10 ATS Resume Tips That Actually Work
We tested these tips on the three most common ATS platforms (Workday, Lever, Greenhouse). Here's what measurably improves your chances of getting past automated screening.
1. Use a single-column layout
Two-column resumes confuse ATS parsers. Text from the sidebar often gets mixed with main content, creating garbled output. Stick to one column flowing top-to-bottom.
2. Put contact info in the body, not the header
Many ATS skip document headers and footers entirely. Your name, email, phone, and LinkedIn URL should be in the main body of the document.
3. Use standard section headings
ATS looks for: "Work Experience," "Education," "Skills," "Summary," "Certifications." Creative alternatives like "Where I've Made Impact" or "My Toolkit" won't be categorized correctly.
4. Match keywords exactly
ATS does literal string matching, not semantic understanding. If the JD says "project management," write "project management" — not "managing projects" or "PM."
5. Include both acronyms and full terms
Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" so you match regardless of which form the recruiter searches for. Same for PMP, AWS, CI/CD, etc.
6. Use standard fonts
Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Helvetica, Georgia. Custom or decorative fonts can cause parsing failures where entire sections become unreadable.
7. Avoid tables, text boxes, and graphics
Tables often get scrambled during parsing. Text boxes may be read out of order. Graphics (skill bars, icons) are completely invisible to ATS. Use plain text with line breaks.
8. Submit as PDF (unless told otherwise)
Modern ATS handles PDF well. It preserves formatting and is universally readable. Only use DOCX if the application specifically requests it.
9. Front-load important keywords
ATS typically weighs content appearing earlier in the document more heavily. Put your most critical skills and keywords in your summary and the first 2-3 experience entries.
10. Include a dedicated Skills section
A "Skills" section near the bottom catches keywords that don't fit naturally in your experience bullets. List 10-15 hard skills, each on a comma-separated list.
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Free ATS checkFrequently Asked Questions
What file format is best for ATS?
PDF is safest for modern ATS (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever all parse PDFs well). Use DOCX only if specifically requested. Never use images, infographics, or creative formats.
Do graphics and icons hurt ATS scores?
Yes. ATS cannot read text embedded in images, icons, or graphics. Skill bars, star ratings, and progress circles are completely invisible to ATS parsers. Use plain text lists instead.
How often should I update my resume for ATS?
Customize for every application. At minimum, update your summary and skills section to match each job description. The body of your experience can remain largely the same.