In today’s competitive job market, getting your resume seen by a human recruiter is harder than ever. Many companies—especially large ones—use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan, filter, and rank resumes before they reach hiring managers. If your resume isn’t ATS-friendly, it may never make it past the digital gatekeeper, no matter how qualified you are.
Here’s how to write a resume that passes ATS filters and gets you closer to the interview.
1. Use a Simple, Clean Format
ATS software struggles with overly designed resumes. While creative layouts may impress humans, they often confuse algorithms. Stick to a simple layout with clear headings, bullet points, and no unnecessary graphics or columns.
Tips:
- Use standard section headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills”
- Avoid headers, footers, text boxes, or tables
- Stick to common fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
- Save your file as a .docx or PDF (if allowed by the application)
2. Incorporate Relevant Keywords
One of the primary functions of ATS is to scan for keywords that match the job description. These can include skills, tools, certifications, and industry-specific terms.
How to optimize with keywords:
- Review the job description and highlight frequently mentioned terms
- Naturally incorporate those keywords into your resume—especially in the Summary, Work Experience, and Skills sections
- Use both long-form and acronym versions of important terms (e.g., “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)”)
⚠️ Avoid keyword stuffing—repeating the same word excessively can make your resume unreadable for recruiters and might be flagged.
3. Tailor Your Resume for Each Job
No single resume works for every job. ATS systems are programmed to look for specific criteria based on each role. Tailor your resume to match the language and priorities of every job you apply for.
What to adjust:
- Reword your Professional Summary to mirror the employer’s values or goals
- Highlight experience and accomplishments that directly match the job description
- Swap out or reorganize bullet points to reflect role-specific priorities
4. Use Standard Job Titles and Section Headings
Creative job titles like “Chief Happiness Officer” or “Marketing Rockstar” might catch a human eye, but they confuse ATS systems. Stick to standardized job titles like “Marketing Manager” or “Software Engineer.”
Likewise, use traditional headings:
- ✅ Correct: Work Experience, Skills, Education
- ❌ Avoid: What I’ve Done, Stuff I Know, School Stuff
5. Include a Skills Section (Hard Skills Focus)
A well-organized Skills section helps ATS immediately identify whether you’re a match. Focus on hard skills and tools relevant to the job.
Example:
makefileCopyEditSkills: Python, Excel, SQL, Salesforce, Data Visualization, Agile Methodology
Avoid soft skills like “team player” or “good communicator” in this section—those are better placed in the work experience bullets.
6. Avoid These ATS Mistakes
Common formatting and content mistakes that can hurt your ATS ranking:
- ✅ Don’t include important info in graphics, tables, or images
- ✅ Don’t use fancy icons or emoji (e.g., 📞 or 📧)
- ✅ Don’t leave out job titles or dates—they’re key to ATS parsing
7. Test Your Resume
Before submitting, run your resume through a free ATS checker tool like:
- Jobscan.co
- ResumeWorded
- SkillSyncer
These tools simulate how your resume will perform against a job posting and suggest improvements.
Final Thoughts
Writing an ATS-friendly resume isn’t about dumbing down your achievements—it’s about making sure your qualifications are readable, relevant, and targeted. By using simple formatting, the right keywords, and tailored content, you greatly increase your chances of passing the ATS and landing the interview.
Let me know if you’d like this turned into a PDF resume checklist or paired with a sample ATS-optimized resume!