Frontend Developer Resume Keywords That Get Interviews in 2025

Frontend developer job postings are wildly diverse. One company wants React and TypeScript. Another wants Vue.js and REST APIs. A third wants Angular, GraphQL, and accessibility.

I've seen great frontend developers get rejected because their resume didn't use the right keywords. Not because they couldn't code—because the ATS couldn't match their actual skills to what the company was searching for.

Here's which keywords actually matter for frontend roles, ranked by how often they appear in real job postings.

The Keywords That Matter Most

Core languages: JavaScript is essential—appears in almost every posting. HTML5 and CSS3 are baseline. TypeScript is increasingly expected. REST APIs shows you can integrate with backends.

Frameworks: React dominates the market. If you know React, always mention it prominently. Vue.js and Angular show up in enterprise roles. Next.js matters if you've built full-stack applications.

State management and patterns: Redux, hooks, component architecture—these show you can build scalable code, not just toy projects.

Build and tooling: npm, Git/GitHub, Webpack, Babel. These show you understand the development workflow, not just writing code in isolation.

Testing: Jest, unit testing, React Testing Library. Mention testing if you have it—it's increasingly important.

Styling: Sass/SCSS, CSS Modules, responsive design. Responsive design shows up in about half of postings.

API integration: RESTful APIs, GraphQL, Fetch API, Axios. Most frontend roles require backend integration.

Performance and accessibility: Performance optimization, SEO, accessibility. Accessibility is becoming a major requirement—it's in 45% of postings.

Soft skills that matter: Agile/Scrum, code review, communication, problem-solving.

By Experience Level

If you're junior (0-2 years), focus on the fundamentals: JavaScript, React, HTML5, CSS3. Show you understand the workflow: Git/GitHub, npm. Mention testing if you've done it: Jest, unit testing. Show you've built real things: responsive design, component architecture, Flexbox/CSS Grid.

Junior developer resume example:

Frontend Developer | Tech Startup | Jun 2023 - Present

• Built responsive web applications using React and JavaScript, serving
  50K+ monthly users with pixel-perfect designs and 98% accessibility score
• Implemented unit tests with Jest, achieving 85% code coverage and
  reducing production bugs by 40%
• Optimized CSS with Flexbox and CSS Grid, improving page load time by 28%
• Collaborated with design team to translate Figma mockups into
  responsive HTML5/CSS3 components
• Managed project tasks in Agile sprints, delivering features on-time

Skills: JavaScript, React, HTML5, CSS3, Git, Jest, REST APIs,
Responsive Design, problem-solving, Agile

Mid-Level Frontend Developer (2-5 years)

Focus: Advanced patterns, architecture, performance

Top 25 Keywords:

• All junior keywords, plus:
• TypeScript
• Redux or State Management
• Advanced React Patterns (Hooks, Context)
• Performance Optimization
• Web APIs
• Webpack/Build Tools
• Testing (React Testing Library, unit, integration)
• Accessibility (WCAG)
• Code Review
• Architecture/Design Patterns

Resume Example (Mid-Level):

Senior Frontend Developer | Growth-Stage SaaS | Jan 2021 - Present

• Architected component library (50+ reusable React components) using
  TypeScript and Storybook, improving development velocity by 35%
• Implemented Redux state management for complex application, improving
  performance by 45% and reducing bundle size by 22% using code splitting
• Led performance optimization initiative, reducing Core Web Vitals:
  - LCP: 4.2s → 1.8s
  - FID: 180ms → 45ms
  - CLS: 0.15 → 0.05
• Mentored 2 junior developers through React Hooks, component patterns,
  and testing best practices
• Spearheaded accessibility audit (WCAG 2.1 AA), improving score from
  72 to 94 and increasing inclusive user base by 18%

Skills: React, TypeScript, Redux, React Hooks, Webpack, Jest,
React Testing Library, Web APIs, performance optimization, accessibility,
code review, Agile

Senior Frontend Engineer / Tech Lead (5+ years)

Focus: Architecture, mentorship, strategic impact

Top 30 Keywords:

• All mid-level keywords, plus:
• Architecture/System Design
• Next.js or Modern Frameworks
• GraphQL
• Micro frontends
• Web Performance
• CI/CD/DevOps basics
• Technical Leadership
• Product Sense
• Mentoring
• Large-scale Systems
• Design Systems
• Real-time Updates (WebSockets, etc.)

