How to Create an
ATS-Friendly Resume

Due to increased competition in the job market, creating a clean and professional resume is essential for getting a high paying job. However, with the evolution of AI in all technologies, nowadays the resumes are not always forwarded to the hiring managers directly. Most of the companies now start to use this AI for scanning a large collection of resumes in a few seconds.

ATS is one of the best AI tools and it makes the recruitment process more easier. The ATS software scans the resumes depending on the job description input by the employer, and keywords, skills, and experiences included in the resume. For this reason, one needs to prepare their resume in a way that will pass the ATS to have a chance in the next stage of the recruitment process.

In this blog post, we're going to discuss how to create an ATS-friendly resume as a beginner and experienced professional. Additionally, we will clarify what an applicant tracking system (ATS) is, why it is used by the recruiters, and in what way it operates throughout the recruiting process.

What is ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software tool used by recruiters and employers to streamline the hiring process. It helps manage job applications, track candidates, and organize recruitment workflows more efficiently. Here's how it typically works:

• Resume Collection: ATS automatically collects and stores resumes from multiple sources, such as job boards, company websites, and email applications. Job seekers need to ensure they submit an ATS-friendly resume to increase their chances of passing the initial screening.
• Resume Screening: The system scans resumes for specific keywords, qualifications, and experience to filter out candidates who meet the job criteria, making the initial screening faster.
• Job Posting Management: It allows companies to post job openings to multiple platforms from a single dashboard.
• Communication: ATS facilitates communication between recruiters and candidates, keeping track of emails, interviews, and feedback.
• Tracking Candidates : It helps track applicants through different stages of the hiring process, from application submission to the final decision.
• Compliance: Some ATS systems ensure compliance with hiring regulations, including equal employment opportunity (EEO) guidelines.

This software improves the overall recruitment process by saving time, reducing administrative tasks, and helping employers find the best-suited candidates.

Why Do Companies Use ATS?

ATS software has gained widespread popularity among companies, particularly those that handle a large number of job applications. Here are some main reasons companies use ATS:

• Efficiency: ATS reduces the time recruiters spend sifting through resumes manually. Job seekers can improve their chances of success by submitting an ATS-friendly resume that is optimized for the system's scanning process.
• Consistency: It ensures all resumes are judged using the same standards.
• Cost-effectiveness: It minimizes the resources needed to screen and shortlist candidates.
• Improved hiring quality: ATS helps identify top candidates based on pre-defined criteria, leading to better hires.

How Do Applicant Tracking Systems Work?

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) operate by scanning, parsing, and organizing resume data to match it against specific job criteria. Here’s a breakdown of how ATS functions at various stages of the hiring process:

1. Resume Submission
   When you apply for a job, your resume is uploaded into the ATS, either directly by the candidate or through an automated system integrated with job boards or company websites. To increase your chances of moving forward, it’s important to submit an ATS-friendly resume that is structured in a way the system can easily read.
2. Parsing
   The ATS scans your resume and breaks it down into components such as contact information, education, work experience, skills, and certifications. This process is called "parsing." The ATS looks for specific keywords that match the job description, making it essential that your ATS-friendly resume contains relevant terms that align with the job requirements.
3. Keyword Matching
   After parsing your resume, the system matches the keywords and phrases in your document with those outlined in the employer's job listing. ATS primarily uses keywords to rank resumes. These keywords include job titles, required skills, qualifications, and industry terms. If your resume includes relevant keywords, it’s more likely to rank higher. For example, if a job description mentions "project management" and "Agile methodology," the ATS will search for those exact terms in the resumes it processes. A resume lacking these keywords is less likely to make it through to a recruiter, which is why having an ATS-friendly resume with the right terms is crucial.
4. Ranking and Scoring
   ATS often assigns a score to your resume based on how well it matches the job posting. The system ranks candidates accordingly. The higher your resume ranks, the greater the likelihood it will be reviewed by a human recruiter. Resumes that don’t meet a minimum score may not make it to the next stage.
5. Filtering
   ATS filters resumes based on various criteria, such as:
   • Minimum years of experience
   • Required degrees or certifications
   • Specific skills
   • Location

   This automated filtering ensures that only the most relevant candidates get forwarded to the hiring manager.

6. Human Review
   After the ATS has screened and prioritized the resumes, recruiters or hiring managers will then conduct a manual review of the top candidates. Only the most relevant and ATS-optimized resumes pass through to this final stage of the review process.

8 Tips for Creating an ATS-Friendly Resume

Creating a resume that effectively passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is crucial in today’s job market. Many companies rely on these systems to filter out resumes before a human even gets to see them. To ensure your resume gets noticed, it’s essential to follow specific formatting rules and optimization techniques. Below are eight actionable tips to help you craft a resume that is ATS-friendly and stands a better chance of landing you an interview.

1. Use an ATS Resume

An ATS resume template is specifically designed to be readable by tracking systems. These templates avoid complicated formatting, graphics, and embedded objects that can confuse the system.

