Project management resumes end up being rejected even before any human sets eyes on them, not due to lack of relevant experience, but rather due to lack of inclusion of certain keywords needed by the ATS software to select relevant resumes. In the following paragraphs is a list of those keywords you need to include along with placement and formatting tips.

Table of Contents

• The Importance of Keywords on the PM Resume
• Keywords for Core Project Management
• Methodology Keywords
• Keywords for Tools & Software
• PM Industry-Specific Keywords
• Action Verbs to Enhance PM Resumes
• Using Keywords Effectively
• Conclusion

Why Keywords Matter on a PM Resume

Most big companies and recruiters use the ATS system to filter resumes before it gets to the recruiter. The system searches for matches with the description of the job opening, and resumes that do not meet the required match will be automatically filtered out.

In this case, project managers are especially vulnerable because they can perform the same functions within different industries and using different methodologies. “Stakeholder management” and “executive communication” may be the same functions, but just one of them matches the job description from which the applicant is seeking to apply.

How to overcome the problem: carefully read the job description and copy the relevant terminology used there, plus the standard terminology for PMs.

Core Project Management Keywords

They show up most frequently in descriptions of positions as project managers and should be included somewhere on most PM resumes:

• Project planning
• Scope management / scope definition
• Budget management / cost control
• Risk management / risk mitigation
• Stakeholder management / stakeholder communication
• Resource allocation / resource management
• Schedule management
• Milestone management
• Project lifecycle
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Reporting of status
• Change management
• Deliverables management
• Project documentation
• Issue resolution / escalation management
• Vendor management
• Quality assurance

Methodology Keywords

Incorporate these terms according to the importance given in the job description and your personal experiences.

Agile

• Agile Methodology
• Scrum
• Sprint Planning
• Sprint Retrospective
• Daily Stand-up
• Backlog Grooming
• Product Backlog
• Story Points
• Velocity
• Kanban
• Lean

Waterfall

• Waterfall method
• Work breakdown structure (WBS)
• Gantt chart
• Critical path method (CPM)
• PERT
• Baseline schedule
• Earned value management (EVM)

Hybrid / Other

• PRINCE2
• Project Management Institute (PMI)/PMBOK
• Six Sigma
• DMAIC
• Hybrid method
• Scaled agile framework

Certifications (Include if You Hold Them)

• PMP
• CAPM
• CSM (Certified Scrum Master)
• PMI-ACP
• PRINCE2 Practitioner
• PgMP

Tools and Software Keywords

The ATS looks for names of tools you have actually used.

Project Management Platforms

• Microsoft Project
• Smartsheet
• Asana
• Monday.com
• ClickUp
• Jira
• Basecamp
• Wrike
• Teamwork
• Trello

Collaboration and Communication

• Microsoft Teams
• Slack
• Zoom
• Confluence
• SharePoint
• Notion

Reporting and Analytics

• Power BI
• Tableau
• Excel (specify “advanced Excel” or specific functions like Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP if relevant)
• Google Sheets

Scheduling and Resource Management

• Primavera P6
• MS Project
• Resource Guru
• Planview

Documentation

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Google Workspace
• Confluence
• Jira Wiki

Industry-Specific PM Keywords

The terminology associated with project management is industry-specific. Include your targeted keywords accordingly.

Construction / Engineering

• Request For Information (RFI) Management
• Submittal Log
• Punch List
• LEED Certification
• Commissioning
• Coordination With General Contractors
• Permitting
• Change Order Management
• Procurement Management
• Subcontractor Management

IT / Technology

• SDLC (Software Development Lifecycle)
• System Implementation
• Integration Management
• UAT (User Acceptance Testing)
• Technical Requirements
• Deployment of Infrastructure
• DevOps
• Coordination of CI/CD Pipeline

Healthcare

• Clinical Trials
• Compliance
• HIPAA
• IND/NDA
• IRB
• Protocol Design
• GCP (Good Clinical Practice)
• FDA Submission Coordination

Marketing / Creative

• Campaign management
• Market entry strategy
• Content calendar
• Brand management
• Creative brief
• Agency management
• Launch management

Financial Services

• Regulatory compliance
• Compliance management
• Audit management
• Financial modeling
• Forecasting
• P&L management

Action Verbs That Strengthen PM Resumes

Weak resumes list duties. Strong resumes quantify impact with action verbs.

Leadership and Delivery

• Led
• Managed
• Directed
• Coordinated
• Oversaw
• Delivered
• Executed

Planning and Implementation

• Planned
• Developed
• Implemented
• Launched
• Initiated
• Established

Improvement and Optimization

• Reduced (costs, time, risk)
• Increased (efficiency, adoption, output)
• Improved

Collaboration and Communication

• Facilitated
• Collaborated
• Communicated
• Aligned
• Negotiated

Monitoring and Analysis

• Monitored
• Tracked
• Reported
• Analyzed
• Assessed

Team Development

• Mentored
• Coached
• Trained

Pair These With Quantifiable Outcomes Where Possible

“Saved 22% on time to deliver projects by implementing standardized sprint planning processes.”

How to Use Keywords Without Overdoing It

The objective is to create a professional resume that not only passes ATS but also makes a good impression on the recruiter reading it; the resume should be coherent, not just an attempt to cram keywords.

Rules to Follow

• Copy the language of the job description, not the boilerplate of a Project Manager.
• Include keywords in context, within the body of your work experience (bullets).
• Do not mention methodologies and tools that you don’t use, technical interviews can reveal this.
• Prioritize your keywords in the first lines of your Summary/Profile; often ATS places weight on these lines.
• Select the keyword set based on the particular job application; a Scrum-focused job description and a PM in the construction industry should have different keyword sets.

Final Thoughts

The keywords you need on your resume in order to pass the ATS screening are identical to those that indicate your true expertise as a project manager, meaning that there is no contradiction between making your resume optimized for keywords and making it readable. You have to use the terminology of the job description you are going to apply for, the keywords of the methodology and tools you used, and give an example of each.