Not getting enough interviews? Then you might need to create an ATS resume.
Most companies use ATS software to manage the flood of resumes they receive through online applications. If your resume isn’t optimized for the ATS, it could make it difficult for recruiters to find it, let alone read it.
This guide will show you how to write an ATS resume that uses the right keywords, is formatted correctly, and highlights the experience recruiters are searching for.
What is an applicant tracking system (ATS)?
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is human resources software used by recruiters and employers to collect, sort, read, and organize job applications. It parses resume content and streamlines the recruiter’s screening process.
Almost all Fortune 500 companies—along with many smaller businesses—use ATS to streamline hiring.
Read more: What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
Why do companies use ATS?’
Because online job boards like LinkedIn have made it easy for job seekers to apply for dozens of jobs with a few clicks. As a result, employers receive hundreds, sometimes thousands, of resumes per job posting.
An ATS helps employers quickly filter through these applications and focus on the most qualified candidates. The perfect candidate can be overlooked if their resume isn’t formatted with ATS and human readers in mind.
In other words, even if you’re applying to many jobs, your resume won’t stand out unless you tailor it to each job. If you don’t, hiring managers may never even see your resume.
How do companies use ATS?
When you submit your resume through an online application, it doesn’t go straight to a recruiter. Instead, it goes into an ATS database.
Hiring managers then search the ATS to find qualified candidates by typing specific keywords into the system.
According to a Jobscan State of the Job Search report, over 99.7% of recruiters use filters to search for candidates inside their ATS software. What do they filter by?
- 76.4% filter by skills
- 59.7% filter by education
- 55.3% filter by job titles
- 50.6% filter by certifications
- 44% filter by years of experience
This is why it’s so important to include the right keywords in your resume—and why tailoring it to the job description can make all the difference
Let’s say a company is hiring a software engineer. They might type “software engineer” into the ATS search bar. Or if they need someone with graphic design skills, they’ll search for “graphic design.”
But most searches don’t stop at just one keyword. Hiring managers often enter multiple terms to narrow down their results.
For example, if they’re looking for an administrative assistant, they might search for:
- “Administrative Assistant”
- “Calendar Management”
- “Scheduling”
If your resume doesn’t contain all three keywords, it may not appear in the search results. But beware of keyword stuffing, and integrate these words organically to avoid sounding robotic.
Read the job description carefully. This is where hiring managers find the keywords they use in their search.
Learn more: What Job Seekers Need to Know About SmartRecruiters’ AI Tool
How to write an ATS resume in 3 steps
Before you start, grab the job description.
Why? Because your resume should be tailored to each job, not copied and pasted for every application.
It’s tempting to use the same resume everywhere, but customizing it for each role gives you a much better chance of getting noticed.
Recruiters search for specific skills and keywords, and if they’re not on your resume, you might not show up in their search results.
If you have the job listing ready, let’s get started!
Step 1. Use the job title from the job description
The first step is to use the exact job title from the job description on your resume.
Jobscan analyzed nearly one million job searches and found that resumes with the job title in the headline received 3.5 times more interview invitations.
You’ll find the job title at the very top of the job description. In this example, the job title is “Business Analyst.”
Why does adding the job title to your resume matter?
Because when recruiters search for candidates in the ATS, they use specific keywords, including the job title. If your resume doesn’t include that exact title, it won’t show up in their search results.
Where should you put the job title on your resume?
The best place is your resume headline. This is a short, attention-grabbing statement that highlights your key skills or accomplishments.
Your headline appears right below your contact information and helps recruiters instantly see that you’re a strong match.
Here’s an example of a resume headline for a business analyst:
But what if you’re changing careers?
Can you still use “Business Analyst” in your headline if you don’t have direct experience?
Yes, but you just need to be strategic about it. Here’s how to make it work:
How important is having the job title in your resume headline?
Jobscan analyzed nearly one million job searches and found that resumes that contained the job title received 10.6 times more interview invitations.
Candidates with job titles on their resumes that match the target title from the job listing had an interview rate 10.6 times higher than those who did not.
That’s a huge difference for such a simple tweak.
Step 2. Add skills and keywords from the job description to your resume
If you want your resume to appear in ATS searches, you need to include the right skills.
Just like recruiters search for job titles, they also search for specific hard skills and soft skills that are essential for the role.
While writing the previously mentioned State of the Job Search report, we asked over 380 recruiters directly: What criteria do you use to filter candidates in an ATS or similar system? 76.4% of them said they start their search with skills.
Where do you find these skills? In the job description.
Simply read the job description and highlight the core resume skills that are mentioned most frequently. Then add these skills to your resume exactly as they appear in the job listing; either in the skills section or the work history portion of your resume.
But don’t lie! Only include the skills you actually possess.
Here’s an example of a job description with key skills underlined. If you were applying for this job, you’d want to incorporate as many of these skills as possible into your resume.
The key is to mirror the language used in the job description.
Many qualified candidates miss out on interviews simply because their resumes don’t include the exact keywords that hiring managers are searching for.
That’s why creating an ATS-friendly resume is so important.
PRO TIP: Never start bullet points in your work experience section with “responsible for.” Instead, use strong action verbs like “managed,” “organized,” or “developed.”
Step 3. Format your resume for the ATS (and recruiters)
The final step in creating an ATS-friendly resume is getting the formatting right.
Even if you have the perfect skills and keywords, a poorly formatted resume can make it impossible for the ATS to read your information. If that happens, you won’t make it to the interview stage.
The key is to keep your resume clean and simple. This isn’t just for the ATS, but clear, concise resumes are a dream for human recruiters to read.
Check every resume you send out to make sure it’s formatted correctly, and proofread for errors.
It’s no exaggeration to say that only one small mistake can ruin your chances of getting a job interview.
