How to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume That Gets You Hired

What is an ATS and Why Does It Matter?

In today’s competitive job market, simply submitting a well-written resume isn’t enough. Most large companies, and even many small businesses, use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before they reach human recruiters. If your resume isn’t optimized for these systems, it might get rejected before anyone even sees it.

An ATS is a software tool used by recruiters and hiring managers to screen job applications efficiently. Instead of manually going through hundreds (or thousands) of resumes, the ATS scans, sorts, and ranks applications based on keywords, formatting, and relevance.

The Importance of an ATS-Friendly Resume

Research shows that over 75% of resumes are automatically rejected by ATS before they ever reach a human. That means, if your resume isn’t optimized for ATS, you could be losing out on job opportunities—even if you’re qualified.

This guide will walk you through:

• How ATS works and why companies use it

• The do’s and don’ts of an ATS-friendly resume

• Keyword optimization strategies

• Resume formatting best practices

• Tools to test whether your resume will pass ATS screening

By the end of this article, you’ll have a highly optimized, ATS-compatible resume that increases your chances of landing job interviews.

1. Understanding How ATS Works

How Does an ATS Scan Resumes?

When you submit your resume online, the ATS processes it in several steps:

1. Parsing – The system extracts text from your resume, breaking it down into different categories such as experience, skills, and education.

2. Keyword Matching – It compares your resume to the job description, looking for relevant keywords and phrases.

3. Ranking – The ATS assigns a score to your resume based on how well it matches the job posting. Only high-ranking resumes move forward.

What Do Recruiters See in an ATS?

Recruiters don’t always see your resume as you formatted it. Instead, the ATS displays it as plain text, often stripping away design elements like tables, columns, and graphics. This means that if your resume is not formatted properly, it may appear unreadable or incomplete in the ATS.

Common ATS Software Used by Companies

Different companies use different ATS tools, but some of the most common ones include:

• Workday

• Greenhouse

• Taleo (Oracle)

• Lever

• iCIMS

Each system has slightly different rules, but the key principles of ATS optimization remain the same.

2. The Do’s and Don’ts of an ATS-Friendly Resume

✅ Do’s (Best Practices for ATS Optimization)

✔ Use a simple, professional layout – ATS systems prefer resumes with clear headings, bullet points, and standard fonts.

✔ Include relevant keywords – Scan the job description for key skills and terminology, then naturally incorporate them into your resume.

✔ Save your resume in the right format – The safest formats for ATS are .docx (Microsoft Word) and .pdf, unless otherwise specified.

✔ Use standard section headings – Stick to headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills” instead of creative alternatives like “My Journey” or “Things I’ve Done.”

✔ Keep job titles and company names clear – If you had a unique job title, consider adding a standard equivalent in parentheses (e.g., “Marketing Ninja (Marketing Specialist)”).

❌ Don’ts (Mistakes That Can Get Your Resume Rejected)

✖ Avoid using images, graphics, or fancy designs – ATS struggles to process visual elements. Stick to a clean, text-based format.

✖ Don’t use tables or columns – These may cause text misalignment when parsed by ATS.

✖ Steer clear of complex fonts and excessive styling – Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in sizes 10-12pt.

✖ Don’t keyword stuff – Repeating the same keyword excessively can make your resume look unnatural. Instead, integrate keywords seamlessly into your content.

3. Choosing the Right Resume Format

When writing an ATS-friendly resume, choosing the correct format is crucial. There are three main resume formats, but not all of them work well with Applicant Tracking Systems.

1. Chronological Resume (Best for ATS & Most Recommended)

This is the most ATS-friendly format and is widely preferred by recruiters. It lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent job.

✔ Best for candidates with a solid work history in the same industry
✔ Easy for ATS to scan and rank job experience
✔ Preferred by hiring managers

Not ideal for career changers or those with employment gaps

2. Functional Resume (Worst for ATS)

This format focuses on skills rather than work history. It groups experience into categories rather than listing jobs in chronological order.

ATS often struggles to interpret functional resumes because they lack clear job experience details
Can make it look like you’re hiding something (e.g., employment gaps)

3. Combination Resume (Moderately ATS-Friendly)

A mix of chronological and functional formats. It highlights skills first, followed by a detailed work history.

✔ Works well for career changers or those with diverse experience
Still less ATS-friendly than chronological resumes

Recommendation: Stick to a reverse chronological resume unless you have specific reasons to use another format.

4. Optimizing Resume Sections for ATS

To ensure your resume passes ATS screening, you must structure each section correctly.

