How to Use Keywords in an ATS-Friendly Resume

Keywords help describe the connection between your experience and a role. They are most useful when they are accurate, specific, and supported by examples. A list of copied phrases with no related work can make the resume less credible, even if software recognizes the words.

What to do

Read the job description for repeated requirements such as languages, tools, domain knowledge, or responsibilities. Separate required skills you have from skills you still need to learn.
Use the employer's common term when it matches your actual experience. For instance, write “REST API” if that is the kind of API you built and the listing uses that phrase.
Place terms where they belong: a tool in Skills, a responsibility in an experience bullet, and a project technology in the project entry. Avoid a hidden keyword block or unnatural repetition.

Example

Instead of listing “accessibility” five times, explain one real action: “Improved keyboard navigation and form labels in the checkout flow.”

Each important keyword should point to work you could explain in an interview.