CV Keywords for NZ Jobs — How to Identify and Use Them

Keywords are the single most important lever you have for improving your NZ CV's performance in ATS systems and recruiter searches. Here is how to identify and use the right ones.

Where Keywords Come From

The most powerful keywords for any specific application are the words the employer used in their own job description. Read the job description carefully and identify: specific skills and technologies mentioned, exact job titles (yours and those you would interact with), industry-specific terminology, required qualifications and certifications, and soft skills and competencies listed.

How to Add Keywords to Your CV

The best places to add keywords in your NZ CV are: the professional summary (2–3 most important keywords worked naturally into 3–4 sentences), the key skills section (a list of 8–12 relevant keywords), and the bullet points in your work experience (woven naturally into achievement statements).

Keyword Matching — Common Mistakes

• Using synonyms instead of exact words ("relationship management" instead of "stakeholder management")
• Only including keywords in image-based sections that ATS cannot read
• Stuffing keywords without context — modern ATS systems are more sophisticated and may penalise keyword stuffing
• Using keywords that accurately describe skills you do not actually have

How JobTailoring Handles Keywords

JobTailoring automatically extracts the most relevant keywords from any job description you paste in, then builds your tailored CV with those keywords embedded naturally throughout — in the professional summary, skills section, and experience bullet points. This is done differently for every application, which is why no two generated CVs are identical.