8 Tips for Crafting an ATS-Friendly Resume (with Examples)
Have you ever been ghosted after submitting a job application? Have you spent hours or days carefully crafting a resume, then submitted it for a position you thought was perfect for you, only to hear nothing?
If this has happened to you, it might not be because you’re a bad fit for the job. It might be that the company is using an applicant tracking system (or ATS) that filters out your application from the virtual stack.
If you’ve never heard of applicant tracking systems, keep reading. You’ll learn all about the importance of writing your resume for these systems and how to create an ATS-friendly resume. You’ll find some ATS resume templates, too.
What Is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?
Applicant tracking systems are tools that hiring managers use to simplify the recruiting process. They use automation to screen applications and pick out the most qualified candidates.
Over 97 percent of Fortune 500 companies currently use applicant tracking systems, and many small and medium-sized businesses use them as well. When you consider the fact that the average corporate job ad receives over 250 responses, it makes sense that the company would use an ATS to help them sift through applications and get rid of those who don’t meet the necessary qualifications.
How Does an ATS Work?
The best applicant tracking systems use the latest technology, like natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI).
These tools help screen and sort through candidates’ resumes. They can look for keyword matches and use various other algorithms to simplify the data analysis process.
Many applicant tracking systems also integrate with popular online job boards. This helps to streamline virtual job postings and further simplify the hiring process.
Why Is It Important to Write an ATS-Friendly Resume?
If you’re not already optimizing your resume for applicant tracking systems, now is the time to do so. Listed below are the top 3 reasons why this matters:
1. Don’t Fall Through the Cracks
Out of the roughly 250 people who apply for the average corporate position, only 4-6 get asked to come in for an interview, and only 1 candidate actually lands the job. Those don’t sound like great odds, do they?
The point of sharing this fact isn’t to make you feel bad or cause you to give up on your job search; it’s to convince you that you should do whatever you can to avoid falling through the cracks.
If your application doesn’t even make it through the ATS algorithm, you won’t get the chance to interview for the roles you apply to, let alone actually land one.
2. Stay Competitive
The job market is considered a “seekers’ market” right now. In other words, there are more job openings than there are applicants.
But this doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels and send out a haphazardly thrown-together resume. Lots of companies may be hiring, but there’s still plenty of competition out there.
If you want a chance at landing a position that’s a good fit for you, you need to know how to create an ATS-friendly resume that will get you past this automated gatekeeper.
If you don’t take the writing process seriously, you could miss out on your dream job. Most likely, you’ll lose the opportunity to someone else who was more conscientious about tailoring their resume to an ATS.
3. Get Hired Faster
Finally, if you are more careful about your resume writing process, you’ll be able to get hired faster.
If you’re tired of filling out applications, sending resumes, and anxiously refreshing your email inbox, you need to change the way you draft your resumes. By writing with applicant tracking systems in mind, you can “hack the algorithm” and increase your chances of landing a job.
6 Key Features of an ATS Resume
Not sure what an ATS-friendly resume looks like? This checklist outlines the 6 key features that the best ATS resumes include:
1. Clear Contact Information
Applicant tracking systems are designed to pick up on key details, including contact information.
If your contact information is buried in your resume and isn’t easy to find, that could be enough to get your resume disqualified. After all, if the ATS can’t figure out how to get in touch with you, how is the company supposed to let you know they’d like you to come in for a job interview?
2. Appropriate Keywords
Keywords are, well, key to just about everything these days, from social media ads to blog posts. Your resume is no exception. If your resume doesn’t include certain keywords that are relevant to the position for which you’re applying, the ATS is going to filter it out and put it in the proverbial “no” pile.
3. Simple Formatting
Complex formatting and fancy designs might look nice on your laptop screen, but they aren’t so great for applicant tracking systems. The ATS may have a hard time “reading” your resume if it’s formatted confusingly. As a result, it will get skipped over and you’ll be out of a job for a lot longer than if you keep your resume simple and streamlined.
4. Bullet Points and Headings
Part of simple, streamlined formatting is making use of things like bullet points and headings. Bullet points and headings help to organize your resume and make it clear to the reader (human or machine) what you’re talking about in each section of the document.
