ATS Resume Guide: How to Beat Applicant Tracking Systems

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by 99% of Fortune 500 companies to automatically filter resumes. If your resume isn't formatted correctly, it will be rejected before a human ever reads it — no matter how qualified you are.

What is an ATS and how does it work?

An ATS scans your resume for specific keywords, education requirements, years of experience, and formatting. It parses your resume into a structured database, then ranks candidates based on how well their resumes match the job description. Low-ranking resumes never reach human reviewers.

ATS formatting rules

To ensure ATS can parse your resume: use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman), avoid tables, text boxes, columns, headers/footers, and graphics, use standard section headings ("Work Experience" not "Where I've Been"), submit as PDF with embedded text (never a scanned image), and keep file size under 2MB.

ATS keywords — the most important factor

The #1 way to pass ATS is keyword matching. Read the job description carefully and use the exact same terms they use. If they say "project management" use that phrase, not "managing projects." If they list "Salesforce" as a requirement, make sure that exact word appears in your skills section.

Common ATS mistakes to avoid

Top ATS-killing mistakes: using a non-standard file format (Word doc is safer than you think, but only with simple formatting), using headers/footers for contact info (ATS often can't read them), using abbreviations without spelling them out first (write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)"), and submitting a designed/graphic resume without also providing a plain-text version.

How to check your ATS score

Resumly provides a real-time ATS score as you build your resume. Our score checks contact information completeness, keyword density, section structure, formatting compatibility, and skills match. Aim for 85%+ before downloading and submitting your resume.