How to Find the Right ATS Keywords for Any Job

The keywords in your CV are what ATS systems use to decide whether you are a match for a role. Get them right and your CV reaches a human. Get them wrong and you are filtered out before anyone reads a word you wrote.

Here is how to find and use the right keywords for any job application.

Where Keywords Come From

ATS keyword lists are typically derived from the job description itself. The recruiter configures the system to look for specific terms, or the ATS automatically identifies important phrases by analysing the job posting.

This means the most reliable source of keywords for your CV is always the specific job description you are applying to. There are no universal ATS keywords — every role is different.

How to Extract Keywords from a Job Description

Read through the job description at least twice. On the second pass, highlight:

Hard skills: Specific tools, technologies, software, platforms, methodologies, languages (e.g., Python, Salesforce, IFRS, Agile, Google Analytics)

Qualifications: Required certifications, degrees, professional memberships (e.g., CIMA, PMP, ACCA, PRINCE2)

Job titles: The role itself and related roles mentioned (e.g., "Marketing Manager", "Head of Digital", "Campaign Manager")

Soft skills and competencies: These appear less often in ATS filtering but still matter (e.g., stakeholder management, project delivery, analytical skills)

Industry terminology: Phrases specific to the sector or employer (e.g., "omnichannel retail", "clinical pathway improvement", "DevSecOps")

Prioritise High-Frequency Keywords

Keywords that appear multiple times in a job description are almost certainly weighted more heavily by the ATS. If a job description mentions "financial modelling" four times, that is a critical keyword. If it mentions "teamwork" once, it is less critical.

Make a short list of the five to eight highest-priority keywords and ensure they appear naturally in your CV.

Use Exact Phrasing

ATS systems often match exact strings rather than concepts. "Project management" and "managing projects" are not always equivalent. Use the exact phrasing from the job description where it accurately describes your experience.

If the job description says "Agile methodology," use "Agile methodology" — not just "Agile" or "agile working." If it says "Google Analytics 4," include "GA4" and "Google Analytics 4."

Where to Place Keywords in Your CV

The most impactful places to include keywords are:

Personal statement / professional summary
Skills section
Job title lines in your experience section
Bullet points describing responsibilities and achievements

Spread keywords across multiple sections rather than concentrating them in one place.

Use CVCircuit's ATS Checker

Rather than manually hunting for keywords, CVCircuit's ATS checker does the analysis for you. Paste your CV and the job description, and it shows you exactly which keywords are missing, which are present, and what your overall match score is.

Check your ATS keyword score free at CVCircuit before you apply.