What is an ATS and Why Should You Care?
An Applicant Tracking System is software that companies use to manage job applications at scale. When you submit your resume online, it's immediately parsed by this software, which extracts information like your contact details, work experience, skills, and education. The ATS then scores your resume based on keywords and formatting, deciding whether you move forward or get automatically rejected.
Here's the reality: most candidates never know why they were rejected. They're likely not rejected for lacking skills, they're rejected because their resume couldn't be properly parsed by the ATS. According to industry research, 75% of resumes never reach a human recruiter. The ATS is the gatekeeper, and you need to speak its language.
10 Tips for Creating an ATS-Friendly Resume
1. Use a Simple, Clean Format
The Problem: Fancy formatting looks impressive but destroys ATS readability. Tables, text boxes, graphics, headers that span columns, and unusual fonts confuse the parsing software.
The Solution: Use a straightforward, single-column layout with standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Think of your resume as a plain text document, even if you save it as a PDF.
2. Keyword Optimization is Non-Negotiable
The ATS compares your resume to the job description. If you use different words for the same skills, the ATS thinks you don't have them. Mirror the exact language from the job posting, if they ask for "project management experience," don't just mention "managed projects."
Spend 15 minutes reading the job description and highlighting every technical term, skill, and software mentioned. Ensure these exact terms appear in your resume.
3. Avoid Fancy Graphics, Icons, and Images
That sleek resume with icons next to section headers and a professional headshot? The ATS sees symbols it can't parse and skips right over them. Stick to text-based formatting, no infographics, no charts, no icons, no photos.
4. Save as PDF (When You Can)
PDFs are more stable across systems and preserve formatting better. Save as PDF unless explicitly told otherwise. PDFs render consistently across different computers, preventing parsing problems.
5. Use Standard Section Headings
Creativity in section names confuses ATS software. Use headings the ATS recognizes:
- PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (not "Career Journey" or "Work History")
- EDUCATION
- SKILLS
- CERTIFICATIONS
- PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY (not "About Me")
6. List Skills Clearly in a Dedicated Section
Burying your skills throughout the resume in narrative form means the ATS might miss them. Create a dedicated SKILLS section listing your competencies clearly, separated by commas or in bulleted format.
7. Format Your Dates Consistently
Inconsistent date formatting confuses ATS parsing. Pick one format and stick with it throughout your entire resume. Recommended: Jan 2022 – Present.
8. Avoid Tables, Columns, and Text Boxes
Even in modern software, ATS parsing of tables is unreliable. Use line breaks and bullet points instead. Your resume should be copyable into plain text and still be readable.
9. Include Contact Information at the Top
Put your full contact information at the very top of your resume: full name, city/state, phone, professional email, and LinkedIn URL. Many ATS systems can't read text placed in Word headers or footers.
10. Proofread Ruthlessly for Typos and Formatting
Typos don't just hurt your credibility with humans, they can cause ATS parsing errors. A misspelled word might break how the software reads an entire section. Read your resume out loud, and paste it into a plain text editor to catch formatting issues.
Quick Checklist Before You Apply
- ✅ Single-column or simple two-column layout
- ✅ Keywords match the exact language of the job posting
- ✅ Standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills)
- ✅ No tables, text boxes, or images
- ✅ Contact info in the body, not in headers/footers
- ✅ Submitted as PDF or .docx (not an image)
- ✅ Acronyms spelled out at least once
Getting past the ATS is the first gate. Once you're through, a polished, achievement-focused resume does the rest of the work.
Use our ATS Checker to score your resume before you apply.