How to Pass an ATS: 12 Rules Recruiters Won't Tell You

If you've applied to dozens of jobs and heard nothing back, the problem usually isn't you — it's the applicant tracking system filtering you out before a human looks. Here are 12 rules that get your resume through.

1. One column, always

Two-column resumes look modern and parse terribly. ATS software reads in a single flow, so a sidebar of skills often ends up merged into your job descriptions. Use one column.

2. Standard section headings

Use Work Experience, Education, Skills, Projects, Certifications. Clever headings like "My Journey" break automated parsing.

3. Put contact info in the body, not the header

Text inside a Word/PDF header region is frequently skipped. Put your name, phone, email, and city in the normal body at the top.

4. Match the job's exact keywords

If the posting says "stakeholder management," use that phrase — not "managing stakeholders." Run a keyword match to see exactly what's missing.

5. Skip tables, text boxes, and columns

Anything that isn't a normal paragraph or bullet list is a risk. Tables are the most common cause of a scrambled parse.

6. No images, icons, or logos

The ATS can't read them. A skills bar made of icons is invisible. Company logos add nothing and can confuse the parser.

7. Use a common font

Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, Times New Roman. Decorative fonts sometimes fail to embed and turn into gibberish.

8. Spell out then abbreviate

Write "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)" the first time. That way you match recruiters searching for either term.

9. Quantify your bullets

Numbers do double duty: they impress humans and they include the digits recruiters scan for. "Cut response time 40%" beats "improved response time."

10. Save with a clean filename

Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf. Not resume-final-v3-FINAL.pdf.

11. Use PDF unless told otherwise

PDF preserves layout and is well-supported. If a posting explicitly requests .docx, follow that.

12. Test before you send

Don't guess. Check your ATS score in under a minute and fix what it flags. Re-check until you're above 80.

The honest summary

Passing an ATS isn't about tricks — it's about removing friction. Plain formatting, real keywords, quantified results. Do those three things and you'll reach the recruiter, where your actual experience can do the talking.

Want it done for you? Our AI resume builder generates an ATS-friendly resume and scores it as you go.