# Job Posting Keyword Extraction

Pulls the skills, competencies, and keywords from a job posting and organizes them so you can check your resume against them honestly. Use it before rewriting any application document so you know which terms actually matter for this role.

## Prompt

## Context

You are helping [YOUR NAME], a former [TEACHING ROLE] transitioning into [TARGET ROLE], prepare to apply to [EMPLOYER NAME]. The job posting is pasted below. The goal is to extract what the employer is actually asking for so the resume and cover letter can reflect real matching experience, not guesswork.

## Task

Analyze this job posting:

[JOB POSTING TEXT]

Produce three labeled lists:

1. Hard skills and tools: specific software, platforms, methodologies, or technical capabilities named in the posting.
2. Soft skills and competencies: behaviors, working styles, and interpersonal qualities the posting emphasizes.
3. Keywords and phrases to mirror: exact language from the posting that applicant tracking systems are likely to scan for, including any titles, certifications, or credential terms named.

After the three lists, write two to three sentences noting which requirements appear most heavily weighted based on frequency or placement in the posting, and flag any requirements that may be a barrier worth addressing directly in the application.

## Standards

- Pull only what the posting actually says. Do not add skills you assume the employer wants.
- Flag any requirements that are listed as preferred versus required, so the applicant can assess their own fit honestly.
- Do not assess whether the applicant qualifies. That is a separate step.
- Keep each list item to one line. No padding.
- If the posting text is incomplete or too short to extract meaningful keywords, say so and ask for a more complete version.

## Variables

- YOUR NAME
- TEACHING ROLE
- TARGET ROLE
- EMPLOYER NAME
- JOB POSTING TEXT

## Input checklist

- [ ] Paste the full job posting, not a summary. Partial postings produce incomplete keyword lists.
- [ ] Know your own teaching role and the target role before running this, so the output is contextualized.
- [ ] Strip any student names or student-identifying data from classroom materials before pasting (FERPA). Keep your own and others' personal data out unless the AI tool is approved for it.
- [ ] Note whether the posting is for a role you actually qualify for. Keyword extraction does not manufacture a match.
- [ ] If the posting has closed or been updated, make sure you are working from the current version.

## Verification checklist

- [ ] Confirm every keyword in the lists actually appears in the posting. The AI sometimes infers terms that are not there.
- [ ] Check that required and preferred qualifications are correctly separated. Conflating them can lead to misrepresenting your fit.
- [ ] Verify no skills or tools were added by the AI that do not appear in the posting text.
- [ ] Read the summary sentences: confirm the emphasis assessment reflects what you see in the posting, not a generic description of the role type.
- [ ] Do not copy keywords into your resume for skills or tools you do not actually have. Keyword matching only works when the experience behind it is real.
- [ ] If the posting uses acronyms or tool names you do not recognize, research them before claiming familiarity.

## Sample output

Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:

Job posting analyzed: Instructional Designer, Brightpath Learning (posted June 2026)

**Hard skills and tools**
- Articulate Storyline 360
- Adobe Captivate
- Learning Management System administration (Cornerstone OnDemand named)
- SCORM and xAPI compliance
- Needs analysis
- Storyboarding
- Video script writing

**Soft skills and competencies**
- Collaboration with subject matter experts
- Managing multiple projects simultaneously
- Written communication for varied audiences
- Attention to detail in quality review
- Ability to meet tight deadlines

**Keywords and phrases to mirror**
- "Instructional design"
- "Adult learning principles"
- "Blended learning"
- "Course development lifecycle"
- "Stakeholder communication"
- "Continuous improvement"

**Weighting note:** Articulate Storyline 360 is named three times and listed first in both the requirements section and the tools section, suggesting it is the primary production tool for this role. SCORM compliance appears as required, not preferred. The posting lists "K-12 curriculum experience" as preferred, not required, which means a teaching background is a plus rather than a disqualifier. The one potential barrier: the posting requires two years of corporate instructional design experience specifically. Worth addressing in the cover letter with transferable classroom design work rather than leaving it unaddressed.

## Customization notes

Run this prompt before every application, not just once. Job postings for the same title differ significantly by employer and industry. For roles in L&D, instructional design, and corporate training, the tools section often determines ATS filtering, so prioritize that list when deciding what to highlight. If you are applying to multiple roles, save each output and look for patterns across postings to identify the tools worth learning next.

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From The Teacher Transition Library at vetslearn.com/libraries/teacher