Crack the ATS Code: Resume Keywords That Actually Get You Noticed
That Resume Black Hole Feeling
You send off your resume, feel pretty good about it… and then—silence. Literally, crickets. No callback. No “thanks, but no thanks.” Just a total black hole. Here’s the thing: it’s not always your experience that’s the issue. It’s the tech standing between you and the recruiter. Most companies use something called an ATS (Applicant Tracking System). Basically, it scans resumes for the right words before a human ever lays eyes on them.
If you’re not speaking its language, your resume can get tossed out, even if you’re 100% qualified. The good news? You don’t need to be a tech wizard to crack the code. You just need a few simple tweaks.
Step 1: Get What the ATS Is Really Doing
Think of the ATS as a bouncer at the door of your dream job. It’s not judging your personality—it’s just checking if you’re on the list. That “list” is a set of keywords pulled from the job posting. So if the role says “stakeholder engagement” and your resume says “worked with clients”—guess what? The ATS might not connect the dots.
Step 2: Avoid the Keyword Trap
Here’s where most people mess up: they either skip the keywords altogether OR they copy/paste them without context.
Example:
❌ “Responsible for leadership of team.”
✅ “Led a team of 8 and improved client delivery timelines by 25%.”
Notice the second one? It tells a story. That’s what gets you past the ATS and makes the recruiter say, “oh nice, I need this person.”
Step 3: How to Find the Right Keywords
It’s easier than you think. Here’s my quick method:
Read the job posting → Highlight words/skills that pop up more than once.
Check a few similar postings → You’ll start to see patterns (hello, instant keyword list).
Mirror their language → Use their words on your resume, as long as they’re true to your experience.
Step 4: Where to Drop Keywords So They Count
Summary at the top → Quick way to say “yes, I’m what you’re looking for.”
Experience bullets → Show the keyword in action (with results).
Skills section → ATS loves a clean list here.
Pro tip: Don’t cram in words for the sake of it. Always back them up with real achievements.
The Bottom Line? Keywords open the door. Context gets you invited in.
Oh, and one last thing - getting past the ATS is step one. But the real win is making sure your resume stands out once it’s in a recruiter’s hands. That’s where we can help. If you’re ready to turn your experience into a story that lands interviews, let’s talk.
