What is an ATS-friendly resume?

An ATS-friendly resume is any resume that can be easily scanned by ATS software. The things that make a resume ATS-friendly are the same things that make a resume better for the hiring manager — there's no special trick. The most important thing to do is keep your resume format simple by avoiding the following: tables images nonstandard fonts multiple columns ATS software parses the text on a resume, "reading" it from left to right and top to bottom, so tables and multiple columns can cause problems along with strange or unique fonts.. Finally, make sure you include resume keywords from the job description. Hiring managers use ATS software to identify resumes that match their job descriptions, so use the same wording that appears in the job description when describing your experience, achievements, and skills.

How do you check if your resume is ATS-friendly?

To know if your resume is ATS-friendly, go over it and check for the following: Single-column formatting Chronological work history Standard resume font Standard resume section headings No graphics No tables No unique fonts Resume experience listed with dashes instead of bullets Job skills and keywords from the job description File saved as .pdf or .docx Finally, you can run your resume through an ATS resume scanner.

Why do companies use applicant tracking systems?

Companies use ATS software to handle large volumes of applications. These systems help HR teams automatically collect, sort, and filter resumes based on qualifications and keywords. ATS software also standardizes the information in applicants’ resumes and creates a searchable database of candidates that companies can reference for future openings.

Do resumes get auto-rejected by ATS?

Most resumes are viewed by recruiters who decide whether to reject candidates. However, ATS do use what are referred to as knockout questions. These are separate questions you need to fill out when applying for the job, and are usually about how many years of experience you have or your availability. If your answer isn’t what the employer is looking for, your application will get automatically rejected. These knockout questions are what people are referring to when they talk about being rejected before a real person even reviews their resume.

What is a good ATS score?

Applicant Tracking Systems may assign a percentage score to show how well a resume matches the job description or search criteria. Every organization uses these scores differently. Resumes scoring higher than 80% are prioritized by the system, but recruiters still have access to and can read all resumes submitted. ATS resume checkers also assign a score to a resume showing how well it can be parsed by an ATS. Make sure your resume scores high on an ATS resume checker before submitting it to a large organization that's likely to use an ATS.

ATS skills are specific skills that an employer tells its ATS to scan for in job applications. Applicant Tracking Systems are generally used to identify candidates with certain hard skills, as opposed to soft skills. The skills that employers are looking for usually appear in the job description or job listing for the open position. So, check the job listing for the hard skills that you have and list them in the skills section of your resume.

4 Myths about ATS Software (+ How to Get Your Resume Seen)

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If you’re job hunting, you’ve probably read something like this before: “75% of resumes get auto-rejected by ATS software – before a hiring manager even sees them.”

While ATS can be a challenge during any job search, the reality of how it works is actually more complicated. So we did the research to uncover the truth about applicant tracking systems, busting common myths about how they work, and discovered the best ways to optimize your resume for HR platforms.

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What is an ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?

Applicant tracking systems are software platforms that large companies use to manage job applications and streamline the hiring process.

If you’ve ever applied for a job and had to upload your resume and then enter your information into an online portal, then you’ve interacted with an ATS. Greenhouse, Workday, and Jobvite are some of the most common ATS platforms, and are used by companies all over the world.

ATS‑proof your application

Our AI-powered builder guides you step-by-step to create an ATS‑friendly resume that gets past filters and into the right hands.

Myth #1: ATS software automatically rejects your resume if you don’t format it perfectly

One of the most common myths about ATS is that your resume will get auto-rejected unless you format everything in a specific way. Career sites like Jobscan insist you need to reach a “100% score” on their checker or use a special file format to avoid being rejected.

While it’s true that there are some best practices that make it easier for ATS to parse your resume, their ability to parse text is better than a lot of people suggest.

The truth: ATS parsing technology has (mostly) gotten good

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) aren’t “robots” designed to trick you. In reality, modern ATS technology has become a lot more sophisticated in the past decade.

You don’t need a specific file type to get noticed. Most systems prefer standard PDF or doc files because these formats are easy to read. In fact, research shows that plain text PDF or doc resumes can now reach a 96.7% parsability rate. Our own survey of 1000 US hiring managers also reveal a 96% preference for text-based PDFs and docs.

The goal of an ATS isn’t to reject you – it’s to help hiring managers find the best candidates as quickly as possible.

Safeguarding against parsing issues is actually why larger companies will require you to fill out their custom application form.

However, just because parsing technology has improved doesn’t mean you can’t maximize your resume’s parsability. Modern ATS platforms are often built on top of different systems, which makes them better or worse at different things.

This is recruitment.com’s breakdown of top ATS’ weaknesses when it comes to parsing:

Vendor	Has trouble with
iCIMS	Images, graphics, symbols, atypical fonts
Oracle	Double & triple columns
Workday	Multiple columns, graphics, non-standard heading text
Greenhouse	Headers, tables, graphics, incomplete job titles, or large files
UKG	Graphics & heavy designs
SAP	Scanned PDFs
Lever	Acronyms, tables, and graphics

If you can figure out which ATS your resume is being put through, you could adjust your formatting to improve parsability. 52% of hiring managers suggest that resume formatting can cause parsing issues in ATS, so it could be worth adjusting your resume depending on the system being used.

