Every industry has a shortlist of keywords ATS systems (and human recruiters) look for. Missing them costs interviews even when you're qualified. Here's a starter set for seven of the most-searched fields.
Software engineering: language names (Python, TypeScript, Go), frameworks (React, Django, Kubernetes), practices (CI/CD, code review, on-call), and outcomes (latency, uptime, throughput). Recruiters filter by stack first — always name it.
Product management: 'roadmap', 'stakeholder management', 'A/B testing', 'North Star metric', 'user research', 'shipped'. Quantify launches — DAUs, revenue, retention.
Nursing: your license (RN, BSN), specialty (ICU, ER, telemetry), EMR systems (Epic, Cerner), and patient volume per shift. State-specific licensure matters.
Teaching: subject and grade level, licensure/credentials, class size, curriculum frameworks (Common Core, IB, AP), classroom management outcomes.
Finance: 'financial modeling', 'DCF', 'variance analysis', software (Excel, SAP, NetSuite, Tableau), and dollar amounts (portfolio size, budget managed).
Marketing: 'lifecycle', 'CAC/LTV', 'attribution', channel names (paid search, lifecycle email, SEO), CMS/analytics tools, and % lift on real campaigns.
Design: 'design system', 'user research', 'prototyping', tool names (Figma, Framer), and shipped surfaces with measurable outcomes.
Run your resume against a specific posting with DraftlyCV's ATS check — it beats any generic keyword list, because it uses the exact words from the job you're targeting.