ATS-Friendly Resume Guide: How to Get Your Resume Past ATS Screening
Beat the bots and land more interviews with these proven ATS optimization strategies
Ever spent hours perfecting your resume only to hear crickets after applying? You’re not alone. The culprit might be hiding in plain sight: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that filter out your application before human eyes ever see it.
With over 99% of Fortune 500 companies and 75% of recruiters using ATS software to screen candidates, your resume needs to speak the language of these digital gatekeepers if you want a fighting chance. The good news? Optimizing your resume for ATS isn’t rocket science—but it does require understanding how these systems work and what they’re looking for.
What Is an Applicant Tracking System?
ATS software serves as the first line of defense for employers drowning in applications. These systems scan, sort, and rank resumes based on predetermined criteria before a hiring manager sees a single word you’ve written.
Think of ATS as a bouncer at an exclusive club. Your resume is either getting in or getting rejected—and the decision happens in seconds.
These systems look for:
- Specific keywords matching the job description
- Proper formatting that the system can parse
- Qualifications that align with position requirements
- Employment history in a recognizable format
Why Your ATS-Friendly Resume Matters
Getting past ATS screening is essential in today’s job market. Here’s why:
- Volume reality: Companies receive an average of 250 applications per job posting
- First impressions: 75% of resumes never reach a human reviewer due to ATS rejection
- Efficiency gap: Qualified candidates get filtered out daily due to formatting issues alone
- Competitive edge: ATS-optimized resumes are 50% more likely to result in interviews than non-optimized ones
6 Essential Strategies to Beat the ATS
Ready to outsmart the system? Here’s your tactical guide to creating an ATS-friendly resume that ranks high and gets noticed.
- Tailor keywords to each application.
The ATS hunts for specific keywords that match the job description. Generic resumes fail this critical test.
- Extract key skills and requirements directly from the job posting
- Mirror the exact phrasing used in the listing
- Include both the spelled-out term and acronym version when applicable (e.g., “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)”)
- Place keywords strategically throughout your resume, not just in a skills section
Don’t stuff keywords. Instead, integrate them naturally into your accomplishments and experience descriptions.
- Use a clean, simple format.
Fancy designs and creative layouts might impress humans, but they confuse ATS programs.
- Stick with standard resume sections: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education
- Use common section headings that ATS recognizes (avoid creative titles like “Where I’ve Made an Impact”)
- Choose standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
- Avoid text boxes, tables, headers/footers, and complex formatting
- Save your resume as a .docx or .pdf file (check which the employer prefers)
- Create a targeted professional summary.
Your summary serves as your resume’s first impression and should include relevant keywords.
- Limit to 3-4 impactful sentences
- Incorporate 3-5 key skills from the job description
- Mention your years of experience and biggest career achievements
- Use industry-specific language that ATS will recognize
For example: “Results-driven marketing manager with 7+ years of experience in digital campaign development and team leadership. Proven track record in SEO strategy, content marketing, and marketing analytics, delivering 40% average growth in qualified leads.”
Quantify your achievements.
Numbers catch both ATS and human attention, improving your ranking and readability.
- Add metrics to at least 70% of your bullet points
- Include percentages, dollar amounts, and other specific figures
- Format numbers consistently (either spell out numbers under 10 or use numerals throughout)
- Connect your quantifiable results to relevant keywords
Instead of “Managed social media accounts,” write “Grew Instagram engagement by 85% through strategic content planning and community management.”
- Optimize your skills section.
The skills section is prime real estate for ATS keyword matching.
- Create subsections for different skill types (Technical Skills, Soft Skills)
- List both hard skills (software, certifications) and soft skills (leadership, communication)
- Include skill levels where appropriate
- Remove outdated or irrelevant skills that don’t match the job requirements
- Perfect your work experience format.
ATS systems parse your work history in a specific way, so consistency is key.
- List company name, position title, location, and dates in a standard format
- Use reverse chronological order (most recent experience first)
- Ensure dates are formatted consistently (MM/YYYY or Month YYYY)
- Start bullet points with strong action verbs
- Incorporate 1-2 relevant keywords in each bullet point
- Keep bullets to 1-2 lines for optimal readability
“With over 99% of Fortune 500 companies and 75% of recruiters using ATS software to screen candidates, your resume needs to speak the language of these digital gatekeepers if you want a fighting chance. The good news? Optimizing your resume for ATS isn’t rocket science—but it does require understanding how these systems work and what they’re looking for.”
ATS Red Flags to Avoid
Even small formatting issues can trigger ATS rejection. Watch out for these common pitfalls:
- Unique section headings: Stick with standard titles like “Work Experience” instead of “Career Journey”
- Creative file names: Name your file “FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf” rather than “MyAwesomeResume.pdf”
- Images or graphics: These often get scrambled or ignored completely
- Inconsistent formatting: Maintain the same bullet style, font, and spacing throughout
- Submitting the wrong file type: Always check job application instructions for preferred file formats
Testing Your ATS-Friendly Resume
While optimizing for ATS is critical, remember that eventually (hopefully), your resume will reach human readers.
Balance ATS optimization with readability and impact for the hiring manager by:
- Including compelling accomplishments that tell your career story
- Making sure your personality and unique value proposition shine through
- Keeping the resume scannable with clear sections and white space
- Proofreading meticulously—ATS won’t catch your typos, but humans will
The Final Word on ATS-Friendly Resumes
Creating an ATS-friendly resume takes time and attention to detail, but the investment pays off with more interviews and job opportunities. By understanding how these systems work and following the strategies outlined above, you can dramatically increase your chances of getting past the digital gatekeepers and into the hands of hiring managers.
Remember: The goal of your resume is to get an interview, not the job itself. Optimize for ATS, but write for humans—the perfect balance will open more doors in your job search journey.
For more resume advice, Lensa has you covered. From creating a video resume to finding the best keywords to include, Lensa can help you craft a resume to find your next job—and MAKE YOUR MOVE.
