Employee retention
Grievance proceedings
Human resources (HR)
International employment
Job task analysis
Leadership assessment
Leadership development
Management, training, and development
Merit promotion
Multimedia training
Multinational workforce
Performance appraisal
Performance incentives
Position classification
Professional recruitment
Safety training
Staffing
Succession planning
Union negotiations
Wage and salary administration
Architecture and Construction
Architectural rendering
AutoCAD
Building construction
Building systems
Computer processing
Computer-aided design (CAD)
Conceptualisation
Construction documents
Creative thinking
Design concepts
Fire safety
Industrial design
Energy and environmental design
Model making
Residential construction
Retail construction
Sustainability
Technical vision
User interface design
Visual design
Healthcare
Average response time
Case history reports
CPR
Diagnosis
Electrophoresis
Emergency treatment
ER
Flow sheets
Government requirements
Hospital procedure
ICU
Immunisation
Medical practitioner
Nursing staff
NHS
Occupational therapy
Outpatient
Pacemaker
Patient care procedure
Patient comfort
PCR
Physician prescriptions
Policy
Prescription medication
Quality of care
Samples
Satisfaction rate
Sedation
Skin graft
Surgical equipment
Test
Treatment
Water safety
Manufacturing
Accident prevention
Assembly
Automated manufacturing
Capacity planning
Capital budget
Capital machinery acquisition
Capital project
Cost avoidance
Cost reductions
Cycle time reduction
Distribution management
Efficiency improvement
Environmental health and safety
Equipment management
Facility management
Forecasting
Inventory control
Inventory management
Inventory planning
ISO standards
Logistics
Machine downtime
Manufacturing technology
Materials management
Materials replenishment
Multi-site operations
On-time delivery
Operating budget
Optimisation
Order fulfilment
Outsourcing
Process automation
Product testing
Prototype design
Quality assurance
Regulatory compliance
Turnaround management
Warehouse management
Workflow optimisation
Social Work
Action plan
Addiction
Adoption
Advocate
Anxiety
Campaign
Collaboration
Communication
Consultation
Coping
Crisis
Depression
Disability
Disorder
Domestic violence
Education
Empathy
Evaluate
Facilitate
Follow-up
Family
Harm reduction
Hospice
Insurance
Intake
Interdisciplinary
Intervention
Mental health
OCD
Prevention
Prison
PTSD
Recovery
Referral
Rehabilitation
Resolution
Sobriety
Substance
Supervision
Support
Team
Treatment
How to Add Keywords Naturally: A Practical Example
To add keywords naturally, you should include them in the skills and experience sections, avoid keyword stuffing, and tailor your CV to the job description. In other words, your goal is to add enough to satisfy the ATS scan, but also ensure they don’t seem out of place to recruiters.
Digital Marketing Example
When adding keywords to your CV, the first step is to highlight the ones you’re planning to use in the job description. Here’s an example of how to do that:
Digital Marketing Example
We are looking for a digital marketing specialist with 5+ years of experience to develop, implement, and manage marketing campaigns that promote our products. You will play a crucial role in enhancing brand awareness, engaging with clients, and driving traffic to our website.
Job requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or similar
Strong understanding of SEO, SEM, and content marketing strategies
Familiarity with tools such as Google Analytics and Semrush
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency in social media marketing and management tools
Job responsibilities:
Develop and manage digital marketing campaigns
Create compelling content for websites, blogs, and social media
Optimise website content to enhance search visibility and user engagement
Collaborate with design and content teams to produce effective marketing materials
Once you’ve finished that, divide the highlighted words into skill-based keywords and action verbs, like so:
Skills-Based Keywords & Action Verbs
Hard skills:
SEO
SEM
Google Analytics
Semrush
Social media marketing
Soft skills:
Written communication
Verbal communication
Collaboration
Action verbs:
Develop
Manage
Optimise
Create
Now, consider which CV sections these keywords should go to. For example, action verbs should be placed in the work experience section and the personal statement, your degree belongs in the education section, and skills can be sprinkled throughout.
Put it all together, and you’ll have a compelling CV in no time.
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Final Thoughts
CV keywords may be confusing initially, but it all becomes clearer when you think of your CV as a direct response to a specific job description. The reply should address the most important points of the prompt, in this case, the keywords, so it’s only natural that it should contain them.
Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand how to incorporate keywords effectively, so that next time you can smoothly reach the interview stage.
CV Keywords FAQ
#1. What are the most powerful CV keywords?
The most powerful CV keywords are a combination of soft and hard job-related skills and action verbs that demonstrate your specific contributions and achievements. As a result, they differ depending on the industry and the particular position you’re applying for.
#2. Do CV keywords really matter for ATS?
CV keywords really matter for ATS; the scans search for them specifically and rank your application based on how well it matches the requirements. So, the more keywords you hit, the likelier you are to be noticed by a recruiter and invited for an interview.
#3. Should I use the same CV keywords for every job?
You shouldn’t use the same CV keywords for every job; on the contrary, you must tailor your application for each new position. Even if you’re applying for roles in the same industry, job requirements can differ from one company to another, so you need to address these differences in your CV.
#4. Which CV keywords should I avoid?
CV keywords you should avoid are overly general ones, such as “smart,” “ambitious,” “team player,” and similar. These don’t add much value to your application unless they are backed up by concrete achievements and may, therefore, dilute its impact.
#5. Should you bold keywords in a CV?
You shouldn’t bold keywords in a CV, as that may result in your document looking distracting and overwhelming. Be strategic about what you bold; most candidates only bold headings and crucial information. Therefore, if you believe a keyword is particularly important, you can bold it, but don’t overdo it.
