ATS Tips: 11+ Smart Ways to Optimize Your Resume

The applicant tracking system (ATS) helps HR professionals sort through resumes and automate hiring processes, and ATS tips can help you get past this stage and land an interview. In many cases, optimizing your resume for this software is more than enough to get you ahead of the competition.

This article will give you numerous tips on how to pass ATS systems. We’ll cover everything from how to format and design your document to which keywords to use. Without further ado, let’s jump right in!

How Does Applicant Tracking System Work?

The applicant tracking system (ATS) works by scanning and organizing information about job seekers to help recruiters choose the best person for their organization.

This comprehensive software solution can analyze resumes for relevant details about candidates. It also allows recruiters to filter resumes based on various criteria to identify the most qualified individuals.

ATS is used worldwide by businesses of all sizes due to its ability to streamline and expedite hiring processes. It’s particularly prevalent with big companies that get hundreds of applications, as it helps their HR department improve their efficiency and reduce the manual work needed and the cost of hiring a new employee.

In general, applicant tracking systems are set up based on job postings. This allows them to parse resumes and filter keywords that best match the needs of the company. Following that, candidates are ranked and shortlisted, and those with the highest scores move forward in the hiring process.

ATS-Friendly Resume Example

Before we dive into specific advice and concrete ATS tips, let’s take a look at the example of an ATS resume designed to pass the software screening. It features an established, chronological format, a clean and elegant layout, distinct section headings, and all the necessary sections:

9 Pro Tips for Beating ATS and Getting Your Resume Noticed

Now that you know what the applicant tracking system is and what a resume designed for it should look like, let’s go through a list of ATS tips and tricks you can incorporate into your document.

#1. Use Proper Job Titles

One of the first things ATS scans in resumes is the job title, as it looks for candidates whose titles perfectly match the positions in the job ad. That’s why you should use industry-standard language when adding your title to the contact information section.

For example, if you’re writing a digital marketing resume, you should use a “Digital Marketing Specialist” title and not “Marketing Guru.” Similarly, a customer service resume should have a “Customer Service Specialist” as a job title and not a “Customer Satisfaction Pro.”

To ensure you’ve used the correct job title in your resume, you can copy it from the job description, research the company, and find out the name of the role.

#2. Use an ATS-Friendly Template

Using an ATS-friendly resume template is one of the best ways to ensure applicant tracking software compatibility with minimal effort. Many templates are designed and formatted by industry experts and HR professionals to ensure compatibility with applicant tracking systems.

All templates at Resume.co feature ATS-friendly resume formatting, sections, and design elements. By using them in combination with our resume builder, you can craft a professional document guaranteed to pass software screening in minutes!

Simply pick a template that suits your needs, customize its layout or sections, add your information in predesignated areas, and download your submission-ready resume.

#3. Tailor Your Resume for Each Job

A generic, one-size-fits-all resume won’t perform optimally with the applicant tracking system, as it’s not optimized for every job. One of the essential ATS tips (and resume writing tips in general) is to ensure that all the keywords, skills, and qualifications in your resume match the specific job requirements.

This means matching more than a job title in the contact information section. For instance, if the job posting asks for project management skills and mentions that candidates proficient in Agile methodologies are preferred, you want to make sure these terms appear in your resume.

Whenever you’re applying for a new role, you want to revise your resume and update its contents. This is particularly important for your resume summary or objective, work experience, and skills sections.

#4. Use an Established Resume Format

Resume format refers to how information and sections are organized in the document. Applicant tracking software works best when scanning resumes that use clean, professional, and established formats.

Most ATS systems are set up with the chronological resume format in mind. This is the most widely used format regardless of the industry and the one recruiters are used to, making it a solid all-around pick.

As its name says, the chronological resume format lists your past jobs in the reverse-chronological order. This allows the ATS to effortlessly scan your previous job titles and accomplishments while giving recruiters a concise overview of your career progress.

#5. Use Standard Section Headings

ATS uses headings in your resume to categorize its contents and discern which information they are analyzing. That’s why one of the essential ATS tips is to use established headings, such as:

Avoid unconventional and unprofessional terminology, such as “My Professional Journey” or “Where I Studied.” The software might not be able to recognize the purpose of a section with an unclear heading.

Standard section headings are important for recruiters, too. They often skim through resumes, even after they’ve passed software screening. If they can’t immediately understand what they are looking at, they might discard your resume and move on to the next candidate.

#6. Incorporate the Right Action Verbs

Action verbs and power words aren’t just great at grabbing the reader’s attention; they also act as resume keywords for the ATS and help algorithms spot your accomplishments. Instead of using generic wording like “worked,” “used,” or “did,” one of the most important ATS tips is to use strong verbs like “managed,” “developed,” or “implemented.”

On top of that, you want to quantify your accomplishments and use numbers in combination with action verbs. This adds measurable value to your efforts and helps ATS find the actual results of your work rather than a generic list of responsibilities.

