Include these keywords in your CV to pass Applicant Tracking Systems and increase your chances of getting seen by recruiters.
Technology
Which keywords should a Software Engineer CV include?
Use the exact words from the job advert first: applicant tracking systems match terms, not meanings. For Software Engineer roles the essential ones are the core skills in the advert. Put them in your profile, skills list and experience bullets, written as they appear in the advert, and only where they are true for you, in an ATS-friendly CV template.
Weave keywords into your achievement statements rather than listing them separately.
2
Match the Job Description
Use the exact phrasing from the job posting when it matches your experience.
3
Include Variations
Use both acronyms and full terms: "Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)"
4
Prioritise Relevance
Only include keywords that genuinely reflect your skills and experience.
Software Engineer CV FAQs
The most critical keywords include your primary programming languages (Python, Java, JavaScript), frameworks (React, Node.js, Spring), and essential skills like Git, CI/CD, and Agile. Always include the exact technologies mentioned in the job description.
Only list languages you can confidently discuss in an interview. Include your strongest 3-5 languages prominently, and mention others you have working knowledge of. Quality matters more than quantity for ATS systems.
Use standard section headings, include both acronyms and full terms (e.g., "Amazon Web Services (AWS)"), match keywords from the job description exactly, and avoid tables or complex formatting that ATS systems struggle to parse.
Yes. Many software engineering roles require keywords like "collaboration", "communication", "problem-solving", and "mentoring". Include these naturally within your experience descriptions rather than in a separate list.