Hey! I am Ayush Tiwari, Career Blogger | Online Earning Enthusiast | Job Market Researcher So, if you want to study at home and make your profile worth seeing, read this blog.
Finding a job can seem so tough, especially when you’re putting in applications and never getting a response. A major contributor to this is an ATS software. If you’ve never heard of it, that’s OK. I will explain all of this in simple words. In this post, I’ll describe the way ATS software clears your resume, why that matters and things you can do to get past it and into the hands of real people like hiring managers.
What Is ATS Software?
ATS is an acronym for Applicant Tracking System. It is a type of computer program that companies use to process job applications. If you’ve ever applied for a job online, your résumé didn’t go directly to a person. It goes into the ATS first. The system scans your resume against the skills and experience required for the position.
It’s like this: the ATS is a robot gatekeeper. If your resume doesn’t align well with the job description, the barrier remains in place. But if your resume passes through the gate, it sends your resume to the recruiter.
Why Do Companies Use ATS?
Businesses get hundreds or thousands of job applications for a single position. A human simply can’t read every resume. So, they have ATS besides saving their time.
Here’s a list of the ATS should support:
- Post-processing of applications—sorting and summarizing
- Relevant Keywords used to search about the job
- Scoring candidates by how closely they match the posting
- Time-saving for recruiters by displaying only the top candidates
That’s why understanding how ATS software passes your resume is so important.
How ATS Software Looks At Your Resume
This is the most important part. The ATS acts as a kind of electronic robot. It looks for:
1. Keywords:
Just a few excerpts from the job description. If a job is for a “graphic designer,” for example, the ATS might be looking for terms like “Photoshop,” “Illustrator,” “design portfolio” and “creativity.” If you have these on your resume, you have a closer shot.
2. Formatting:
Don’t use fancy designs or tables — ATS don’t like that. If your resume contains too much graphics, columns or charts, the system can’t read it correctly. A plain resume with clearly marked headings is the best.
3. File Type:
Never upload a resume in Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF format. However, as a general rule, remember—some ATS won’t be able to read PDFs, so Word is safest.
4. Section Titles:
Use common headings such as “Work Experience,” “Education” and “Skills.” Don’t get creative, with titles like “My Journey” or “Awesome Stuff I Did.”
5. Dates and Job Titles:
Be sure that your job titles and dates are not difficult to locate. The ATS uses them to verify your level of experience and your timeline.
Mistakes That Can Stop Your Resume from Passing ATS
Let’s discuss a few things many job seekers do incorrectly:
Using fancy templates from non-ATS compliant websites
Not adding job-specific keywords
Writing long prose rather than concise and clear bullet points
Headers and footers with contact info (ATS might miss it)
Saving the resume in image format (this is not readable at all)
I did the same mistakes when I started. To ATS it made sense, but once I learnt how ATS software filters your resume, offers started coming in.
How To Get Your Resume Past the ATS
These are the steps I went through and suggest to anyone:
Read the Job Notes Carefully
Take a look at the top skills, qualifications, and tools mentioned. Incorporate those words in an intuitive way in your resume.
Use a Simple Layout
Stick to standard fonts, such as Arial or Times New Roman. Make it clean, no images, black and white.
Use Bullet Points
List your responsibilities and achievements in bullet points instead of paragraphs. It makes it easier to be scanned through ATS.
Align Your Skills and Experience
You don’t need to lie, but do revise your wording to reflect what the job is looking for. If, for instance, the job involves “customer service,” and you’ve done that, use that exact term.
Save and upload the correct file.
Use a .docx or simple PDF. See if the job posting states a preferred format.
How ATS Software Filters Your Resume: FAQs
1. What Is ATS in Job Applications?
ATS: This stands for Applicant Tracking System. It assists companies in sorting and filtering resumes before a human even looks at them.
2. How can I tell if my resume is compatible with ATS?
Keep formatting basic, make sure to add keywords relevant to the position, and do not have any images/fanciful designs. Free online ATS checkers are also the good option.
3. Can a resume still be rejected by ATS even if it’s a good one?
Yes, in case it’s not written in the right keywords or format. And strong resumes can mean nothing if the system can’t read them correctly.
4. Do I use the same resume for each and every job?
No. Every job has its own set of keywords. Always tailor your resume according to the description of the job.
5. Do all companies use ATS software?
It is used by most large and medium enterprises. Some smaller firms may still screen resumes manually.
Conclusion: Next Steps to Take
The key is to be smart, not tricky, and that’s what it comes down to when you look at it from different angles. Your objective as a job seeker is making your resume machine-readable as well as human-readable.
As a Career Blogger, I know a lot of people get rejected solely because their resumes are not ATS optimized.
This makes ATS time-saving and shows them their best candidates quickly from a recruiter’s viewpoint.
It might seem unfair from your perspective, but it’s really an opportunity for you to get better and be even better than someone else.
So, for your next job application, keep that in mind about how ATS software works to filter your resume and take those extra minutes to ensure it’s ready to go. Just that small effort can have a big impact.
