A Master Guide to Resume Keywords (resume tailoring vs. keyword stuffing)
6/25/20253 min read
75% of resumes are rejected by ATS software and never seen by a human eye.
Think about a master chef preparing a delicate sauce. They taste it, then add a thoughtful pinch of salt here, a specific herb there. Each addition enhances the flavor, bringing the dish closer to perfection. Now, imagine a frantic cook who just grabs the salt shaker and dumps the entire thing into the pot. The dish is ruined, inedible.
This is the exact difference between resume tailoring and keyword stuffing.
Both start with the same ingredient: keywords from the job description. But one is a sophisticated technique that makes your resume irresistible, while the other is a clumsy tactic that makes it completely unpalatable to both robots and humans. Understanding this difference is critical to your success.
What is keyword stuffing? (Dumping the salt shaker)
Keyword stuffing is the desperate, brute-force attempt to trick the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). It’s the act of cramming as many keywords as possible onto your resume, with no regard for context or readability.
What it looks like:
A long, nonsensical list of buzzwords in the skills section: "Skills: Project Management, PMP, Agile, Scrum, Leadership, Budgeting, Stakeholder Communication, Team Leadership..."
An old, black-hat SEO trick: pasting keywords in tiny, white-colored font at the bottom of the page so a human can't see them (yes, people still try this, and yes, bots can see it).
Why it fails:
Modern ATS are smarter now. They can often detect unnatural keyword repetition and may penalize your application for it.
It's a disaster for human readers. If your resume does get past the bot, it will land on a recruiter's desk looking like a chaotic mess. It's unreadable, unprofessional, and an instant red flag.
What is resume tailoring? (The chef's technique)
Strategic tailoring is the art of skillfully weaving keywords into the narrative of your achievements. You aren't just listing words; you are providing context and proof for your skills. You’re enhancing the flavor.
What it looks like: Using the keywords to build powerful, story-driven bullet points.
Let's say the job description asks for "Agile methodology" and "Jira."
Keyword stuffing: Adding "Agile methodology" and "Jira" to your skills list.
Strategic tailoring (The bullet point): Led a team of 8 developers using Agile methodology to launch a new mobile feature, tracking all sprints and backlogs within Jira to deliver the project 10% ahead of schedule.
See the difference? The second example doesn't just claim the skill; it proves it with a real-world achievement.
The core difference: context is everything
The bottom line is this:
Keyword stuffing is about what. It's a list of words.
Tailoring is about so what. It provides the story and the results that give those words meaning.
You tailor your resume to impress the human who will make the final decision, while using the right keywords as a bridge to get past the initial bot screening.
The challenge: It's hard to be a chef every time
Being a master chef for every single application is exhausting. It takes time and creativity to carefully craft each bullet point and seamlessly blend in the right keywords. When you're tired and facing a deadline, it’s incredibly tempting to just grab the salt shaker and dump the keywords in, hoping for the best.
Your personal recipe for success
What if you had a tool that acted as your personal "sous-chef," ensuring every resume you create is perfectly seasoned, never over-salted? That's the purpose of the TailorMyResume iOS app.
Our app is designed to help you with the art of strategic tailoring. It scans the job description for the essential keywords, then intelligently helps you weave them into your professional summary and accomplishment bullet points. It prevents you from falling into the keyword-stuffing trap by focusing on context and achievements. It helps you cook up a perfect resume, every single time.
Stop ruining your dish. It's time to start cooking like a master.
Ready to create a perfectly seasoned resume? Download TailorMyResume from the App Store and let us help you find the perfect balance.