Follow these formatting tips to make sure your resume can be easily read by an ATS system:
Use a clean resume design with a clear hierarchy. Avoid complex designs, unusual formats, images, charts, and graphics, which can confuse the ATS.
Avoid 2-column layouts, tables, and text boxes, which ATS often misreads.
Separate your career story into distinct, clearly labeled sections (e.g., Work Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications, etc.)
Use simple bullet points (solid circle, open circle, or square).
Place important details (name, phone, email address) outside the header or footer, as ATS may not read these sections correctly. Your name should be on the top line.
Include months (MM/YYYY or Month YYYY) and place dates to the right of the information for each entry.
Stick to standard, legible fonts (Arial, Georgia, Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana) and font size 11-12 points, avoiding mixed fonts.
Defer to the job description when choosing a file type. Some recruiters prefer a Word document, while others prefer a PDF file.
Read more: Are Tables and Columns on Your Resume Confusing the ATS?
If you’re unsure about formatting, try using one of Jobscan’s free ATS-friendly templates. Simply choose the format that best suits your needs, download it, and customize it with your information.
How to create an ATS resume faster
Even if you think you’re doing everything correctly, it can be hard to know if your resume is truly optimized for the ATS.
This is where Jobscan shines. Jobscan’s resume scanner analyzes the job description and your resume, highlighting missing keywords or suggesting where to add them to achieve a high match rate.
All you have to do is paste in your resume and the job description of the role you’re targeting. Then click “scan.”
The ATS resume scan mimics real ATS software to show you how it reads your resume.
The tool then provides you with a score showing how well your resume matches the job requirements.
- The higher your score, the better your chances of landing an interview.
- The tool highlights missing keywords, formatting issues, and areas for improvement.
- It even provides ATS-specific recommendations.
Here’s what a Match Report looks like:
What Jobscan provides: It offers feedback on resume content and ATS compatibility, identifying what information the ATS will pull, what it might misread, and which skills/keywords your resume ranks for. It also offers suggestions for improvement to achieve a high Match Rate.
Try the resume scanner for free below:
Read more: How to Write a Resume for Today’s Job Market
What is a Match Rate?
Including the right keywords in your resume is a great start, but it’s not always enough.
Many ATS platforms don’t just scan for keywords—they compare your entire resume to the job description. They analyze your work experience, education, qualifications, and skills to determine how well you match the role.
Hiring managers can then sort candidates by match rate, prioritizing those with the highest scores.
To make things even trickier, there are many different ATS platforms, and each one scores candidates differently.
Jobscan has a database of thousands of companies and the ATS platforms they use—including Lever, Greenhouse, and Taleo. When you paste your resume into Jobscan, you can enter the company name you’re applying to.
Why does this matter? Because Jobscan provides ATS-specific recommendations to help you optimize your resume for that company’s hiring system.
For example, if the company uses iCIMS, you’ll receive tailored tips designed specifically for that platform.
Applying for jobs is a numbers game, but quality matters just as much as quantity.
Small tweaks—like adding the right keywords and optimizing your formatting—can make a big difference. The more tailored your resume, the better your chances of getting noticed.
Take the time to customize, fine-tune, or convert your existing resume to an ATS-friendly format. Every small adjustment brings you one step closer to landing an interview.
Resume templates for easier formatting
Defeat blank page syndrome and get a jumping off point using an ATS-friendly resume template.
Simple, modern, and ATS-friendly templates can make writing your resume less overwhelming. Just plug your information, key accomplishments, education, and skills into a preformatted template, and you’ll have a base document ready to tailor to your dream job description.
Read more: How Daniel Overcame 8 Months of Unemployment to Land His Dream Job
Key takeaways
- Tailor each resume to the job you’re applying for: Creating a targeted resume increases your chances of getting noticed by both the ATS and hiring managers.
- Use the job title and keywords: Ensure your resume includes the job title and key competencies from the job description to improve your match rate in the ATS.
- Keep formatting simple: Avoid graphics, tables, and creative fonts that might confuse the ATS. Stick to a clean, easy-to-read design.
- Leverage online tools: Tools like Jobscan can help optimize your resume by checking for keyword accuracy and formatting issues.
- Applying for jobs is a numbers game: The more effort you put into customizing your resume, the better your chances of landing an interview.
FAQs
An ATS-compliant resume is one that can be easily scanned and interpreted by an applicant tracking system (ATS). This means that your resume should be formatted clearly, with relevant keywords included.
After scanning your resume, Jobscan scores your resume on a 1 – 100% scale. A score of 75% or higher means you are a good match for the job and are likely to get an interview. Check your resume score here.
The best way to run your resume through an ATS for free is to use a free online ATS resume scanner, such as the one offered by Jobscan. Simply paste in your resume along with a specific job description, and Jobscan will provide you with a match rate.
The most ATS-friendly resume format is the chronological format, which lists your work experience in reverse-chronological order. It’s easy for ATS to scan because it uses standard headings like “Work Experience” and “Education,” avoids complex designs or graphics, and focuses on simple formatting.
Is PDF ATS-friendly?
Yes, a PDF file type can be ATS-friendly, but you’ll want to keep things simple. Avoid using graphics, images, or anything too fancy like tables, text boxes, or unusual fonts. Stick with a clean, straightforward design and make sure the content is text-based. This way, the ATS can easily read your resume, and you still get to keep the layout looking consistent.
To convert your resume, use a simple format. Avoid tables, graphics, and non-traditional fonts. Customize your resume for each job by incorporating relevant keywords from the job description.
You can check if your resume is ATS-friendly by running it through an online tool like Jobscan’s resume scanner. It compares your resume to the job description and provides a match score, along with recommendations to improve formatting and keyword optimization.
