Resume keywords by job role
Each guide covers the terms recruiters search for in that role, how strong bullets read, and the mistakes we see most. Use them alongside a real job post — the posting always wins.
Engineering
- Software EngineerThe keywords recruiters search for software engineer roles, how to write bullets that prove impact, and the resume mistakes that cost interviews.
- Frontend EngineerFrontend engineer resume keywords — React, TypeScript, performance, accessibility — with example bullets and the gaps recruiters notice first.
- Backend EngineerBackend engineer resume keywords for APIs, databases, cloud and reliability, with before-and-after bullets that show scale and uptime.
- Full Stack EngineerFull stack resume keywords across frontend, backend and cloud, plus how to show depth so you don't read as a generalist with no specialty.
- DevOps EngineerDevOps and SRE resume keywords — Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD, observability — and bullets that prove reliability and speed improvements.
- QA EngineerQA and test automation resume keywords — Selenium, Playwright, API testing, CI — with bullets that show defects caught and release speed.
Data
- Data ScientistData scientist resume keywords for modelling, experimentation and Python, with examples that connect models to business decisions.
- Data AnalystData analyst resume keywords — SQL, Excel, Power BI, Tableau — and bullets that show the decisions your analysis changed.
- Data EngineerData engineer resume keywords for pipelines, warehouses and streaming — Spark, Airflow, dbt, Snowflake — with bullets that show volume and reliability.
- Machine Learning EngineerML engineer resume keywords for training, deployment and LLMs — PyTorch, MLOps, RAG — with bullets that show models running in production.
Product & Project
Design
Business
- Business AnalystBusiness analyst resume keywords — requirements, process mapping, SQL, stakeholders — and bullets that show how your analysis changed a process.
- Marketing ManagerMarketing manager resume keywords for SEO, paid media, lifecycle and analytics, with bullets that tie campaigns to pipeline and revenue.
- Sales ExecutiveSales resume keywords — quota, pipeline, CRM, B2B, negotiation — and how to present attainment numbers that recruiters screen for.
- HR ManagerHR manager resume keywords — talent acquisition, HRIS, employee relations, compliance — with bullets that show retention and hiring results.