ATS Keyword Database
ATS keywords, sourced honestly.
Profession-specific keyword lists for the resumes that actually need to pass an ATS. Every keyword cites its source — either O*NET (US Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational data) or our manual curation of real public job descriptions. No stuffed lists, no SEO slop, no fabricated entries. Tiered by seniority because what a junior engineer needs to surface is not what a Staff engineer needs. We re-sample 30+ JDs per profession monthly to catch emerging tools (Cursor, Claude Code, Devin) and terminology before generic listicles update.
Published profession lists
ATS keywords for Software Engineer →
93 keywords · 32 JDs sampled · O*NET 15-1252.00, 15-1254.00, 15-1257.00 · last updated 2026-05-15ATS keywords for Data Scientist →
66 keywords · 30 JDs sampled · O*NET 15-2051.00, 15-2051.01 · last updated 2026-05-15ATS keywords for UX / UI Designer →
58 keywords · 26 JDs sampled · O*NET 15-1255.01, 27-1024.00 · last updated 2026-05-16ATS keywords for Product Manager →
63 keywords · 28 JDs sampled · O*NET 11-2021.00, 13-1198.00 · last updated 2026-05-15ATS keywords for Finance Professional →
58 keywords · 27 JDs sampled · O*NET 13-2051.00, 11-3031.02, 13-2052.00 · last updated 2026-05-31ATS keywords for Banking / Investment Banking Analyst (UAE & India focus) →
66 keywords · 23 JDs sampled · O*NET 13-2051.00, 13-2052.00, 13-2071.00 · last updated 2026-05-15ATS keywords for Mechanical Engineer →
58 keywords · 25 JDs sampled · O*NET 17-2141.00, 17-2141.01, 17-2112.00 · last updated 2026-05-16ATS keywords for Civil Engineer →
58 keywords · 23 JDs sampled · O*NET 17-2051.00, 17-2051.01, 17-2199.07 · last updated 2026-05-16ATS keywords for Marketing Manager →
61 keywords · 25 JDs sampled · O*NET 11-2021.00 · last updated 2026-05-15ATS keywords for Sales (SDR, AE, Enterprise, VP) →
61 keywords · 26 JDs sampled · O*NET 41-3091.00, 41-1011.00, 41-9031.00 · last updated 2026-05-15ATS keywords for HR / Recruiter / Talent Acquisition →
59 keywords · 24 JDs sampled · O*NET 13-1071.00, 11-3121.00, 13-1141.00 · last updated 2026-05-16ATS keywords for Project Manager →
51 keywords · 25 JDs sampled · O*NET 13-1198.00, 11-9199.02 · last updated 2026-05-15ATS keywords for Registered Nurse (RN) →
60 keywords · 28 JDs sampled · O*NET 29-1141.00, 29-1141.04 · last updated 2026-05-16ATS keywords for Accountant →
56 keywords · 24 JDs sampled · O*NET 13-2011.00 · last updated 2026-05-25ATS keywords for Customer Success Manager →
51 keywords · 22 JDs sampled · O*NET 13-1151.00, 41-3091.00 · last updated 2026-05-15ATS keywords for Business Analyst →
42 keywords · 22 JDs sampled · O*NET 13-1111.00, 15-1211.01 · last updated 2026-05-31ATS keywords for Operations Manager →
41 keywords · 21 JDs sampled · O*NET 11-1021.00 · last updated 2026-05-31
Other free tools for your resume
Now that you know which keywords to target, these tools help you actually integrate them into your resume — rewrite bullets, extract keywords from specific job descriptions, and check structural fit.
- Bullet Rewriter →Rewrite weak bullets in STAR / XYZ format with your target keywords
- Keyword Extractor →Paste a specific job description, extract its high-priority keywords
- Cover Letter Checker →Match your cover letter against the JD for keyword alignment
- Length Checker →Check whether your resume length matches your seniority level
- See all free tools →
Frequently asked questions
What is an ATS keyword?
An ATS keyword is a specific named entity (tool, methodology, certification, technology, regulation) that an Applicant Tracking System parser explicitly tries to match between your resume and the job description. Examples: Python, MEDDIC, ASC 606, Workday, Sukuk, SAP SuccessFactors. ATS keywords are distinct from action verbs ('spearheaded', 'championed') which add stylistic polish but contribute almost nothing to ATS match scores.
How is this ATS keyword database different from other lists online?
Three differences: (1) Every keyword cites its source — either O*NET (US Bureau of Labor Statistics) or manual JD curation with a stated sample size. (2) Tiered by seniority — what a junior engineer needs to surface is genuinely different from what a Staff engineer needs. (3) Re-sampled monthly to catch emerging tools and terminology before generic listicles update. Most online ATS-keyword lists are recycled from 2019 datasets with no citable provenance.
How often is the ATS Verification keyword database updated?
We re-sample 30+ fresh public job descriptions per profession monthly. Each profession page shows a 'Last updated' timestamp reflecting the most recent re-curation. Fast-moving fields (software engineering, data science, AI/ML) are re-curated more frequently than steady fields (accounting, civil engineering).
Why are ATS keywords tiered by seniority?
Because the keywords filtered for at junior, mid, senior, and lead/staff levels differ sharply. A Junior Software Engineer JD filters on programming languages and CS fundamentals (Python, data structures, OOP). A Staff Engineer JD filters on strategy and influence vocabulary (technical vision, org-wide impact, influence without authority). Surfacing the wrong tier's keywords on your resume tells the parser you're applying for the wrong level.
Can I see which keywords my resume already has?
Yes — run our free ATS scanner. Upload your resume and the scanner extracts every parsed token, then highlights which match the keyword tier appropriate for the role you're applying to. No signup, no card, results in 10 seconds.
Have a specific JD? Get its keywords in 5 seconds.
Paste any job description into our free keyword extractor — we'll pull out the high-weight terms an ATS will match against, ranked by frequency. No signup, no card.
Paste JD into extractor →Want to know if your resume parses cleanly through the 8 major ATS engines? Run a free ATS scan →