Best 200 Keywords to Include in a CV and Pass ATS Filters

Your CV isn’t being read the way you think it is. Most of the time, it’s not even reaching a recruiter.

In fact, when choosing the right keywords to include in a CV, this is where most candidates lose before the process even starts.

Per reviews, between 60% and 75% of resumes never make it past ATS systems before a human ever sees them. On top of that, more than 90% of employers now use automated systems to filter or rank applications.

So if your CV isn’t built with the right keywords, it’s getting filtered out. No matter how qualified you are. That’s the reality most people don’t see.

But don’t worry. In this guide, you’ll get a curated list of keywords you can actually use, and practical examples of how to include them without forcing them.

Let’s get into it.

TL;DR

If you want a quick version, here it is:

• Most CVs get filtered out before a recruiter sees them.
• Keywords directly impact whether your CV shows up or not.
• The job description should be your main source of keywords.
• Matching at least 60% of keywords improves your chances.
• Keywords should be used inside results, not just listed.
• Every application should have a slightly adjusted CV.

What CV Keywords Are (and Why They Matter More Than You Think)

Here’s the reality most people don’t see: your CV isn’t being read the way you think it is.

It goes through a system first. And that system doesn’t understand potential, personality, or effort. It looks for words.

If those words aren’t there, your CV doesn’t move forward. Simple as that. And that’s why keywords aren’t a small detail. 

What counts as a keyword in your CV

When we talk about keywords, we’re talking about the terms a hiring manager expects to see for that role.

That usually includes:

• Skills that are directly tied to the job.
• Tools or software mentioned in the job description.
• Job titles or role-specific terms.
• Certifications that matter for the position.
• Measurable results that show what you’ve done.

If it shows up in the job description, it should be in your CV in some form.

How hiring systems scan your CV

This is where a lot of people lose opportunities without realizing it.

The system compares your CV to the job description. It doesn’t interpret or assume; it just looks for matches.

So if the job says “client acquisition” and your CV says “getting new clients,” there’s a chance it won’t connect the two. And that costs you.

Right now, this is how most hiring processes work. In fact, as OneHour reports, 99.7% of recruiters rely on keyword filters to sort and prioritize candidates.

Key Stat: 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to filter resumes before a human ever reviews them. So, if your CV isn’t optimized for keywords, it likely won’t even get seen.

Why the right words increase your chances fast

When you use the right keywords, a few things happen right away:

• Your CV ranks higher in the system.
• Recruiters can understand your profile faster.
• Your experience feels more relevant from the start.

Your experience hasn’t changed. But now it’s easier to see.

And when someone is scanning dozens of CVs, that clarity gives you an edge.

How to Find the Right Keywords for Your CV

Most people guess their keywords. That’s the problem.

They sit down, try to remember what sounds “professional,” and end up with a CV full of generic terms that don’t match anything.

If you want your CV to pass filters and get noticed, you should pull the keywords straight from the source.

Here’s how to do it without overthinking it.

Start with the job description

This is your main reference. Everything starts here.

Look for:

• Words that show up more than once.
• Skills listed as required or preferred.
• Tools, platforms, or systems mentioned.
• Responsibilities tied to results.

If a company repeats something, it’s not random. It’s a signal.

And this is where a lot of people get filtered out.

Key Stat: As OneHour also reports, 43% of qualified candidates fail ATS screening because their CV doesn’t match the job description wording. Yes, it isn’t because they lack the skills.

Look at real profiles in your field

If you want to sound relevant, look at how people in your field describe what they do.

Check:

• LinkedIn profiles from people in similar roles.
• Candidates working at companies you’d like to join.
• Profiles that clearly show growth or strong results.

You’ll start noticing patterns. Same roles and types of results. Similar wording.

That’s not a coincidence. Actually, that’s how the market talks.

And your CV needs to sound like it belongs in that conversation.

Use tools to validate your keywords

Once you have a rough list, don’t assume it’s enough. Run it through tools that compare your CV to job descriptions.

Some solid options include:

• Jobscan.
• Resume Worded.
• LinkedIn job insights.

These tools show you what’s missing, what’s overused, and how close you are to a match.

Think of it as a quick reality check before you apply.

Build your own keyword list before editing your CV

This step saves you a ton of time.

