How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume

Most job seekers focus on crafting the perfect resume to impress recruiters. But here's the truth: your resume has to impress software before it ever reaches a human. That software is called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

And here's something even more valuable—we're not just giving you advice from a candidate’s perspective. We’ve built FREE ATS systems for recruiters. We’ve seen thousands of resumes go through parsing engines, keyword filters, ranking algorithms, and more. And we know exactly why some get selected… and why others disappear into the void.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to craft an ATS-friendly resume that survives the system and lands you interviews.

What Is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System is software used by employers to collect, sort, rank, and manage applications. Recruiters use it to:

• Filter out irrelevant resumes
• Search for keywords
• Rank candidates by match score
• Track candidate status through the hiring pipeline

From our experience building ATS software, we’ve learned one key truth: if your resume doesn’t “talk” to the system correctly, it won’t make it to the recruiter.

What Happens to Your Resume Inside an ATS?

Here’s a simplified version of what happens behind the scenes:

1. Parsing: The ATS breaks your resume into structured data (name, contact info, skills, experience, etc.).
2. Indexing: It stores your data in a searchable format.
3. Matching: It matches your data with the job description using algorithms.
4. Ranking: It assigns a score based on how well you match the role.
5. Filtering: If your score is low or data is missing, you’re filtered out.

Even the most qualified candidate can get rejected if their resume isn't machine-readable.

Common Resume Mistakes That Kill Your Chances

From parsing logs and error reports in our own ATS systems, these are the top issues we’ve seen:

• Using tables or columns – They break parsing logic.
• Custom section headers – Most ATS can't recognize "My Journey" instead of "Work Experience."
• PDFs with embedded images – Text becomes unreadable.
• Missing keywords – You’re not matching what recruiters are searching for.
• Using headers/footers for critical info – Often ignored by parsers.

How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume (That Also Impresses Humans)

1. Use a Clean, Linear Format

Stick to a simple, one-column layout. Avoid columns, tables, graphics, and fancy styling.

✅ Do:

• Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
• Keep font sizes between 10–12pt
• Use bolding for section headings only

❌ Don’t:

• Add profile photos, graphs, charts
• Use background colors or text boxes

2. Use Standard Section Headings

Our ATS engines are trained to detect conventional headers. Use:

• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications

Avoid creative variations like “Where I’ve Been” or “Things I Know.”

3. Optimize for Keywords

From our indexing logic, here’s what counts:

• Job-specific terms from the description (e.g., “Python,” “Inventory Management,” “B2B Sales”)
• Tools and tech (e.g., Salesforce, Figma, Primavera)
• Certifications and degrees
• Industry phrases (e.g., “cross-functional leadership,” “agile methodology”)

Tip: Use both full forms and abbreviations when possible. Example: “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)”

4. Bullet Points > Paragraphs

Use short, concise bullet points that begin with action verbs. This helps both ATS parsing and recruiter readability.

✅ Example:

• Led a 5-member team to execute infrastructure projects valued at $10M
• Reduced procurement delays by 18% using vendor management tools

5. Include a Core Skills Section

Create a keyword-dense section titled Skills. Use hard skills specific to the job:

• Civil 3D
• Cost Estimation
• Microsoft Project
• Structural Analysis
• Project Lifecycle Management

This section boosts keyword match rate significantly in our ATS scoring model.

6. Avoid Fancy PDFs

Use .docx unless a company specifically requests .pdf. PDF resumes often fail parsing if:

• Fonts are embedded
• Text is laid over images
• Content is split in columns

7. Avoid Headers & Footers

Critical details like your contact info, job titles, or dates should never be placed in headers or footers. Many ATS tools simply ignore them.

Bonus Tip: Tailor for Each Job

From our backend analysis, tailored resumes perform 2–3x better than generic ones. Use the job description to guide your keywords, skills, and even the order of achievements.

Sample ATS-Friendly Resume Layout

Jane Smith  

jane.smith@email.com | (123) 456-7890 | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janesmith

Professional Summary  

Certified Digital Marketer with 6+ years of experience in SEO, PPC, and content strategy. Proven track record of improving organic traffic by 70% in under a year.

Skills  

SEO | Google Ads | Content Marketing | SEMrush | WordPress | HTML | Email Marketing

Work Experience  

Digital Marketing Manager | XYZ Corp | Jan 2020 – Present  

- Increased website traffic by 300% through SEO and content revamp  

- Reduced CPC by 25% through optimized Google Ads campaigns

Education  

B.A. in Marketing, University of Manchester, UK – 2016

Certifications  

Google Ads Certified | HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified

Final Thoughts (From ATS Builders)

If your resume can’t be read by the software, it will never reach a recruiter—no matter how impressive your experience is.

As people who’ve built and optimized ATS platforms for recruiters, we can tell you this: simplicity wins. Relevance ranks. Clarity converts.

Want help reviewing your resume for ATS compatibility? Reach out—we’re happy to share the insights we’ve learned from the inside.