Most job applications never reach a human recruiter. An Applicant Tracking System filters them out first — and if your resume isn't formatted correctly, yours could be one of them.
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to collect, sort, and filter job applications. When you submit a resume online — through LinkedIn, Indeed, a company careers page, or any job board — it almost always goes into an ATS before a human ever sees it.
The ATS parses your resume, extracts information like your job titles, skills, and education, and scores it against the job description. Applications that don't meet the threshold are automatically rejected or buried at the bottom of the pile.
ATS systems scan for keywords from the job description. If the job posting says "Python" and your resume says "Python programming," you might still get filtered out depending on how strictly the system matches. The exact terms from the job posting matter.
Many ATS systems struggle to parse complex formatting. Tables, columns, headers in text boxes, and graphics can all cause parsing errors — meaning your experience might not be read correctly even if it's relevant.
ATS systems look for standard section headings like "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills." Creative headings like "My Journey" or "What I've Built" can confuse the parser.
Match the language of the job posting as closely as possible. If they say "cross-functional collaboration," use that phrase — not "worked with different teams."
Numbers stand out in ATS parsing and human review alike. "Increased revenue by 40%" scores better than "helped grow revenue."
Single-column layouts, standard fonts, and simple bullet points parse best. Save the design for your portfolio.
Name, email, phone, and LinkedIn should be in the body of your resume — not in a header text box that ATS systems often skip.
Using a two-column layout is one of the most common errors — ATS systems often read columns left-to-right across the page, jumbling your content. Other mistakes include using images or graphics, putting contact info in headers or footers, using non-standard fonts, and writing bullet points without any metrics.
The best way to know if your resume will pass ATS is to test it. Shortlisted's free ATS checker compares your resume against any job description and shows you exactly which keywords are missing, how your formatting scores, and which bullets need metrics added.
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