Instead of editing your CV line by line and forcing keywords in, do this first:

• Pull keywords from 2–3 job descriptions.
• Combine them into one list.
• Highlight the ones that repeat.

From there, you just plug them into your experience in a way that makes sense.

Meet The Best 200 Keywords to Include in a CV (By Category)

Alright, now you’ve got the method. Here’s the raw material.

But quick heads up before you scroll through this list: don’t treat it like a checklist.

You don’t need all 200. Actually, you need the right ones for your role, your experience, and the job you’re applying for.

Use this as a bank. Pick what fits. Then use it in context.

1. Data Analysis & Research

If your work involves numbers, reports, or figuring out what’s really going on behind the scenes, these are the kinds of words that help you show it clearly:

1. Analyze
2. Assess
3. Audit
4. Calculate
5. Discover
6. Evaluate
7. Examine
8. Explore
9. Forecast
10. Identify
11. Inspect
12. Interpret
13. Investigate
14. Measure
15. Quantify
16. Report
17. Survey
18. Test
19. Track
20. Validate

2. Leadership & Team Management

If you’ve ever led a team, handled people, or kept projects on track, this is where you make that visible without overexplaining:

21. Align
22. Cultivate
23. Delegate
24. Develop
25. Direct
26. Enable
27. Execute
28. Facilitate
29. Foster
30. Guide
31. Inspire
32. Lead
33. Mediate
34. Mentor
35. Mobilize
36. Orchestrate
37. Oversee
38. Plan
39. Train
40. Unify

3. Operations & Execution

This is where you show you can get things done. Not ideas, not plans — actual execution and follow-through:

41. Compile
42. Coordinate
43. Deliver
44. Develop
45. Drive
46. Engage
47. Execute
48. Handle
49. Implement
50. Lead
51. Maintain
52. Manage
53. Operate
54. Organize
55. Oversee
56. Perform
57. Pursue
58. Run
59. Support
60. Undertake

4. Communication & Influence

If your role involves working with people, presenting ideas, or making decisions, these help you make that clear:

61. Advocate
62. Author
63. Brief
64. Clarify
65. Communicate
66. Compose
67. Consult
68. Convey
69. Convince
70. Correspond
71. Counsel
72. Document
73. Edit
74. Explain
75. Express
76. Influence
77. Inform
78. Negotiate
79. Persuade
80. Present
81. Promote
82. Revise

5. Process Improvement & Optimization

These words tell a recruiter you don’t settle for “getting the job done.” You look for ways to make things faster, smoother, and more efficient:

83. Accelerate
84. Advance
85. Amplify
86. Boost
87. Customize
88. Expedite
89. Expand
90. Grow
91. Integrate
92. Introduce
93. Maximize
94. Merge
95. Overhaul
96. Refine
97. Reorganize
98. Restructure
99. Restore
100. Streamline
101. Strengthen
102. Update

6. Customer Support & Collaboration

This set shows how you work with people. It signals that you can handle clients, support a team, and keep relationships running without friction; something that matters a lot in roles where trust and communication are key:

103. Advise
104. Assist
105. Coach
106. Collaborate
107. Communicate
108. Coordinate
109. Diagnose
110. Educate
111. Engage
112. Facilitate
113. Guide
114. Help
115. Maintain
116. Partner
117. Provide
118. Respond
119. Resolve
120. Serve
121. Support

7. Achievements & Results

This is the section that separates people who were just “busy” from those who delivered real results. These words point to outcomes, performance, and clear impact; and that’s what recruiters look for right away:

122. Achieve
123. Accomplish
124. Complete
125. Deliver
126. Demonstrate
127. Drive
128. Exceed
129. Execute
130. Finish
131. Generate
132. Impact
133. Improve
134. Increase
135. Optimize
136. Outperform
137. Reduce
138. Succeed
139. Surpass
140. Target

8. Creativity & Problem Solving

Things break. Plans change. This is where you show you don’t get stuck when that happens. 

