After analyzing thousands of resume checks through ATSScore, we found a consistent pattern: most people are missing the same keywords — and they're not obscure technical terms. They're common industry phrases that job descriptions use constantly but candidates rarely include on their resumes.
Here are the most commonly missing keywords by industry. Scan your section, check your resume, and add the ones that genuinely apply to your experience.
Important: Only add keywords that honestly reflect your skills and experience. ATS gets you the interview — your actual ability gets you the job. Never keyword-stuff or fabricate experience.
💻 Software Engineering / Tech
CI/CDAgile methodologycode reviewRESTful APIsmicroservicesDockerKubernetesunit testingGitcross-functional teamsscalabilitysystem designtechnical documentationsprint planningstakeholder communication
💡 Tip: Most engineers list tools (Python, React, AWS) but forget process keywords like "CI/CD pipeline", "code review", and "Agile methodology" — which appear in almost every job description. Add both to your skills section AND weave them into your bullet points.
📈 Marketing & Growth
A/B testingconversion rate optimizationcustomer acquisition costCAClifetime valueLTVmarketing funneldemand generationlead nurturingcontent strategySEOSEMpaid socialattribution modelingmarketing automationHubSpotSalesforce
💡 Tip: Marketing roles care deeply about metrics. Replace vague bullets like "ran social media campaigns" with "managed paid social campaigns achieving 3.2x ROAS with $50K monthly budget." Include metrics AND the keywords (ROAS, CAC, conversion rate) in the same bullet.
💰 Finance & Accounting
financial modelingvariance analysisbudget forecastingP&L managementGAAPaccounts payableaccounts receivablereconciliationauditcomplianceExcelpivot tablesSAPQuickBooksmonth-end closecash flow analysis
💡 Tip: Finance roles almost always require specific software keywords (SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks) and compliance terms (GAAP, SOX). Make sure these appear explicitly — don't assume the ATS will infer your software knowledge from your job title.
🤝 Sales & Business Development
pipeline managementquota attainmentCRMSalesforceprospectingcold outreachdiscovery callsaccount managementupsellingcross-sellingSaaSB2B salessales cycledeal closingrevenue growthannual recurring revenueARR
💡 Tip: Sales resumes live and die on numbers. "Exceeded quota by 127% in Q3 2025" is far more powerful than "strong sales performance." Combine achievement metrics with the right keywords (quota attainment, ARR, pipeline) for maximum ATS and human impact.
🚀 Product Management
product roadmapgo-to-marketuser researchA/B testingOKRsKPIssprint planningbacklog prioritizationstakeholder alignmentcross-functionalJiradata-drivencustomer journeyproduct-market fitfeature prioritizationagile
💡 Tip: PM roles look for evidence of both technical and business understanding. "Led cross-functional team of 8 engineers and designers to ship mobile feature driving 23% DAU increase" hits the right keywords (cross-functional, DAU) while showing scope and impact.
🏥 Healthcare
patient careEMREHRHIPAA complianceclinical documentationcare coordinationpatient outcomesinterdisciplinary teamevidence-based practiceEpicCernerquality improvementcase managementtelehealth
💡 Tip: Healthcare ATS systems heavily weight compliance and system keywords. Always include the specific EMR/EHR systems you've used (Epic, Cerner, Meditech) and explicit compliance terms (HIPAA, Joint Commission) — these are near-universal requirements.
How to Use This List
Don't copy every keyword from your industry's list. Instead:
- Check which ones genuinely apply to your experience and skills
- Compare with the specific job description you're applying for
- Add them naturally into your bullet points and skills section
- Use both acronyms and full forms (e.g. "SEO (Search Engine Optimization)")
- Test your updated resume with an ATS checker before applying
Find YOUR missing keywords — free
Upload your resume + paste the specific job description. ATSScore tells you exactly which keywords you're missing for that role. Takes 30 seconds.
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The keywords above are a starting point, but the most accurate list comes from the actual job description you're targeting. Every company uses slightly different language — which is why checking your resume against each specific posting before applying is the single most effective thing you can do to improve your interview rate.