What is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use to manage job applications. It scans, parses, and ranks resumes before a human ever sees them. Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies and 75% of mid-size companies use some form of ATS.
If your resume isn't ATS-optimized, it may never reach a recruiter — no matter how qualified you are.
How ATS Systems Work
- Parsing: The ATS extracts text from your resume and categorizes it into fields (name, email, experience, education, skills).
- Keyword Matching: It compares your resume against the job description for relevant keywords.
- Ranking: Candidates are scored and ranked. Only top-scoring resumes are forwarded to recruiters.
- ✅ "Work Experience" or "Professional Experience"
- ✅ "Education"
- ✅ "Skills"
- ❌ "Where I've Worked"
- ❌ "My Superpowers"
- Single-column layout
- No tables, text boxes, or columns
- No headers/footers (some ATS can't read them)
- Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
- PDF is generally safest
- Some older ATS prefer .docx
- Never submit .jpg, .png, or other image formats
- Photos
- Charts or graphs
- Icons
- Logos
- Infographic-style elements
- No colored backgrounds
- No text over images
- No unusual fonts
- No watermarks
- ☐ Standard section headings used
- ☐ Single-column layout
- ☐ No tables, text boxes, or images
- ☐ Keywords from job description included
- ☐ Contact info in document body
- ☐ Saved as PDF or .docx
- ☐ Standard fonts used
- ☐ Bullet points for achievements
- ☐ Acronyms spelled out
- ☐ Tailored to specific job
10 Rules for an ATS-Friendly Resume
1. Use Standard Section Headings
ATS looks for specific labels:
2. Use a Simple, Clean Layout
3. Include Keywords from the Job Description
Read the job posting carefully. If it says "project management," use that exact phrase — not just "managed projects."
Pro tip: Mirror the exact language from the job description. If they say "Python programming," don't write "Python coding."
4. Use Standard File Formats
5. Spell Out Acronyms
Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" the first time, then use "SEO" after. This catches both search terms.
6. Don't Use Graphics or Images
ATS cannot read:
7. Use Simple Bullet Points
Use standard bullet characters (•, -, *). Avoid custom symbols or unicode characters that might not parse correctly.
8. Include Your Contact Information in the Body
Don't put your name, email, or phone number only in the header. Place them in the main body of the document.
9. Avoid Fancy Formatting
10. Tailor Each Application
Generic resumes score lower. Customize your skills and summary for each job you apply to.
Test Your Resume's ATS Score
Before submitting, use our free ATS Score Checker to analyze your resume. It checks for formatting issues, keyword optimization, and section completeness.
Quick ATS Checklist
Use our ATS-friendly templates to create a resume that passes every ATS scan.