Most employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to screen job candidates. The software looks for specific resume keywords to determine whether a candidate has the knowledge, skills, and experience required for a role.
The ATS sorts and grades the resumes based on the relevant keywords. Then, the hiring manager uses these scores to determine whether to contact a candidate for an interview.
As a result, knowing which keywords to include in your IT resume is important. Including the relevant keywords increases your odds of being contacted for a job interview.
Follow these guidelines to include relevant keywords in your IT resume and potentially secure a job interview.
Use Keywords from the Job Description
The job posting likely includes the necessary qualifications, job duties, and responsibilities. These sections contain the keywords you should mention throughout your resume.
Include relevant keywords in your resume summary statement and the sections detailing your experience, skills, accomplishments, and certifications. This demonstrates your proficiency in the areas required for the position.
Examples of job description keywords include the following:
- Program management
- Systems administration
- Management information system
- Analytics
- Privacy policy database integration
- Database administration
- Change management
- Research
- Development
Include Your Soft Skills as Keywords
Use the job posting and company website to determine which soft skills are relevant for the role. Include these skills as keywords in your resume.
Examples of soft skill keywords include the following:
- Communication
- Active listening
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Management
- Accountability
- Attention to detail
Use Industry Keywords
You may want to include keywords relevant to the IT industry and the job you desire. Examples include the following:
- Product development
- Backend development
- API integration
- API development
- Server management and optimization
- Deployment
- Architecture design
- Automation
- Team management
- Software development
- Unit testing
- Agile methodology
- Code optimization
- Troubleshooting
- Firewall
Include Your Technical Skills as Keywords
Your technical skills that are relevant to the job should be included in your resume. Examples include the following:
Languages
- Python
- Java
- Nodejs
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
Frameworks
- CodeIgniter
- Yii
- Drupal
- Spring
- Flask
Operating systems
- Windows
- Linux
Software
- Apache
- Nginx
Database
- MySQL
- MongoDB
- Neo4J
Want Additional Help with Your Resume?
Work with a recruiter from ektello for additional help with your resume and coaching throughout the hiring process. Visit our job board today!
