Here's a sobering statistic: 75% of resumes are rejected by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before a human ever sees them. If you've been applying to jobs and hearing nothing back, this might be why.
What Is an ATS and Why Does It Matter?
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is software that companies use to manage job applications. Before your resume reaches a recruiter, it gets scanned, parsed, and scored by these systems.
Popular ATS platforms include Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, and Taleo. Each has slightly different parsing algorithms, but the fundamentals remain the same.
The Biggest ATS Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
1. Fancy Formatting That Breaks Parsing
The Problem: Tables, columns, text boxes, headers/footers, and graphics confuse ATS parsers.
The Fix: Use a simple, single-column format. Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman). No images or icons.
2. Missing Keywords
The Problem: ATS systems score resumes based on keyword matches with the job description.
The Fix: Mirror the exact language from the job posting. If they say "project management," don't just say "managed projects." Include both variations.
3. Wrong File Format
The Problem: Some ATS can't properly parse PDFs, especially those created from design tools.
The Fix: When in doubt, submit a .docx file. If the application specifically requests PDF, use a text-based PDF (not an image).
4. Non-Standard Section Headers
The Problem: Creative headers like "My Journey" or "Where I've Made Impact" confuse parsers.
The Fix: Stick with standard headers: "Work Experience," "Education," "Skills," "Certifications."
The Secret Weapon: Going Around the ATS
Here's what top job seekers know: the best way to beat the ATS is to avoid it entirely.
When you contact a recruiter directly via email, your resume lands in their inbox—not an ATS queue. You skip the algorithm entirely and get human eyes on your application immediately.
This is why having access to recruiter contact information is so valuable. Instead of being one of 250 applicants in an ATS, you become one of 5-10 emails in a recruiter's inbox.
Quick Checklist: Is Your Resume ATS-Ready?
- ☐ Simple, single-column format
- ☐ Standard fonts and no graphics
- ☐ Keywords from job description included
- ☐ Standard section headers
- ☐ .docx format (or text-based PDF)
- ☐ Contact info at the top (not in header/footer)
- ☐ No tables or text boxes
Optimize your resume for ATS—but also have a strategy for bypassing it entirely. That's how you maximize your chances of landing interviews.