These words signal that you can think on your feet, adapt, and figure things out without waiting around:

141. Adapt
142. Build
143. Conceptualize
144. Craft
145. Design
146. Determine
147. Devise
148. Draft
149. Enhance
150. Establish
151. Fix
152. Initiate
153. Innovate
154. Invent
155. Pioneer
156. Redesign
157. Remodel
158. Resolve
159. Troubleshoot
160. Visualize

9. Compliance & Risk Management

Some roles are about control, accuracy, and keeping things from going sideways. These words show you can follow structure, manage risk, and stay sharp where it counts:

161. Adopt
162. Approve
163. Audit
164. Authorize
165. Confirm
166. Control
167. Deploy
168. Enforce
169. Ensure
170. Implement
171. Inspect
172. Maintain
173. Monitor
174. Regulate
175. Review
176. Supervise
177. Track
178. Verify

10. Resource Management & Optimization

At some point, it comes down to how well you handle time, budget, and resources. These words show you can prioritize, stay efficient, and keep things running without waste:

179. Allocate
180. Balance
181. Budget
182. Centralize
183. Conserve
184. Consolidate
185. Control
186. Coordinate
187. Curtail
188. Distribute
189. Forecast
190. Manage
191. Optimize
192. Plan
193. Preserve
194. Prioritize
195. Reduce
196. Reallocate
197. Schedule
198. Stabilize
199. Track
200. Utilize

How to Use These Keywords in Your CV Without Making It Sound Forced

Having the right keywords is one thing.

Using them the wrong way? That’s how your CV starts sounding fake, bloated, or just hard to read.

You’ve seen it before. A CV packed with buzzwords that don’t really say anything.

That’s not what you want.

You want something that reads naturally, but still hits the right signals so it passes filters and makes sense to a real person.

Here’s how to do that without overcomplicating it.

Match keywords to real experience

Start here. Always.

If you can’t back it up, don’t include it.

It’s easy to throw in words just because they match the job description. But if you get asked about them and can’t explain them clearly, it shows.

So, keep it clean:

• Use keywords that reflect what you’ve actually done.
• Stick to tools, skills, and results you can explain.
• Remove anything that feels like filler.

A clear CV beats an overloaded one every time.

Use keywords inside results, not just lists

This is where most people fall short.

Anyone can list keywords. That alone doesn’t say much. What matters is how you use them.

Instead of this:

• Skills: Leadership, negotiation, communication.

Go with something like:

• Led a team of 5 agents and negotiated deals worth $1M+.

Same keywords. Completely different impact.

Now the system picks them up, and the recruiter sees the result behind them.

Spread keywords across key sections

Don’t stack everything in one place. If all your keywords sit in the skills section, you’re missing opportunities.

You want them to show up naturally across your CV:

• Use them in your summary to set the tone.
• Include them in your experience to show proof.
• Add them to your skills section to make scanning easier.

That way, no matter how your CV is reviewed, it still works.

Adapt keywords for every job application

This is where things start to click.

Sending the same CV everywhere? That’s how you get ignored.

Instead:

• Adjust wording to match the job description.
• Swap in keywords that show up in that specific role.
• Keep your experience the same, but tweak how you describe it.

Small changes here can make a big difference.

Key Stat: CVs that match around 60% of job keywords are far more likely to pass ATS screening, in many cases reaching up to 90% success rates. You don’t need to rewrite everything. Just tighten the match.

Where Keywords Make the Biggest Impact in Your CV

Not all parts of your CV carry the same weight.

You can have the right keywords, but if they’re in the wrong place, they won’t hit as hard.

Think of it this way: some sections get scanned first, others get checked later. You want your strongest signals showing up early and clearly.

Here’s where keywords really make a difference:

Your professional summary sets the tone

This is the first thing people see. If this section is vague or generic, you lose attention fast.

Use it to clearly position yourself:

• Include 2–3 strong keywords that define your role.
• Mention your main area of expertise.
• Add one result or outcome if you can.

You’re not telling your whole story here. Instead, you’re giving enough for someone to say, “this looks relevant.”

Your experience section proves your value

This is where decisions happen.

Anyone can say they have skills. This is where you show it.

So, focus on:

• What you did.
• How you did it.
• What came out of it.

And naturally include keywords in that process.

For example, instead of listing “client management,” show it through something real:

• Managed a portfolio of 30+ clients and closed deals totaling $2M.

Now the keyword is there, but it’s backed by something solid.