5. Clear Hierarchy
A clear information hierarchy matters, too. If your resume isn’t well-organized, it’s more likely to get skipped over by the ATS. It’s also less likely to catch a hiring manager’s attention if they skim through it to decide whether or not they want to bring you in for an interview.
6. Appropriate File Type
Many applicant tracking systems are only compatible with certain file types. In general, .docx and .doc are the most appropriate types of files—not PDFs. Plain text files are good for applicant tracking systems, too, but they limit your formatting options.
How to Create an ATS-Friendly Resume: 8 Tips to Help You
At this point, you’re probably ready to start writing your ATS-optimized resume! If you’re feeling a little intimidated by the idea of putting together an ATS-friendly CV or resume, here are 8 tips to help you.
1. Use the Right Keywords
As we mentioned above, you need to be careful with the keywords you include when drafting your resume.
Applicant tracking systems are designed to scan documents and look for keywords the company has deemed most important. Resumes that contain the fewest keywords are filtered out, which could prevent you from making progress in your job hunt.
When you’re writing your resume, win the ATS over by using a variety of industry or role-specific terminology. If you’re not sure what words to include, go back and re-read the job posting. Then, echo the language used by the hiring manager.
Including the most appropriate keywords will help you get your resume to the top of the list. However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
Take care not to “keyword stuff” your resume. If it seems like you’re just plugging in key phrases for the sake of it and they aren’t used contextually, that’s a red flag to applicant tracking systems and hiring managers. If you overdo it, you’ll end up getting your resume tossed out.
2. Avoid Complex Formatting
The simpler your resume’s formatting is, the better.
Creatively designed resumes aren’t just hard for applicant tracking systems to read, they’re also harder for hiring managers to read. Even if a fancy resume manages to squeak through an ATS’s screening process, it may end up getting thrown out by a hiring manager who doesn’t have time to try and decipher it.
Here are some tips that will help you simplify your resume’s formatting:
- Do Use:
- Bold type
- Italics
- Underlining (for headings and URLs)
- Bullet points (circle and square-shaped are best)
- Don’t Use:
- Tables
- Text boxes
- Columns (ATSs are programmed to read left to right)
- Unconventional section headings
- Hyperlinks
- Unconventional fonts (stick to fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, and Georgia)
3. Create a Hierarchy
A hierarchy makes it easier for the ATS and the humans who will eventually get their hands on your resume to read it and pick out key details.
In general, the most important pieces of information should be located as close to the top of your resume as possible. For example, your name and contact information should always be at the top so the reader immediately knows who they’re reading about.
When plugging in your work experience or training certifications, be sure to start with the most recent ones and work backward. If you have a lot of work experience, consider creating two sections: one for relevant experience and one for other roles you held in the past.
As for education, the ideal placement for this section varies depending on your unique situation. For example, if you’re a fresh graduate who doesn’t have a lot of work experience yet, placing your education above the experience section might be the right move. On the other hand, if you have years of relevant work experience, put that above the section related to your schooling.
4. Explain Roles and Job Experience in Detail
When you’re describing your previous jobs and the responsibilities that came with each one, use detail. The more detail you include when describing each position, the easier it is to incorporate keywords naturally into your resume.
If you’re not sure how to explain what you did in your last role, consider researching resumes from people who have applied for similar positions. Study the job ad, too. This shows you what kind of responsibilities you’ll need to fulfill if you get the position and can give you an idea of the best keywords to include.
While it’s important to include relevant detail, it’s also important to avoid being overly descriptive or wordy. If you overdo it, you may fall into keyword-stuffing territory. You may also make your resume too long or hard to read.
5. Choose the Right File Type
A lot of people assume that submitting resumes in PDF format is the most appropriate choice. In reality, though, .docx and .doc files are typically your best bet when writing for applicant tracking systems.
If you’re still not sure, double-check the job ad to see if a list of appropriate file types is included. This will help you avoid submitting a file that the ATS can’t read and therefore gets disqualified.
