Top 15 Must-Have Keywords to Include in Your CV (& Examples)

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Maybe you're a fresh graduate or someone with 20+ years of experience looking to take a new career path. No matter who you are, first impressions matter - including your CV!

When you’re applying for a new job, your CV is your opportunity to make a good first impression, especially if it’s your dream job. You need to communicate that you're the right person for the job using powerful and relevant words that will make the employer want to hire you.

When it comes to your CV, words matter. Unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes and challenges faced by job seekers, is that it can sometimes feel difficult to effectively write down your experience, whilst doing it justice. With CVs only having a limited amount of space, you must utilise it wisely and use words that positively reflect who you are and what you do best.

Throughout this article, we will be sharing the top 15 keywords you should include in your CV, examples of how to use them and our top tips for writing a CV that will guarantee you an interview!

15 Keywords You Should Include in Your CV

Throughout this section of the article, we will be listing keywords you need to use if you want to impress the hiring manager. These include:

1. Reduced
2. Mentored
3. Increased
4. Accomplished
5. Managed
6. Developed
7. Promotion
8. Ideas
9. Volunteered
10. Simplified
11. Presented
12. Trained
13. Won
14. Modernise
15. Planned

Noted beneath, includes the reasoning for using these keywords and examples of them being used in a CV context.

1. Reduced

Organisations are always looking to reduce in any areas they can, Whether that’s money, resources or problems, anything that can reduce resources, is always an advantage. If you’re someone who has been able to reduce something in your career, make sure to mention it!

Example - “Reduced employee turnover by 10% after implementing a new strategy”

2. Mentored

Mentoring is becoming a more common skill that employers are looking for, as the ability to help mentor others is not only important for self-development but also for the self-development of others. Mentoring also demonstrates leadership skills.

Example - “I mentored 3 different individuals within the organisation to help them develop the skills they needed within their role”.

3. Increased

Recruiters are looking for people who can add value to an organisation. Increased is a good word to use as many employers are looking for someone who will be successful. Whether it’s by increasing sales, revenue, or leads, these are all things welcomed by organisations.

Example - “I increased profits by 20% by implementing a new software to automate lead generation”

4. Accomplished

Accomplishments are key success factors, so it’s important to mention yours in your CV.

Example - “Improved employee morale was accomplished within 6 months due to the new processes I put in place”

5. Managed

Whether you’re looking to land a leadership position or an internship, management skills are always something organisations are looking for, so it’s crucial to note them. If you’ve managed your time, a project or even a full team, then make sure that it's documented in your CV.

Example - “Successfully managed a team of 20 employees for 2 years”

6. Developed

Recruiters are looking for individuals who are full of innovative ideas and can develop them, bringing them to life.

Example - “Developed a new product that increased sales by 15%”

7. Promotion

If you’ve been promoted throughout your career, then write about it. Getting promoted shows that you're not only a strong performer, but that you're motivated to get where you want to be. If you have a track record of being promoted, this makes you stand out and shows you’re going to be an excellent addition to the team.

Example - “Over 5 years, I have been promoted 2 times within my current organisation”

8. Ideas

Employers are looking for individuals who can bring ideas to the table. They are looking for creative people who can bring fresh ideas and perspectives that will lead to success.

Example - “My product ideas we’re able to improve organisational processes by 15%”

9. Volunteered

Volunteering shows that you're willing to go above and beyond for responsibilities if it will benefit your organisation and colleagues. It shows that you are an ambitious person who is willing to help others.

Example - “Volunteered to take the lead on finding and implementing a mentoring program within the organisation”

10. Simplified

We’re all looking to simplify our lives, in any way we can. Organisations never want things to be over-complicated and if you have a record of simplifying things, then include this keyword.

Example - “Simplified the user experience for our clients by removing unnecessary website elements”

11. Presented

Being able to present effectively isn't a skill that everyone has. If you have public speaking skills, then make sure to emphasise this. Whether you’ve presented to clients in the past or even to your team members, you should be conveying that you possess these skills.

Example - “I presented products to clients weekly to improve sales”

12. Trained

Have you trained members of your team before? Then you need to include this keyword in your CV! Training new staff members isn’t an easy process but demonstrates your willingness to help others develop and is a crucial part of making any organisation run more efficiently.

