Resume Hacks: 20 ATS Keywords You Need This Year -

✅ Introduction

Your resume needs to be bilingual—one for humans and one for robots—if you plan to apply for jobs in 2025. More than 95% of Fortune 500 companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which screen applicants before a recruiter even sees your name.

We’ll go into Resume Hacks: 20 ATS Keywords You Need This Year in this blog, along with actual case studies, statistics, and formatting advice that will increase your chances of landing a job.

✅ What is ATS & Why Keywords Matter

ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software used by employers to filter resumes by scanning for relevant keywords.

🧠 Stat: According to CareerPlug, 75% of resumes never make it to human eyes due to ATS rejection.

But if you include job-specific keywords, your chances of being shortlisted increase by up to 40% (source: Zety).

✅ 20 ATS Keywords to Add in 2025

These are the top-performing keywords sorted by industry based on 2025 trends across LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed.

✅ Case Study: Before vs After Optimization

Before:
Ajay, a digital marketer, applied to 25 jobs using a generic resume. He heard nothing.

After:
He customized each resume using targeted keywords like SEO, CRM, ROI, and Lead Generation pulled directly from job listings.

Result:
✅ 12 callbacks and 4 interview offers in 2 weeks.

✅ Resume Formatting Tips to Beat ATS

📌 Keep It Simple

Use fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
Avoid graphics, tables, and columns
Save as .docx (unless PDF is specifically requested)
Use standard headers: Experience, Skills, Education

📌 Bullet Your Skills

Make your keywords easy to scan by listing them in bullets
Match job description terms exactly when possible

✅ Stats You Need to Know

📊 Relevant Hiring Data:

32% of job seekers using keyword-optimized templates get more interviews (SHRM, 2024)
90%+ of hiring managers use LinkedIn to verify resume data (Jobvite, 2024)
Resumes with keyword bullets increase scan success by 55%

✅ FAQs: Best Search Questions

Q1: What keywords does ATS look for?
A: Exact matches from the job description. Skills, tools, and action verbs are essential.

Q2: Can ATS scan PDF resumes?
A: Yes, most modern systems can. But .docx is safest unless specified otherwise.

Q3: Should I use the same resume for every job?
A: No. Customize each resume with keywords from that specific job listing.

Q4: Can ATS detect soft skills like communication?
A: Yes, but prioritize measurable, hard skills and certifications.

✅ Final Thoughts

Before a human ever sees your resume in the world of digital hiring, it must pass a bot test. These 20 ATS Keywords You Must Use This Year will significantly increase your visibility.

🔍 Don’t forget: keyword match + clean format = interview success.

💼 Start applying smarter. The bots are watching.

Author
Recent Posts

follow me

Informed Era

I’m Gaurav Negi, the writer and creator behind Informed Era. With over 5 years of experience in writing, I’m dedicated to providing clear, insightful, and valuable content on a variety of topics. My passion is helping you stay informed and make better decisions with well-researched information. Thanks for stopping by—let’s dive into the world of knowledge together!

follow me