2. Label Resume Sections Clearly

Clear, conventional section headings ensure ATS systems can accurately categorize your resume’s information. When labeling sections, opt for standard titles like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.” Avoid using creative or vague headings like "Career Highlights" or "What I Bring to the Table" because these can confuse ATS and may prevent your resume from being parsed correctly.

Best Practices for Resume Section Labels:

• Work Experience: This label is universally recognized by ATS, so use it to list your professional history.
• Skills: List your technical and soft skills under this heading to ensure ATS easily recognizes them.
• Education: Use this section for degrees, certifications, and relevant training programs.

3. Avoid Headers, Columns, and Tables

While headers and columns may help make resumes visually appealing to human readers, they can confuse ATS systems. A simple, single-column layout ensures that your resume’s content is parsed correctly. ATS systems linearly read resumes, so using columns may cause the text to be read out of order.

Why is Single-Column Layout Better?

• ATS reads left to right, top to bottom: Columns or tables can disrupt this flow, leading to skipped or misread content.
• Headers may be skipped: In some cases, headers can cause the system to overlook critical information. Stick to plain text without additional formatting.

4. Avoid Images, Charts, and Other Graphics

While it’s tempting to include images, charts, or graphs to showcase your skills, ATS cannot interpret these visual elements. Visuals, such as pie charts displaying skill levels, may be visually striking, but they will not help you pass the ATS stage.

Text-Based Resumes Are ATS-Friendly:

• Focus on content over visuals: A simple, text-based format ensures all relevant information is read correctly.
• Leave out infographics: Although infographics are great for catching a human eye, ATS won’t understand them. Keep everything in plain text.

5. Select an ATS-Friendly Font

The font you use significantly affects how ATS reads your resume. To avoid formatting issues or misinterpretations, stick with widely accepted, standard fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri. These fonts are commonly recognized by applicant tracking systems and are less likely to cause errors in parsing.

ATS-Friendly Fonts Include:

• Arial
• Times New Roman
• Calibri
• Verdana
• Tahoma

Fonts to Avoid:

• Decorative or script fonts: These can confuse ATS, leading to unreadable text.
• Uncommon fonts: Stick to what is proven to work with most systems.

6. Optimize Your Resume with Keywords

One of the most crucial aspects of an ATS-friendly resume is keyword optimization. ATS often scans resumes for specific keywords that match the job description. If your resume doesn’t contain these keywords, it may never make it pass the initial screening.

To increase your chances of getting through ATS, tailor your resume to the job description. Focus on including relevant keywords—especially from the job posting itself. For example, if the job description asks for "project management" and "Agile methodology," ensure these keywords appear multiple times in your resume.

Example Keyword Optimization:

Best Practices for Keyword Optimization:

• Use exact phrases from the job description.
• Mention both hard and soft skills.
• Incorporate keywords naturally into your resume’s content, especially in the “Work Experience” and “Skills” sections.

7. Choose the Right Resume File Type

While PDFs can preserve the visual formatting of your resume, many ATS systems have difficulty processing them. Most applicant tracking systems prefer resumes in .docx format because they are easier to scan and interpret. Always adhere to the company’s format preference if specified in the job posting.

File Types for ATS-Friendly Resumes:

• Preferred format: .docx is the most widely accepted by ATS.
• Use PDFs cautiously: Some systems can read PDFs, but others may struggle with them. When in doubt, opt for .docx unless the job posting explicitly asks for a PDF.

8. Check With Free ATS Resume Scan

Before submitting your resume, it’s a good idea to run it through a free ATS resume checker tool. These tools are designed to mimic how an ATS would parse your resume and can highlight any formatting errors, missing keywords, or other issues that could prevent your resume from making it through the system.

Benefits of Using an ATS Resume Checker:

• Identify formatting issues: Ensure that your resume is correctly formatted and won’t be misread by ATS.
• Keyword optimization: These tools will help you see if you’ve included enough relevant keywords to match the job description.
• Improve your chances: By fixing any errors before submitting, you greatly improve the likelihood that your resume will pass through ATS and be seen by a recruiter.

ATS-Friendly Resume Template

Here’s a simple ATS-friendly template structure:

Name and Contact Information

Make sure your full name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile are prominently displayed at the top for easy parsing by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Summary

Write a concise, keyword-rich professional summary that reflects your career achievements, relevant skills, and professional goals.

Professional Experience

• Provide a list of your previous positions in reverse order, starting with the most recent.
• Include clear job titles, company names, and dates of employment.
• Use bullet points to describe achievements and responsibilities. Start with strong action verbs and incorporate job-related keywords.

Education

• Include your highest degree first, followed by any other certifications or qualifications.
• Ensure that dates and institution names are visible and separated.

Skills

• Focus on relevant hard skills such as technical proficiencies, software expertise, programming languages, or certifications that are essential for the role you're applying for.
• Avoid listing soft skills (like communication or teamwork) unless they are directly mentioned in the job description or are crucial to the role.

Free ATS Resume Checker Tool

1. Jobscan

Jobscan is one of the most widely used ATS resume checkers. It was specifically developed to help job seekers improve their resumes based on the job description they are applying for. This tool focuses heavily on keyword optimization, helping users ensure that their resumes contain the relevant terms that ATS systems are programmed to look for.

