Identifying keywords in a job description is one of the most important steps in tailoring your CV, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile. Keywords show the employer (and the ATS system) that you match what they’re looking for.
Below is a simple but highly effective method.
1. Start with the Job Title
The job title itself often contains primary keywords.
For example:
- Customer Success Manager
- Project Coordinator
- Business Analyst
These titles tell you the core function the employer cares about.
Include this exact job title (or closest match) in your CV headline.
2. Look for Repeated Words and Phrases
If a word appears more than once in the job post, it is likely a keyword.
Examples:
- “CRM”
- “Stakeholder management”
- “Project planning”
- “Data analysis”
- “Customer satisfaction”
Frequency = importance.
3. Identify Skill-Based Keywords
These appear under sections like:
- Responsibilities
- Requirements
- What You’ll Do
- What We’re Looking For
You’ll usually find:
- Technical skills: Salesforce, SQL, HubSpot, Zendesk, Jira
- Soft skills: Communication, leadership, attention to detail
- Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, KPIs, OKRs
Highlight them and compare with your CV.
4. Check for Tool-Related Keywords
Many roles mention specific tools. These are extremely ATS-relevant.
Examples:
- HubSpot
- Jira
- Notion
- Slack
- MS Excel
- Monday.com
- Asana
- Figma
If you’ve used them, list them clearly under “Tools” or “Technical Skills.”
5. Look for Industry/Role-Specific Terms
These are niche keywords unique to the field.
Examples:
For Customer Success:
- Onboarding
- Renewals
- Churn reduction
- Customer lifecycle
For Project Management:
- Scope
- Budget
- Deliverables
- Risk mitigation
For Sales:
- Pipeline
- Lead generation
- Conversion rate
- CRM workflows
6. Extract Qualification Keywords
These may include:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Certifications (e.g., PMP, ITIL, AWS)
- Years of experience
- Industry experience (SaaS, fintech, e-commerce)
If you have them, mirror the exact wording.
7. Identify Action Verbs They Use
Employers often use verbs that hint at their expectations.
Examples:
- Manage
- Lead
- Coordinate
- Implement
- Analyse
- Build
- Enhance
- Support
Use these same verbs in your bullet points where relevant.
8. Study the “About You” or “Ideal Candidate” Section
This is where the company tells you the qualities they truly want.
Examples:
- Detail-oriented
- Proactive
- Self-starter
- Remote-first mindset
- Collaborative
These are behavioral keywords you should reflect subtly in your CV summary.
9. Use a Highlighter or Tool to Extract Keywords
You can do it manually OR use tools like:
- ChatGPT (paste the job description and ask for keywords)
- Resume Worded
- Jobscan
- TealHQ
But manual review is still the most accurate.
10. Create a Keyword Bank
After reviewing the job description, list:
- Top 5 role keywords
- Top 5 technical keywords
- Top 5 soft skill keywords
- Top 5 tool keywords
Use these to tailor:
- Your CV
- Your cover letter
- Your LinkedIn headline
- Your interview preparation
Example
If the job post says:
- “Must manage stakeholders, lead projects, use Jira, run sprints, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and deliver projects on time.”
Your keywords are:
- Stakeholder management
- Project leadership
- Jira
- Sprints / Agile
- Cross-functional collaboration
- On-time delivery