Introduction

In today’s competitive job market, your resume is first read by a machine, not a human.
Before reaching a recruiter’s desk, most resumes are scanned by an ATS (Applicant Tracking System).

If your resume is not ATS-friendly, it may get rejected automatically—even if you are perfectly qualified for the job.

In this article, you’ll learn:

What ATS is in a resume
How ATS works
Why resumes get rejected
How ATS helps in shortlisting
How to create an ATS-optimized resume

👉 Create your ATS-optimized resume today and don’t get rejected at the first step.
🔗 Build your ATS-friendly resume now:
Using an ATS-optimized resume builder can significantly improve your chances of getting shortlisted.

What Is ATS (Applicant Tracking System)?

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software used by companies to collect, scan, filter, and rank resumes based on job requirements.

Why Companies Use ATS

To handle thousands of applications
To save time and manual effort
To automatically filter relevant candidates
To maintain a searchable candidate database

Today, over 90% of mid-to-large companies use ATS for hiring.

How Does ATS Work?

ATS follows a simple but powerful process:

1. Resume Parsing

The ATS scans your resume and extracts:

Name
Contact details
Skills
Experience
Education
Certifications

If the resume format is poor, ATS may fail to read this data correctly.

2. Keyword Matching

ATS compares your resume with the job description keywords, such as:

Skills (e.g., React, Java, Python)
Job titles
Tools & technologies
Certifications

💡 If keywords don’t match, your resume score drops.

3. Resume Scoring

Each resume is assigned a relevancy score based on:

Keyword match percentage
Experience relevance
Role alignment

Only high-scoring resumes move to the recruiter.

4. Shortlisting for Recruiters

Recruiters usually see:

Top 10–20% of resumes
Sorted by ATS score
Filtered by skills, experience, or location

👉 If your resume is not ATS-optimized, it may never be seen by a human.

How Does ATS Help in Resume Shortlisting?

ATS helps recruiters by:

ATS Benefit	How It Helps
Automation	Filters resumes instantly
Accuracy	Matches job-specific skills
Speed	Shortlists candidates in seconds
Consistency	Avoids human bias
Searchability	Enables fast candidate lookup

For job seekers, this means:

Clear keyword alignment is mandatory
Formatting mistakes can cause rejection
Skills matter more than fancy design

Why Do Resumes Fail ATS Screening?

Here are the most common reasons:

❌ Unfriendly Resume Format

Tables
Text boxes
Columns
Graphics or icons
Images

ATS may not read them correctly.

❌ Missing Keywords

Using “Frontend Developer” instead of “React Developer” when the JD requires React.

❌ Fancy Fonts & Styling

ATS prefers simple fonts like:

Arial
Calibri
Times New Roman

❌ Incorrect Section Headings

Avoid creative headings like:

“What I Bring to the Table”

Use standard headings:

Skills
Experience
Education
Certifications

What Is an ATS-Friendly Resume?

An ATS-friendly resume is designed so that both:

ATS software
Human recruiters

can easily read and understand it.

Key Features of an ATS-Optimized Resume

✅ Simple layout
✅ No tables or images
✅ Job-specific keywords
✅ Standard headings
✅ Reverse chronological order

Best ATS Resume Format

Recommended Format

File Type: PDF or DOCX
Layout: Single column
Font Size: 10.5–12
Length: 1–2 pages

How to Optimize Your Resume for ATS (Step-by-Step)

1. Read the Job Description Carefully

Identify:

Required skills
Tools
Certifications
Job titles

2. Use Exact Keywords

If the JD says:

“Experience with SharePoint Framework (SPFx)”

Your resume should also say SPFx, not just “SharePoint development”.

3. Customize Resume for Each Job

Avoid sending the same resume everywhere.

💡 One job = one optimized resume

4. Write Skill-Focused Bullet Points

Example:
❌ Worked on frontend tasks
✅ Developed SPFx web parts using React and TypeScript

5. Avoid Headers & Footers

Some ATS cannot read content inside headers and footers.

ATS vs Human Recruiter – The Real Difference

ATS	Human Recruiter
Reads keywords	Reads context
Scores resumes	Judges personality
Rejects fast	Reviews shortlisted
Needs structure	Likes clarity

👉 You must first pass ATS to reach a human.

Does ATS Guarantee a Job?

❌ No.
But it dramatically increases your chances of getting shortlisted.

ATS ensures:

Your resume reaches the recruiter
You are considered for interviews
Your skills are accurately represented

Final Thoughts

ATS is not your enemy—it’s a gatekeeper.
If you understand how it works and optimize your resume accordingly, you can turn ATS into your advantage.

📌 Key Takeaway:

A well-optimized ATS-friendly resume can be the difference between rejection and an interview call.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is ATS only used by big companies?

No. Many startups and mid-size companies also use ATS.

Should I avoid PDFs?

Modern ATS can read PDFs, but DOCX is safest.

Can I use Canva resumes?

Not recommended. Most Canva designs are not ATS-friendly.

What Is ATS in a Resume? How Does It Help You Get Shortlisted?