GET HIRED: Writing An ATS Friendly Resume [16+ Templates Included]

Why do so many firms use ATS?

95% of professionals say that ATS has improved their company for two main reasons:

1. Using ATS is very productive for companies: The system narrows down the flood of applications, saving them time and resources. Instead of going through stacks of paper, the online system keeps things organized.
2. The system is also non-discriminatory, which means that it does not take into account criteria like age, gender, or ethnicity. Machines, in the end of the day, cannot be biased!

The system begins by creating a job posting for the company. This posting is then distributed via company websites, job boards, hiring platforms, or email.

When a job application is received, the system scans it. The ATS splits the resume into areas such as Work Experience, Education, Skills, Languages, Certifications, and so on.

It then searches for certain keywords and credentials to determine whether you are a match for the job description.

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software employers use to manage the entire application process.

This system collects, scans and ranks all of the applications. At first, ATS was created for bigger companies.

And you can see that in the numbers: 75% of large companies use an ATS because they receive thousands of applications every day. But today, companies of all sizes (including over 98% of Fortune Companies) use an ATS.

Let’s illustrate this with an example:

You are applying for a tax manager position.

Your resume summary writes:

“Highly-driven tax manager with 5+ years of financial experience in managing tax returns and affairs. Proven experience of success, employer satisfaction, and strong communication skills.”

ATS reads:

• “Tax manager”
• “5+ years of experience”
• “Tax returns and affairs”
• “Employer satisfaction”
• “Strong communication skills”

Then, matches it to their list of requirements:

• CHECK: tax manager
• CHECK: 5+ years of experience
• CHECK: employer satisfaction
• CHECK: communication skills
• NOT CHECK: Analytical skills
• NOT CHECK: Microsoft Office

If your resume doesn’t match the basic list of requirements, it’s automatically discarded.

If it does, then it’s ranked by relevance (i.e. the best resume goes on top of the recruiter’s pipeline).

How to Create an ATS Resume (Step-By-Step)

Step 1: Pick the right resume format.

The easiest format for an ATS to read is reverse-chronological. This format emphasizes your work experience by putting it on top of the page.

Then, it sorts your experience from most to least relevant.

This format is also the most popular among recruiters. In 99.9% of the cases, reverse-chronological is the best layout to go for.

Step 2: Choose the appropriate file type.

Given that PDF files are universal and can be read by (most) ATS, they should be your first choice.

PDF files are also ideal for keeping your resume’s design and format.

However, certain applicant tracking systems (older models) are unable to read PDF. Check the job advertisement before applying for the role.

If it specifically mentions that you should apply with a Word document, it could signify that their ATS CANNOT READ PDFs and that you should only send a.doc file.

Step 3: Use an ATS Resume Template

Many applicants get rejected for using resume templates that ATS can’t read.

Fancy templates you might have spent money on usually get scrambled in the system.

It’s crucial to pick a tried-and-tested ATS friendly template.

Step 4: Use a simple layout

Choose a common, simple font. Use bigger font sizes for headers and smaller ones for content.

To highlight your achievements, stick to bulleted lists.

Remember to choose a simple bulleted point.

A solid circle or square is your best shot, as any complicated character might be incompatible with an ATS.

Here’s what a correct entry looks like:

Correct Example

Languages

• Full professional proficiency in English and Spanish
• Limited working proficiency in French

Step 5: Label your sections right.

This part seems intuitive but we had to mention it anyway.

Make sure to list your work experience under “Work Experience”, “Skills” under skills, etc.

That’s the only way for the ATS to recognize what it is reading.

Step 6: Tailor your resume with resume keywords.

Keywords are terms or brief phrases that are connected to the unique job needs.

To pick the best candidate, the system searches for these words.

Now, we’ll show you how to use keywords to modify your resume and pass the screening:

Examine the job posting for the keywords you’re looking for.

You should look for two types of keywords: (1) job-related skills and (2) action verbs.

Your major features and qualifications for the work are your job-related talents.

Job-related skills are your primary characteristics and qualifications for the job.

• e.g.: data analysis, research, problem-solving, etc.

Action verbs show what you have accomplished and succeeded in your job position.

• e.g.: created, maximized, solved, etc.

After you’ve scanned the job posting, make a list of these keywords, and mention them in your resume.

Keep in mind, though, that you shouldn’t just randomly throw the keywords around.

Your resume WILL be read by a human after it passes the ATS!

Note: Don’t use acronyms. Some ATS systems can’t recognize short forms. We recommend to both spell a word out and add the acronym.

e.g.: Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA)

ATS Resume Example

Now, let’s put together everything we’ve learned so far in a practical example.

Here’s what a winning ATS resume example looks like:

Now, let’s look at a practical example.

This is a Social Media Expert job ad:

We are searching for a focused expert on social media to draw and connect with targeted members of online communities and networks.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute social media strategy through competitive analysis, network commitment, benchmarking, communication and audience recognition.
• Generate, edit, publish and distribute regular content (original text, images, video or HTML) which creates meaningful connections and encourages community members to take action.
• Develop constantly by collecting and analyzing appropriate social data/metrics, ideas, and best practices and then acting on it
• Work with other departments (customer relations, marketing, etc.) to maintain credibility, identify key players and coordinate activities.

Requirements:

• Good consulting, reporting, editing (photo/video/text), presentation and communication skills
• 3+ years of social networking expertise and social research software knowledge
• Adequate knowledge of web design, web development, CRO and SEO.
• Knowledge of online marketing and a good understanding of major social media platforms.
• Positive attitude, information and customer focus with good multitasking and organizational capacity
• Previous experience in Business Communications, Advertising, and Public Relations preferred but not required.
• Undergraduate studies in the fields of communications, marketing, business, new media or public relations.

We have highlighted the most important keywords of this job ad.

Notice how you can group words for each section of the resume.

For example, keywords like develop, analyzing, or strategy can be used to in the Work Experience section.

Under the Skills section, you would list the skills the job AD is looking for, like CRO, SEO, Data analysis, multitasking.

While other keywords like software knowledge, studies in Communications, Marketing, fall under the Education section.

In this article, we learned that:

• To manage the application process, most businesses employ Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). This is a system that gathers, scans, and ranks resumes.
• ATS makes life easier for recruiters but more difficult for employees. More than 75% of job hopefuls fail the system.
• There is a specific format you should use when creating an ATS-friendly resume. Keep everything simple, including the typeface, design, and layout. Make use of bulleted lists.
• Keywords are essential. Because the ATS searches the document for keywords, you should modify your resume to include resume keywords. Find relevant terms on the job posting to accomplish this. Group these words into sections.