Resume Example (Senior):

Senior Frontend Engineer / Tech Lead | Series B SaaS | Jun 2021 - Present

• Led frontend architecture redesign (React + TypeScript + Next.js),
  improving page load time by 60% and increasing conversion by 12% ($5M impact)
• Designed and built design system (40+ components, Storybook),
  enabling 15+ teams to ship features 3x faster
• Implemented real-time data visualization (WebSockets, GraphQL)
  supporting 100K+ concurrent users with <100ms latency
• Mentored team of 5 frontend engineers, conducting code reviews,
  technical interviews, and career development planning
• Pioneered CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions, automated testing),
  improving deployment velocity from weekly to 10x daily
• Spearheaded micro-frontend architecture enabling independent team deployments
  and reducing integration bottlenecks by 80%

Skills: React, TypeScript, Next.js, GraphQL, WebSockets, Webpack,
Jest, Testing Library, Accessibility, Web Performance, CI/CD,
Design Systems, Technical Leadership, Mentoring, Product Strategy

Frontend Keywords By Specialization

React Specialist (80%+ of React jobs)

Essential Keywords:

• React
• JSX
• Functional Components
• Hooks (useState, useEffect, useContext, etc.)
• Redux or Context API
• React Router
• Lifecycle Methods (if class components)
• Virtual DOM
• Server-Side Rendering (SSR) with Next.js
• React Performance Optimization

Vue.js Developer (Enterprise focus)

Essential Keywords:

• Vue.js/Vue 3
• Composition API
• Vuex (state management)
• Vue Router
• Single File Components (.vue)
• Template Syntax
• Directives (v-if, v-for, etc.)
• Component Lifecycle
• Nuxt.js (if applicable)

Angular Developer (Enterprise, large teams)

Essential Keywords:

• Angular
• TypeScript (required for Angular)
• RxJS
• Angular Components
• Services & Dependency Injection
• Modules
• Angular CLI
• HttpClient
• Form Validation
• Angular Testing (Jasmine, Karma)

Portfolio & Project Keywords

Beyond tools, mention project types:

✅ E-commerce Platform (if you've built one)
✅ Real-time Collaboration Tools (websockets, etc.)
✅ Data Visualization Dashboard (charts, graphs)
✅ Progressive Web App (PWA)
✅ Mobile-responsive Web Application
✅ Single Page Application (SPA)
✅ Real-time Chat Application
✅ Content Management System (CMS)
✅ Admin Dashboard
✅ SaaS Application

Before & After: Frontend Resume Example

BEFORE (Generic):

Frontend Developer | Tech Company | 2021-2024

• Developed web applications using React
• Worked on multiple projects
• Improved performance
• Collaborated with team
• Fixed bugs and maintained code
• Participated in code reviews

Skills: JavaScript, React, HTML, CSS, Git

ATS Score: 35% ❌

AFTER (Optimized):

Senior Frontend Developer | SaaS Company | Jan 2021 - Dec 2024

• Architected React + TypeScript application serving 500K+ users,
  implementing Redux state management and advanced component patterns
• Optimized Core Web Vitals (LCP 4.2s→1.8s, FID 180ms→45ms, CLS 0.15→0.05),
  improving conversion rate by 12% ($3.2M annual impact)
• Built comprehensive test suite (Jest, React Testing Library) achieving
  88% code coverage, reducing production bugs by 45%
• Led accessibility audit and implementation (WCAG 2.1 AA standard),
  improving score from 72 to 95
• Mentored 3 junior developers through React Hooks, component design,
  and testing best practices
• Designed and implemented CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions, automated testing),
  enabling 10x daily deployments vs. weekly prior

Skills: React, TypeScript, Redux, Next.js, Jest, React Testing Library,
Web APIs, Performance Optimization, Accessibility (WCAG), Git,
Agile, Webpack, Responsive Design, Web Performance

ATS Score: 92% ✅

Common Mistakes in Frontend Resumes

Mistake 1: Not Mentioning Framework Experience

❌ Bad:

JavaScript Developer with 5 years experience

✅ Good:

Senior React Developer with 5 years building SPA applications using
React, TypeScript, and Redux

Frontend is almost always framework-specific. Be explicit.

Mistake 2: Forgetting About Testing

❌ Bad:

Developed components, fixed bugs, improved performance

✅ Good:

Developed 50+ React components with 85%+ test coverage using Jest
and React Testing Library, achieving <1% production bug rate

Testing is now table stakes. Include it.

Mistake 3: Underemphasizing Performance

❌ Bad:

Optimized application performance

✅ Good:

Optimized Core Web Vitals reducing LCP from 4.2s to 1.8s (57% improvement),
improving conversion rate by 12%

Performance is competitive differentiator. Quantify it.

Next Steps

Integrate these keywords naturally into your resume and structure it for maximum ATS compatibility.

Ready to optimize your frontend resume?

Analyze your resume with RankMyCv and get specific feedback on which frontend keywords are missing, where to add them, and how to improve your ATS match score.

Last updated: January 15, 2025 Read time: 8 minutes Category: Industry-Specific Keywords