Software Development Resume Keywords

What You Need to Know

Software development job postings list specific technologies because teams have existing codebases. Mentioning "React" instead of just "JavaScript" shows framework experience, which matters for frontend roles. "Node.js" signals backend JavaScript experience, different from browser-based work. "Git" is assumed knowledge, but mentioning specific workflows like GitFlow can help. API keywords matter because most applications integrate with external services. SQL appears in almost every backend role description. Agile methodology terms show you understand team processes, not just coding. Software development has become highly specialized, and ATS systems reflect this reality. Generic terms like "programmer" or "coder" aren't enough—recruiters search for specific languages, frameworks, and tools that teams actually use. Understanding which keywords matter requires understanding modern development practices and how engineering teams actually work. Programming language keywords are fundamental because they determine what you can build. JavaScript remains the most common language, but the ecosystem has fragmented—TypeScript is increasingly standard, and understanding the difference matters. Python is popular for backend, data science, and automation. Java and C# remain common in enterprise environments. Go and Rust are growing but still niche. Mentioning multiple languages shows versatility, but depth in one or two is often more valuable than shallow knowledge of many. Frontend framework keywords are critical because the frontend ecosystem changes rapidly. React is most common, but Vue and Angular are also popular. Understanding the difference between library (React) and framework (Angular) shows deeper knowledge. Next.js and Nuxt.js appear frequently for full-stack frameworks. Understanding state management—Redux, Zustand, Vuex—shows you can build complex applications. CSS frameworks like Tailwind CSS or styled-components appear in job descriptions. Backend framework keywords show you understand server-side development. Express.js and Nest.js are common for Node.js. Django and Flask for Python. Spring Boot for Java. Rails for Ruby. Understanding RESTful API design is assumed, but GraphQL is becoming more common. Understanding microservices architecture patterns shows experience with larger systems. Database keywords are essential because most applications need data persistence. SQL databases like PostgreSQL and MySQL are most common, but NoSQL databases like MongoDB, Redis, or Cassandra appear frequently. Understanding when to use relational versus document databases shows deeper knowledge. ORMs like Sequelize, Prisma, or SQLAlchemy appear in job descriptions. Understanding database design, indexing, and query optimization demonstrates production experience. Version control is assumed knowledge, but Git workflows matter. Understanding branching strategies—GitFlow, trunk-based development, GitHub Flow—shows you can work in teams. GitLab and GitHub are common platforms. Understanding pull request workflows, code review practices, and CI/CD integration demonstrates modern development practices. Testing keywords show you understand quality assurance. Unit testing frameworks like Jest, pytest, or JUnit appear frequently. Integration testing and end-to-end testing tools like Cypress or Selenium are common. Understanding test-driven development (TDD) or behavior-driven development (BDD) shows methodology knowledge. Code coverage tools and testing best practices demonstrate quality focus. DevOps and deployment keywords are increasingly important as development and operations converge. Understanding Docker and containerization shows modern deployment knowledge. CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Jenkins are common requirements. Understanding cloud platforms—AWS, Azure, GCP—shows you can deploy applications. Kubernetes appears less frequently for developers but shows advanced knowledge. API development keywords are essential because most applications integrate with external services. REST APIs are standard, but GraphQL is growing. Understanding API design, versioning, authentication (OAuth, JWT), and documentation (OpenAPI, Swagger) demonstrates production experience. Understanding rate limiting, caching, and error handling shows you can build robust APIs. Architecture and design pattern keywords show you understand software design. Microservices, monolithic architecture, serverless—understanding trade-offs demonstrates experience. Design patterns like MVC, MVP, MVVM appear in job descriptions. Understanding SOLID principles and clean code practices shows professional development. Agile and methodology keywords show you understand team processes. Scrum and Kanban are most common. Understanding ceremonies—sprint planning, daily standups, retrospectives—shows real experience. Jira, Trello, or Asana appear frequently. Understanding agile principles beyond just using tools demonstrates deeper knowledge. Code quality and tooling keywords show you care about maintainability. ESLint, Prettier, or SonarQube appear in job descriptions. Understanding code review practices, technical debt management, and refactoring shows professional development. Understanding performance optimization, profiling, and debugging demonstrates production experience. The software development field is constantly evolving, so showing you stay current matters. Mentioning newer trends like WebAssembly, edge computing, or AI-assisted development can help. But balance newer trends with proven fundamentals—showing you understand both demonstrates well-rounded knowledge. Open source contributions or side projects can help demonstrate skills, but they need to be relevant. Certifications are less common in software development than other fields, but they can help for specific technologies. The key is showing you understand not just what technologies exist, but how to use them effectively to build real applications that solve real problems.