How to find the right keywords in a job description

Keywords are the specific terms a recruiter would type into a search box to find someone like you. They are mostly nouns: job titles, tools, programming languages, certifications, methods and industry terms. “Team player” and “hard-working” are not keywords — nobody searches for them.

Read the whole posting, not just the bullet list. Companies often name their main tools in the “About the team” paragraph.

• The job title itself, and any alternative titles mentioned.
• The “Requirements” or “Must have” list — usually the most important terms.
• Tools and platforms named anywhere (for example Figma, Salesforce, AWS, SAP).
• Certifications and degrees (for example PMP, CPA, Bachelor of Computer Science).
• Words repeated more than once across the post.

The best place for a keyword is inside a sentence that proves you used it: “Built a customer dashboard in React and TypeScript, cutting load time by half” is far stronger than a lonely “React” in a skills list. Aim to have your most important keywords appear in both your experience and your skills section.

Match the exact form used in the post. If they write “Microsoft Excel”, write that rather than “spreadsheets”. If they use an acronym and the full name, include both once: “Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)”.

Copying the whole requirements list into your resume, or hiding keywords in white text, doesn’t work. Recruiters notice, many systems flag it, and you will be asked about every skill you list. Only use a keyword if it is honestly part of your experience.

If an important requirement is missing from your background, that is useful information too: either highlight the closest related experience, or treat it as a skill worth learning before your next round of applications.