Learn how to create a resume that successfully passes through Applicant Tracking Systems and gets seen by human recruiters. Master the formatting, keywords, and technical elements that ensure your application isn't filtered out before reaching the hiring manager.
You submit your resume through an online application portal
The ATS parses your resume, extracts data, and scores your application
Your resume is ranked among other applicants based on keyword matches
Top-ranked resumes are passed to recruiters for detailed assessment
of Fortune 500 companies use ATS software to screen resumes
of qualified candidates are rejected by ATS before a human sees them
higher interview rate for professionally formatted ATS-friendly resumes
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) resume is a resume specifically formatted to be properly read, parsed, and analyzed by automated resume screening software. These systems are used by most medium to large companies to manage the high volume of applications they receive for each open position.
When you upload your resume, the ATS converts it to a plain text format, stripping away most formatting. This is why complex layouts, graphics, and unusual formatting often get lost or garbled in the process.
The system attempts to identify and categorize information from your resume into standardized fields: contact details, work history, education, skills, etc. It looks for recognized section headers and standard formatting to organize this data correctly.
The ATS compares your resume against the job description, searching for relevant keywords, skills, qualifications, and experience that match what the employer is seeking. Each application receives a relevance score based on this analysis.
Resumes are ranked based on their scores, and only those meeting a certain threshold are forwarded to human recruiters for review. Many systems can be configured to automatically reject applications that don't meet minimum requirements.
With 75% of resumes being filtered out before a human sees them, creating an ATS-friendly resume is no longer optional—it's essential. Even highly qualified candidates are regularly rejected due to formatting issues or missing keywords. The good news is that with a few strategic adjustments, you can significantly increase your chances of passing ATS screening and getting your resume in front of actual recruiters.
To ensure your resume is properly processed by ATS software, you need to follow specific formatting guidelines. These requirements help the system accurately parse your information and match it to the job description.
Use a single-column format with clear section divisions and sufficient white space for readability.
Stick to universally compatible fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or Helvetica in 10-12pt size.
Use conventional section titles like 'Experience,' 'Education,' 'Skills,' and 'Professional Summary.'
Save as .docx or simple PDF, avoiding special characters in filenames and unusual formats.
Avoid tables, text boxes, headers/footers, columns, images, and graphics that confuse ATS systems.
Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume.
File format and naming can significantly impact ATS compatibility:
Font selection and text formatting affect how well ATS systems can read your resume:
Certain design elements almost always cause problems with ATS systems and should be avoided:
Following these specific do's and don'ts will help ensure your resume passes ATS screening while still looking professional and appealing to human recruiters.
| Category | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Use a clean, single-column layout with standard sections | Create multi-column layouts or complex designs with graphics |
| Fonts | Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (10-12pt) | Use decorative, uncommon, or extremely small fonts |
| Headings | Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills) | Use creative or non-standard section titles |
| File Format | Save as .docx or simple, text-based PDF | Use specialized formats (.pages, .jpg, .rtf) or complex PDFs |
| Bullet Points | Use simple bullet points with standard symbols (•) | Use custom bullets, symbols, or emoji that may not parse correctly |
| Text Placement | Place all text in the main content area of the document | Put information in headers, footers, or text boxes |
| Contact Info | Use standard contact information formatting at the top | Create elaborate header designs for contact information |
| Acronyms | Spell out acronyms at least once (e.g., Search Engine Optimization (SEO)) | Use only acronyms without spelling them out first |
| Dates | Use proper, simple date formatting (MM/YYYY or Month YYYY) | Use uncommon date formats or date ranges without years |
| File Naming | Save with a professional filename (FirstName-LastName-Position.pdf) | Use spaces or special characters in filenames (resume!_v3.pdf) |
Creating an ATS-friendly resume doesn't mean you have to sacrifice visual appeal. The key is finding the right balance between optimization for automated systems and creating an attractive document for human reviewers. Focus on clean, professional designs that use simple formatting techniques like strategic bolding, consistent spacing, and a clear hierarchy of information. Remember, the most beautifully designed resume is worthless if it never makes it past the ATS screening.
Using the right template as your starting point can make creating an ATS-friendly resume much easier. Here are some proven template formats that balance ATS compatibility with professional design.
Traditional single-column format with reverse chronological work history. Excellent for candidates with steady career progression.
Clean, simplified layout with strategic use of bolding and section dividers. Balances contemporary design with ATS readability.
Expanded professional summary and accomplishments sections. Emphasizes leadership and results while maintaining ATS compatibility.
Highlights technical skills and qualifications near the top while maintaining a chronological structure.
Each section of your resume requires specific formatting and content strategies to maximize ATS compatibility while highlighting your qualifications effectively.
John Smith, MBA johnsmith@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | Chicago, IL linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
Results-driven Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience in digital campaign development and team leadership. Expertise in SEO, content strategy, and performance analytics with proven success increasing conversions by 45% and managing $1.2M in advertising budget. Known for data-driven decision making and cross-functional collaboration.
