How to Match Your CV to a Job Description (Keywords Recruiters and ATS Look For)

By Shahriar Islam RatulUpdated 8 November 20265 min read

Sending the same CV to fifty jobs is the most common reason qualified people get no replies. Recruiters filter by skills and job titles from their own job post. Tailoring your CV takes about ten minutes per job and can double your interview rate.

Step 1: Pull out the keywords

Copy the job description and mark three kinds of words:

Hard skills and tools: Excel, SQL, React, IFRS, Google Ads, Salesforce.
Job titles and responsibilities: Business Development, account management, reconciliation.
Requirements: degree, years of experience, languages, certifications.

Words that appear two or more times, or in the requirements list, matter most.

Step 2: Put them where they count

Summary: the job title and your top 2 to 3 matching skills.
Experience bullets: show the skill in action with a result, not just the word.
Skills section: the exact tool and skill names from the post that you really have.

Check your CV free in 30 secondsGet your ATS score, the fixes that matter and the keywords you are missing. No sign-up needed.

Step 3: Check the gaps

If a must-have skill is missing and you do have it, add proof. If you do not have it, do not invent it; mention a related skill or a course you are taking. Honesty matters because interviews test these skills.

A free ATS checker can compare your CV with the job description and list the keywords you are missing, so you know exactly what to fix.

Frequently asked questions

How many keywords should my CV have?

There is no magic number. Cover the must-have skills and the job title naturally; aim for most of the requirements to appear somewhere in your CV.

Is keyword stuffing a good idea?

No. Lists of hidden or repeated keywords are spotted by recruiters and modern ATS, and hurt your chances.