What Is an ATS Resume?

If you’re applying for jobs online in the US, UK, or elsewhere, your resume is often first read by software—an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)—not a person. Understanding what an ATS does and how to work with it can help your application reach a recruiter.

What is an ATS?

An Applicant Tracking System is software used by many companies to collect, store, and filter job applications. Recruiters use it to post jobs, manage candidates, and search for skills or keywords. The ATS often parses your resume into structured fields (name, email, job titles, dates, skills) and may rank or filter candidates by how well their profile matches the job description.

ATS products are widely used by mid-size and large employers in North America and Europe. So when we talk about an “ATS-friendly” or “ATS resume,” we mean a resume that is written and formatted so that the system can read it correctly and your profile is not dropped for technical reasons.

How do ATS systems “read” your resume?

Most ATS tools extract text from your resume and match it against the job description. They typically:

• Parse headings, bullet points, and dates to build a candidate profile.
• Look for keywords and phrases that appear in the job ad.
• Use that data for recruiter search and sometimes for automatic ranking or filtering.

Parsing is not perfect. Complex layouts, images, unusual fonts, or text inside tables or headers/footers can break or confuse the parser, so part of your experience might be missed or misattributed. That’s why format matters.

How to make your resume ATS-friendly

Use a simple, standard structure

Stick to a single column, clear section headings (e.g. “Work Experience,” “Education,” “Skills”), and standard fonts (e.g. Arial, Calibri, or similar). Avoid graphics, text boxes, or multi-column layouts for critical content. Put your name and contact details in normal text at the top, not only in a header/footer.

Use the same words as the job description

If the job asks for “project management” or “stakeholder communication,” use those phrases where they honestly apply. Don’t stuff keywords that don’t match your experience—recruiters and hiring managers will notice. The goal is to describe your real experience in the same language the employer uses.

Save as PDF (or follow instructions)

PDFs usually preserve layout and are read correctly by most ATS tools. Some employers ask for Word (.docx); in that case, submit Word. Always follow the application instructions.

Spell out abbreviations when they matter

If the job description uses “Master of Business Administration” or “MBA,” including both can help. Same for certifications: e.g. “Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).” This improves the chance of a match without changing what you did.

What doesn’t work

Keyword stuffing (repeating terms that don’t reflect your experience) can backfire: recruiters see the full resume. White text or hidden keywords are unethical and can get you disqualified. Rely on clear, honest wording and a clean format instead.

Key takeaways

• An ATS parses and stores your resume and often matches it to the job description.
• Use a simple layout, standard headings, and normal text so the system can parse you correctly.
• Mirror the job description’s language where it fits your experience; avoid stuffing or hiding keywords.
• Submit PDF unless the employer asks for another format.

Making your resume ATS-friendly doesn’t mean writing for robots only—it means making it easy for both the system and the human recruiter to see your fit. Tools like ResumaryAi can help you align your resume with a job description and improve ATS compatibility while you keep control of the content.