What an ATS actually does
An ATS parses your resume into fields (name, jobs, dates, skills), stores it in a database and lets recruiters search and filter candidates by keywords, titles and experience. If parsing fails or your keywords are missing, you may never appear in their search.
Formatting rules
- Use standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills.
- Keep text as real text — never put important information inside images.
- Avoid complex tables, text boxes and headers/footers for key information.
- Use common fonts and a consistent date format (e.g. 2021 – 2024).
- Save as PDF (text-based) or DOCX when requested.
Keyword optimization
- Copy the job description into our free ATS checker.
- Find hard skills, tools and job titles that appear repeatedly.
- Add the ones you genuinely have — in your skills section and in context in your bullet points.
- Use both the acronym and the full term once (e.g. “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)”).
Don’t game the system
Hiding keywords in white text or stuffing them in lists is detected by modern systems and recruiters. Write naturally for people, then confirm the important keywords are present.
A quick ATS checklist
- Contact details in the body, not the header area.
- Job title that matches the posting.
- Match score of 70% or higher on key terms.
- No spelling mistakes in skills (ATS searches are literal).
Frequently asked questions
Do all companies use ATS?
Nearly all large companies and many small ones use some form of ATS or recruiting software.
Are two-column resumes ATS-friendly?
Modern ATS read clean two-column layouts built with real text, like ours. Avoid text inside images or text boxes.
What is a good ATS match score?
Aim for 70%+ on the most important keywords from the job description.