For example, instead of adding “Responsible for social media” to your social media manager resume, you should put something along the lines of “Managed a social media account for an e-commerce client, boosting their engagement by 35%.”

#7. Mention Critical Skills Throughout the Resume

In addition to creating a tailored list of abilities in the skills section of your resume, you also want to include them throughout the document. Your hard and soft skills act as keywords, and you can add them to the resume objective or summary and work experience sections.

For starters, this will up the ATS score of your resume. More than that, it can further help demonstrate your skills to recruiters as you’ll mention them in relation to notable accomplishments.

#8. Use Both Full Forms and Abbreviations for Key Terms

One of the most important applicant tracking system resume tips is to use both full forms and abbreviations of crucial terms. For instance, when listing a certification, you should write “Certified Public Accountant (CPA),” adding both versions of the name.

Similarly, adding only SEO or only Search Engine Optimization might not be enough for every ATS. Some of these systems are set up to look for abbreviations, while others scan for full forms. Including both is the only way to ensure you pass the scan every time.

#9. Submit Your Resume in the Right File Format

While there are many types of text file formats you can view on a computer, not all of them are compatible with the ATS. PDF is one of the most common file formats that retains your resume’s formatting across different devices.

However, you should pay attention to the job description to see if the employer requires a different file type, such as DOC or DOCX. Submitting the wrong one can result in an automatic rejection.

How to Test Your Resume for ATS Compatibility

One of the simplest ways to test your resume for ATS compatibility is to use websites like Jobscan or Resume Worded. These sites offer handy scanning tools with in-built ATS algorithms, so they can check whether your resume will pass the software screening.

The process is simple: you just upload your resume (usually as a PDF or DOCX file), include the job description of the role you’re after, and view the results. In addition to showing you the overall ATS score, these tools will also show you the exact areas in which you can improve your resume (e.g. if you lack hard or soft skills or specific keywords.)

Remember that using our ATS-friendly resume builder ensures software compatibility from the get-go. All our templates feature ATS-compatible formats and layouts, and we have a premium feature that specifically tailors your resume to the job you’re applying for. 

3 ATS Mistakes You Should Avoid

Now that we’ve seen all the important ATS tips for a resume that tell you what you should do, let’s go through some of the things that you shouldn’t do to avoid making critical mistakes.

#1. Don’t Overstuff Your Resume With Keywords

While using the right amount of favorable power words increases your chances of passing the ATS scan, overwhelming your resume with too many keywords and buzzwords can harm your resume’s applicant tracking system optimization.

Terms like “hardworking” or “go-getter” aren’t the best at demonstrating your skills and qualifications. These are vague terms that create unsubstantiated claims, adding no value to your resume. Even overusing acceptable keywords is not good practice, as it can have the negative effect of lowering your ATS score.

#2. Include All Key Sections

There are five must-have resume sections, and your resume needs to have all of them to pass the scan. These sections are:

These sections contain critical information about your qualifications, and omitting any of them can result in your resume being automatically discarded.

#3. Avoid Complex Graphical Elements

While fancy graphics and intricate resume design might appeal to some recruiters, ATS generally favors simple and elegant layouts. The software can run into issues trying to scan a document with complex graphical elements, such as tables, charts, text boxes, and infographics.

That’s why you should reduce those elements to a minimum (or not include them altogether) and stick to a straightforward, text-focused resume. For instance, a bullet point list is almost always better than a table for your skills and accomplishments. This maximizes compatibility with the ATS and ensures your resume doesn’t get discarded due to unneeded complexity.

Final Thoughts

Using these ATS tips to optimize your resume for software screening is essential in passing the initial stage of the hiring process with many companies. Even if you have impeccable qualifications and invaluable skills, not presenting them optimally on a well-designed and formatted resume can set you back in the job-hunting race.

Remember to focus on the content of your resume and opt for a simple and minimal design. Make sure that you’ve included all the important keywords, but don’t overcrowd your document with irrelevant buzzwords. Finally, don’t forget to try out our resume builder if you want a stress-free experience and guaranteed ATS compatibility!

ATS Tips FAQ

#1. Is 70 a good ATS score?

Yes, 70 is a good ATS score, as most resumes range between 60% and 70%. However, getting your score to 80 or more will significantly improve your chances of getting noticed and landing a job interview.

#2. How to outsmart ATS?

To outsmart ATS, you first need a clean and professional layout and an established resume format (e.g., chronological). Following that, you want to ensure you’ve included and adequately named all the mandatory sections, matched your job title with the one in the description, and added all the keywords.

#3. What file format is best for an ATS-compatible resume?

The file format best for an ATS-compatible resume is PDF, in most cases. However, you should pay attention to the job description as some employers can explicitly ask for a different file format, such as .DOC or .DOCX.

#4. Can I use a creative resume format for ATS?

You can use a creative resume format for ATS as long as it covers the basics and doesn’t go overboard with design elements. Subtle details or touches of color can enhance your document’s visual appeal as long as the rest is optimized for the applicant tracking system.