How to Extract ATS Keywords from Job Postings

When an employer publishes a job description, they are broadcasting the exact criteria their Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and recruiters will use to screen candidates.

Extracting these keywords systematically allows you to mirror the employer's vocabulary, pass automated ATS filters, and immediately catch the eye of the hiring team.

The 4 Keyword Categories to Extract

When reviewing a job posting, highlight and group keywords into four distinct categories:

                  ┌───────────────────────────────┐
                  │ Job Description Keyword Mining │
                  └───────────────┬───────────────┘
                                  │
         ┌────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┐
         ▼                        ▼                        ▼
┌──────────────────┐    ┌──────────────────┐    ┌──────────────────┐
│  Hard Technical  │    │ Action-Oriented  │    │  Domain & Industry│
│  Tools & Stack   │    │ Action Verbs     │    │  Terminology     │
│ (e.g. Python,    │    │ (e.g. Optimized, │    │ (e.g. SLA, SaaS, │
│  PostgreSQL)     │    │  Spearheaded)    │    │  Churn Rate)     │
└──────────────────┘    └──────────────────┘    └──────────────────┘

Hard Technical Tools & Stack: Exact software, programming languages, platforms, or hardware (e.g., React, Kubernetes, Salesforce CRM, Financial Modeling).
Action Verbs & Methodologies: Words signaling responsibility and execution (e.g., Spearheaded, Optimized, Agile/Scrum, Cross-Functional Management).
Domain & Industry Terminology: Specialized metrics or jargon (e.g., ARR, Customer Churn, ISO Compliance, Sprint Planning).
Certifications & Education: Required credentials (e.g., PMP, CPA, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Bachelor of Science).

Required vs. Preferred Keyword Prioritization

Not all keywords carry equal weight in ATS scoring engines:

Mandatory (Tier 1) Keywords: Listed under "Minimum Qualifications", "Requirements", or "Must Have". These carry the highest weight in ATS scoring. You must include 80%+ of these keywords on your resume.
Preferred (Tier 2) Keywords: Listed under "Nice to Have", "Bonus Qualifications", or "Preferred Background". Including these gives your application a competitive edge during human review.

Pro Tip: Paste any job listing into our automated Job Description Analyzer to extract, categorize, and rank hard vs. soft keywords instantly.

How to Place Keywords on Your Resume

Once keywords are extracted:

Integrate hard technical keywords into your Skills Section.
Weave action verbs and domain terminology directly into achievement bullets using the PAR or CAR framework.
Use our AI Resume Builder to format and generate your targeted resume document.

How to Extract ATS Keywords from Job Postings