Cv Keywords

Applicant tracking systems search for keywords before a human reads anything. If those words are missing from your CV it never reaches the reviewer, however strong your experience.

The steps

1. Read the advert and list the required skills exactly as written
2. Collect terms that repeat or appear in more than one place
3. Compare them against what your CV actually contains
4. Add only the ones you genuinely have
5. Spread the terms across summary, experience and skills rather than one list

Practical tips

• Use the exact form of the term from the advert, not a synonym
• Technical skills outweigh personal qualities in automated screening
• Do not repeat the same term more than three times
• Keep a keyword list for each type of role you target

Common mistakes to avoid

• Stuffing in keywords you do not actually have, which shows up at interview
• Using synonyms instead of the term the system looks for
• Hiding keywords in white text or a tiny font

Frequently asked questions

Is keyword stuffing penalised?

Yes. It lowers your ranking and reads badly in human review. Use a term only where it naturally belongs.

How many keywords do I need?

There is no fixed number. What matters is covering the advert's core skills — usually ten to fifteen terms.