How to Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that employers use to collect and organize job applications. When you submit a resume online, the ATS reads it, pulls out key details, your name, job titles, skills, education, and stores them in a searchable database.

From there, the system compares your resume to the job description and filters or ranks candidates based on how closely they match. In many companies, especially larger ones, no human sees a resume until it clears this step first.

When your resume file is uploaded, the ATS converts it to plain text and strips away most of the visual formatting. It then scans for recognizable sections, work experience, education, skills, and extracts specific details like job titles, dates, employer names, and keywords. Those details get organized into a candidate profile. Recruiters can then search that profile, apply filters, and sort candidates by relevance score.

Here is what typically influences that score:

Some systems hide profiles that fail a knock-out question or miss a required term entirely. Others keep all profiles searchable but push higher-scoring ones to the top.

A well-qualified candidate can still get filtered out if their resume is hard for the software to read. Here are the most common formatting issues that cause problems.

ATS parsing focuses on text. Images, icons, and charts are typically ignored. Multi-column layouts and tables can scramble the reading order, causing job titles to appear next to the wrong dates or skills to get cut off entirely.

Content placed inside a header, footer, or floating text box is often skipped during plain-text conversion. Contact details or job titles placed there can disappear from the parsed version of your resume.

Non-standard fonts may not convert cleanly and can produce garbled characters. Decorative bullets, accent marks, and emojis can split or alter keywords, for example, turning "résumé" into a string the system does not recognize.

If your resume does not include the exact terms from the posting, the system may not surface your profile in recruiter searches. Synonyms and close variants are not always recognized as matches, so mirroring the employer's language matters.

Certain file types cause compatibility problems. Image-based PDFs, common exports from design tools like Canva or Adobe InDesign, flatten text into a picture the ATS cannot read. This is covered in more detail in the tips section below.

The steps below cover the most common formatting and content adjustments that improve how an ATS reads a resume.

A single-column, clean layout with no graphics, borders, or design elements parses most reliably. Free ATS-optimized templates are available through tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word, as well as most university career centers.

ATS software is built to recognize conventional labels. Stick to headings like:

Creative alternatives like "My Journey" or "What I Bring" can confuse the parser and cause sections to be miscategorized or skipped.

Common system fonts keep characters intact during parsing and remain easy to read on screen. Reliable options include:

A font size between 10 and 12 points works for body text; section headings can be slightly larger.

Pull exact terms from the job posting, the job title, required skills, tools, and certifications, and use them in context throughout your resume. Place them in recent work experience bullets and your skills section, using the employer's phrasing where it accurately reflects your background. Avoid listing keywords without context. A dense block of terms with no surrounding description reads as keyword stuffing and can actually hurt your ranking in some systems.

.docx is the most widely supported format across ATS platforms and preserves text for accurate parsing. PDF works in many systems but not all. When an application specifies a format, follow those instructions.Avoid submitting files created in design tools unless explicitly converted to a text-readable format.

Single-column, left-aligned text with standard round bullets preserves reading order during plain-text conversion. Columns, tables, and text boxes often scramble content or cause sections to be dropped entirely.

The structure below reflects the section order most ATS platforms expect. Use it as a starting point.

Example entry (work experience):

Customer Service Representative, Acme Co., Chicago, IL | Jan 2022–Present

This format keeps every detail in plain, parseable text. The job title appears first on its line, dates sit at the end of the header, and bullets describe specific responsibilities and tools.

Before submitting, it helps to check whether your resume file parses the way you intend. One quick method: save your resume as a plain .txt file and open it. If text is missing, out of order, or garbled, that's a sign the original formatting may cause issues in an ATS.

Resume graders go further. They scan your resume as ATS software does, flag formatting issues, and compare your wording against a job description to identify missing keywords. Checkr offers a free resume grader that gives instant feedback on structure, ATS compatibility, and keyword match, highlighting specific issues before they cost you an interview.

Passing the ATS is step one. Once a recruiter opens your resume, the next challenge is credibility, especially in a market where inflated claims are common and references are easy to fabricate. Verified credentials give your experience something to stand on. Checkr lets you add verified identity, education and degree confirmation, professional licenses, and references to a portable Profile you own and control.

Checkr's verified resume attaches a verified identity signature to your resume, so your roles, dates, and credentials are backed by real confirmation, not just your word. That Profile travels with you from one application to the next.

Checkr regularly ships new tools, so the platform keeps adding practical ways for job seekers to stand out with proof. And if you are ever on the other side of the table doing the hiring, Checkr also runs employment background checks for businesses.

The lookback period for background screenings depends on federal and state regulations, the scope of a search, and other factors. Partnering with a trusted background check provider like Checkr helps you navigate these complexities.

An ATS-friendly resume comes down to a few habits. Keep the layout single-column, use standard section headings and a clean font, and pull keywords straight from the job description. Save it in a format the software can read, usually .docx, and test it before you apply so nothing gets garbled or dropped. Get these right, and your resume clears the software step instead of disappearing into it.

From there, the goal shifts from getting read to being believed. You can run a background check on yourself to see what employers see, fix anything that looks off, and back your experience with verified credentials you own and control. Check your resume against a real job description, make the changes it flags, and apply knowing your application will actually reach a person.

The 7-second rule refers to the idea that recruiters spend only a few seconds on an initial scan before deciding whether to read further. One widely cited eye-tracking study found recruiters spend an average of about 7.4 seconds on a resume. Clear formatting and relevant keywords near the top of the page support that quick evaluation.

A .docx file is generally the most compatible option across ATS platforms. PDF works in many systems, but not all. When an application specifies a format, follow those instructions.

Body text between 10 and 12 points works well for most ATS platforms and human readers alike. Section headings can be slightly larger to help both the software and recruiters identify sections quickly.

Read the job description carefully and note the specific skills, tools, certifications, and job titles the employer lists. Use those exact terms in your resume where they accurately reflect your experience, particularly in recent work bullets and your skills section.

Resume graders simulate how ATS software reads a file. They flag formatting issues, identify missing keywords, and check section labels, giving you a clearer picture of how your resume performs before you apply.

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