ATS-friendly resume templates
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What Are ATS-Friendly Resume Templates?
ATS-friendly resume templates are pre-formatted documents meant to simplify resume writing, specifically designed to help you pass applicant tracking systems. Many companies use these to automatically screen resumes and determine which applicants will proceed to the next hiring stage.
In many cases, a resume that doesn’t pass ATS screening never reaches human eyes. This means that using an ATS-compatible resume format isn’t just a recommendation but a must, or you risk having your application discarded automatically.
Our ATS-friendly resume templates sport clean and precise layouts with standard fonts and structured organization, unlike heavily designed resumes that may run into issues with scanning software. They offer professionalism and simplicity you need to pass while simultaneously appeasing recruiters and providing the necessary details about your qualifications.
Why Choose Our ATS-Friendly Resume Templates?
Here are the main reasons why you should choose our ATS-friendly resume templates:
100% compliant design. There are many templates compatible with some ATS platforms and specific screening tools. Our templates are meticulously crafted to pass even the most rigorous ones, ensuring your resume reaches human eyes regardless of the software a company uses.
Keyword optimization. Our ATS keyword optimization algorithm is built using real-world recruitment data. As a result, your resume will end up with a logical hierarchy and content-rich zones specifically placed to accommodate the screening software. This allows your resume to not just pass the scan but get the highest grade.
Machine and human-friendly design. ATS resume templates aren’t just compatible with algorithms; they help you create recruiter-friendly resumes. After your resume passes the scan, it reaches human eyes. Our templates make your resume pleasant to look at, easy to read, and structured in a way that optimally conveys information.
Extensive customization. Even though our ATS resume templates are carefully designed to pass strict applicant tracking systems, they can still be extensively customized. You can modify the entire document with our resume builder, knowing it will still maintain the core structure and formatting needed to pass the screening.
When You Should Use ATS-Friendly Resume Templates
Now that you understand the biggest benefits of using ATS-friendly resume templates, let’s see when you should use them:
You’re applying online. If you’re applying online (e.g., via a company website, job board, or LinkedIn Easy Apply), there is a high chance that your resume will get automatically scanned before a recruiter takes a look at it.
You’re applying at a large company. Large companies often have to process hundreds of applications for a single opening. Most of them use automated resume screening to make the hiring process more efficient.
You’re applying for a highly competitive role. Even if a company isn’t using ATS for every opening, it may do so when a role is competitive and there is a significant number of professionals applying for it.
You’ve applied before with little success. If you’ve applied many times before with little to no success, chances are that your resume has never even reached a recruiter and has been automatically rejected by software.
You want a precise and professional document. If you want a generally strong resume with a professional structure and precise keyword optimization, you can’t go wrong with an ATS-friendly template.
How to Customize Your Resume Template (for ATS)?
The best way to customize your resume and ensure its compatibility with ATS is to use our resume builder.
Simply pick a template and start writing; our user-friendly interface will help you modify any aspect of the document you want. You can change font, color, and layout with one click while still ensuring proper ATS resume formatting.
Don’t forget to check out our collection of resume examples if you need more help or inspiration to make the best document possible.
ATS-Friendly Resume Templates FAQ
You need an ATS-friendly resume because many companies use applicant tracking software to screen these documents before recruiters get to review them. If your resume doesn’t pass the screening phase, chances are it will get discarded automatically, without ever reaching human eyes.
You can download our ATS resume templates as a PDF; our resume builder doesn’t export Word files, but a PDF is a better choice regardless. It maintains formatting, regardless of how it's viewed. Plus, it’s supported by most devices, ensuring recruiters will be able to open and examine your resume.
Yes, you can use colors, graphics, and icons in an ATS-friendly resume. However, you shouldn’t include too much color or too many elements, as that can damage your document’s ATS score. That’s why it’s recommended to use preformatted ATS resume templates.
Yes, ATS-friendly templates work for all industries. These templates aren’t just designed with applicant tracking systems in mind; their layout and structure are crafted based on recruiter feedback and hiring data. This makes the templates versatile and useful across both corporate and creative industries.
In most cases, the best file format for ATS resumes is PDF, followed by DOCX or Word file format. These are compatible with the majority of modern software and devices, maximizing the chances your resume gets opened and viewed.
There are various online tools you can use to analyze your resume and determine whether it’s ATS-compliant. If you use our resume builder, you’ll receive suggestions on how to improve the document and boost its score; plus, by using one of our ATS templates, you’ll ensure compatibility from the start.
Yes, these templates are free, and you can use them in our software to create a resume optimized for ATS. You can then share a unique link with recruiters to let them view your resume, or you can go with a premium option and download your document as a PDF.
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