How it works
Upload your resume. Add the job. See where to add keywords.
Upload your resume.
CVSmith pulls the skills, tools, and role terms already in it.
Add the job (optional).
Paste a posting to surface the must-haves you’re missing for that role.
See where to add them.
Detected keywords, missing must-haves, and placement tips — each tied to evidence.
Keywords only count with proof.
Keywords only count with proof.
Add a term only where your experience supports it — so it holds up to a recruiter, not just a parser.
Placement, not stuffing.
See where each term belongs so it reads naturally to people and applicant tracking systems alike.
Sample scan
What a keyword scan turns up.
A labeled example — pick a role to see a generic resume next to one that covers the role terms, each keyword backed by evidence. Numbers are illustrative, not your results.
• Worked on frontend features for the web app.
• Improved performance of the app.
• Fixed bugs and supported releases.
Missing must-haves (example)
• Built B2B UI in React + TypeScript; cut page load 28% via code-splitting (example).
• Added Jest + React Testing Library on critical flows; regressions down 25% (example).
• Shipped CI/CD (GitHub Actions) with Sentry tracing for observability (example).
Beyond the scan
Beyond keyword gaps — meet the workspace.
A scan shows you what’s missing on one resume. CVSmith gives you the whole application. Save a job and the AI tailors your resume, drafts the cover letter, runs the ATS check, and tracks it from saved to offer. One scan becomes a whole job hunt, handled.
How we compare
More than a keyword list.
Keyword lists and “ATS tips” articles tell you what to add. CVSmith shows you where to add it with proof — then tailors the resume and tracks every application, so you’re not optimizing one document at a time.
| Capability | Smith | Keyword-list tools | Generic ATS tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free keyword scan | 3 / month | limited | |
| Missing must-haves vs a job posting | list only | ||
| Placement tips tied to evidence | general advice | ||
| Tailors the resume + drafts the cover letter | |||
| Tracks applications, saved → offer |
A keyword list stops at “add these words.” CVSmith shows you where the proof goes — then turns the fix into a tracked application.
FAQ
Resume keyword questions.
It reads the skills, tools, and role terms already in your resume, then shows what you cover, the must-haves you’re missing, and where to add keywords with proof.
No — you can scan your resume as-is. Paste a posting and CVSmith also surfaces the must-have keywords you’re missing for that specific role.
Yes. You get 3 free scans a month, no card. Active ($9/mo) raises it to 50 — plus resume tailoring, cover letters, and application tracking.
No. Stuffing reads as spam to recruiters and modern parsers. Add the role’s terms only where your experience backs them up — that’s what the scan helps you do.
Inside experience bullets, projects, and a focused skills section — where a recruiter can verify them quickly, tied to a tool, scope, or measurable outcome.
No — the scan is one move inside a workspace. Save a job and CVSmith tailors your resume, drafts the cover letter, runs the ATS check, and tracks the application from saved to offer.
DOCX parses most reliably across systems; PDF is fine when the posting allows it. Avoid scanned images and multi-column layouts.
Yes. The scanner reads a CV the same way it reads a resume — upload a PDF or DOCX and it pulls the skills, tools, and role terms either way. UK and European CVs need no special setup.