If you've ever applied for a job and heard nothing back, there's a good chance your resume was never seen by human eyes. It likely got filtered out by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)—the software that screens resumes before they reach a recruiter.
The good news? With a few strategic adjustments, your resume can pass the ATS test and land on the “yes” pile.
An Applicant Tracking System is used by over 95% of Fortune 500 companies and many startups to streamline hiring. It scans resumes for keywords, formatting, and relevance, then ranks candidates automatically.
A study by Jobscan found that up to 75% of resumes are never seen by human recruiters because they’re rejected by ATS filters.
ATS systems match your resume against the job posting. Mirror phrases used in the posting (“project management,” “cross-functional team,” etc.). Include both hard skills (e.g., JavaScript, SEO) and soft skills (e.g., communication, leadership). 🔍 Pro Tip: Tools like Jobscan let you compare your resume to a job description.
ATS bots struggle with creative designs. Use simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman). Save your resume as a .docx or PDF (if the job post allows). Avoid: Tables Columns Text boxes Graphics or logos.
Use conventional headers like: Professional Experience Education Skills Certifications Creative headings like “Where I’ve Worked” or “The Journey So Far” might confuse the ATS.
They look great to humans—but ATS systems often can't read them. Stick to text-based content only.
Write both versions: e.g., “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)” or “Customer Relationship Management (CRM).”
Once your resume passes the bot, it needs to impress a real recruiter. Use clear language, quantifiable results (e.g., “Increased traffic by 40%”), and bullet points that tell a compelling story.
To get your resume seen, it must first pass the ATS. Follow formatting best practices, mirror the job description, and keep things clean and readable.