How to Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Get Noticed by Recruiters

You’ve probably spent hours perfecting your resume—fine-tuning the wording, choosing the perfect font, and even adding some cool design elements. But if you’re applying for jobs online, there’s a good chance that the first pair of eyes on your resume isn’t human—it’s a bot. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by most companies to filter out resumes before a recruiter even gets a chance to look at them.

If your resume isn’t optimized for these systems, all that hard work could be going straight into the trash without you even knowing. Let’s break down how you can optimize your resume for ATS, while still making it look good for the human hiring managers who eventually see it.

What Exactly is an ATS, and Why Should You Care?

An Applicant Tracking System is software that companies use to collect, scan, and rank job applications. The goal is to filter out unqualified candidates and save recruiters from having to manually sort through hundreds (or even thousands) of resumes.

Think of an ATS like a gatekeeper—if your resume doesn’t pass its scan, it won’t make it to the next step in the process. In fact, studies show that up to 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a recruiter even sees them.

ATS software looks for keywords, skills, and qualifications that match the job description. It also struggles with overly complex formatting, so even if your resume is stellar, a poor layout can get it flagged.

But don’t worry! Here’s how to optimize your resume so it passes the ATS filter and impresses recruiters.

Step 1: Use Keywords Wisely

The ATS scans your resume for specific keywords that match the job description. This is one of the most important factors in getting through the ATS. If the job description calls for "Project Management," "Python," or "Leadership," your resume better have those words in there—naturally.

How to Optimize for Keywords to optimize your resume:

• Tailor your resume for each job posting: Customize your resume by aligning your skills and experience with the job description. Use the exact wording from the job posting, especially in the skills and qualifications sections.

• Focus on hard skills: Technical abilities like programming languages, software tools, or specific methodologies (like Scrum or Agile) are gold for ATS. The more your skills align with the job posting, the higher your chances of passing the ATS.

• Don't overstuff keywords: This isn’t a game of stuffing as many keywords as possible. Make sure your resume reads naturally to a human. Keyword stuffing might fool the ATS, but it’ll turn off the recruiter.

Step 2: Keep the Formatting Simple as you optimize your resume

You might love that stylish, colorful resume template, but ATS software? Not so much. ATS can get tripped up by fancy formatting, graphics, or fonts, which can cause important information to be misread or skipped altogether.

ATS-Friendly Formatting Tips:

• Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid overly decorative fonts that may not be recognized by the ATS.

• Avoid images, graphics, and tables: These can confuse the ATS software. A simple, text-based resume is the safest bet. Tables, in particular, can cause problems because they’re hard for an ATS to parse.

• Use standard headings: Keep your section headings straightforward and conventional. Use titles like "Experience," "Education," "Skills," "Certifications," etc., instead of creative headings like "What I Bring to the Table" or "Where I've Been."

• Save your resume as a .docx or .pdf: While both formats are generally ATS-friendly, some systems handle .docx files better. Always check the job application instructions for file type preferences.

Step 3: Prioritize Your Skills Section

Many ATS systems are programmed to scan for a dedicated skills section where they can quickly pull out keywords. If you don’t already have one, add a skills section to the top or sidebar of your resume.

Tips for the Skills Section:

• List relevant hard skills first: These are the skills that directly relate to the job, like coding languages (Python, JavaScript) or tools (SQL, AWS).

• Include soft skills sparingly: Soft skills (like communication or teamwork) are less likely to be the focus of an ATS. If space is limited, prioritize hard skills over soft skills.

• Don't get too fancy with the layout: Simple bulleted lists work best.

Step 4: Use Action-Oriented Language in Your Experience Section

While the ATS may filter based on keywords, recruiters still read resumes manually once they’ve passed the system. Your experience section should be concise but impactful. Use action verbs like "Developed," "Led," "Improved," or "Engineered" to show what you accomplished in previous roles.

How to Write Experience That Works for Both ATS and Recruiters:

• Use quantifiable achievements: Instead of saying "Managed a team," say "Led a team of 5 software engineers to increase project efficiency by 30%."

• Incorporate keywords from the job description into your experience without sacrificing readability.

• Bullet points over paragraphs: Bullet points make it easier for both ATS and recruiters to scan your resume quickly.

  
  

Step 5: Test Your Resume in Plain Text

Here’s a quick trick to make sure your resume is ATS-friendly: Paste your resume into a plain text editor (like Notepad). If the formatting becomes messy, sections overlap, or symbols show up weirdly, the ATS will likely have issues reading it.

Keep tweaking the format until your resume looks clean and organized in plain text. This is a great way to simulate how an ATS might process your resume.

Step 6: Focus on Your Job Titles and Dates

The ATS will also scan for job titles and the duration of your employment. Make sure that your job titles match industry-standard names as much as possible. For example, if your role was "Software Ninja," change that to "Software Developer" or "Software Engineer" to ensure that the ATS recognizes it.

Tips for Titles and Dates:

• List your roles in reverse chronological order, with clear start and end dates (month and year).

• Avoid creative job titles that might confuse the system. Stick with industry-recognized job titles.

• If you have gaps in employment, consider grouping freelance or contract work together under one job title (e.g., "Freelance Web Developer") to fill in the gaps.

Final Thoughts: Work Smarter, Not Harder in Your Job Search

Optimizing your resume for ATS doesn’t have to be a headache. The key is to keep it simple, use the right keywords, and avoid over-complicating your formatting. Remember, your goal is to pass the ATS, but you’re also writing for humans. Find the balance between an ATS-friendly structure and a compelling resume that shows off your accomplishments.

If you need help optimizing your resume, or just want an expert eye on it, let me know. I offer a Free Resume Review service, where I’ll give you personalized feedback to make sure your resume is both ATS and recruiter-ready.