Your skills section makes scanning easier

This section is for clarity. It helps recruiters and systems quickly spot what you bring to the table.

Keep it structured:

• Group similar skills together.
• Use clear, recognizable terms.
• Avoid long, messy lists.

This is where you make things easy to read.

Extra sections can reinforce your profile

If you’ve got more to show, this is where it helps. Include things like:

• Certifications.
• Tools and platforms.
• Projects or case work.

These sections give you more space to reinforce keywords without forcing them into your main experience.

They also help you stand out if your experience alone isn’t enough yet.

How to Apply These CV Keywords to Real Estate Roles

Now, let’s bring this into the real estate world. In this field, context matters a lot more than people think.

The same keyword can mean very different things depending on how you use it.

How the same keywords take on a different meaning in real estate

Take a word like “negotiation.”

On paper, it sounds general. In real estate, it’s tied directly to deals, pricing, and closing.

Same with:

• Client relationship management → handling buyers, sellers, and long-term clients.
• Sales → closing property deals, not just hitting targets.

The keyword stays the same. The meaning changes based on context.

And that context is what makes your CV feel relevant.

How to read a real estate job post and pick the right keywords fast

You don’t need to overanalyze this. Just look for patterns.

In most real estate roles, you’ll see things like:

• Lead generation.
• Property listings.
• Client acquisition.
• Deal closing.
• CRM tools.

If those keep showing up, they define the role. And your CV should reflect that clearly.

How to turn generic skills into real estate results

This is where you go from “okay” to “this person knows what they’re doing.”

Don’t leave keywords floating on their own. Tie them to outcomes.

Instead of:

• Sales growth.

Say:

• Closed 20+ property deals generating $500K in commissions.

Instead of:

• Customer support.

Say:

• Managed buyer and seller relationships, increasing repeat clients by 30%.

Now your CV shows what those skills actually look like in action.

What makes a CV stand out in real estate right now

From what we see working with real estate firms, a few things stand out fast:

• Keywords tied to deals and revenue carry more weight.
• Local market knowledge adds credibility.
• Experience with CRM and pipeline tools helps you stand out.

This is exactly the kind of detail hiring teams pay attention to when reviewing candidates.

Use Keywords Like a Strategy, Not as Decoration for Your CV

At this point, you’ve probably noticed the pattern.

Keywords aren’t something you add at the end to make your CV look “optimized.” They shape how your CV gets read from the very beginning.

If your wording doesn’t match the role, you don’t show up. It doesn’t matter how good your experience is.

So the goal is to be clear and aligned with what the job is asking for.

If you’re applying in real estate, this matters even more. Hiring teams are looking for people who understand deals, clients, and how the business actually works day to day.

That’s exactly the kind of detail that we at Estate Skyline pay attention to when reviewing candidates.

If your CV reflects that clearly, you’re already ahead of a big part of the market.

FAQs

What are good keywords to use in a CV?

You don’t need to overcomplicate it. Open the job description, look at what keeps showing up, and mirror that language. Skills, tools, responsibilities; it’s all there.

Focus especially on strong action verbs and role-specific terms. If it matters to them, it should show up in how you describe your experience.

What are the common mistakes to avoid when including keywords in a CV?

The biggest one? Adding words just because they sound good. If you can’t explain it in a real conversation, it shouldn’t be there.

Another mistake is relying on generic language or repeating the same phrase over and over. That doesn’t help your CV stand out, and it doesn’t help with ATS either.

And then there’s overloading it. When a CV feels stuffed with keywords, it becomes harder to read, not easier. You want clarity, not noise.

How can I adjust keywords in my CV for different job applications?

You don’t need to rewrite your whole CV every time. What you do need is a quick pass before you apply.

Look at the job post, pick out the main terms, and tweak your wording so it lines up. Same experience, just described in a way that fits that role.

And don’t forget to keep your cover letter aligned with those same keywords. 

How often should keywords appear in a CV to optimize for ATS without sounding repetitive?

There’s no magic number here. If your CV reads naturally and clearly shows what you do, you’re good. Keywords should show up where they make sense: in your summary, in your experience, and in your skills. 

If you read it out loud and it sounds off, that’s your signal to dial it back. At the end of the day, you want your CV to support your career, not make it harder to explain what you do.