How to Make an ATS Friendly Resume: Expert Tips

An ATS-friendly resume is one that a computer can read easily and that matches the keywords in the job description. The expert tip is simple: treat your resume as a data file, not a design project. You want clean formatting, standard headings, and words pulled directly from the job posting.

Use Simple Formatting and the Right File Type

ATS software struggles with fancy layouts, tables, images, and graphics. Stick to a single-column layout with black text on a white background. Use a standard font like Arial or Calibri in 10 to 12 point size. Save your resume as a .docx or .pdf file, as these are most reliably parsed.

Use standard section headings that the ATS recognizes: Professional Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills. Avoid creative labels like "Career Journey" or "What I Bring." List your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job.

Match Keywords from the Job Description

The ATS scans your resume for keywords that appear in the job posting. If the posting says "project management," use that exact phrase instead of "led initiatives." Read the job description carefully and note the repeated terms and required skills. Then weave those phrases naturally into your summary, experience bullets, and skills section.

Avoid keyword stuffing. Instead of listing "project management, project manager, PMP, project lead" in a row, use the terms in context. For example: "Managed project timelines and budgets as a project manager." Spell out acronyms the first time you use them, like "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)," then you can use the short form.

Write Bullet Points That Show Impact

For each role, write 4 to 6 bullet points that describe what you did and the result. Start with action verbs like "led," "created," "increased," or "reduced." Quantify your achievements with numbers, even if they are approximate. Instead of "Responsible for customer service," write "Resolved 50+ customer issues weekly, improving satisfaction scores."

Keep bullets to one or two lines. Avoid paragraphs, tables, and columns, which can confuse the parser. Do not put your contact information in a header or footer, as some systems skip that content. Put it at the top of the page as plain text.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a fancy template with icons, graphics, or text boxes. These often fail to parse.
• Submitting the same resume for every job. Adjust keywords for each application.
• Leaving gaps unexplained. Add a short line like "Career break for family" or "Pursued certification."
• Using a photo or other personal details that are not relevant. ATS systems may not process them.

After you finish, run a spell check and read it aloud to catch errors. You can also paste your resume into a plain text editor to see how the ATS might read it. If you see scrambled text, fix the formatting.

One more tip: keep your LinkedIn profile consistent with your resume. Companies often check it, and matching keywords help you look like a stronger candidate.

If you want help building or fixing your resume to pass ATS filters, Destava's AI career manager can do that for you, along with improving your LinkedIn profile and finding jobs to apply to.