How to Find the Right Keywords for Your CV Based on Your Industry

Why Keywords Are the Backbone of Your CV

Before a recruiter reads your CV, there's a strong chance an ATS system has already scanned it. The software searches for specific keywords — technical skills, tools, certifications, job titles — and compares your CV to the job posting. The higher the match, the further up the pile your application lands.

But even without an ATS, keywords matter. A human recruiter scans your CV in 6 seconds. They look for relevance signals: terms familiar to their industry, skills they recognise, tools they use. If those signals aren't there, they move on.

The problem: the right keywords aren't the same from one sector to the next, one role to the next, one company to the next. And guessing doesn't work. You need to identify them methodically.

Step 1: Analyse the Job Posting in Detail

This is the most direct and reliable source. The job posting contains exactly the words the recruiter (and their ATS) are looking for.

What to Look For

• Technical skills explicitly required — languages, software, methodologies (e.g. "Python", "Salesforce", "Agile methodology", "management accounting").
• Soft skills mentioned — "teamwork", "autonomy", "leadership", "attention to detail".
• Required certifications or degrees — "PMP", "Master's in Finance", "PRINCE2".
• Job titles — use the exact title from the posting, not a variation. If the ad says "Account Manager", don't only write "Client Advisor" unless you include both.
• Recurring action verbs — "lead", "develop", "optimise", "coordinate". They indicate the expected level of responsibility.

Practical Method

Copy-paste the job ad into a document. Highlight every term that describes a skill, tool, title or quality. You'll get between 10 and 25 keywords per posting. These are your priorities.

Step 2: Study Multiple Similar Postings

Don't limit yourself to one ad. Look at 5 to 10 postings for the same type of role in your sector. You'll quickly see recurring keywords emerge — these are the terms the industry considers standard.

For example, if you're looking for a digital project manager role, you'll likely see: "project management", "roadmap", "KPIs", "Agile", "Scrum", "backlog", "stakeholders", "delivery". These keywords aren't specific to one ad — they define the expected vocabulary of the role.

Where to Find These Postings

• LinkedIn Jobs — filter by title and location.
• Indeed, Glassdoor, Reed, Totaljobs — for the UK and international markets.
• Industry-specific sites — Dice for tech, eFinancialCareers for finance, Health Careers for NHS…

Step 3: Identify the Specific Vocabulary of Your Sector

Every field has its own jargon, and recruiters use it as a competence filter. Using the right vocabulary shows you know the field. Ignoring it shows the opposite.

Examples by Sector

Tech / Software Development

• Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, SQL
• Frameworks: React, Next.js, Node.js, Django, Spring Boot
• Tools: Git, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, AWS, GCP, Terraform
• Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Kanban, DevOps, TDD
• Common terms: REST API, microservices, cloud architecture, scalability

Digital Marketing

• Tools: Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta Ads, HubSpot, Mailchimp, SEMrush
• Skills: SEO, SEM, content marketing, inbound marketing, growth hacking
• Metrics: conversion rate, CPA, ROAS, CTR, LTV, acquisition funnel
• Common terms: personas, A/B testing, automation, omnichannel strategy

Finance / Accounting

• Tools: SAP, Sage, Xero, advanced Excel (pivot tables, VBA), Power BI
• Skills: consolidation, reporting, management control, audit, IFRS standards
• Common terms: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, month-end close, forecast budget

Human Resources

• Tools: Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, BambooHR, ATS (Greenhouse, Lever)
• Skills: talent acquisition, workforce planning, L&D, employment law, employee relations
• Common terms: employer branding, onboarding, turnover, headcount, DEI

Sales / Business Development

• Tools: Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Pipedrive
• Skills: prospecting, negotiation, closing, account management, retention
• Metrics: revenue, margin, conversion rate, average deal size, NPS
• Common terms: sales cycle, key accounts, B2B, B2C, upsell

Healthcare / Medical

• Skills: patient care, clinical governance, pharmacovigilance, infection control
• Certifications: NMC, GMC, ACLS, BLS
• Common terms: patient pathway, MDT, CQC compliance, clinical audit

How to Find These Terms If You're Changing Sector

If you're switching careers and don't yet know the new field's vocabulary:

• Read role profiles on professional bodies, industry associations, or government career sites.
• Browse LinkedIn profiles of people who hold your target role. Their titles, summaries and listed skills are a goldmine.
• Identify the sector's certifications and mention any you've completed or are pursuing.

Step 4: Place Keywords in the Right Spots

Having the right keywords isn't enough — you need to position them strategically so the ATS and recruiter find them quickly.

High-Impact Locations

1. CV title — the exact job title you're targeting. Often the first element scanned by the ATS.
2. Professional summary — 3–4 lines at the top of your CV that concentrate your main keywords in context.
3. Skills section — a structured list of your technical skills and tools. Ideal for ATS matching.
4. Experience descriptions — weave keywords naturally into descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements.
5. Education / Certifications section — exact names of degrees and certifications.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Keyword stuffing — repeating "project management" 10 times fools neither the ATS nor the recruiter. Modern ATS detect this and can penalise you.
• White-text keywords — hiding keywords in white text on a white background is a cheat that ATS systems detect.
• Unnecessary synonyms — if the posting says "management", don't list "leadership, supervision, direction, oversight" all at once. Use the term from the posting plus one natural synonym.
• Keywords without context — a list of 50 skills with no context in your experience looks artificial. Recruiters want to see skills applied, not just declared.

Step 5: Verify and Adjust

Once your CV is written with the right keywords, test it:

• Re-read the job posting and verify that every key requirement appears in your CV.
• Use an ATS analysis tool like our free ATS checker to verify your CV is properly structured and keywords are detected.
• Have someone from the industry review it if possible — a professional will instantly spot missing or misused terms.

One CV Per Application, Not One CV for Everything

The most important point in this article: there's no universal keyword list. The right keywords depend on the role, sector, company and specific posting. This means you need to tailor your CV to each application — or at least to each type of role.

It's effort, but it's exactly what candidates who land interviews do. And it's why tools like CV Creator exist: so that adaptation takes 5 minutes instead of 45.

Build a Keyword-Optimised CV with CV Creator

With CV Creator, tailor your CV to each posting in minutes. 20+ ATS-friendly templates that ensure your keywords are correctly read by applicant tracking software. €2 one-time, unlimited CVs for 2 hours, no registration.

To go further:

• What is an ATS and how to optimise for it?
• How to tailor your CV to each job offer
• The most sought-after skills in 2025