1. Contact Information (Essential Details Only)

✔ Full Name (First and Last Name)
✔ Phone Number (Include country code if applying internationally)
✔ Professional Email (Use a format like yourname@email.com)
✔ LinkedIn Profile (Ensure it matches your resume)
✔ Location (City & State/Country; full address is unnecessary)

Don’t: Add images, social media links (unless relevant), or multiple phone numbers.

2. Professional Summary (Keep It ATS-Optimized & Engaging)

This is a 2-3 sentence summary at the top of your resume. Make sure it includes relevant keywords from the job description.

✅ Example of an ATS-friendly professional summary:
“Results-driven marketing specialist with 5+ years of experience in digital campaigns, SEO optimization, and content strategy. Proficient in Google Analytics, PPC, and social media advertising. Adept at increasing brand engagement and lead generation.”

Don’t: Use vague or generic descriptions like “Hardworking professional seeking career growth” (this doesn’t include relevant skills for ATS).

3. Work Experience (Format It Clearly)

ATS extracts job history based on a clear structure. Use this format:

Job Title – Company Name – Location – Dates Worked
Bullet points describing achievements (with numbers if possible)

✅ Example of an ATS-friendly work experience section:

Digital Marketing Specialist – XYZ Company – New York, NY – Jan 2020 – Present

• Developed and executed SEO strategies, increasing organic traffic by 50%

• Managed paid advertising campaigns, leading to a 20% increase in conversions

• Analyzed Google Analytics data to optimize content and engagement

Don’t: Use creative job titles (e.g., Marketing Ninja). ATS may not recognize them.

4. Skills Section (Include Relevant Keywords)

ATS looks for specific hard skills (not soft skills like “teamwork” or “communication”).

✅ Example of an ATS-optimized skills section:
✔ SEO & SEM
✔ Google Analytics & Google Ads
✔ Content Strategy
✔ Email Marketing (MailChimp, HubSpot)
✔ PPC Campaigns (Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads)

Don’t: List skills that aren’t mentioned in the job description.

5. Education (Keep It Simple)

ATS recognizes education sections that follow a clear pattern:

Degree – University Name – Location – Year Graduated

✅ Example:
Bachelor’s in Business Administration – Harvard University – Cambridge, MA – 2018

Don’t: Include unnecessary details like GPA (unless it’s exceptional).

5. Keyword Optimization for ATS

ATS ranks resumes based on keywords that match the job description. To improve your chances:

✔ Analyze the job posting – Identify industry-specific keywords and required skills.
✔ Use exact phrases from the job description. (E.g., if the job post says “social media management,” don’t write “managing social platforms”)
✔ Repeat keywords naturally throughout your resume (but don’t overstuff).

Example Job Description Keywords for a Marketing Role:

• “Google Ads” (Not “online ads”)

• “SEO & SEM” (Not “search optimization”)

• “Email Marketing” (Not “email campaigns”)

Don’t: Copy-paste the job description into your resume. ATS is smart enough to detect unnatural keyword stuffing.

6. Formatting Tips for an ATS-Compatible Resume

✔ Use Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (Size 10-12)
✔ Left-align text and use bold headers for sections
✔ Keep margins between 0.5” – 1”
✔ Save as .docx or .pdf (unless the job description states otherwise)
✔ Keep resume length to 1-2 pages

Don’t: Use headers, footers, or fancy borders (ATS may not read them correctly).

7. Common ATS Mistakes That Can Get Your Resume Rejected

Using fancy fonts or colors – Stick to a simple, black-and-white design
Including graphics, images, or tables – ATS cannot read these
Not customizing your resume for each job – Always tweak it based on the job posting
Using abbreviations – Write “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)” instead of just “SEO”

8. How to Test If Your Resume is ATS-Friendly

Before submitting, test your resume using:

Online ATS Resume Scanners:
✔ Jobscan (https://www.jobscan.co/)
✔ Resume Worded (https://resumeworded.com/)

Copy-Paste Test:
Copy your resume and paste it into Notepad. If the formatting is messed up, ATS might not read it correctly.

9. ATS Resume Examples & Templates

Need inspiration? Check out these ATS-friendly resume templates:

✔ Zety (https://zety.com/resume-templates)
✔ Novoresume (https://novoresume.com/ats-resume)

10. Final Checklist Before Submitting Your Resume

✔ Is your resume format chronological?
✔ Did you use exact keywords from the job description?
✔ Did you avoid images, tables, and graphics?
✔ Is your file format .docx or .pdf?
✔ Did you run your resume through an ATS scanner?

Conclusion

Writing an ATS-friendly resume is the key to getting past automated screenings and landing interviews. By following these best practices, optimizing for keywords, and using a clean format, you can ensure your resume makes it to the hiring manager’s desk.

Next Step: Update your resume using these tips and test it using an ATS scanner!