What is an ATS-friendly resume?
An ATS-friendly resume is one that a computer can read easily. ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It is the software companies use to filter job applications.
When your resume is ATS-friendly, the computer can read it, find your skills and match them to the job. When it is not ATS-friendly, the computer struggles and your score goes down.
The most important tips
Use one column
A one-column layout is the safest. Two columns can confuse the ATS and mix up your information.
No tables or text boxes
The ATS often cannot read text inside tables or boxes. Use plain text instead.
No images or logos
Images are invisible to an ATS. If you put your skills in a graphic, the ATS will not see them.
Standard fonts only
Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman. These are safe. Fancy fonts can cause problems.
Standard section headings
Use "Work Experience", "Education", "Skills". The ATS recognises these. Creative headings may not be read correctly.
Match job keywords exactly
Copy the exact words from the job posting. Do not paraphrase. The ATS looks for exact matches.
What to write in each section
Work experience
List your jobs in order. Start with the most recent. Include your job title, company name, dates and a few bullet points about what you did. Use numbers where you can. "Managed a team of 5" is better than "Managed a team".
Skills
Put your skills in a dedicated section. Write them as a list. Use the exact terms from the job posting. If the job asks for "Google Analytics", write "Google Analytics". Not "web analytics tools".
Education
Include your degree, the school name and the year you finished. Keep it simple. One or two lines per qualification is enough.
Summary at the top
Write two or three sentences at the top of your resume. Describe who you are and what you bring. Use keywords from the job posting here too.
What to avoid
Creative resume templates
They look good to a human but are bad for ATS. The computer gets confused by design elements.
Headers and footers for key information
Some ATS systems do not read headers and footers. Do not put your name or contact details only in a header.
Sending the wrong file type
Always use PDF or Word. Image files and other formats are often not readable by ATS.
Using the same resume for every job
Each job posting has different keywords. A small edit to your skills and summary for each job makes a big difference to your score.
How do I know if my resume is ATS-friendly?
The easiest way is to use an ATS checker. JobFoxly has one built in. You paste the job posting. You upload your resume. JobFoxly shows you how well they match and what keywords are missing.
You fix the gaps. Then you apply. This takes about ten minutes and improves your chances significantly.
Use JobFoxly's ATS check before every application. It shows you your match score and the missing keywords in seconds.
Check your CV against any job posting for free — paste the job description and get a match score in seconds. Try the free ATS checker.
Check your resume against any job for free
JobFoxly has a built-in ATS check. Paste the job posting. Upload your resume. Get your score. Then track the application in the same tool.
Try JobFoxly for free