Marketing Manager | ABC Company | January 2020 - Present • Led rebranding initiative that increased customer engagement by 35% and social media following by 12K within 6 months • Developed and implemented content strategy resulting in 68% increase in organic traffic and 22% improvement in conversion rates • Managed team of 5 specialists and $800K annual budget while exceeding all quarterly KPIs
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration University of Illinois, Chicago, IL Graduation: May 2018 | GPA: 3.8/4.0 Honors: Dean's List, Business Leadership Scholarship
Technical Skills: SEO, SEM, Google Analytics, A/B Testing, Email Marketing Software: HubSpot, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Suite, Mailchimp, WordPress Soft Skills: Team Leadership, Project Management, Client Relations, Strategic Planning
One of the most critical aspects of ATS optimization is intelligent keyword placement. Here's how to effectively incorporate keywords throughout your resume:
Different companies use different ATS platforms, each with its own parsing capabilities and preferences. Understanding these differences can help you further optimize your resume for specific applications.
| ATS System | Common Industries | Parsing Capabilities | Optimization Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workday | Enterprise, Healthcare, Education | Moderate complexity; struggles with multi-column layouts | Keep formatting very clean; works best with standard chronological format |
| Taleo (Oracle) | Fortune 500, Banking, Retail | Basic parsing abilities; often misreads complex formatting | Use extremely simple formatting; focus on keywords from job description |
| Greenhouse | Tech, Startups, Media | Better than average; handles PDFs well | Still avoid columns/tables; good keyword matching needed |
| Lever | Tech, Software, Startups | Modern parser; handles formatting well | Keywords matter more than formatting; include skills under each role |
| iCIMS | Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing | Moderate; sometimes struggles with PDF formatting | Use .docx format when possible; maintain consistent section headings |
| BambooHR | Small/Medium Businesses | Simpler parsing; may miss information in complex layouts | Use simple chronological format; clearly label all sections |
| Jobvite | Tech, Healthcare, Retail | Average parsing abilities; keyword-focused | Emphasize keywords; use professional summary effectively |
| ADP Recruiting | Various industries | Basic parsing; often misinterprets non-standard layouts | Stick to simplest formats; clear section headers are crucial |
While you can't always know which ATS a company uses, there are some ways to make an educated guess. Check the URL of the application page — it often contains the ATS name (e.g., workday.com, lever.co, greenhouse.io). You can also look at job boards that list this information, like Jobscan or SourceHub. When in doubt, optimize for the most restrictive ATS requirements to ensure your resume works across all systems.
Understanding why resumes get rejected by ATS systems can help you avoid common pitfalls. Based on our analysis of thousands of resume submissions, here are the most frequent reasons for ATS rejection and how to fix them.
Carefully analyze job description and include matching keywords throughout your resume. Focus on exact terminology and phrases used in the posting.
Save as .docx or simple PDF. Avoid tables, columns, headers/footers, text boxes, and complex formatting that ATS can't parse.
Use consistent date formatting throughout. Clearly indicate employment periods with months and years, listing positions in reverse chronological order.
Use conventional section titles like 'Experience,' 'Education,' and 'Skills' rather than creative alternatives that ATS may not recognize.
Ensure contact information, employment dates, and education details are in appropriate fields. Don't bury important information in graphics or unusual locations.
Before sending your resume to employers, it's wise to test how well it will perform with ATS systems. Here are methods to check your resume's ATS compatibility.
Use free online tools that simulate how ATS systems parse your resume
Professional tools specifically designed to test against multiple ATS platforms
Copy and paste all text from your resume PDF into a plain text document to see what information is preserved
Have someone in HR or recruiting review your resume for ATS compatibility
Our integrated ATS compatibility scanner checks your resume against major ATS systems
One simple way to check your resume's ATS compatibility is to perform the "copy-and-paste test." Open your resume PDF, select all content (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), and paste it into a plain text document. Check if all information is preserved, appears in the correct order, and no content is missing. If text is missing or appears out of order, ATS systems will likely have similar problems parsing your resume.
An ATS-friendly resume is specifically formatted to be correctly parsed and analyzed by Applicant Tracking Systems. It uses simple formatting, standard section headings, appropriate file formats, and relevant keywords that match the job description, ensuring your application passes automated screening and reaches human recruiters.
The two best file formats for ATS compatibility are Microsoft Word (.docx) and PDF. These formats are widely supported by most ATS systems. When using PDF, ensure it's a text-based PDF (not an image) where text can be selected and copied. Avoid specialized formats like .pages, .rtf, or image files (.jpg, .png).
You can use resume templates, but choose ones specifically designed to be ATS-friendly. Many creative templates with complex design elements, graphics, or unusual formatting can confuse ATS systems. Look for templates labeled as 'ATS-friendly' or 'ATS-optimized' that feature clean layouts, standard sections, and simple formatting.
You can check your resume's ATS compatibility by: 1) Using specialized ATS simulator tools that parse your resume and show how it appears to an ATS, 2) Testing if all text can be selected and copied from your document, 3) Checking that standard section headings are used, and 4) Ensuring no information is hidden in headers, footers, or text boxes. Woberry's resume builder includes an automatic ATS compatibility checker.
While you don't need completely different resumes for each application, tailoring your resume for each job significantly improves your chances of passing ATS screening. At minimum, you should adjust your professional summary and keywords to match each job description. Having a master resume that you customize for each application is an efficient approach that balances personalization and effort.
Continue improving your resume with these expert resources
Discover what recruiters actually look for during their initial resume review.
Learn how to effectively use keywords to optimize your resume for ATS systems.
Choose the right resume format based on your experience level and career goals.