Complete ATS Guide 2025
How to beat Applicant Tracking Systems and land more interviews
What is an ATS?
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to collect, sort, scan, and rank job applications. These systems help employers manage high volumes of applications and identify the most qualified candidates based on keywords, skills, former employers, experience, and education.
According to recent data, over 99% of Fortune 500 companies and 75% of all employers use ATS software to screen candidates before a human ever reviews their resume. Understanding how these systems work is crucial for job seekers in today's competitive market.
Did you know?
Up to 75% of qualified candidates are rejected by ATS systems before a human ever reviews their resume, often due to formatting issues or missing keywords rather than lack of qualifications.
How ATS Systems Work
ATS systems scan resumes for relevant keywords, phrases, and formatting to determine if a candidate matches the job requirements. Here's how they typically process your resume:
- Initial Parsing: The ATS extracts information from your resume and categorizes it into predefined fields like contact information, education, experience, and skills.
- Keyword Matching: The system compares the content of your resume against keywords and phrases from the job description.
- Scoring: Based on keyword matches and other criteria, your resume receives a score or ranking.
- Filtering: Resumes that meet a minimum threshold score are forwarded to recruiters, while others are filtered out.
- Searchability: Your resume is stored in a database where recruiters can search for candidates using specific criteria.
Key Strategies to Beat ATS Systems
1. Optimize for Keywords
Carefully analyze the job description and incorporate relevant keywords throughout your resume. Include both the exact keyword matches and related terms to maximize your score.
2. Use a Clean, Simple Format
Avoid complex layouts, graphics, headers, footers, and text boxes. Stick to a clean, simple format with standard section headings like "Experience," "Education," and "Skills."
3. Choose the Right File Format
Submit your resume as a .docx file unless the job posting specifically requests another format. While PDFs maintain formatting across devices, some older ATS systems can't properly parse PDF content.
4. Use Standard Section Headings
Use conventional section titles like "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills" instead of creative alternatives that might confuse the ATS.
5. Tailor Your Resume for Each Application
Customize your resume for each job application by adjusting the keywords and highlighting relevant experiences that match the specific job requirements.
ATS-Friendly Resume Checklist
- Clean, simple format with standard section headings
- ATS-compatible file format (.docx recommended)
- Job-specific keywords incorporated naturally throughout
- No tables, columns, headers/footers, or text boxes
- Standard fonts and simple formatting
How ResumeFlight Can Help
ResumeFlight's AI-powered tools make it easy to create an ATS-optimized resume that stands out to both automated systems and human recruiters:
- ATS Score Checker: Analyze your resume against specific job descriptions and receive a detailed compatibility score.
- Keyword Optimization: Automatically identify missing keywords and suggest improvements to increase your match rate.
- Format Compatibility: Ensure your resume's structure is ATS-friendly with automatic format checking.
- One-Click Fixes: Resolve formatting issues and optimize content with simple, one-click solutions.