Which keywords to take from the posting
Prioritize concrete, checkable terms: product names, programming languages, cloud platforms, certifications, frameworks, regulated-domain vocabulary. Skip filler adjectives (“dynamic,” “motivated,” “synergy”) — nobody searches for those.
Match spelling and expansion. If the posting says “product management,” do not rely only on “PM.” If it says “Amazon Web Services,” include that phrase even if you also write “AWS.”
Where to place them
- Headline and summary: the 2–3 role-critical terms.
- Skills section: a clean list ATS parsers love — still limited to skills you actually have.
- Experience bullets: keywords inside real accomplishments with metrics, not a comma soup.
- Never add a keyword you cannot defend in an interview. MaxCV’s no-fabrication rule exists for the same reason.
How MaxCV handles keyword coverage
MaxCV extracts requirements from the job description, maps each one to evidence in your CV (direct match, synonym, or transferable skill), and shows coverage in the match score. Rewrites stay honest: wording can move closer to the posting, but skills are not invented.
Run a pass with the free ATS resume checker or full resume tailor flow when you want the score and interview prep together.