6. Avoid Graphics
If you’re applying for a job in the United States, there’s no need to include a photo of yourself in your resume. Furthermore, you shouldn’t include any other types of graphics in the document.
In most cases, applicant tracking systems cannot pick up on charts, graphs, logos, or other images. As a result, all the hard work that went into creating those graphics will have been for nothing, and your resume may even get thrown out altogether.
To increase your chances of getting your resume read and considered, keep it simple. Limit yourself to text and basic formatting features like bullet points instead.
7. Keep Details Out of the Header and Footer
When writing your resume, do not include important information in the header or footer of your document. Better yet, don’t place any information in these areas at all.
Text placed in the header or footer often gets cut off by the ATS. To avoid parts of your resume getting overlooked, everything should be kept within the margins of the document body.
If you’ve included a crucial detail like your name or email address in the margins, your resume likely won’t even be considered by the ATS, and you’ll be disqualified from the job before you’ve even had a chance to prove yourself.
8. Don’t Try to Trick the System
At first, this tip might sound a bit funny. After all, haven’t you just read 7 tips explaining how to trick the applicant tracking system?
There’s a big difference between understanding how to work within the parameters of the system (which is what this guide’s all about) and actively trying to trick an ATS. You need to know how to write an ATS-friendly resume that doesn’t read as spammy or fake.
Here are some examples of how people have tried (and failed) to trick the ATS in the past:
- Copying and pasting keywords in white font
- Copying and pasting the job description in white
- Keyword stuffing
- Adding a “keywords” section
These kinds of tactics may have worked once upon a time, but applicant tracking systems have become more sophisticated in recent years. Plus, even if your resume got through an ATS with these hacks, it likely wouldn’t get past a hiring manager’s more watchful eye, so your craftiness still wouldn’t help you land the job.
If you feel like you need more tips for creating the best resume that can be used for any job search, LiveCFA has already listed the best tips that can get you to land the jobs you want.
ATS-Friendly Resume Templates
With these tips in mind, you’ll have a much easier time writing an ATS-friendly resume. There’s more, though. These templates can provide additional insight and make the writing process even simpler:
Template 1: Basic ATS Resume
Name and Job Title
Summary or Objective
[Include your objective here plus contact information to help the ATS pick it up more easily.]
Education or Experience
[Title of degree] [School name] [Graduation date]
- [Relevant classes]
- [Relevant projects]
or
[Job title] [Dates of employment]
[Name of employer] [City and state of employer]
- [Detailed function of the role]
Skills, expertise, interests, or other
- [Short phrase explaining skill]
- [Short phrase explaining expertise]
- [Short phrase introducing accomplishment]
Template 2: Recent College Grad Resume
Name and Job Title
Summary or Objective
[Include your objective here plus contact information to help the ATS pick it up more easily.]
Education
[Title of degree] [School name] [Graduation date (if applicable)]
[Relevant classes]
[Relevant projects]
Certificates
[Title] [Completion date]
Work/Internship Experience
[Job title] [Dates of employment]
[Name of employer] [City and state of employer]
- [Detailed function of the role]
Template 3: Professional Resume
Name and Job Title
Summary or Objective
[Include your objective here plus contact information to help the ATS pick it up more easily.]
Work Experience
[Job title] [Dates of employment]
[Name of employer] [City and state of employer]
- [Detailed function of the role]
Skills and Competencies
- [Short phrase explaining skill]
- [Short phrase explaining competency]
Courses and Training
[Course title][Completion date]
[Course provider]
Certificates
[Title] [Completion date]
Education
[Title of degree] [School name] [Graduation date]
[Relevant classes]
[Relevant projects]
Languages
[Language][Proficiency level]
Additionally, if none of the resume templates here suit your preferences, there are countless other resume samples available on the internet for you to explore.
Draft an ATS-Friendly Resume Today
Now that you know how to create an ATS-friendly resume, it’s time to get to work on yours. Follow the tips outlined above, and don’t be afraid to use the templates for extra guidance!
If you’re ready to start applying for jobs and submitting your ATS resume, check out the job listings on GrabJobs today. Our search platform makes it easier than ever for you to find the perfect position.
Photo by Van Tay Media on Unsplash