Example - “Trained members of my team on how to use the new administration software.

13. Won

Similar to achieved, won is a keyword that we highly recommend using. Business is all about beating the competition, so make sure you cite any examples of where you’ve won, that show you’ve been successful in your previous roles.

Example - “I won 5 client contracts in a row, which led to an increase in profits”

14. Modernise

Everything around us is constantly changing, from the way organisations run to the latest technology. If you want to stay relevant, then you need to stay ahead of the competition. Modernisation is key for organisations, which need to be able to adapt to their environment.

Example - “I was able to modernise the customer onboarding process, by incorporating new software”

15. Planned

Planning is a part of any task, which is why it’s a vital skill to have, no matter your role or industry.

Example - “I planned monthly webinars that highlighted the pain points our clients felt and how our product could be used as a solution”

5 Tips for Writing the Perfect CV

Now you know the keywords you should be including in your CV, it’s time to share our top 5 tips for writing a successful CV. These are:

1. Add Numbers and Statistics

If you want to show the true impact you’ve had in your role, then you need to mention numbers. It’s all good and well stating that you’re good at your job, but you must display results. Using numbers and percentages is an effective way of showcasing your achievements.

As shown throughout this article through the examples, when sharing your achievements it’s important to include relevant and specific statistics that make you stand out from your rivals.

2. Find a Mentor
Mentors have been there and had the t-shirt. They know exactly what you need to do, to get where you want to be in your career. Having had first-hand experience in the role, they know the skills, qualifications and experience needed to get your foot in the door. That’s why finding a mentor will help you create a CV that’s perfect for the role.

Not only is your mentor there to guide and support you during your career journey, but they can help you get started. Most mentors, in their lifetime, have written a good CV that impresses an employer or even helped their mentees write a CV that reflects them in a positive light.

We highly recommend finding a mentor, to help you perfect the skill of CV writing. Even if they haven’t been employed in your field or industry, they are working professionals who are willing to share their best advice and tips. You can find a mentor for free, by signing up at PushFar today.

3. Keep It Current

Something many people fail to do is keep their CV up-to-date. It doesn’t matter if you're actively applying for job roles or not, unless you keep track of your goals and achievements, the likelihood is that you will forget them.

Remember to regularly update your CV when something significant happens within your career. Whether you improve profits by 30% or get a promotion, it’s vital to routinely update your CV to keep it current if you plan to apply for future job opportunities.

4. Check for Errors

The fact of the matter is that employers do look for mistakes on CVs, and it doesn’t make a good impression. With the job market being as competitive as it is, there's no room for errors, especially if you're applying for a job you really want. Even a simple spelling mistake can make you look unprofessional.

When you write your CV, you need to check, and then check again. If you’re unsure if there are any mistakes, then use a spellchecker such as Grammarly. We also highly recommend getting friends and family to even have a browse through. They might be able to pick up on some mistakes you didn’t even notice. If you have access to a printer, and then print the CV out, you’re much more likely to notice any mistakes on paper.

5. Tailor Your CV

For every job you apply for, you need to be tailoring and adapting your CV to the role, not just your cover letter. Whilst this takes time, you’re more likely to get better results from it. When you read through the job description thoroughly, you’re able to gather keywords and gain a much deeper understanding of what the employer is looking for.

Take the keywords used in the job description and apply them to your CV, as this shows you have the skills and experience they're looking for. If there are any qualifications, skills and experiences specifically mentioned throughout that you possess, then this is your time to emphasise that.

Due to the increasing number of individuals applying for a single role, organisations now use software to look for precise keywords in a CV, that’s why it’s more important than ever to use the job description to your advantage. Employers will also respect the effort you’ve made to show you’d be the best candidate.

Final Thoughts

If you want to land your dream role, then you need to take writing your CV more seriously. It’s an important part of the hiring process and the better your CV, the better chance you have of standing out from the crowd. Writing your CV is all about sharing the skills, qualities and experiences you have that indicate you’re the perfect candidate.

By using the keywords and tips used throughout the article, you're improving your chances of landing the job you want. Good luck and happy job hunting!