Cover Letter Keywords & Phrases: How to Use Them in 2025

Using the right cover letter keywords helps you connect your experience directly to what hiring teams are looking for. 

When recruiters and hiring professionals search through applications (and the ATS), they look for specific words and phrases matching their job requirements. Including these keywords strategically and phrases shows how your accomplishments align with what they need.

In this guide, you'll learn exactly which cover letter words make your experience stand out, how to find the right keywords in any job description, and proven examples of incorporating them naturally. You'll also get powerful action verbs that help illustrate your impact and make your job application stronger.

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Need a cover letter with the right keywords? Write one now with Teal's AI Resume Builder!

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What are cover letter keywords?

Cover letter keywords and application terminology are specific words and phrases hiring teams use to find qualified candidates in their applicant tracking systems. 

These key terms and phrases come directly from job descriptions and fall into four main categories

• Technical skills: Specific tools, software, or technologies required for the role
• Professional skills: Project management, team leadership, or other core competencies
• Action verbs: Words that demonstrate your impact, like "increased," "developed," or "led"
• Industry terms: Field-specific language that shows your expertise

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How cover letter keywords impact your application

Your cover letter and resume keywords work together to show hiring teams why you're the best fit for the role. The right application language helps you bridge this gap by connecting your experience directly to what the company needs.

When you use relevant keywords in your cover letter, you:

• Show you understand the role's requirements
• Connect your experience to specific job responsibilities
• Demonstrate industry knowledge and expertise
• Make it easy for hiring teams to see your fit for the position

Using keywords strategically helps you build a stronger case for why you're the right person for the job while also ensuring your application appears in ATS searches.

How to find the right cover letter keywords

Finding keywords for your cover letter starts with the job description. Here's how to identify them:

Look for:

• Required skills and qualifications
• Specific tools or technologies
• Key responsibilities
• Experience requirements
• Industry-specific terms

Pay attention to words that appear multiple times or are emphasized in the "requirements" or "must-have" sections. These often signal what recruiters and hiring mangers likely consider most important.

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Analyzing job descriptions

Each job description contains specific sections that reveal key requirements:

• Job title and level
• Core responsibilities
• Required qualifications
• Preferred qualifications
• Technical requirements
  

By carefully analyzing these elements, you can identify the exact job requirements and the skills and experience an employer is seeking. And understanding all of this will help you pinpoint the specific keywords that align with your background and should be incorporated directly into your cover letter.

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Pro Tip: Notice the exact language used in the job description. If they say "project management," or "Jira" don't just write "managed projects," or "project management tools" use the specific phrasing as often as possible.

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Use the best cover letter keywords with Teal

Want to skip the steps? Teal's customizable Cover Letter Generator helps you naturally incorporate the right keywords from any job description into your cover letter, so you don't miss important terms.

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Add a prompt, specific length and tone, and list the most important keywords for a personalized cover letter for every application.

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How to use keywords in your cover letter

Now that you know which words and phrases to look for, adding keywords when writing your cover letter isn't about stuffing in as many as possible. Instead, use them to tell a clear story about your experience and qualifications.

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Here's how to incorporate keywords into your cover letter effectively:

1. Use them in context with specific examples: 

For instance: "Led cross-functional teams" becomes "Led cross-functional teams of 12 engineers and designers to launch three major product features"

2. Spread them throughout each cover letter part:

• Opening: Connect role-specific keywords to your interest
• Body: Link skill-based keywords to your achievements
• Closing: Reinforce key qualifications

3. Match the exact terms or a close variation:

Do your best to match the exact terms used in the job description. If they list "digital marketing strategy," use that phrasing rather than rewording it to "marketing planning" or "digital strategy."

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Our AI Cover Letter Generator makes it easy to incorporate job-specific keywords seamlessly into your application.

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Power words for your cover letter

Beyond job-specific keywords, power words and action verbs demonstrate impact and results in your cover letter and resume. Using effective language shows your contributions and helps you stand out from other applicants. 

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Some excellent power words or action verbs to use in a cover letter (and your resume!) to showcase your top skills include:

• Achieved 
• Led 
• Leveraged 
• Innovated 
• Initiated 
• Prioritized 
• Optimized 
• Transformed 
• Pioneered 
• Implemented 
• Enhanced 
• Streamlined 
• Drove 
• Spearheaded 
• Resolved 
• Orchestrated 
• Organized 
• Mobilized 
• Amplified 
• Fostered 
• Cultivated 
• Persuaded 
• Coached 
• Standardized 
• Negotiated 
• Generated 
• Delivered 
• Expedited

Then, include skills-based keywords as well as metrics as a complement to a power word like the example below:

As a project manager at TechCorp, I initiated and prioritized three simultaneous product launches while maintaining team productivity. I coached cross-functional teams across design, development, and marketing and organized workflows to meet all deadlines. This included managing a $500K budget and standardized processes across departments.

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How to balance cover letter keywords naturally

While incorporating these keywords is important to your application, overusing them makes your cover letter feel robotic and forced. You want to keep your cover letter short and clear. Here's an example of keyword stuffing:

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❌ "As a skilled project manager, I have extensive project management experience managing multiple projects. My project management skills include managing deadlines and managing team workflows."

Instead, incorporate keywords naturally by connecting them to specific achievements:

✅ "As a project manager at TechCorp, I led three simultaneous product launches while maintaining team productivity and meeting all deadlines. This included managing a $500K budget and coordinating cross-functional teams across design, development, and marketing."

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Best practices for natural cover letter keyword use:

• Connect keywords to measurable results
• Vary your sentence structure
• Use keywords where they make sense, not just to include them
• Read your cover letter out loud to check if it sounds natural

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Create cover letters with powerful keywords

Cover letter keywords are your tool for showing hiring teams you're the right fit for the role. When you use them effectively, you:

When you use them effectively, you:

• Match your qualifications and accomplishments directly to job requirements
• Make it easy for recruiters to find your job application
• Show you understand the role and industry
• Illustrate your impact with specific examples

The right keywords bridge the gap between your experience and what hiring teams are looking for. Ready to write a cover letter that gets noticed? Teal's AI Cover Letter Generator helps you identify and incorporate the perfect keywords for any role.