Resume Keywords · Information Technology
Information Technology Resume Keywords & ATS Skills
Information technology is an umbrella field, so the keywords that matter depend on the branch you are applying to: help desk and desktop support, systems administration, networking, or cloud and security. ATS screening is literal, so the posting's own terms need to appear — Windows Server, Active Directory, TCP/IP, ServiceNow, PowerShell, VMware, Microsoft 365, AWS or Azure. Name the environment you supported and its scope, rather than writing "IT support" and leaving the stack out.
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These terms cluster into a few categories. Focus on the groups that match your target job description, and use the exact wording the employer uses.
Operating systems & administration
Networking & infrastructure
Service desk & ITSM
Security & cloud
Where to place these keywords
Lead with the environment you support ("IT support analyst — Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, ServiceNow") and make each bullet system + task + scope, such as "administered Active Directory and Microsoft 365 for a multi-site estate" or "cleared a ticket backlog in ServiceNow". Spell out acronyms like TCP/IP and MFA at least once, and quantify only with figures you can defend in an interview.
Information Technology resume keywords FAQ
What IT keywords should a resume include for ATS?+
The platforms and tools named in the posting — Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, TCP/IP, VPN, PowerShell, VMware, ServiceNow, AWS or Azure — plus the function (help desk, desktop support, systems administration, networking). Because "IT" covers many roles, match the specific branch in the ad rather than listing everything you have ever touched.
Is a certification required to list IT keywords?+
No, but if the posting lists certifications, name them exactly as written when you hold them (CompTIA A+, Network+ or Security+, Microsoft or Cisco certifications). Never list a certification you have not earned, and say plainly if one is still in progress.
How do I show IT experience without a long tool list?+
Describe the environment and the volume you supported in one line, then use bullets for the problems you solved — "migrated mailboxes to Exchange Online" or "built the imaging process used for new laptop deployments". Scope and outcome tell the recruiter more than a flat inventory of software.
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