In today’s competitive job market, getting your resume noticed can feel like an uphill battle. Before a recruiter even lays eyes on your application, it often has to pass through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), a software tool used by employers to filter and organise resumes. Yet, many highly qualified candidates are rejected not for lack of experience or skill, but because their resume fails to meet the technical standards of ATS compliance.
Understanding how to craft an ATS‑compliant resume has become essential. According to a recent study, over 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS due to poor formatting or missing keywords. Here, A practical and professional guide to the most important do’s and don’ts for writing a resume that successfully passes ATS software and reaches decision-makers.
What Is an ATS‑Compliant Resume and Why Does It Matter?
Before you can create a resume that performs well in an ATS environment, you must first understand what “ATS‑compliant” means. An ATS‑compliant resume is one that can be accurately read and understood by resume‑screening software. These systems scan, extract, and categorise resume content to determine how closely a candidate matches a job description.
This makes formatting, structure, and keyword placement more important than ever. Despite advances in AI and natural language processing, ATS software in 2025 still requires resumes to follow a logical layout with standardised section titles and properly embedded content.
Recent data shows that 92% of Fortune 500 companies use some form of ATS to streamline recruitment (ResumeFlex). As such, job seekers who do not optimise for ATS may find themselves consistently overlooked regardless of how qualified they are.
Why Is ATS Compliance Still Essential in 2025?
Some job seekers may assume that because ATS software is becoming smarter, formatting matters less. On the contrary, the widespread adoption of an applicant tracking system has increased competition and standardised filtering. While systems have improved in reading more nuanced content, most still rely on core structural elements like headings, dates, and keyword matches to rank applicants.
Additionally, hiring teams are under increasing pressure to fill roles quickly and efficiently. According to Scale.jobs, formatting issues and keyword mismatches remain among the most common reasons why resumes are automatically rejected.
This highlights the continued need for intentional, structured, and strategic resume writing, especially for applicants in high-volume industries such as technology, marketing, healthcare, and administration.
What Should You Do to Create an ATS‑Compliant Resume?
Now that you understand the importance of ATS compliance, let’s explore the essential steps you should take to build a resume that performs well in today’s digital hiring systems.
✅ Use a Clear and Professional Format
Simplicity is key. Avoid complex visual elements and opt for a clean, single-column layout. Use standard fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, and keep bullet points consistent throughout. Most ATS tools are unable to interpret multi-column formats or non-standard characters properly.
✅ Stick to Standard Headings
Use universally recognised section titles like Work Experience, Education, Skills, and Certifications. ATS tools are programmed to identify these specific categories. Unconventional alternatives, even if creative, could result in missed or misinterpreted information.
✅ Add Relevant Keywords from the Job Description
Scan the job advert and identify the specific skills, tools, or qualifications listed. Then, naturally, integrate these keywords into your resume. If the position requires "data analysis", "budget forecasting", or "SEO strategy", ensure those terms are present in your experience and skills sections, but only where applicable.
✅ Save Your Resume in the Correct File Format
ATS systems read .docx files most reliably. Text-based PDFs are also usually safe. Avoid submitting image-based formats or scanned documents, which most ATS software cannot read at all.
✅ Tailor Your Resume for Each Job Application
Generic resumes are rarely effective. Instead, tweak your resume for every application, ensuring your profile matches the job requirements. Tailoring not only improves ATS scoring but also shows recruiters that you understand the role and have paid attention to their needs.
✅ Include Contact Information, Job Titles, and Dates Clearly
ATS software parses resumes chronologically. Make sure your work experience includes job titles, employer names, start and end dates, and location. Place your contact details in the body of the resume, not in headers or footers, as many ATS tools ignore those areas.
What Should You Avoid in an ATS‑Compliant Resume?
While the above strategies set you on the right path, avoiding common resume mistakes is just as important. The following missteps could cause even a well-qualified applicant to be filtered out prematurely.
❌ Do Not Use Graphics, Tables, or Icons
Visual elements may enhance design, but are problematic for ATS parsing. A timeline graphic or pie chart showing skills will be ignored entirely or misinterpreted. Stick to text-based formats.
❌ Avoid Using Columns or Text Boxes
Multiple columns or embedded boxes can confuse the reading order of your content, often causing ATS to misplace or skip over crucial information such as experience or skills.
❌ Do Not Stuff Keywords
Including keywords is essential, but stuffing them unnaturally into your resume reduces readability and may even trigger rejection by more advanced ATS algorithms. Aim for balanced, contextual usage instead.
❌ Do Not Use Creative Section Labels
While headings like "My Journey" or "Core Brilliance" may feel innovative, they do not help machines understand your background. Standardisation ensures accurate parsing.
❌ Never Submit a Scanned Resume or Image File
Files must be text-readable. Submitting a photo or scanned document results in immediate disqualification by nearly all ATS platforms.
❌ Always Proofread for Spelling and Grammar
Even a minor typo, such as writing "project manger" instead of "project manager", can prevent ATS software from recognising important skills or roles.
A Quick Resume Checklist for ATS Compliance
To make the process easier, here’s a side-by-side overview of the key do’s and don’ts:
| ✅ Do These Things | ❌ Avoid These Mistakes |
| Use standard fonts and simple formatting | Avoid graphics, tables, and icons |
| Stick to conventional headings | Do not use creative or unclear section titles |
| Include relevant, contextual keywords | Do not stuff keywords or force repetition |
| Submit in .docx or clean PDF format | Do not submit scanned images or .jpg files |
| Tailor your resume to the specific job posting | Avoid generic resumes for all roles |
| List work dates, job titles, and contact info | Avoid putting key info in headers or footers |
What Do Recruiters Still Look for Beyond ATS Compliance?
While it is critical to ensure your resume is machine-readable, remember that humans ultimately make the hiring decisions. Once your resume passes the ATS, recruiters will look for impact, clarity, and relevance.
Include measurable achievements wherever possible. Instead of saying “responsible for managing budgets,” say “managed a £500,000 annual marketing budget, reducing costs by 15% within one year.” This level of specificity demonstrates value and competence.
Additionally, many recruiters scan for LinkedIn links and brief professional summaries at the top of the resume. Including these elements further supports a complete candidate profile.
Conclusion
Creating an ATS-compliant resume is no longer optional; it is a standard requirement in modern job applications. By applying the do’s, such as using a clear format, adding relevant keywords, and tailoring each submission and avoiding the don’ts like using graphics, non-standard headings, or incorrect file formats, you significantly improve your chances of getting noticed.
As recruitment technologies continue to evolve, candidates who combine technical resume formatting with strong, accomplishment-focused content will be best positioned to succeed.
Make your resume not only readable by machines but memorable to the humans behind them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need to fill out ATS form fields if they’re already on my resume?
Yes, always complete all fields. Some ATS systems scan both the form and resume, while others rely on one—leaving fields blank may reduce your chances.
2. Should I use both acronyms and full terms on my resume?
Yes. Including both helps with keyword matching. For example, write “Human resource manager (HR manager)” to cover all ATS variations.
3. Is it okay to place contact details in the header or footer?
No. Many ATS tools can’t read content in headers or footers. Always include contact information in the main body of your resume.
4. Do all companies use ATS for initial resume screening?
No. While ATS use is widespread, some recruiters manually screen resumes, especially for senior, niche, or referral-based roles.
5. Can a high ATS score still lead to rejection?
Yes. A high match rate doesn’t guarantee interest. Recruiters also assess clarity, relevance, and how well your achievements are presented.
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