Key Features:

• Keyword Matching: You can paste the job description directly into Jobscan, and it will compare the keywords in your resume to the job posting, highlighting any missing or underused terms.
• ATS Score: The tool provides a detailed ATS score, giving insight into how well your resume is likely to perform against the job description.

Why Use Jobscan? Jobscan’s ability to analyze your resume against a specific job description makes it incredibly effective for tailoring your resume to the roles you’re applying for. It focuses on both the content and formatting to ensure your resume is not only ATS-friendly but also aligns well with job expectations.

Limitations: While the basic features are free, advanced features (like deeper analysis or unlimited scans) require a subscription.

How to Use?

• Upload your resume or paste your text.
• Paste the job description you’re applying for.
• Review your ATS score and keyword optimization suggestions.

 

2. ResumeWorded.com

Overview: Resume Worded is a free ATS resume checker that analyzes your resume for content, structure, and formatting issues. It focuses on giving job seekers clear insights into how their resume will perform when scanned by an ATS system. In addition, Resume Worded offers suggestions for improvement in terms of both keyword relevance and readability.

Key Features:

• ATS Compatibility Check: Resume Worded scans your resume to ensure it follows the correct format for ATS, focusing on structure, font usage, and organization.
• Resume Score: After the scan, it provides an overall
• Keyword Suggestions: It highlights which keywords are missing or overused, ensuring your resume aligns with the job posting’s requirements.

Why Use Resume Worded? 

This tool is highly intuitive and offers a solid mix of keyword analysis and structural feedback, making it a good choice for job seekers looking to make quick improvements. It’s particularly useful if you want a well-rounded score that assesses both content and format.

Limitations: While it offers excellent free features, a premium version is available for more detailed insights and unlimited scans.

How to Use?

• Upload your resume or paste its content.
• Receive a detailed resume score and personalized feedback.
• Use the suggestions to make necessary adjustments to improve ATS compatibility.

 

3. Resume-Check.com

Resume-Check is a free tool that helps identify ATS-specific issues, focusing on both keyword optimization and formatting problems. Its primary objective is to highlight areas where your resume may fail when passing through an ATS, allowing you to fix these issues before submitting your resume.

Key Features:

• Formatting Analysis: Resume-Check ensures that your resume follows a structure that is ATS-compatible. It looks at issues like improper use of tables, headers, columns, and fonts.
• Keyword Analysis: The tool checks whether your resume includes the necessary keywords related to the job description you’re applying for, providing actionable insights on how to optimize your resume for better matching.
• Real-Time Feedback: Resume-Check offers instant feedback and suggests fixes for errors in your resume's content or layout.

Why Use Resume-Check? 

Resume-Check is especially valuable for ensuring your resume is free of formatting errors that could trip up an ATS. If you’re concerned about layout issues or whether the content is presented in a way that ATS can interpret, this tool is highly useful.

Limitations: While it provides detailed feedback on both content and format, some of its advanced features require a paid version.

How to Use?

• Upload your resume.
• Get a detailed breakdown of formatting, keyword, and content issues.
• Implement the suggestions to ensure your resume passes through ATS successfully.

Conclusion

Crafting a resume that is optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is crucial in the current job market. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can optimize your resume to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems and make a lasting impression on hiring managers. Don’t forget to use an ATS-friendly format, include job-relevant keywords, and utilize free ATS resume checker tools to improve your chances of landing an interview.

FAQ :

1. How can I select keywords for an ATS-friendly resume?

Analyze the job description for specific skills, experiences, and requirements. Incorporate these terms naturally throughout your resume, especially in the "Skills" and "Professional Experience" sections.

2. Does resume length matter for ATS?
Generally, ATS does not penalize long resumes. However, recruiters prefer concise resumes. Stick to 1-2 pages, ensuring all important keywords are included.

3. How do you make sure your resume is ATS-friendly?
Use a simple, single-column format with clearly labeled sections. Avoid images, charts, and unusual fonts. Before submitting your resume, be sure to run it through a free ATS checker tool.

4. How can I make my resume ATS-friendly?
Use a .docx or .txt file format instead of PDF. Ensure that your resume is text-based and avoids tables, headers, or graphics.

5. What is the most ATS-friendly resume format?
A reverse-chronological format is the most ATS-friendly. It allows ATS to easily parse work experience, education, and skills.

6. Which font is best for ATS?
Use widely accepted fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri, as these are universally recognized by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

7. Can ATS read PDFs?
Some ATS systems struggle to read PDFs. It's safer to use a .docx format unless the job posting explicitly requests a PDF.

8. How do I get a good ATS score for my resume?
To get a good ATS score, include relevant keywords from the job description, use a simple format, and avoid complex graphics or formatting.

9. Why should I optimize my resume for ATS?
Optimizing your resume for ATS ensures that it will be seen by recruiters. If your resume doesn’t pass through ATS, you won’t have a chance to compete for the job, no matter how qualified you are.