Between 70 and 90 percent of resumes are screened out by ATS software before a recruiter sees them. Learn exactly how to format and keyword-optimise your resume to get through.
An Applicant Tracking System is software that employers use to collect, sort, and filter job applications. When you submit a resume through an online portal, the ATS reads it before any person does. It scans for keywords, checks formatting compatibility, and scores your profile against the requirements listed in the job description.
The system is designed to reduce recruiter workload at high-volume employers. A company posting a single role may receive 300 to 500 applications. The ATS narrows that down to 20 or 30 candidates whose resumes match the criteria closely enough to review manually.
The problem is that ATS software is not intelligent in the way a human reader is. It cannot infer that your experience as a customer success manager is relevant to an account management role unless you have used those specific words. Format issues, unusual section headings, and missing keywords all cause rejections that have nothing to do with your actual suitability for the job.
Always submit your resume as a PDF or a Word document unless the application specifically requests otherwise. Image files, Google Docs links, and heavily designed PDF templates with text inside graphics cannot be read by most ATS software. The system sees a blank page and filters you out.
ATS software frequently skips headers and footers entirely. If your name, contact information, or job title lives in the header of your document, it may not be parsed correctly. Keep all critical information inside the main body of the document.
Multi-column layouts and text boxes look polished in a design tool but confuse most ATS parsers. The system reads left to right in a single flow. Content in columns often gets scrambled, merged with adjacent text, or skipped. Use a single column layout for every resume you submit through an online portal.
This is the biggest reason qualified candidates get filtered out. ATS software is instructed to look for specific terms that match the job posting. If the listing says project management and you have written project coordination, the system may not register a match even though the experience is the same. Read every job description carefully and mirror the exact language for skills and responsibilities that apply to your background.
Choose a straightforward format with clear section headings: Contact Information, Work Experience, Education, Skills, and optionally Certifications. Avoid decorative elements, icons, and graphic dividers. The cleaner the document, the more reliably the ATS can parse it.
Use the standard labels that ATS software expects. Work Experience, not Career Journey. Skills, not Core Competencies. Education, not Academic Background. Custom headings are creative but they confuse automated parsers.
Pull the key skills and tools directly from the job description and list them in a dedicated section near the top of your resume. Keep them concise: Python, Salesforce, Google Analytics, Project Management, Budget Forecasting. This makes it easy for the ATS to identify your capabilities quickly.
Numbers help both the ATS and the human reader who reviews your resume if you make it through screening. Instead of managed a team, write managed a team of eight engineers. Instead of increased sales, write increased sales by 34 percent over six months. Specific figures demonstrate impact in a way that general statements cannot.
A single generic resume submitted to every job is one of the most common mistakes active job seekers make. ATS software is calibrated to the specific language in each job posting. A resume that scores well for a marketing manager role at one company may score poorly for an almost identical role at another company simply because the job descriptions use different terminology.
Tailoring does not mean rewriting your entire resume for every application. It means reviewing the job description, identifying the five to eight most important keywords and requirements, and making sure those exact terms appear in your resume in an honest and accurate way. This targeted approach produces significantly better results than applying at high volume with an untailored document.
Passing the ATS screen means your resume reaches a recruiter or hiring manager. At that point, human judgment takes over. The recruiter typically spends six to ten seconds on an initial read to decide whether to look more closely. A clear structure, relevant experience at the top, and specific achievements make that quick read work in your favour.
If you are progressing to the interview stage and want guidance on how to prepare, the BrokeHustle guide to common interview questions covers the most common questions and how to approach them effectively.
For applications submitted through online portals, yes. Heavily designed resumes with graphics, icons, and multiple columns often fail ATS parsing. Save creative formats for in-person delivery or industries where design work is being assessed directly, such as graphic design or advertising. For all standard online applications, use a clean single-column format.
In the UK, Australia, and the United States, photos are generally not expected and in some jurisdictions can create legal complications around unconscious bias in hiring. Unless the employer specifically requests one or you are applying in a country where photos are standard, leave it out.
For candidates with fewer than ten years of experience, one page is the target. For those with ten or more years, two pages is acceptable. Beyond two pages, you risk a recruiter not reaching your most relevant experience. Prioritise impact over completeness and cut anything that does not directly support your candidacy for the specific role.
A skills-based or combination format works better for career changers than the standard reverse-chronological layout. Lead with a skills summary that draws out your transferable capabilities before listing your job history. This helps both the ATS and the recruiter see your relevance before they notice that your previous job titles do not match the role exactly.
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