How to format your resume for ATS

A good ATS resume template clearly signals its layout with minimal text in header and footer sections. Headings should be clear, and each section should be one continuous textbox.

Avoid split columns

A common layout that is not ATS-friendly is split columns that contain different sections of your resume, like this:

Two sections of a resume in side-by-side columns, which an ATS might be unable to parse

This formatting isn’t ideal for ATS because some software may incorrectly read the text left to right instead of up and down.

Don’t use tables

Tables are one of the most common layout problems in .doc and .docx files. While recent studies show that new tech is getting better at parsing tables, there’s no guarantee the company you’re applying to is using the latest version.

If the ATS can’t read inside a table, it simply skips that content. Play it safe by using a clean, well-designed template that uses standard text alignment instead of invisible boxes.

How to check if your resume is parsable by ATS

The first and quickest way to confirm that companies won’t have any trouble scanning your resume is to run your resume through a free ATS checker.

The second, more time-consuming option is to select-all and copy the text of your resume, then paste it onto a plain txt file, and check the text. Did any section shift out of order? Did half of your work experience section end up under Education? If so, consider another layout.

Myth #2: You’ll be rejected if your resume doesn’t contain enough keywords

This outdated myth about ATS is where that “hack” of putting keywords in white text on your resume comes from.

If you haven’t heard about this before, the idea is that you can hide keywords in your resume’s white space so the ATS sees them but the recruiter doesn’t. Spoiler: It doesn’t work.

The reality is that keyword density isn’t that important – it’s more about explicitly having the particular skills employers are looking for.

The truth: Quality is more important than quantity

Recruiters don’t have a list of keywords that a resume must have, and ATS won’t reject you for not writing “team player” somewhere on your resume.

Instead, the system calculates a match score based on how well your skills align with the job description. Here’s how to handle keywords the right way:

Prioritize hard skills listed as “required” in the job description
Don’t regurgitate every bullet point in the job description
Use your experience section to highlight your most relevant qualifications

Top reasons resumes get rejected during ATS screening include “missing required skills” (42%) and “generic or AI-heavy content” (28%). These are easy points of failure if you don’t follow the steps above.

Some ATS still rely on keyword matching

ATS parsing isn’t just digitizing text. It also includes natural language processing (NLP) and named entity recognition (NER). This means that if you write “maintained a customer satisfaction rating of 100% for two years” in your work experience section, the ATS can identify that you have good customer service or people skills without you writing it word-for-word.

However, while NLP and NER technologies have significantly improved, older legacy ATS may still rely on keyword matching to surface qualified candidates.

Once again, this means you need to identify the most relevant requirements from the job description and make sure to include them in your resume.

If you’re applying to a large, well-established company that’s likely to use an older ATS, use exact phrases from the job description, particularly for hard skills, just to be safe.

Myth #3: ATS eliminate resumes before hiring managers see them

The idea that a robot is tossing your resume into the trash bin because of some arbitrary set of rules is one of the most pervasive myths in the job-hunting world. It makes the process feel rigged – but that’s not actually how it works.

Illustration breaking down how the average resume moves through the recruitment process, and how ATS plays a part.

Truth: Rejection is likely due to knockout questions, not keywords or parsing

While it’s true that many resumes don’t make it to a recruiter’s desk, it’s rarely because of a formatting error or a missing keyword. Instead, it’s usually the result of knockout questions.

Think of a knockout question as a filter. When a recruiter has 500 applications for one role, they use these questions to narrow the field to candidates who meet their non-negotiable criteria.

However, knockout questions are more general than you might think, and typically only include details around work logistics, such as:

Common knockout questions

Work Authorization: “Are you legally authorized to work in the U.S.?”
Logistics: “Are you available to work night shifts and weekends?”
Certifications: “Do you hold a valid CPA license?”
Relocation: “Are you willing to relocate to Chicago for this position?”

There’s no getting around knockout questions. If your life circumstances don’t allow you to meet an employer’s basic criteria (while other candidates can), it’s extremely difficult to pass the knockout rounds no matter how well-written your resume is.

The upside is, that’s out of your control. Some opportunities just aren’t for you. All we can do is optimize the things that are in your control, like your resume.

Myth #4: AI in ATS is rejecting my resume

Since the popularization of LLMs like ChatGPT, a new fear has risen among job seekers: that employers are using AI to read your resume and reject you before any humans get involved.

It also doesn’t help that companies have started using AI parsing, and jobseekers are asked to hit a checkbox and consent to letting AI read your resume.

The truth: ATS AI is a librarian, not a judge

The AI used in an Applicant Tracking System is fundamentally different from generative models like ChatGPT. While ChatGPT is designed to mimic human conversation, the AI in an ATS has a much narrower, more practical job: data extraction.

AI generally isn’t being used to answer the question “Is this candidate a good fit for our culture?” Instead, it’s using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to translate your bullet points into data the recruiter can actually search.

For example, if you wrote, “Exceeded sales targets by 20%,” the AI tags you with “Sales Strategy” so you show up in the recruiter’s search results.

Simply put, ATS AI has a far more specific task, geared towards getting resumes in front of hiring managers. Don’t think of it as an HR manager feeding a resume into ChatGPT and asking “is this candidate a good fit?” In fact, only 6% of hiring managers say AI can reject candidates without human review.