Table of Contents
ATS software scans resume for keywords that match the job description. A resume that doesn’t contain these keywords gets tossed aside in the initial screening process.
Stick with the tried-and-true ATS resume format and avoid gimmicks like fancy fonts, images, tables, or icons. Instead, focus on keyword optimization. Read on for tips on how to do just that!
Keywords
ATS software scans resume for keywords that match those in a job listing. The more keywords you include in your resume, the higher your ATS score will be. Incorporate the keywords you identify in your resume into your professional summary, work experience section, and other sections of your resume. Avoid repeating those same keywords too much (ATS software will detect this).
Consider substituting some of your keywords with synonyms to diversify the words an ATS will see and improve your odds of scoring high enough for a recruiter or hiring manager to see your resume. Incorporate these new terms into your text, and be sure they’re grammatically correct. Also, skip the fancy tables, columns, and text boxes; these can cause significant parsing errors.
Headings
Using the right keywords is critical for your resume to pass through an ATS. If you describe your experience imitating the language in the job description but fail to include “team player” as a keyword, the ATS will miss it.
In the body of your resume, it’s essential to use standard section headings like “Summary,” “Work Experience,” and “Education.” Sticking to these conventions allows an ATS to quickly and easily identify the information you seek. Avoid including non-standard headers or footers; never put your contact information in these sections – this can trip up the system. Most ATS can read this format. In addition, this is the most professional option. Adding an ATS-friendly logo can also help you get your document recognized.
Fonts
While it may seem like a small detail, fonts can make or break your resume’s ATS-friendly status. Some fonts simply cannot be read by ATS software, and if your ATS converts them into plain text, hiring managers will never see the pretty design you put so much effort into.
Instead, stick with a few ATS-friendly fonts. Arial and Calibri are popular choices because they are familiar and easily read on screen.
Other formatting objects to avoid include borders, lines, symbols (except for bullet points), images, and tables. Also, avoid reorganizing your resume into columns or other creative formats, as many ATS software programs have difficulty reading information not in a standard layout. Instead, use standard sections such as “Summary,” “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.” Incorporate keywords mentioned in the job description into these sections to help ATS software identify your resume as a good fit for the role.
Layout
Some ATS programs will convert your resume into plain text when scanning it, so fancy graphics and images will be lost. In addition, any text that stretches beyond the edges of the page will be left out of the scan and may not be included in the final version of your resume that an employer sees.
When formatting your resume for ATS, the best practice is to keep it simple. This will help the software read your resume and identify keywords important to the role you’re applying for.
For example, if a job description lists “SEO” as a required skill, ensure that the term is included in your resume’s professional summary or core competencies section. Incorporating the relevant keywords will help the ATS software recognize that you meet that requirement and should rank you higher in its search results.
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