How to Write an ATS Resume for 2024
Applying to jobs and getting no interview callbacks? We’ll show you how to write an ATS resume that makes it past hiring software employers use to screen resumes. Your interview awaits!
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A new study found that 97% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to filter resumes, which is why having an ATS-friendly resume is crucial.
The good news is we’ve got you covered! We’ll show you how to create an ATS resume that will beat the bots and make it into the hands of a hiring manager.
Want to jump ahead and ensure your resume is ATS-compliant? Try our free ATS Resume Checker tool.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- What is an ATS?
- Why do companies use applicant tracking systems?
- What is an ATS match rate and how can you increase yours?
- How to create an ATS resume?
- ATS-friendly resume templates
What is an applicant tracking system (ATS)?
An ATS is a software program companies use to track and manage candidates throughout the application and hiring process. ATS scans resumes for keywords indicating a candidate’s suitability for a job.
If a resume doesn’t satisfy the minimum requirements a company has set for their candidates, then the ATS flags this resume and discards it, meaning a recruiter won’t even see your resume.
Why do companies use applicant tracking systems?
Many hiring managers and recruiting agencies use applicant tracking systems to manage the influx of job applications they receive.
Some companies receive upwards of 500 resumes for a single job, so ATS has become invaluable in deciding which candidates will get a closer look.
ATS replaces human intervention and scans resumes for keywords and skills relevant to the role.
PRO TIP
Companies also use applicant tracking systems for cover letters and CVs, so make sure these documents are optimized for ATS.
How to create an ATS resume
To create an ATS-friendly resume that scores you an interview, tailor your resume for each job to the skills and experiences the employer seeks.
If you’d like to bypass the writing process, our Resume Builder will write an ATS-friendly resume for you, or follow the steps below.
STEP 1
Pick an ATS-compliant resume format.
Before you start writing, you want to choose a resume format that ATS easily reads. The best format for an ATS-friendly resume is the chronological format, which lists your work history near the top of the page. This traditional resume format is easy for ATS to scan and is the preferred format of hiring managers.
Chronological resumes show all five resume sections with their traditional titles in the expected order (contact information at the top, professional summary, work experience followed by skills and education).
Name your resume sections by their traditional titles:
- Resume Summary, Professional Summary, Resume Objective
- Work History, Work Experience
- Skills, Professional Skills
- Education
Avoid uncommon title headings like:
- What I’ve accomplished, What I’m good at, What I’ve studied
- Introduction, Profile
- Most Proud Of
- Core Competencies
Applicant tracking systems are programmed to identify your section headings to understand the content. If you use uncommon titles, the ATS might not understand what information you’re supposed to showcase in each section.
STEP 2
Include keywords from the job description.
Read the job description and highlight specific hard and soft skills and qualifications outlined by the employer, known as resume keywords.
Once you’ve identified the keywords that describe your abilities, include these in various sections of your resume, such as the resume summary or objective, the work experience or the skills section.
Like this example:
Software Engineer
Motus – New York, NY
Job Description
As Software Engineer, you will lead a team of software developers in developing and maintaining new and existing software products across different platforms. You will be tasked with reviewing code, quality assurance of deliverables, and delegating tasks to the rest of the team.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related field
- 5+ years of experience with software development
- Fluency in different languages, including Java and Go for backend and Typescript for frontend
- Demonstrated ability collaborating with various departments and professionals
- Strong coding skills
- Familiarity with data structures, storage systems, cloud infrastructure and other technical tools
PRO TIP
Be honest about the keywords and skills you add to your resume, and only list those that apply to you. Employers will notice resumes overstuffed with keywords that don’t accurately describe the candidate’s true abilities and qualifications.
STEP 3
Use an ATS-friendly resume template.
The fastest and easiest way to make your resume ATS-friendly is by using a template already primed with all the specifications to bypass the applicant tracking system.
ATS-friendly resume templates offer streamlined designs and one-column text necessary for software readability. With these premium ATS resume templates, you can access our Resume Builder, which includes personalized pre-written content for a resume that looks like a pro made it! Here are some of our best ATS resume templates:
STEP 4
Stick to a simple layout.
To make it past ATS, avoid complex formatting on your resume and stick to a simple layout.
Do use:
A widely accepted file format like PDF.
1-inch margins on all sides.
Single spacing.
ATS-friendly fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman and Georgia.
Don’t use:
Photos
Graphics
Tables
Text boxes
Two- or three-column text
Acronyms by themselves, e.g., search engine optimization (SEO).
STEP 5
Always proofread.
ATS can’t scan all those targeted keywords you’ve diligently added to your resume if they’re misspelled. Consider hiring an editing service or using an online spell-checker to ensure your resume is error-free, especially if you’re using ChatGPT to write a resume. AI can be a quick and easy tool to build your resume, but it’s prone to mistakes. Fortunately, our Resume Builder is just as efficient and comes with an integrated spell-checker.
ATS-friendly resume templates
We have many ATS-friendly options in our library of resume templates. In addition to ATS-readability, these resume templates grant access to our Resume Builder. You can create a personalized resume in minutes by selecting your desired job title and years of experience.
Our builder also offers you the following:
- 15+ ATS-friendly resume templates you can customize.
- AI-powered text suggestions you can copy-paste onto your resume sections.
- The option to update your pre-existing resume.
Want to unlock even more builder-exclusive benefits? Start building your resume now!
Fresh
Pacific
Structured
Refined
Professional
Standout
Distinguished
Charismatic
Insightful
Esteemed
Whitespace
Qualified
Bold
Artistic
Executive
Modern
Centered
Deluxe
Pinstripe
Blueprint
Contempo
Key takeaways
For your resume to be ATS-friendly and beat the bots, remember to:
- Choose a resume format that ATS easily reads.
- Use commonly named section headings in your resume.
- Include keywords and skills from the job description in your resume.
- Use simple formatting with a readable font and avoid graphics, tables and photos.
- Use an ATS-friendly resume template to create your resume.
- Always proofread your ATS resume to make sure it’s error-free.
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